Kelly Brightwell: News

I have to admit, I was getting a little nervous: Winter did not arrive as expected. There were several very cold sunny weeks, and I thought for a minute I was back in Minnesota. It snowed one day, all day, 4 inches, huge flakes. Luckily, it was completely melted by the end of the next day. And then the rains came! Finally...

This is a sea change in my perspective (those of you who know me well can attest to this fact). But the way I see it now is -- if you're gonna live in Portland, then by God, there better be some rain! And I am strangely comforted by knowing that this is what the season brings.

On a parallel note, I'm newly with child, and I've spent the last 6 weeks as green as a seasick sailor. But now that it's tapering off a bit, I'm nostalgic. There's nothing like Morning Sickness to remind you that you're pregnant! I suppose the bump that's starting to show now is the new reminder, the evidence that's someone's in residence. But I've grown accustomed to this strange and passing state. I can't wait for the flowers, but I will kind of miss the rain...

It's been quiet for me in music-land. I had a last-minute feature at the Artichoke Showcase in early December (much more fun than studying for the statistics exam, like I should have). I finished a new song over the last month or so, called "Birds and Stones". I played it at Matt Meighan's songwriting class last night: Songwriting as Truth Telling. There was a great group of folks there, and lots of creative energy, so I hope to come away with some more new material over the next 8 weeks. And I just posted a performance I'll have out at Edgefield in March, also with Matt (What can I say? He's good people;). Details are on the calendar page.

Thanks for stopping by... I'll pick a bouquet for you soon:)

xoxo
Kelly

Just a quick update after all of the excitement I've had over the past few months. It's been 4 weeks since the Song School in Lyons happened, and I'm still riding high on the experience! Never let anyone tell you that you are too old (or serious, adult, poor, busy, married, or whatever your favorite excuse is) for SUMMER CAMP!!!!!

I was a good girl and stayed up most nights til at least 2am playing song after song in intimate circles with amazingly talented writers and players from all over the country (and then taking hot 4 am showers to try and warm up afterwards). I consumed ridiculous amounts of coffee and forgot to eat occasionally. I slept in as long as the high desert sun would let me... and then busted out my guitar to strum lazily under the shade of a cottonwood, or with my feet in the St. Vrain river. I even made it to some classes -- including the Peter Himmelman class where I wrote the song that the lyrics on this page came from. In true Himmelman style, we only had 30 minutes to write it, and with only the obliquest direction and 3 required chords (I added a 4th:) Of course everyone came up with more than they imagined they would!

So I'm back in Portland now with a lot of creative energy simmering on the stovetop. I finally made good and played at the Artichoke Songwriter open mic tonight; I'm gonna do my best to get there regularly. Had an impromptu show with fellow Song Schooler Amber Darland on the last leg of her West Coast tour. And I just got booked for a late October gig out at the McMenamin's Edgefield Winery!

I'm also back in school again this fall, while still working over at CD Baby, so I can't wait to see how this juggling routine will shape up. At least they're not SWORDS or something that's on FIRE. But if I could do that I could get a gig up at Last Thursday in the Alberta Arts district...

Hmmmm...

I decided recently that the best way to get involved in my local music community... is to get involved in my local music community! I know, not exactly Rocket Science, but a powerful insight nonetheless.

Home recording is not my strong suit, and my little EP of new stuff is turning into a much more involved project than I anticipated. So as I'm puttering away on that front, shopping for a new, smaller guitar to play, and taking some classes at PSU, I'm going to be doing time as a volunteer at some local music events!

Artichoke Music is hosting their Folk Festival on June 26-27. I saw my first concert at their Backgate Stage this past weekend and was charmed by their cozy, welcoming listening room set-up.

And I'm really excited to be helping out with this year's Pickathon on July 31-Aug 2! The local Indie Roots Music Fest is getting bigger and better every year, and it's only 20 minutes from the city!

Lastly, I won't be volunteering, but I'm excited to return as a full-fledged participant (as well as audience member) at the Song School, and the following 3 day Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, CO. It's been a couple of years since I've touched down in that community of great players and I'm looking forward to honing my songwriting skills and re-connecting with other creative folks.

On another note:

Over the past few months I had the great honor to write a song for a couple of very special people.

John and Grace Kidwell are my in-laws, who were married for just shy of 60 years. When Grace passed away from Alzheimer's earlier this year, John wondered if I would compose an uplifting song for Grace that would honor her life. I told him I would, and got to work on it.

The melody and song structure came quickly and easily, and I invited John to send me some ideas and words to use, to really make the song his. I was letting these things marinate a bit, and in April got the news that John's leukemia, which had been in remission for the last 2 years, had returned with a vengeance. He was given about a month or so to say his goodbyes...

Suddenly, this assignment took on a much deeper meaning, with an irrevocable and looming deadline. I finished the song, which was written from his perspective, using his words, and sang it for him just a few short weeks ago. His tears were the very best reception my work has ever received.

John died this past week...

"Like a river to the sea,
time will deliver me
into the Mystery
And we will move on, move on, move on"

When I had my CD "wait for your spring" manufactured back at the end of 2004, it was a little like selling my soul. I really wanted to package the CD in a more environmentally friendly way. At that time, the alternatives were quite expensive, in part because innovative packages like the digi-pack (nice folded cardboard) were still under patent protection (and, like you may have encountered yourself with pharmaceutical drugs, subject to patent pricing!) What’s a small indie artist to do? So I went with the traditional plastic jewel case package. I even had them shrink-wrapped because I’d heard that it would really protect the cases during travel or shipping.

But that decision has haunted me ever since… The subjects of many of my songs are places that are dear to me: canyons, mountains, rivers. I try to bring an emotional identification and interpretation to these landscapes through my music. I do this in part so that people can realize our connection to the natural world, and have a stronger motivation to become its devoted ally. How has the way I manufactured my CD served my deeper mission? The bottom line is that it hasn’t served that mission very well at all.

It took me a long time and many Google searches to track down the answer to the question “What is the environmental impact of a conventional CD?” I eventually found that information not too far from home – my previous home, to be exact! My former employer, the Wedge Co-op, highlighted the band Cloud Cult as part of its “Local Flavor” feature here:

http://www.wedge.coop/resources/resources-cloud-cult.html
Check out the links on that page to Earthology Records, and to the section on eco-friendly CDs vs. traditional CDs. It underscores the importance of recycling all of our plastic and paper, and minimizing its use in the first place.

Following their lead, I was able to purchase the appropriate amount of carbon offsets for the CD and then some! I’m working with these organizations now:

http://www.americanforests.org/ http://www.carbonharmony.com/main.php
On that note, I'm headed to Memphis for this year's Folk Alliance Conference:

http://www.folkalliance.org/
In addition to putting together this year's CD Baby showcase, and speaking on the Music Distribution panel, I've planned a few showcase performances of my own. I'm really excited to play in the room that fellow song-schooler Ryan Mintz is hosting for Green Musicians (he'll also be involved in a panel discussion on that topic).

And if all goes according to plan, there should be flowers blooming when I get back to Portland!

1. Most of the time, it is best if you think about what you are going to write before you actually write it.

2. Know in your heart that you are the best writer!

3. Take your time to think about your writing because you know it's not a race.

4. Shining is believing! That’s what it takes to be a great writer: a purpose that people will remember for the rest of their lives.

So... I took the challenge! And (mostly) succeeded:) I've got 7 new songs that I will be making available very soon!!! There's piano, banjo and even a harmonica in there. Seriously. I had so much fun. It just goes to show you don't have to wait for inspiration -- you can make it out of whatever crosses your path! I'll have more info in the next week or so!

***JUST ADDED***
I'll be playing in Portland on Wednesday December 10th at the Airplay Cafe as part of a Songwriters in the Round series. Details on the calendar page!

I just finished reading Margaret Atwood's "Oryx and Crake", a utopian/distopian novel about the unintended consequences of genetic engineering and what you can't change about human nature. In 2003 it was probably still a little shocking, conjuring images that seemed far-fetched and too sci-fi. In 2008, however, it reads almost like news headlines, with just a dab of creative license.

I've also been dabbling in the occult... I picked up a book called "Cosmos and Psyche", which explores the separation that occcurred when we discovered that the earth revolves around the sun, and how by imagining a wholly objective universe, we lost the basis for the meaning in our humanity. The book goes into the history (and former science) of astrology, and explores how the movement of other planets may be connected to our personal and collective experience here on our own planet.

It made me think a lot about the kinds of choices that I've made, and the lifestyle I'm choosing to live. It made me think about the kind of world that we all are busy creating and sustaining every single day. I agree that one of our crowning achievements as human beings is technology, but it is only one of our claims to fame, one of many cultural adaptations that have allowed us as a species to flourish. It shares the stage with such heavy hitters as compassion, awareness, and the ability to imagine the future--and make choices accordingly.

We are well equipped to be here, right now, in the midst of these interesting times. We can see both the fruits and the failures of our labors. We are uniquely endowed with the ability to be aware of our situation, to really feel how our fellow earthlings are impacted by our actions, to imagine a more desirable future and to choose to use our tools humanely to benefit both ourselves and the world.

Now if I can get all of that into a catchy little song that hits the pop charts worldwide, I'll be in business;)

So, this is my first year in Portland, and it's still COLD in JUNE. Coat. Scarf. 2 pairs of socks. Really! There has been one sunny day in 2 weeks. And my umbrella (sure sign that I'm new in town) has been a constant companion.

It just goes to show that seasons are subjective... When does winter end? How long is a springtime? How much does the sun matter? It all depends on where you are, and whether the conditions are favorable for the particular creature you are to come into the fullest fullness of your flowering.

I had an *amazing* outdoor show on one of the loveliest days so far: on May 15th I played at an open house for my favorite acupuncturist & chiropractic & massage clinic. They've been keeping my arms happy and functioning AND keeping me sane through this transition! Check out their website here: http://www.balhic.com/contact.htm
Recently, I've been invited to play a couple of shows! Yay!

I'll be playing with fellow Song-Schooler Ryan Mintz on Mon. June 16th--he's in town the weekend before to play Pride! And I'll be sharing a show on Fri. July 11th with a local act at the 9 Muses Acoustic Pub. The details are on the "Calendar" page! I'd love to see some new and familiar faces there for these Portland-debut shows:)

~k

I visited Memphis at the end of February, courtesy of CD Baby. My fellow Baby and musician, Celia Grace and I hosted 3 nights of private showcases that ran until 3am. The wine was flowing. The Red Bull was flowing. And the music was amazing:)

Some of my favorites were performances by The Pines, Suzanna Choffel, Chuck E. Costa and Chris O'Brien. Check out the links page to go hear their stuff!

I played a few showcases myself, and got to visit with a lot of folks I haven't seen since I had to stop touring. Of course, we made the pilgrimage to Graceland, and got to tour the Gibson facility there as well. Sadly, we did NOT get to stumble down Beale Street this time... but next time? Watch out!

On another note, it was my birthday yesterday, and I celebrated by having my tea leaves read. As a hopeless tea addict, I was pleased to discover yet another reason to revere the leaves. We'll just say that my cup runneth over these days:)

I'm starting to schedule Open Mic performances! Check out the calendar page for details... Yay!

There have been so many changes in my life over the last 2 years... it seems only right that I have a new website too!

Stay tuned as I flesh things out. There will soon be new pictures, current versions of songs I'm working on, and maybe even some dancing;)