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If you asked me to coffee for some advice about how to get moving with your songwriting practice, this is what I would say: 1) Use repetition thoughtfully to create a form It doesn’t matter what the repeating structure is, but it’s pretty much essential that the music and lyrics repeat somehow. 2) Start wherever… Continue reading How to get started with your songwriting practice

I’m writing to you from the shade in a grassy meadow in the northern Netherlands, where the Ukestock festival is being held this weekend. Ukulelezaza and I played a magical set last night. Can I tell you about it?! After the show, someone (let’s call her by her first initial, D!) came to us and… Continue reading Report from a music (love) fest

I’ll play for you in a Rocky Mountain meadow Okay, here’s the deal. I’ve been wanting to give private, intimate concerts for a long-ass time. But something has always stopped me, you know? Lack of actually knowing myself (Hi, self!!), fear, a predisposition to avoid awkwardness, that kind of thing. But now I’m READY —… Continue reading a private concert just for you

At a recent Sage n Zaza show, I brazenly promised you a playlist.Today I make good on that promise. In it you’ll find some of our recordings alongside some absolutely gorgeous versions of tunes that we covered in our set that night. Click the button to listen, and continue reading for a bit from me… Continue reading I promised you a playlist!

I want to tell you about this really special moment that happened when I was on stage, pretty early into my being-on-stage career 😉I was in a vocal jazz emsemble when I was a teenager. There were about 5 or 6 of us, and we sang Great American Songbook tunes in close harmony. For one… Continue reading Why I’m addicted to the spotlight, actually

When I was a teenager, I would climb through my bedroom window onto the roof and soak up the summer moonlight. It was one of the ways I could get a delicious taste of some romantic self-reflection time. Along with being a bit adventurous, it also felt dreamy and delicious, a bit otherworldly, a little… Continue reading Playing ukulele is like being on a moonlit rooftop

I love playing music so much. I also have a meditation practice that is so supportive for me, and I love that the two practices can have benefits that really cross over. I’m not the first to have wondered, is music actually moving meditation? What I’ll say is this: Music is like a hot tub… Continue reading How to turn music into a meditative practice

Hi there 😉 If you’ve been with me for any length of time and love what I do, I’m so grateful to you. I’ve thrown so much of myself into my art and music and career the past twelve years. All of myself? All of it. Never more of myself has gone into my art,… Continue reading in which I invite you to my birthday party and vow renewal

Tuesday 9 July 2024 Hi there 😉 Recently—as in this March—I perfectly dismantled the means by which I have been sending emails since 2011. Today, I have re-emerged. With this email. Did it make it to you? Have I been moving pixels around in vain? Is anything real? Will you please send me a reply… Continue reading a little old fashioned playlist for you