Dear September, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways this month has been just fantastic so far! Lots of laughter and fun to be had in the recording studio with my dear friends Patricia Bahia and Sean Holt this past week. Together, we joined Mick Taras and sang our hearts out on some amazing harmonies. I’m listening to a ruff mix now of “Love Remains” and if you could see me, I am grinning from ear to ear. 🙂

I’m over the moon to be taking this song with me tomorrow as I head off to Nashville to Americana Fest!  Yippee!  I will be sharing the song with a few trusted music folk and mentors and letting Spirit take the lead, open to seeing where this will take me.

If this is any indication of what the week will bring, it is going to be a gangbuster of a festival! Just this morning, I found out that Alison Krauss, Bob Weir, Steve Earle and Joe Henry are opening the Americana Music Association’s Awards Show with music to honor the legacies of Guy Clark, Merle Haggard, Dr. Ralph Stanley and one of my big music inspirations Allen Toussaint. The night will close with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band playing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.”

I was JUST thinking about the classic “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” as actually we “quote” the melody of that classic in the solo section of our song “Love Remains”.

Small world, I can already tell I am being called to stretch and step out and let my music shine out to the world. I’m already feeling divine flow and synchronicity at work!   “Love Remains” has these beautiful words…”Truth is, when all of life and death has swept over us, truth is, love will remain, love crosses over and love remains.”

Love remains strong and steadfast in my heart as I pack your love in the suitcase to take with me. You guys started this by making the Indiegogo campaign a reality. Now can you say Nashville or bust? 🙂

When I return we will be back in the studio for one more day to work on vocals, so stay tuned for more studio updates and sneak peeks! Also if you chose the “Farm to Table Listening Party” as your perk, then yaaaaaaay! Save the date, October 22nd for an exclusive party in Hollywood.  Invitations will go out when I return from Nashville!

Till then, Lots of love,
Christine

My Dear Music Family,

It’s been a reflecting kind of week. Before going into the studio to record, I asked myself this question: what if I was willing to let go of my fears, my desire for wanting things to be perfect, my need to control how things end up? What then?

I thought about the journey I asked you to take with me when I began the Indiegogo campaign. I asked you to take a leap of faith with me, to be a part of something bigger than me. Now I was asking myself to stretch and grow, to put my heart out there with trust and faith.

So here we are a week later and I’m still reliving how each day in the studio was truly heaven.  I was able to make music with my favorite people in the world and it was amazing how everything was in such flow and alignment.  The band came together and we all had this feeling of connection. Then something happened to me that I wasn’t quite expecting.  By day 3 when recording “Soul and Bone”, I was singing in a way I never have before! I fully sang from the bottom of my soul with a bit of raspy goodness, completely emotional and unstudied.

On day 2 we recorded “Love Remains” and “Honey For My Soul” – both songs inspired by my mom.  That’s the day we had a blast doing the fun clap track. Watch the video to see how much fun we were having!

On day 3, we recorded “Bitter and Sweet” and “Soul and Bone”.  Both songs have a raw and haunting quality about them. Aaron Sterling joined us on percussion and played instruments made from found objects: Perrier cans tied together, a washtub, and a brake fluid can. They all sounded so cool and added so much to the songs. Patricia Bahia, my friend and cowriter, also joined us in the studio and added a lot to the fun, gave some good feedback and cheered me on.

I surprised myself and looking back now, it all makes so much sense! If I am willing to let go of my fear and perfectionism and what I think I’m able to control, I find a deeper connection and freedom in my singing. I open up to my essential self, surrender to divine flow and then truly hand things over to a higher power.

I’m so excited to do this, for you, for me, and for all of us while experiencing the magic of music and surrender. Truly this experience has touched me deeply and I am so grateful to be sharing this experience with all of you.  I can’t wait to share the tracks when we are done with mastering.

More exciting things in the coming weeks as we continue with production and begin to get our perks designed. Stay tuned!

If you are stateside, happy early Labor Day weekend.

Love,
Christine

Dear Music Family,

I’m so excited! Our first day in the studio was aaaamaaazing! Oh my gosh, where to begin?

It was better than I even dreamed it could be and I’m so grateful to all of you, my co-creators and angels who joined with me to make “Been a Long Time” a reality. I brought all of you along with me into the studio. Every conversation I had with each of you during the Indiegogo campaign, all of the stories you shared about my mom, catching up with those of you I haven’t spoken to in a long time, all of it went into the songs we recorded. I felt all of you with me in the studio. All of your love and prayers carried my voice and the whole band up to heavenly heights!

When things are in alignment, it flows. If there were a word to describe how things went, that would be it, FLOW! We all had a blast making music together and sailed through 3 songs,  “Love is the Answer”, “That’s How the Story Goes” and “Inside this Body”. All of our preparation and pre-production paid off big time and it was thrilling to hear my beautiful vision come to life, I can’t wait for you to hear it!

A huge thanks to my team: Sara Chameides for assisting so I could focus on singing, Alex Martinez for some great shots and video to come (here are a few photos behind the scenes) and the whole band deserves some big hugs, high fives and kudos; Mick Taras, Paul Alexander Gonzalez, Doug Petty, Edwin Livingston and engineer Talley Sherwood and his lovely studio Tritone recording!

Okay, have got to prep for day 2. Stay tuned for more. Happy Thursday! Woot woot!

To my music family,

I hope your August is off to a good start.  What a whirlwind summer it’s been, filled with teaching, performing and planning for the upcoming album recording.  I’ve got so many updates!

Over the July 4th holiday, I went to a family reunion in Kingsburg, CA where I met up with cousins and family members that I hadn’t seen in many years.  I also had a chance to meet up with some of my mother’s old friends.  The Indiegogo campaign set off months of catching up with friends old and new.  This is one of the parts I love most, being able to harness the energy from each of these meetings.  Always, there are beautiful takeaways with information I hadn’t known about my family, or old stories with new twists that fill me up.  It’s been 5 years since my mother passed away and not a day goes by that I don’t think of her.  Jean Gatewood, one of my mother’s high school friends, took us down memory lane, sharing all of the antics my mother and she did in high school.  I’ve always thought of my mother as more reserved, so it was funny to hear ways in which she shined her light and a lovely way to honor her memory.

Speaking of honoring, I’ve had the chance to create and collaborate on some wonderful songs for the album that I think you will love!  “Soul and Bone” is a song I am writing with Patricia Bahia, a dear friend I made last summer while at Mary Gauthier’s songwriting workshop in Nashville.  The song is about when we go through all the trials and hardships, all the extraneous things get stripped away and we are left with who we truly are.  One of my favorite lines from the verse, “If freedom is nothing left to lose, then I am truly free” is so powerful.  There’s nothing like sharing and collaborating live.  Patricia and I sang our hearts out at Muse Café Music Night two weeks ago.  It was a magical night, with a wonderful impromptu group that gathered to give their feedback.  I’ve so enjoyed meeting some of you from Facebook in person!

This coming weekend, I will be performing at The Hangar in the OC fair, with Paul McCartney and Wings Band Tribute on Friday evening.  Please stop by if you have a chance, there are still a few tickets left.  Doors open at 7:30pm, show at 8:30pm.  We’re going to be rocking out so come join us!

Last but not least, we are off to the races to record in 2 weeks at the studio. I am in great company with some stellar musicians, Mick Taras, Doug Petty, Edwin Livingston, Paul Alexander Gonzales and I’m so excited that Aaron Sterling will be joining us too.  He’s played with John Mayer and Taylor Swift, to name a few and my favorite duo of all time, The Civil Wars!  I will send another update next week with more details.  I’m off to get ready for Wings Band for now….

Until next time!

With much love,

Christine

Hello my music family,

I hope you all had a beautiful Mother’s Day.  I sang “Honey For My Soul” at church and the piano recital I had for my students.  So many people came up after church to share how touched they were.  I wrote this song about my mom, but really, it is for all mothers and how we “mother”.  Here is a part of the lyrics.  “She taught me how to sing and play all the songs within her heart, brings me joy and comfort now that we are apart.”  

This is me singing my story…about us…about you.  All of our stories are different and the same.  It is all based on love.  And it is your love that has brought me here.  Thanks for being my angel.  With your help this past week, we made our first stretch goal of booking the studio.

We are halfway into week 2 and a little over 40% funded. 

Woo hoo! But we are not out of the woods yet. 

I equate the studio to building a house.  We’ve poured the foundation, but now we need to raise the funds to frame the building, doors, windows and all.  Everything involved in actually completing the album comes next.

I am holding the vision for guest musicians to come play with us, to have the best environment possible, not only technically but also creatively.  Think of it as an old-fashioned barn raising, but a musical one.  No one can barn raise on their own.

That’s where you come in.  Please pledge and continue to get the word out to your community.

I can promise you one heck of a listening party when this campaign closes!

What you can do

Click here to go to Christine’s IndieGogo Campaign.

Watch The Video.  Please pledge!  Any amount will help. It all begins in the heart. If my music has ever moved you, this is the moment to pay it forward. Help me share it with the world.  Be my record label.  Be my voice.

Here’s how it works

Watch The Video. Pledge!

Pledges begin at just $10! For the price of 2 lattes from Starbucks, you will have my eternal ♡ and gratitude! It will take less than 1 minute to help make my soul’s calling a reality!

With all my ♡ & gratitude always!

Christine

Dear Beautiful Friends,

Guess what? I woke up this morning to 32% funded! YOU, my dear community— is helping move this album forward.

Guess what is even more exciting? If we get to 40% funded we can book the recording studio this weekend.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT ♡

40% funded will allow me to:

• book the studio
• confirm scheduling
• book the musicians

WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY!

Watch The Video

Help me by visualizing that sweet goal of 40% so I can book the studio this weekend!

Please pledge.  Any amount will help.  It all begins in the heart.  If my music has ever moved you, this is the moment to pay it forward.

Help me share it with the world!

With all my ♡ & gratitude,

Christine

Dear Beautiful Souls!

I have some exciting news to share and I’m jumping for joy! Click here to Watch The Video and find out what it is!

Ever since I was a little girl, singing and creating music has made me feel alive.  I feel playful and joyful and a part bigger than myself comes forward.

It is my soul’s calling and what makes my heart sing!

You’ve heard me blog about this time and time again. That we are not immune to the ups and downs called life. Each one of us has come up against struggles and tough times in life that seem impossible to overcome.

I too have been there, but I’ve also experienced great love and the beauty in life that has kept my heart open. This is the part I need your help with.

Help me make a soul’s calling a reality. I need your help to make my next album!

I want to serve in a bigger way and you’re going to keep me accountable to my soul’s calling.  Take these next steps with me and be a part of my album!

With you as my community, my co-creators, my band of angels, all things are possible!

What you can do

Click here to Watch The Video. Please pledge. Any amount will help. It all begins in the heart. If my music has ever moved you, this is the moment to pay it forward. Help me share it with the world. Be my record label. Be my voice.

Here’s how it works

Watch The Video. Pledge!
Pledges begin at just $10! For the price of 2 lattes from Starbucks, you will have my eternal ♡ and gratitude!

It will take less than 1 minute to help make my soul’s calling a reality!

With all my ♡ & gratitude always!
Christine

Dear beautiful souls,

Can you believe 2015 is almost over?  I’ve been reflecting on all of the goodness that’s happened in 2015, creativity being a key word. My dad’s 80th birthday is at the top of the list. Not only because I love and adore him, but I love surprises!   For his surprise party, I put together a family photo shoot, pictures for a slide show and all the songs we were going to sing.  Everything fed my soul and I was in full creative producer mode.

This was also a big travel year for me. I took a creative big leap in participating in two songwriting workshops.  First it was off to Florida to collaborate with Phil Madeira and then to Nashville to write with Mary Gauthier.  Later in the year, I returned to Nashville for Americana Fest. It was a way to say I believe in myself and honor my creative gifts and step up my game.

Have you ever done anything that scared you to pieces and at the same time you knew it was what you had to do?

Music has always been my calling and at the same time, as I am called to dream bigger and rise above my fears, there are still times where I feel scared.

Scared. And being asked to trust again.

That’s where you come in.

This fall I’ve poured my heart and soul into working on my video for a Kickstarter campaign that I’ll be launching next year to fund my next album.  I’ve learned so much about myself and my purpose in the process. I’ve also learned that it means the world to me to share my music with the world and you. I know that Spirit has my back and love continues to guide me every time I get into “worry” mode.

Stay tuned, as the launch gets closer as I will be asking for your feedback and help.

You mean the world to me. Without you, there would be no one to share my love of music with. So this holiday season, I want to share with you an exclusive, unreleased, just for you song!  It’s called “My Heart Believes It’s So” and it’s a reminder to trust and live from your heart, an assurance that divine love and protection surround you.

Download it here.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with all you dream of!

I recently saw my student Sarah perform at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles; she headlined with her band “Superhumanoids”. I am happy and thrilled I got to see her shine. Her band had the number one song on KCRW and I am so proud of her!

I taught Sarah from the age of 13 through college. We’ve always known that Sarah had a “special something”. Like any teenager, there can be resistance and fear in pursuing something, but Sarah found an outlet in her music.  She wrote about loss in a song about her dog Charlie, she wrote about missing him. Her next song was about mean girls in high school and peer pressure (something we all experience).

Here is what Sarah’s Mom Debbie had to say,

Christine not only taught Sarah music composition, ways to perfect her voice skills, writing and lyrics, she taught her confidence. At 15, Sarah recorded her songs professionally in a studio. This led her to a life long love affair with music.

Sarah left for college and a year abroad in Paris. She then decided to return home to continue her study of music. Christine played a crucial role in a pivotal point in Sarah’s life, working daily with Sarah to get her ready for her audition for Thornton School of Music. Christine was at her side the day Sarah performed in front of some of the most talented musical instructors at the school.

Fast forward to today.  Sarah’s band signed a record label contract!

We have Christine’s guidance and teaching to thank for this. My husband and I will always be grateful to Christine.”

Teaching is fulfilling in so many ways, but especially when I get to see a student bloom into her fullest potential. Now the world gets to enjoy Sarah’s music and every time I hear her song on KCRW, I feel like a little part of me is with her too. I am truly grateful.

Everyday, I wake up and thank God for this opportunity to show up and serve and for the two mentors who inspired me to teach, my Mom and Mrs. Perla Warren, my beloved college music teacher.  I want to be that person to inspire you and help you discover your wonderful gifts, just like they did for me. It is never to late to follow your passion and become your best self! Just look at Sarah!