
I’ve been listening to Norah Jones’s podcast, “Norah Jones Playing Along,” that she started not long after COVID shut everything down, and continued for 33 episodes until she and Sarah Oda announced the “last one” – at least for now while she is embarking on her first Norah Jones tour since 2020. It has been really interesting to hear so many people discuss things like songwriting, playing musical instruments, insecurities, and successes. One of the most fascinating parts about each session is hearing the stripped down, transformed versions of artists from just about every genre while they play and sing their songs with Norah’s piano and vocals. It’s been really cool to get to know so many talented people I would otherwise never have sought out because of the relaxed conversation and organic music making that is created in each episode. I found this podcast at a good time, because I’ve been evaluating what I do (and don’t do) with my own music. Hearing why people chose the path they’ve been on has made me reflect a lot on my own journey with my music. It’s made me even more settled in my contentment to share my songs as an amateur (doing it only for the love of it & not to become a performer) when I can fit it around other projects I’m working on.
Recently, I accidentally discovered a lady who has been writing songs, performing, and touring on a regular basis for over 30 years: Alice Di Micele. She is certainly not as well-known as Norah Jones or the other people featured on the podcast, but I love her energy, music, and thoughtful lyrics. I am so grateful for the ability to access music made by people on any scale – from home recordings to concert halls to sold-out stadiums. Just think, it wasn’t that long ago that the only way to find music you could relate to outside of your local physical circle was through people in the music business choosing what would get the chance to be played on the radio!
Since I started writing songs, I always felt like I wasn’t the right person to “perform” them, but I knew they were meant to be shared. I’m really happy to have a simple way to send out my “message in a bottle” from my little corner of the world.

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