A Bit About My Songwriting
Throghout my life, no matter what else I've been doing -- working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a technical writer, the managing director of a professional theater, or any other job -- I have always written songs. In recent years, I've been taking the good advice I so often give others: "Follow your dreams -- that way, you will make at least one person in this world happy!" That led me to release my first CD -- "I'm Here to Love." And that was so much fun, now I can't stop! (See Projects page.)
Themes such as unrequited love, etc., have been well covered by other songwriters. So, I figure my job is to focus on topics that haven't gotten as much attention. My songs are often inspired by events in my own life and the true stories of other people. Thus, I've written about a parent finding herself dumpster-diving, the joy of attending a home birth and welcoming a new soul into the world, a woman rising to new heights in response to being called to create something she thinks is beyond her capacity, the challenges facing the young people I've worked with in Juvenile Hall, the emotions following the death of a newborn baby, the experience of flying home to see my mother when it seemed as though she might be dying, and many other true-to-life situations. I also explore more conceptual themes, such as the meaning of marriage vows, the ways in which death could be considered a perfect lover, our purpose for coming to earth, how to create inner peace and world peace, and how to use lullabies as propaganda to convince children that going to sleep is fun.
An endless source of material for me -- which I call the "celebration genre" -- is the joys of sexual electricity between men and women. I also just get a kick out of the humorous aspects of being human. So I write funny songs -- the disclaimers we songwriters feel compelled to make before we present a new song, the dilemma of choosing socks that aren't boring, ways to warm cold feet, what to do with the excessive harvest from one's garden, etc.
I love creating songs for special occasions and for individuals. For instance, I've written a song for each of my godchildren and for several weddings. I am honored to be a member of the Threshold Choir, whose purpose is to sing (in twos and threes) at the bedside of people who are dying. So I've begun writing songs in 3-part harmony for that purpose as well.
I've also begun writing 4-part choral works, and I find this to be an exciting genre. My first piece, "Everyday Alleluia," includes three sections, using text in Latin, Spanish, and Arabic, with all 3 phrases coming together in the final section.
I write all my songs a cappella. Which means that I can write anywhere -- when I'm swimming laps, driving, doing dishes, taking a walk, trapped in a boring meeting, on a flight or waiting to fall back to sleep in the middle of the night. Which also means that all my songs are hummable and many are very danceable (especially if you like to waltz!).