Mama the Word is Love…

By Monica Cravotta  |  Published: Saturday, April 17, 2010

…You’ve got to believe me
Cuz heaven above is right here and now
And if your fists clench too tightly
You can’t hold the world no how….

Libby Kirkpatrick

These are lyrics from Libby’s masterpiece song “Mama” on the Sweet Songs album….officially coming to life on Mother’s Day. I cried when I heard this song for the first time in the studio. I’ve heard it at least 30 times since and I’m still moved every time. Take a listen here: Mama

I’d like to share “the inside story of” Sweet Songs and I’m so close to it that I’m having trouble coming up with the words. This project is so close to my heart. And like childbirth, it has been both beautiful and difficult. I’m now beginning the transition from months of contractions to finally pushing it out to share with the world. And I wonder if I’ll be better equipped emotionally (fists less clenched?) to write about this after the album is born. Here’s the basics though:

For those of you that don’t know about my labor of love, Sweet Songs is an album of children’s music that was recorded at Hideout Studios — the world-class recording studio my husband had built that sits in our backyard.  Eight singer-songwriter women from Austin, including me, contributed songs to the album. Most of us are moms; all of us love children:  Libby Kirkpatrick, Sarah Sharp, Noëlle Hampton, Elizabeth McQueen, Gretchen Janzow, Elizabeth Suggs Mary Londos and Monica Cravotta.  Texas State Musician of the Year for 2010, Sara Hickman, creatively led our recordings as producer.

Back row: Noelle Hampton, Sara Hickman, Libby Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth McQueen and baby Lisel Blossom; Front row: Andre Moran (our amazing engineer), Me and baby Izaroo, and Sarah Sharp

We are giving 100% of the CD’s profits to our local milk bank:  The Mothers’ Milk Bank at Austin.

You can read more about Sweet Songs: Music for Families and hear music clips on our new web site (YAY!) courtesy of Websy Daisy at austinsweetsongs.com.

The painting on our cover art that you see here is by Andrea Burden, the magically gifted artist (designer of Attachment Mama banner) and friend of mine who died unexpectedly in December.  I love that we are able to honor her memory through this album thanks to the incredible graphic art work of my very dear friend, Cheryl Mills.  She has been helping me tirelessly for the last few months on everything from sponsor invitations and web site design to CD cover and liner note art, posters and thank you notes — all while maintaining her full-time job. Bless her.

Mamas in the Austin area, please join us with your families on Mother’s Day at Big Red Sun for brunch and a live performance of our Sweet Songs. We will be celebrating the release of our album, advocating for mothers’ milk and honoring motherhood. Tickets on sale now at austinsweetsongs.com.

Also watch for stories on the album coming up in the May issues of Austin Monthly, Austin Woman, Austin Family and ParentWise.

P.S.  Thanks so much for sticking with me — I know my posts have been few and far between the last two weeks. I’ve needed to dedicate every spare waking hour (while my Tinies were either cared for or sleeping) working on completing and promoting Sweet Songs and organizing our Mother’s Day event.  Now that I thankfully have an Event Coordinator Sponsor, Event Envy (YIPPEE!) and support on the media outreach front from Jo Rae and Hard Pressed Publicity, I’ll be able to nurture Attachment Mama again more regularly very soon. xxoooxxxxoooo

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A Taste of Austin’s Sweet Songs Album

By Monica Cravotta  |  Published: Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I have been writing a lot about this groovy children’s album in the works at our Hideout Studios, humbly asking the Austin community and beyond to help support the completion of the project, and the thought occurred to me tonight that if I were asked to consider sponsoring an album, I’d like hear a bit of it to know what I was supporting.

Below is a link to one of my favorite songs on the album called Buzz on Black Fly sung by Elizabeth Suggs and written by her husband, emmet.

Buzz on Black Fly

This is one of 14 songs on our Sweet Songs for Families album that will be available in its entirety by May 2010.

If after hearing this particularly sweet little song you feel inspired to get involved with our project as a sponsor, click here for our fundraising page.  $25 donors receive a mailed copy of the completed CD.  Higher level contribution perks include advertising on the album web site, recognition on liner notes and opportunity to advertise and sell merchandise at our Mother’s Day CD Release concert in Austin.

Enjoy!!

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