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.
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
Posted in Andrea Burden, Music | No Comments
By Monica Cravotta | Published: Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I gathered a list of Favorite Gray Day music recommendations from friends today after posing the question on Facebook. Some of these I haven’t heard yet and look forward to exploring when I have time tomorrow. As you’ll see, Patty Griffin got the most votes. Here’s her song, “Rain” for you. Pretty yummy. I welcome additions to the list!
I’m needing some zzzzzz’s in a pretty major way so I need to call this done for tonight. But I will come back and add more links for easy listening. Promise.
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By Monica Cravotta | Published: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Celebrating a lovely Winter Solstice in Austin with dear friends this evening who showered us with good food and drink and treasures for the children and handmade gifts for the Mamas…all within the backdrop of their magically decorated home, I was instantly pulled out of my secret holiday season blues (officially not a secret anymore). Thank you Sweet B!
Reflecting on all the wonderful things we experienced tonight, I can’t seem to get The Sound of Music‘s life-is-good classic out of my mind.
For a little pre-sleep escape, I found two “Favorite Things” links that remind me of a few things I put in the favorite category.
1) The Sound of Music and Julie Andrews singing “My Favorite Things”. The nerdy side of my taste in music includes a heart-aching love of musicals and marching bands. One of my recent favorite happy cries outside of holding each of my babies for the first time was witnessing the senior citizens rock out on their horns in the First Night parade downtown last year. I can’t wait to experience it again!
2) Björk. And the bold, risk-taking, creativity in the musical film Dancer in the Dark. She sings “My Favorite Things” while separated from her son in prison and the song’s melancholy minor-key nature trumps the sweet lyrics — and then some — thanks to the tormenting scene. This is one of those movies that you either love or hate. Its reviews are all over the map. I happen to be one of those people that thinks Björk is a musical genius and I loved this film despite its grim, heart-breaking storyline of a mother unjustly sentenced to death. But I’m a Scorpio with Irish blood that has full appreciation for doomy gloomy art.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel so bad
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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.
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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By Monica Cravotta | Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
When I was pregnant with my first daughter in 2006 my husband and I were building our house, along with our recording studio in the backyard. During my pregnancy, I sang backup for the String’s Attached White Album show and befriended two other singers also singing in the show who happened to be due with their first babies the same week as me — Libby Kirkpatrick and Sarah Sharp. We were quite a sight to behold on stage together!
A few months after all of our babies were born, I began cooking up an idea for the three of us to record a children’s music album together in our studio. They both agreed that it sounded like fun and the seed was planted.
Over the next nearly three years with many stops and starts, more babies born, six more amazing women invited to participate, and Sara Hickman agreeing to produce the album — my little idea to record an album with a few friends has grown into something much bigger and is coming to life. I’m proud and scared and occasionally overwhelmed and find myself repeating my favorite mantra daily, “I can, I will, I am.” It’s one thing to dream up something and sell others on the idea, and another thing altogether to actually do it, to generate and regenerate momentum, and ensure everyone involved feels good about their choice to be a part of it. (more…)
Posted in Breastfeeding, Music | 2 Comments
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