What I created/co-created in 2021 and what's brewing/continuing into the New Year
It took getting away this past week for me to gain some perspective and appreciate all that's happened this past year despite the long shadow of this ongoing pandemic. I have to admit I found 2021 more challenging to mind and spirt than 2020! While I continue to feel extremely fortunate amid it all, my share of Covid-related fallout included figuring out how navigate the yawning space left by the vast reduction in opportunities to safely play and see live music. While I spent some of that "extra" time writing new material, getting a series of ASA sailing certifications and doubling the amount of my annual volunteerism with Golden Gate Raptor Observatory during the fall migration, I greatly missed playing live regularly. The few times I performed in-person last year felt really good.
While I've been slow to embrace the alternative to playing in traditional venues, regular livestream performances, I foresee doing more of those in the future, including this Friday, when I play another set at the 20th iteration of Quaranpalooza along with 21 other artists (More information HERE).
And now, a look back at what my 2021 was about:
Music
Bay Station's Beyond the Safe and Sound (April 9, 2021). Six new songs co-written with Kwame and recorded at home, in porches and remote studios.
Twin Lakes EP (May 21, 2021): Three new songs reflecting the events of 2020-21. Recorded at home and via flying in parts from the rythm section.
Bay Station's Love the Bay Video Series: We produced two new artist spotlight artists episodes (with Ben Bernstein (#16) and Francesca Lee (#17)) during a brief free & easy feeling window this summer AND a pandemic-themed Love the Bay Tour featuring single-song performances by nearly a dozen Bay Area artists. Available for your viewing pleasure on YouTube. Kwame and I plan to do another LTB SF Bay tour in the spring. We'll resume filming features when it feels safe to do so.
"A Whole Lotta Reasons to Freak Out" My co-write with Stefan Gustafson was released as a single. Watch the video HERE.
Upon review, I've a growing collection of as-yet-unreleased songs. Likewise, Kwame and I just came out of a week-long writing intensive in the desert so expect new music in 2022.
Words
I ramped up my prose writing again this year, doing more freelance writing, continuing to edit The Bay Station Eagle zine, leading generative workshops and re-envisioning my old Bird in the Tree blog here on Substack.
Yoga
The by-donation yoga classes I taught in the early days of the pandemic have morphed into a regular schedule. Find out more HERE.
That's about me. What about you? Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Cheers to a New Year!
Deborah