Share The Love

I had an idea this year for Valentine's Day.

I thought it would be really nice to release a version of Swing, (the only love song I've written in a while...) for my mailing list.

Then I thought - why stop at a version of the song? Why not create a video for the song?

Then I started thinking about different things I could do - I had some nice ideas, some pretty thoughts, but then settled on the winner.

I decided that it would be great to include people's stories, your stories, of love.

So, I asked, and you responded.

With the most beautiful stories!

...There's the story of how a couple met on a blind date and has been married for 40 years.

...Or how a husband visits his wife struggling with dementia every single day. She doesn't know him, so he has to reintroduce himself at each lunch.

...A man told me of how his rescue dog saves him from chronic pain, even though doctors had told him there was no cure.

...A couple told me that they locked eyes from across the gym. (I guess working out does have benefits!)

...A friend told me about how much she loves her daughters, not just because she loves them and they're family, but because they all really like each other.

The stories are fantastic. Beautiful. Moving. Inspiring.

The world can use more love - actually - the world needs more love, so we're going to give it to them.

If you'd like to share your story and be a part of the music video, you can tell your story and send a video or photo to me: kristen@kristengraves.com.

Thanks for sharing the love!

#ShareTheLove

New Song! (Untitled for now...)

Just a quick post to share a new song that (I think) I've finished, and will be taking into the studio soon.

I'll tell the entire story another time, but it involves a songwriting retreat, crossing the state line at 2 am into Wisconsin, and understanding my friends on the Cheyenne River Reservation so much better.

I hope you enjoy it, and if you're a part of my Patreon Community, you can help me come up with a title!

Thanks for watching!

I don't do contests...except for Tiny Desk...

I get asked a lot about why I don't enter contests...

Why don't you audition for The Voice?

Why don't you submit to 'x' songwriting competition?

Why don't you... [enter other question here]...

I used to. 

I used to believe that competitions and contests were one of the paths that you could take to be "discovered." (I also used to think that I wanted to be discovered...more on that another day.) I used to think that competitions and contests were genuinely looking for talent, people that just hadn't been found yet. 

I have entered my fair share of contests, including The Voice (for more on that, click here) and finally realized - competitions make me feel like crap.

They make me competitive.

I know that sounds obvious, given the word: competition...but I don't believe that music has to be competitive.

I do think that as musicians and songwriters, we need to constantly better ourselves. We need to write better songs, work on our voices, and practice our instruments, but I don't think that this should be done in a competitive way. 

It's unhealthy.

It creates weirdness between fellow songbirds.

Instead, I think we should be striving to better ourselves through support and community.

So this begs the question - why did I do the Tiny Desk Contest?

NPR has hosted Tiny Desk Concerts for years (quite reminiscent of my Hallway Sessions, if I do say so myself...) and have had incredible performers come through their offices.

Looking at the contest, it doesn't really feel like a competition, it feels more like a community.

It doesn't feel like winning the contest is the thing, but rather that making the video is the thing.

By making the video, I am joining a crew of other really talented folks who gathered around a desk and sang a song. 

Do I think I have a chance of winning? Nah, not really. Last year, they received 7,000 videos.

Do I think I have a chance of folks enjoying the video?

Definitely. Already done.

And here's what I think is cool - my community is an NPR-type community. So doing this video has gotten people energized, gotten us all excited, and plus, it gave me an excuse to pound on a desk.

So there you have it - if all contests and competitions felt like the Tiny Desk Contest, well then, I just might do them.

Here's my Tiny Desk Video below - hope you enjoy!

My own day

So…last week, I had huge news. I got to announce that Governor Malloy of Connecticut declared Tuesday, 12/15/15, Kristen Graves Day.

It was awesome. 

I’ve been joking about having my own day for a long time, because - who wouldn’t want their own day?  And it happened!

It actually happened!

I was psyched, of course. Who doesn’t like being recognized for their efforts in their career? I was so happy to be honored for my contributions to the arts.

But what really touched me, and what actually meant the most to me, was that he asked that the day encourage people to celebrate the arts as well as compassion and social justice.

To have my name listed in a sentence with compassion and social justice was and is a huge compliment.

Music is important to me. It’s my favorite thing in the entire world - it’s where I turn regardless of how I’m feeling, and it pays my bills. I love music.

But no matter what, no matter how hard I practice, or how great or bad I sound at any particular show, it’s incredibly important to me that I remain grounded and kind.

Because, really- I don’t think you’re ever talented enough to be a jerk.

Tuesday meant a lot to me for a lot of reasons, but to be celebrated as a kind musician - well…I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Thank you, Governor Malloy.

With Governor Malloy and his staff.

Posed with my official proclamation.

Lucky dog...

Chip has always been a roadie. From the time that he was a puppy, he traveled with me to gigs, sometimes even getting to come in the venue! (I have a really cute photo of him sitting on a bar stool for another time...)

This past year has been no exception - especially when Bryan has been traveling. It's Chip and Kristen off to the next show.

The other day I was singing at Salisbury Central School in Connecticut, and brought Chip along for the day. He kept me company on the early morning drive, we arrived early to take a walk, and then I set him up with food and water and left him in the car. (Don't worry - it was a cool day and the windows were down!)

During breaks I went to check on him, let him out to play, and on one of my final Just Be Nice presentations of the day, during the questions portion, a student named Elijah asked me if I had any pets. (He wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up.) I told him about Chip (as well as my frog, George) and mentioned that Chip was out in the car. 

At the end of the presentation, Elijah came up to me to see if Chip was going to be ok in the car. I told him he was fine, Chip likes the car (he just naps) and that the windows were down and it was a nice cool day.

Elijah then presented me with a brightly colored ball and said, 'I had this in my lunch box, but I'd like to give it to Chip so that he has something to play with.'

We had just been talking about kindness. We had just been talking about taking care of other people, other animals and the planet.

And here - a middle school kid - the kids that get a bad rep for being too self-involved, too apathetic, this kid wanted to look out for my dog. A dog he had never even met.

I promised Elijah that I'd post photos of Chip with his new ball - so here you have them!

Thanks for your kindness, Elijah.

Acting like an angel who would never destroy a ball...

Destroying the ball...