Now, it's hard to believe that I'm nearing the one year anniversary of my mother's death and that I've been a mother now myself for 6 months!
Motherhood is by far the most amazing role I've ever taken on. Every day I feel a new appreciation for life as I watch my son reach various milestones. Every day I marvel at the timing of his entrance into my life after so much loss. Every day begins with his smiling and cooing and ends with him fading to sleep in my arms. I count the blessings of each second I have with him. Knowing full well that these moments are fleeting and that I am so very fortunate to have them.
Many are asking if now I'll write "happy baby songs." Ha! Not quite. As many of you know me, my music and my message, you know that I am always compelled to take the darkest parts of our paths with the hope of transforming them into a brighter moment that we can all share together in our "Rock and Roll Church of Love." (Hail Hail Chuck Berry may he rest in peace.)
My mission continues with even more urgency as I observe the world I've brought my dear Aidan into and the man I hope he will become. This is why the upcoming album, Ready To Rise feels like my most important yet. Yes, there are songs on it about the loss of my siblings and parents - I needed to complete that chapter as I begin a new one - but there are also songs about the suffering I see all around us, yet I try to fuse with it the joy of what "us" coming together can do for our hearts and the one big heart of this world. Songs on the new album like, Same Sunlight touch on the very subject of how divided our nation and dare I say, our world, feels right now. Yet, when we see someone on the street suffering and we want to help, do we first ask "what is your religion?" " your sexual preference," "your politics?" I think it's fair to say that most of us do not. We just feel the urge to help ease the suffering of that being. Even if it's a silent prayer we say in passing which the person never knows we say for them. We are all living, dreaming and trying to survive "under the same sunlight." That's the point.
"Orphan" is a song on the album initially inspired by the news footage last autumn of a baby boy being dug from rubble in Aleppo. But it's for orphans all over the world. Some now with bitter hearts who watched their parents die before their eyes in war, some who lost their parents to famine and disease, some who lost their parents due to abject, unnecessary poverty. There's even a song I was once challenged to write about what it must be like for refugees and illegal immigrants risking everything to try their luck in a new world and culture - entitled, "Sad Solution." ALL of this is a jarring reminder of my own unbelievable fortune. A fortune I feel I can never take for granted or else my life and my music will cease to have meaning. As my dear Dutch friend Masja Ottenheim, who works tirelessly serving others, always says, "We have to be better not bitter!"
As always, I feel the need to express my gratitude to all of you who continue to share this journey with me and to those of you just coming on board. My Ready To Rise Tour is NOW and I look forward to celebrating life and love with you all in our sweaty, spitty, screamin', Church of Love!
A very special guest has been added to my NYC shows for March 24 & 25 at the Iridium. Plus, I've added some special cover songs, which I've never done before, after years of being asked... (yes I'm trying to be mysterious!) ;-)
I can't wait to see you all very soon on the path to love and celebration!
Meanwhile, I have 11 days to reach my final goal to fund the recording of my new album in Memphis this coming May. I need you to help me continue to spread love and joy with YOU!
Thank you ALL for your incredible love and support. I AM READY TO RISE & ROCK YOUR SOULS!
Love,
Dana