The Wash of Calm and 2 Back to Back Shows!

It’s always a magical time at AMERICANAFEST, but this year was especially meaningful, weaving work and play together. Susan Dilger was my roomie for the week and we definitely painted the town red in Nashville! Susan is a DJ for KNCE 93.5 FM True Taos Radio so hanging with her is like having your own personal music insider guide. As soon we got off the plane, we were off and running. My publicist Jill Kettles, whisked us off to the NPR Music Kick-Off Party where we got to mingle with members of The Black Lillies and eat southern fried pickles!

The fun continued at the hatWRKs party, where we got to listen to the amazing music of Jill’s clients David Olney and Angie Aparo, while shopping for gorgeous custom-made hats!

There were so many highlights this year, but what was really meaningful for me was k.d. lang’s keynote interview by Ann Powers from NPR. At the end of the interview, Susan was able to ask k.d. the perfect question, about her performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremony. She lit up and I got Goosebumps!

As a practicing Buddhist, she talked about the quiet space within, how she meditated and grounded before her performance.

When she performed, she wasn’t really performing outwardly, but from a place inside where music flowed like a wash of calm.

This is the wash of calm I am bringing with me as I get ready for 2 back to back shows in the upcoming months. When I am in prayer and meditation, I am reminded of my faith and trust.

Tim Bluhm, singer-songwriter and Mother Hips front man was also an inspiration. We met at the AMA UK party and felt like kindred spirits. Tim’s music video “Raining Gravel” reminds me so much of my video, “Been a Long Time” with my dad and grandpa. It turns out Tim had to overcome a devastating accident and it was a spiritual awakening of sorts for him. His music is a reflection of that and it is for me too.