What We Focus On Matters

New JKBT Episode feat. Rachael Sage + Northeast Shows and 4th Sunday Salon

I’ve been meditating on the Election, the future, the world, and what I can do *beyond* the obvious things like voting, volunteering as a Vote Protector, and posting creative content to encourage people to go vote.

Every night about an hour before bedtime I get the now familiar Election Anxiety. It’s overwhelming and bodily and I don’t like it one bit. I’ve been trying to soothe my inner child and assure her I will take care of her, that she doesn’t have to carry this around. I’ve been doing a lot of breathing exercises to calm my body.

But I’ve also been thinking about something my therapist said about focusing on what you DO want, not what you don’t want. Call me woo-woo (great! I’ll take it!), but this concept is making more and more sense to me. I would never focus on a song I didn’t want to write, so why would it be different with anything else I want to help create?

So I’m trying to actively envision a world where we have reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, where people are paid living wages, where we soothe the planet, where peace is real everywhere. And then take actions in line with that vision. (Versus drowning in fear around what I don’t want.) I’m really new at it, but it feels good. It feels more revolutionary than fear.

Episode 4 of Jess Klein’s Big Table is Out Now: Rachael Sage on Empathy, Being an Outsider and Every Human is a Universe

This week’s guest on Jess Klein’s Big Table is the inimitable Rachael Sage. Rachael is a singer, songwriter, poet, and producer from New York who has released over 20 albums and EPs of empowered alt-folk-pop on her own label MPress Records since first bursting onto the women's music scene via Lilith Fair. An outspoken activist on behalf of many causes including LGBTQ+ rights, homelessness and women's health issues, Sage is a self-described "cancer thriver" who is a 6-time Independent Music Award Winner and John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize recipient.

Here’s a clip where Rachael discusses walking the line between assimilation and being an outsider growing up in the South as the granddaughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, and how her mom tried to help her do just that.  Rachael shared a lot in this conversation about being bullied as a kid, about how cancer forced her to become the “CEO” of her own health, and about navigating activism while being immune-compromised.

Listen/Watch the Whole Episode!

NC Music Love Army Single: This Land is Your Land - Out Now

The new NC Music Love Army single "This Land is Your Land" is out now on Bandcamp! It was a joy to come together with this crew - helmed by the inimitable Dawn Landes and featuring Hiss Golden Messenger, Skylar Gudasz, Charly Lowry, Django Haskins, Jasme Kelly, Caitlin Cary, Laurelyn Dossett ,Brett Harris ,James Davy, and a killer backing band! It's a beautiful collection of voices with an updated version of Woody Guthrie's classic designed to remind you of the simple idea of coming together for a shared vision. It's great to listen to while standing in line to Vote!! Get the single on Bandcamp and see the whole video on YouTube.

NB: In NC you CAN do same day registration.

Hey Boston! Hey Providence!

Join me for my first Providence show in a hot minute at Stone Soup Coffeehouse Saturday 11/9! I’ll be solo with special guest Ben Shaw opening the show. GET TICKETS!

Then I’ll pop up to Beantown to share an afternoon of songs with my pal Jenny Reynolds, with her killer story songs and picking technique. Suggested donation is $30. It’s open to the public but you gotta RSVP to let them know you’re coming. Do so HERE.

4th Sunday Salon this Sunday 10/27 @ 3pm ET

It’s my monthly Salon for paid subscribers! This month’s topic - Songs of Sundays. Can’t believe I didn’t think of this one before. We’ll co-create a playlist with your top 3 songs that remind you of Sundays or that you like to listen to on Sundays. Or maybe BY the Sundays. It’s all fair game. These are relaxed chats over zoom and I find them to be a good stress release and chance to connect over something we all love. Zoom registration for paid subscribers below!

Upcoming Shows

11/9 Stone Soup Coffeehouse, Providence, RI

11/10 House of Play, Boston, MA w/Jenny Reynolds Please email for info/reservations

12/7 ArtsCenter, Carrboro, NC

Keep the love alive!

It’s what makes us human. I love y’all.