As a person who writes, records, and produces music, as well as much of the art for packaging that goes with the music, I am overly busy. And all that is just for ONE of the bands I’m in. I haven’t put a new studio record out since 2018. That is an incredibly uncomfortable place to be because A) it’s what my income is based on, and B) music streaming has taken my income from that source back to a negligible amount, and C) it’s just not natural to go this long without at least
Why not crowdfund a record? It works for one of my musical hero’s Ian McNabb who is prolific in putting new music out in this way, the world needs a new Neko Case album and I’d contribute up front x
I push forward with blind faith until I arrive at hope. It’s kinda like circling on a carousel, seeing the brass ring, and figuring I’ll eventually have the opportunity to grab it.
You could never produce another record, and I'd still travel the world to hear you. Thank you for sharing so much "real" - we are here, rooting for you in all of it.
There’s a couple of touchstones about hope I discovered early in the pandemic that I keep going back to. I heard an interview with James Baldwin where he said: “Hope is invented everyday.” I love that - it’s like a mantra for me that I often recite. Throughout all of his experiences and observations of systemic racism in the US, he found a powerful, almost impossible belief in the creative potential to hope.
And, Rebecca Solnit’s book “Hope in the Dark” works like a manual for hope. So many amazing stories of people finding (inventing) hope where it should not be.
It's not so much hope anymore, as it is bliss I drum up. This by continuing to write song lyrics. Rock and roll dreams pretty much more now a fantasy at 61 years of age than than they were when I began writing way back in 1985... But songsmithing gets more improved and more satisfying the older I get. See no reason to cease cobbling words as long as that bliss remains...
Our systems are so broken that we are only defined by work and seen as worthy if we work, work, work. Thank you for sharing; now that we are all emerging from the pandemic, I look back and wonder, how did we all make it? I see small businesses that are still there and assume that all is okay now, but it's probably not. We still need to understand how far to the edge many people were pushed. It's hard to have hope and sometimes I don't have much of it. I work at a nonprofit that provides women with pre-apprenticeships in construction; meeting some of them and hearing their stories give me hope that 'things' can change. People give me hope.
I drum up hope within myself by remembering that from our earliest times, our species has thrived by caring for each other and that, even in the dark times, we have made progress and seen ordinary humans reveal their most beautiful inner light in response to difficulties. and then I try to pour that hope into the people around me. also, kitten cams and raptor nest cams.
OMG you just completely slayed me with that picture.
120 days (give or take) and I'll be in the audience again... somewhere in the Caribbean. If some of the liquid has gelled enough to share, that would be awesome... but not necessary. Just looking forward to being part of the magic one more time.
I drum up hope by listening to music by artists like yourself. Your musicality and song crafting is exceptional. You have a cacophonous way with words and are able to bend and rearrange them so that they stir the best in us. And that voice. I know you will keep on keeping on and give us some more of that fuel that we love so much. Xoxo 
I just love you. You have such a beautiful, authentic, powerful voice, in song and otherwise. I'm here and want to help. That pic of you! omg!! So sweet!
The rise of hope has been challenging for me lately, it’s mangled in exhaustion and some random physical pain that mimics that electronic game Simon. Thanks for asking the question and nudging my brain back on track.
Why not crowdfund a record? It works for one of my musical hero’s Ian McNabb who is prolific in putting new music out in this way, the world needs a new Neko Case album and I’d contribute up front x
I'm good for recording. I was talking about most musicians out there, but I'm very honored by all of you saying you'd pitch in. Thanks :)
Sign me up! I've helped crowdfund several other musical projects as well
Me, too! I do it every time Over the Rhine is ready to record.
I push forward with blind faith until I arrive at hope. It’s kinda like circling on a carousel, seeing the brass ring, and figuring I’ll eventually have the opportunity to grab it.
You could never produce another record, and I'd still travel the world to hear you. Thank you for sharing so much "real" - we are here, rooting for you in all of it.
Ditto!
There’s a couple of touchstones about hope I discovered early in the pandemic that I keep going back to. I heard an interview with James Baldwin where he said: “Hope is invented everyday.” I love that - it’s like a mantra for me that I often recite. Throughout all of his experiences and observations of systemic racism in the US, he found a powerful, almost impossible belief in the creative potential to hope.
And, Rebecca Solnit’s book “Hope in the Dark” works like a manual for hope. So many amazing stories of people finding (inventing) hope where it should not be.
Thank you for sharing your words and music.
It's not so much hope anymore, as it is bliss I drum up. This by continuing to write song lyrics. Rock and roll dreams pretty much more now a fantasy at 61 years of age than than they were when I began writing way back in 1985... But songsmithing gets more improved and more satisfying the older I get. See no reason to cease cobbling words as long as that bliss remains...
Our systems are so broken that we are only defined by work and seen as worthy if we work, work, work. Thank you for sharing; now that we are all emerging from the pandemic, I look back and wonder, how did we all make it? I see small businesses that are still there and assume that all is okay now, but it's probably not. We still need to understand how far to the edge many people were pushed. It's hard to have hope and sometimes I don't have much of it. I work at a nonprofit that provides women with pre-apprenticeships in construction; meeting some of them and hearing their stories give me hope that 'things' can change. People give me hope.
omg ❤ lil tiny Neko!
I drum up hope within myself by remembering that from our earliest times, our species has thrived by caring for each other and that, even in the dark times, we have made progress and seen ordinary humans reveal their most beautiful inner light in response to difficulties. and then I try to pour that hope into the people around me. also, kitten cams and raptor nest cams.
Hope is actually a science! Check out Hope Rising by Casey Gwinn and Chan Hellman.
Music is where Hope lives it’s best life for me too.
I leave this here. It has helped me reframe hope. https://www.reddit.com/r/Poetry/comments/uvc6na/poem_hope_is_not_a_bird_emily_its_a_sewer_rat/
hope is just that quiet kid -- the last one to speak up cause those other feelings tend to be louder. just make some eye contact... :-D
OMG you just completely slayed me with that picture.
120 days (give or take) and I'll be in the audience again... somewhere in the Caribbean. If some of the liquid has gelled enough to share, that would be awesome... but not necessary. Just looking forward to being part of the magic one more time.
I drum up hope by listening to music by artists like yourself. Your musicality and song crafting is exceptional. You have a cacophonous way with words and are able to bend and rearrange them so that they stir the best in us. And that voice. I know you will keep on keeping on and give us some more of that fuel that we love so much. Xoxo 
I just love you. You have such a beautiful, authentic, powerful voice, in song and otherwise. I'm here and want to help. That pic of you! omg!! So sweet!
right
wow interesting
The rise of hope has been challenging for me lately, it’s mangled in exhaustion and some random physical pain that mimics that electronic game Simon. Thanks for asking the question and nudging my brain back on track.