SUNDAY SONGS #6

Reclamation, return, and coaxing that inner child to come out and play. Here's "Painter." Plus: my guest post over on "Slow Stories."

May 12, 2024

PAINTER

This week, I'm heading to the studio to begin work on my fourth album. It’s been seven (wild!) years since I last stepped foot in a recording studio, and a handful of years since I’ve seen Murray, my dear friend and engineer. The minute I heard his voice on the phone, I felt like I was home again.

Closing my eyes, I could feel the warmth of the basement studio in Brooklyn, the safe cocoon of the vocal booth. “Are you ready?” “Yes,” I'd say from the booth. Until I first held my children, my favorite feeling in the world was putting on studio headphones, the hush of silence in my ears, like holding a seashell to my ear as a child.

I have no idea what to expect. What if I don’t have it in me anymore? What if these new songs are terrible? What if everyone’s like, 'Who does she think she is?' The world is on fire, what am I doing? What if I’m too old, too broke, too tired, too traumatized, too…

But then again, what if it’s the best idea I’ve ever had?

Part of resilience is reclamation. Sometimes on our journeys we are forced to leave parts of ourselves behind. But grab that seashell. Listen for the hush.

Your song is waiting for you.

Enjoy “Painter,” from 2012’s Coral Dust. This song always makes me dance, and remember that there is joy inside, no matter what. I love Tim Foljahn’s Laurel Canyon guitar, Brian Kantor’s sixties girl band beats, and Television’s Fred Smith holding it all together with his steady, downtown New York bass. Dream team!

Love to all, and to all the mothers in particular — she’s still inside you.

May all beings be safe, happy, healthy, and FREE. Holding the mothers of the world in my heart today. My heart beats, breaks, and sings for us all.

Much to come,

xx Alexa

PS. Feel free to share in the comments, I love hearing from you. What are you longing to return to? What is your favorite feeling in the world?

SLOW STORIES

PPS. I was the guest this week over on Rachel Schwartzmann’s “Slow Stories.” I shared a handful of stories, book and film recommendations, and musings. I am a big fan of Rachel’s work, and I’m so excited for her book, Slowing: Discover Wonder, Beauty, and Creativity Through Slow Living. You can pre-order here.

Here’s to SLOWING…

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“Painter”

When I was a child I was a painter / Mixing color and water I formed you

Raven lady, steady now / You are too much to handle

Cold haze, you rock my plane / Manger sane

When I was a child my arms drove / Now they lie lame

Immobile, barren slain / Imagining him tame