Trailer for a new short documentary film by Rose Cousins – coming soon!

The PINES new release Dark So Gold #3 Singer-Songwriter album on iTunes

Market Monkeys to appear at Folk Alliance International 2012

THE PINES RELEASE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “CRY CRY CROW”

ORDER THE PINES’ NEW ALBUM “DARK SO GOLD” (RELEASE JAN 31)

Amazon: tinyurl.com/darksoamazon iTunes: tinyurl.com/pinesitunes More info at Red House Records >>

ROSE COUSINS PLAYS “THE SHELL” FOR SOUTHERN SOULS

ROSE COUSINS RELEASES SNEAK PEEK SINGLE “THE DARKNESS”

THE PINES RELEASE NEW ITUNES SINGLE “RISE UP AND BE LONELY”

Pre-Order Rose Cousins’ next album & film More info >>

Tis the season to celebrate.  The season gives us permission.  Do we need permission?

It’s important, no matter how old you are or how far you advance in your career, to celebrate milestones –  all the wins large and small. It’s important to remember how much each positive moment means.

It’s easy to get caught up in the rat race.  To forget to celebrate.  Easy to just think about the dates you gotta book.  The album you’re trying to get out the door.  How tired you are.   How many emails are flooding your inbox.  The fact that you still haven’t booked a hotel room for next week.  The drive ahead.  The people who are annoying you.

Really.

We force ourselves to soldier on all the time.  We hold out for the big win to celebrate.  We tell ourselves we shouldn’t get our hopes up.  That we have to stay strong, keep a thick skin.  Prepare for disappointment.  Only celebrate when it’s in writing.  Only celebrate when it’s definitely happening.  Only celebrate when it’s a confirmed thing.

In this business, we are pretty much always prepared for someone to let us down.

What good is that?

Lately, I celebrate when someone calls me back.

I celebrate when someone agrees with me.

I celebrate when someone is moved by a song.

I celebrate whenever we get close.  Or closer than we were yesterday.

Come ON people.  Celebrate.

Do that little dance in your seat because you finally got a reply from a music supervisor you sent your music to last summer.  Bob your head and giggle like a child because the venue you’ve always wanted to play is thinking of booking you.  Be proud of the fact that you were considered for opening for someone amazing, even if you didn’t get it.

As you progress in your career, sometimes the achievements that were exciting to you early on can start to seem insignificant if you don’t stoke your fire for them.  We live and work in a community that has gatherings, conferences, festivals and awards.  These will take on different meaning to you over time, as you grow.  Do what you can to court your original enthusiasm for them.  Keep the child in you alive.  Remember what they are about.  Celebrate them.

Too often we train musicians and professionals in our community that in order to be cool or show progress, you have to get bigger than the things you used to do.  You have to distance yourself from your previous accomplishments.  And sure, I suppose there may be instances in which that’s true – that perception matters in certain circles.  But you know, times are changing.  We now have a full generation of music listeners who have experienced the discrepancy between stardom and accomplishment.  A generation that has watched celebrity be challenged – and humbled – by technology.

I don’t think anyone can argue with pure, authentic celebration.  It’s more becoming on an artist than acting too cool to be somewhere or do something.  Don’t become that jerk who thinks he/she is too good to be somewhere.  That doesn’t look flattering on anyone.  You don’t get brownie points for brooding.  If it is important to someone, it should be important to you.  See it through their eyes and celebrate it.

Celebrate more.  Your creativity will thank you.

There’s something Garrison Starr says in a song on her new album that is really ringing true with me lately.

It’s never gonna be the right time
It’s never gonna feel like a good time
No it’s never gonna be the right time
When you’re really tryin’
Not when you’re really tryin’

from “When You’re Really Trying” on “Amateur” (comes out in early 2012)
www.garrisonstarr.com

That line “it’s never gonna feel like a good time” has really been sticking with me day-to-day.  Because she’s right.  When you are really trying, and achieving, it doesn’t always feel like you are.  You keep thinking – oh when this or that happens I’m going to really stop and celebrate.  When we get to the top of the mountain, I’m gonna have all this time to party and take in the view.  It’s gonna be awesome.  All my friends will be there.  We’ll have a party.

But it doesn’t really work that way.

When we get to the top of a mountain, we see another mountain to climb.

That is the way of the achiever.

So why not celebrate the steps along the way?

Anne Heaton’s new album succesfully funded on Kickstarter! If you didn’t contribute before the cutoff date, you can still pre-order the album here or on her website at www.anneheaton.com

Market Monkeys artists Meg Hutchinson and Rose Cousins appear alongside fellow Boston songwriter Mark Erelli at Americana Music Festival & Conference. Michelle Conceison to moderate panel on eCommerce innovation. Print our schedule >>

The Pines on tour supporting Mason Jennings Sept-Oct 2011!

More info >>

It’s "REVIVAL MONTH" in Harvard Square! Market Monkeys launches new website for respected folk music author Scott Alarik.

More info >>

Award-winning Canadian songwriter Rose Cousins is recording a new album and making a film in Boston More info >>

Photo by Shervin Iainez

Natalia Zukerman launches the Art Is Song Tour with Adrianne Gonzalez at US festivals this summer! More info >>

Winterbloom to appear on Cayamo 2012! More info >>

Scott Alarik’s new novel REVIVAL coming soon! More info >>

Meg Hutchinson’s album THE LIVING SIDE wins "Best Lyrics" from Indie Acoustic Project "Best CDs of 2010" More info >>

Rose Cousins wins two ECMAs!

Female Solo Recording of the Year for THE SEND OFF

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year for I WERE THE BIRD

More info >>