on the stuffing of stockings, gifts from the homeless and more

Happy Holidays Everyone,

I hope this letter finds you warm and dry. Here's a little update. I have put all my wares on sale for the holidays if you wish to sharing some of the music you love with the people you love. . . There's also a little story about a homeless man who shed a little light on my understanding of giving. . .

Holiday CD Sale
Since everyone is shopping this year on a tighter budget, I thought I'd bring the prices down on my CD's and Yoga DVD, and offer you a little holiday special.

Red -- $10.99
Right Where I Belong -- $10.99
Old New Borrowed & Blue (Double Live & DVD) - $15.99

The Gift of YOGA:
I'm also offering Holiday Gift Certificates for Private and small group Yoga instruction. $65.00 for a 75 minute consultation and yoga class. $100 for 2 sessions. If you're not an Austin resident but I tour to your town regularly, we can schedule this easily.

Yoga To Go, Yoga for Musicians & Other Traveling Professionals (DVD, Workbook & Audio) -$14.99

Visit my websiteto purchase the CD's & Yoga DVD's. If you are interested in the yoga instruction, contact me directly: wendy@wendycolonna.com.

With all the frenetic energy of the Holidays, I've been setting intentions left and right these days and thought I'd start blogging more about on this little journey of mine.

A little story. . . A Homeless Fella, Generosity and Gratitude . . .

This past Saturday, I was with friends in Houston, going to grab lunch. We parked and were greeted by these two homeless men who asked us for money/contributions. On our way into the restaurant we passed on giving to them, but on our way out, we handed them a box with a couple of tacos. One of the men thanked me and insisted that I wait just a moment. He pulled a soggy plastic bag of random women's jewelry (all thrift store quality, obviously found items) and insisted I sort through it to find a piece that suited me.

He wanted to reciprocate my gesture of bringing him food with a gesture to me, even though he had only the clothes on his back and this little plastic bag of random cheap jewelry. I selected a little silver bracelet and thanked him and went on my way.

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude and generosity. . . It seems like the more we are thankful for what we have, the less we feel we need and the more we give from a place of love - not obligation or guilt - the more we receive and recognize abundance. . . .

Live in Love. . .

Wendy Colonna

Want to journey with us into the studio, hear about how we are making the album? Here's a glimpse.

Monday, Sept 7th, Labor Day. 4pm-midnight We showed up to the studio to get it all set up for Tuesday's tracking. The Nest (The studio) is this great space way down south off 1826 in Austin. The ceilings in the big room are vaulted and about 18-22 ft high, so the acoustics in the room are great. The control room has this gorgeous mixing board and next to the control room is where the Analog Tape Machines live. 2" tape rolling is magnificent to behold. Robb Kidd, JT Holt, Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne, Chad Pope, Matt Hubbard and Myself all show up and the guys get busy on the mic set up. The gear is top notch and the mics set up on the drums alone takes about 4 hours. There are these great cylindrical baffles to muffle the sound. This isolates each instrument so that the sound from it doesn't bleed too much into the next guy's mic while recording the tunes live. We went over some arrangements, some feels for the songs. . . Getting excited. . .

Sept 8-10. Tues -Fri 12 hr days, Friday half day. . Tracking with Mark Andes on bass, Robb on drums, Chad and sometimes Malcolm on guitars, Matt on keys and me on scratch vocals and some acoustic guitars. The goal for Week 1 was to get all the basic tracks on tape. Bass, Drums, Rhythm guitars, textural keys etc. Scratch vocals and acoustic. Malcolm guides the band on stops while we're recording. . . like a conductor cuing an rock n roll orchestra. Eyes closed, arms in the air, listening for every note . . Everyone's parts start to jive as bass and drums link in to one another's grooves. . . The grooves are laid song by song. . . we see the framework, the shapes of the tunes emerging. . .The studio is decorated in everyone's fine sacred items, Chad and I have an ancestor altar working on one of the amp cases, Prayer beads, pieces from sacred gatherings, feathers, items from our beloveds, tapestries and candles. . . we gigged all weekend. . .

Sept 15-17, Tues-Thurs 12-15 hr days. . . This week's goals were lofty. We set our sights on tracking all the lead vocals, strings on 4 songs, horns on 4 songs, percussion tracks and some background vocals. . . Tuesday, I sang all day. The guys set up this amazing little vocal temple for me in between sound dividers and baffles and we had 3 amazing vintage mics set up for all vocals. The one we used was the same model microphone used to track people like Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. . . I had my little Ganesha statue, all my jewelry that makes noise and about 4 drinks. .Coffee, Tea, Water and Some Reserve Highland Park Scotch for the pipes. We nailed 6 songs Tues and 3 Wednesday Morning. . . At 1pm Wed, Dave Madden came in to lay down some keys on the grand piano . . .nailed it. . . and then Malcolm, Chad, Dave & I laid down some background vocals on a couple of tunes. At 5pm, Greg Williams showed up to play flute on one tune and sax on 3 others. . . ThenSteve Zirkel showed for trumpets and Matt Hubbard grabbed his trombone. Matt, Steve, and Greg laid down some sexy horn parts for 4 of the tunes. Steve Bernal and Leah Zeger showed up at 11pm to bow up some string parts on the songs. We were in the studio till 2am finishing the strings. It was divine to hear the songs becoming songs. . . and to hear this exquisite soul and musicianship. . Thursday AM, Steve was back for more cello parts (you won't believe what this guy can do on a cello!). After Steve, I laid down the last of the lead vocal tracks and at 1pm Cyril Neville came in to lay down some tambourine and conga and bongo parts on a few tunes. T'was amazing to watch him make his rhythmmagic. We then laid down some more background singing/chanting. . . Then Candice Sanders came by and we did some girly flavored backing vox on a couple tunes before Chad and I had to leave for our show in San Antone. That was intense. We rushed to SA to play while the guys stayed at the studio to mix some roughs until 4am. . .

We have one more day of tracking. . . Right Now the songs are taking shape in amazing ways. Looks like we may have final mixes by the first week of Oct. . . YIPPEEE!

I can't say enough positive stuff about working with these folks. Over gumbo and boudin on Tues morning last week, we talked about keeping the goddess in all the songs. . . I just love it. You guys are gonna FLIP when you hear the mixes. Malcolm is a great visionary and producer and Matt and JT could not be cooler in terms of technical studio support and engineering. . .

The whole team is brimming with excitement. . . We are tired, but satisfied thusfar. . .
Many thanks from all of us to Amy Fletcher for shooting some pics and bringing us a few meals during this lockdown. . . whew!
Check out Chad's Studio tour for a visual on Youtube

Thanks to those of you who have already Pre-Ordered your album package. Once we get some final mixes, I will be sending you all a sneak preview track. . . For those of you who haven't pre-ordered, ORDER TODAY! Your pre-orders fund the album's production and mastering, the artwork and everything else and we have not made our budget yet. . . So we need you!

The album is going to be released in Feb 10, but Pre-Order Patrons will be receiving theirs months before. . . and all patrons will have some delicious sneak previews on the way. . .

PRE ORDER TODAY HERE

If you're not a fan, join My Facebook Music Fan Page Today http://www.facebook.com/wendycolonnamusic"

Austin: Special Momo's Anniversary Show & Confluence Bodywork Back to School Workshop, Upcoming Album & Events

Hello Lovlies!

Have you danced in the showers over the last few days? OH! to feel rain and see rainbows has been such a delicious pleasure!

A few exciting tidbits for you. . . Saturday is going to be a pretty magical day. I am doing 2 wonderful events and want to invite you to share in the magic.

Momo's 9th Anniversary: A weekend you won't want to miss!
Our show is Saturday, Aug 29th at 9pm.

On Sat our band is sharing the stage Saturday with Kacey Crowley, Brian Keane, Suzanna Choffel and Drew Smith. . . ALL amazing Austin based Artists in an awesome Club. An Unforgettable night guaranteed to lift your spirits, make you laugh, cry and groove. . . yup. Don't miss it! Advance tickets available at Front Gate Tickets.

Confluence Bodywork's Breath Body Balance Back to School Workshop Presented by Myself, Rochelle Poulson, LMT & Hosted by Austin Kula Yoga
THIS WEEKEND! SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!
Saturday August 29th 2pm-5pm
Call Austin Kula Yoga to register (512) 542-3334

Confluence Bodywork & Austin Kula Yoga present a "Back to School"workshop for teachers, students, parents & caregivers preparing for the shift of seasons.


In this workshop Wendy Colonna, RYT and Rochelle Poulson, Nationally Certified Massage Therapist will work with you to discover how you can transition into the fall season of work and play with minimal stress and maximum celebration.

This workshop will cover the essential tools of transition: yoga, massage, pranayama, Ayurvedic insight and fun exercises that will help you stay balanced through the fall months.

Yummy autumn snacks will be served. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat!
Contact Austin Kula Yoga to sign up. Early Registrants pay only $20. At the door it's $25. Still a great deal!


We're going into the studio to begin recording this coming Tues, Sept 1st with Papa Mali. We're so excited to be en route to this sultry swampy new album. . .

Pre-order your copy TODAY.. Your orders are essential to the album's production and time is of the essence! We have lots of yummy gift packages ranging from $20 up and all Preorders contribute to the album's production and are rewarded with lots of fun gifties. Free sneak peak demos and rare radio recordings are available at the time of purchase. . . Thanks to everyone who has taken part in our album thus far. . Your orders have helped so much!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Award Winning Documentary Film Screening: Pray the Devil Back to Hell
Sunday, September 13th, 530PM, Hosted by Journey IFC,
3009 Industrial Terrace, Austin TX.


I recently heard about and was completely inspired and moved when I learned the true story of a group of ordinary and courageous Liberian women who stood up against the war in their country and restored peace and dignity to their fellow country-men and women.

Their story has inspired legions of fans during the film’s nationwide theatrical run, multiple festival awards, and international screenings.

September screenings of the Film will Celebrate the UN’s International Day of Peace With Screenings Around the world.

Please Join us at Journey to watch and discuss the film.

Wendy Colonna & Dave Madden at Zach Scott Theater

Love and long for that Intimate listening setting? Join us for a Special Evening in one of Austin's most beautiful performance spaces. We will be sharing the bill with Dave Madden and should have some sweet special guests in and out through the evening. Mark your calendar for Friday, Sept 25th (just before my birthday!) for this special show!


In Love & Light & Little black rainclouds. . .hovering over the honey tree. . .
Wendy Colonna

"This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. "~Rumi

Stay Connected! Spread the word! Share the Love!

www.wendycolonna.com
Wendy's official Myspace

Big News! Upcoming Album! Pre-Order Today & Take Part in the Art

CLICK HERE

Hello Beloved Fans, Friends, Family Near and Far,

As many of you know, It has been four years since my last studio album was created. Since that release, I've toured the US, Europe, been a finalist for a reality TV show (don't ask), had a song in a TV commercial, won a huge online competition, made an awesome live album & yoga DVD, experienced savory successes, heartbreaking losses and intense challenges. It takes a strong love, faith and lots of surrender to stay on the bucking bronco of the music biz and thanks to all of you, I have. . .

NEW ALBUM: Please Pre-Order Today & Take Part in the Artr
I am thrilled to announce that this fall, I will be creating a NEW STUDIO ALBUM. It is my honor and privilege to work with internationally acclaimed, Louisiana-native artist and producer, Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne on this project. It will be my most savory and swampy album yet, and it's gonna be so sweet to share it with you!

You can help me in a very real way by pre-ordering your copy right now. Although no showering of gifts could truly express my gratitude for your role in my career, I have put together a series of gift packages for you to choose from. Your early orders will help pay for studio time, musicians, photographers, designers, promoters, and manufacturing necessary to create and deliver this album to audiences across the world. I call these gift packages "Prana Packages." "Prana" is the sanskrit term for "vital energy force sustaining life and creation, permeating the whole of creation, life force, breath." By purchasing one of the "Prana Packages" you are literally breathing life energy into this new creation.

Every "Prana Package" Includes

* An autographed Album mailed to you hot off the presses.
* Digital copy of "Cabin Demos & Radio Rarities" - A collection of fresh new demos, interviews and radio performances. An instant token of my gratitude, available to you at time of purchase.

CLICK HERE to View "Prana Packages" and Pre-Order

I cannot begin to thank you enough for your support through this journey. I hope that the music continues to bring you joy, solace and inspiration. . . I hope you will pre-order the "Prana Package" that's right for you and be a part of this new album!

Much Love & Light,
Wendy Lorraine Colonna

Stay Connected:
Official Website
Facebook Fan Page *** NEW FAN PAGE, JOIN TODAY!***
Facebook Friend Page
You Tube
Mailing List, Calendar Wigits, Juke Box Wigits
MySpace
EPK

--
Relinquish your attachment to the known, step into the unknown, and you will step into the field of all possibilities. -Deepak Chopra

Bliss Out Anyway

When I was completing my yoga teacher training several years ago, I desired to seek out a guru.

What I learned was not quite what I expected. I hoped that I would find one person who would be able to see in me where I am lacking in discipline or blocked from divine insight. Someone who could hold up the mirror of accountability with love and divine light and change my life. . . Some kind of spiritual parent. . . Taking me under their wing and showing me the long routes and short cuts to enlightenment.

When an outside teacher did not appear to reflect this to me in a flood of light and love, I was frustrated. I felt out of sorts and like my prayers and intentions may have been for naught.
Somewhere, some time after the frustration and irritation had passed and I had given up on it, I finally discovered that I had an inner guru who could share all this info if I was quiet enough to observe.

There is a saying that goes something like this;"when the student is ready, the teacher appears." This seems to be the way of the universe. We must clear the space in our lives and seek within, practice with the disciplines we have been taught in meditation, yoga and dancing and read the reflections of the mystics and continue to show up and observe with detachment.

We have to make room for reflection in order to have clarity and we must have clarity to grow toward our divine purpose. Only then do we discover gurus in all experiences and people we encounter.

There are people who roam the earth and channel divine light more visibly than others, but in truth, we all have this capacity and we are all teachers and students alike. . .

We want answers from an expert in ANYTHING. Financial, Religious. Emotional. Career-related. Pray this way, pay that way. . . We feel we need outside affirmation, outside security.

We get diseases, hit by cars, our banks close - even when we've been closely following the advice of "experts" we die anyway. We lose loved ones. We trust. We get screwed. We trust again.

Yesterday after a long hot day of mind blowing meetings and a session, I went to the springs. Listened to music, water, people, a guy named David with a stringy beard and big beautiful open eyes walked up sat down and learned to play the mandolin and he chanted beautifully in sanskrit. A beautiful deaf 22 year old named Jamal taught me and my girlfriend some hula hooping tricks. I relished with the other hot swimmers in the magic of the cold springs. I saw some pretty fish. I swam with my whole body.

In the midst of a completely upside-down time of my life, I blissed out anyway.
It was awesome.

Tools I have learned from my all my gurus. Thank you ALL.

Practice Gratitude when you feel good and when you feel unfulfilled
Clear the Path, let go of relationships, things and habits that aren't serving growth
Observe without attachment or taking things personally
Let go of the "story" and the expected 'outcome' of everything (being selective here doesn't work)
Tell the truth
Notice the dance between your faith and your action
Recognize the information within and around you
Align with Integrity
Channel Creativity
Love Completely from whatever distance is appropriate

Bliss out ANYWAY!

Please Consider Signing this Petition to Austin City Council to Support the Legacy of Our Live Music

If you are interested in preserving the legacy of live music in Austin, please consider signing this petition and sharing it with other live music lovers.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/austinmusic/

WHY?

After a weekend on the road, I came home to learn that one of Austin's cherished venues, Shady Grove's live musical entertainment was shut down last night due to a violation of the sound ordinance.

Last night Sahara Smith was on stage and Jimmy LaFave was preparing to perform. We're not talking thrash metal (quality thrash rarely works at 75db). We're talking sweet melodies and tender voices.

This ordinance was created many years ago and is recently being enforced across Austin. We are hoping to work with the City of Austin to create a reasonable solution that keeps music alive and residents happy.

The DB level that is currently being enforced is 75 db. To get an idea of what 75 db sounds like, go out and stand next to a moderately busy street. That's about it. Five people in an excited conversation can exceed this DB easily. ONE motorcycle/chopper revving can be louder than 100 db.

Music venues on S. Congress & S. 1st have discontinued their live music due to this DB enforcement. The Red River area is under scrutiny and now Barton Springs Road. What I'm suspecting is a big factor in this enforcement is that these areas that were once primarily commercial are now being swarmed with condos and other residential development. People who are moving into these long-standing "live music" areas like downtown and SoCo are complaining. It then becomes a battle between taxpaying residents and musicians and venues. No Fun.

Currently, there is also a moratorium on issuing live music permits. We are not sure when this is to be lifted, but potential venues in non-residential areas are unable to have live music outdoors at their establishments as of yet.

The music community in the "Live Music Capitol of the World" who have invested their lives in this amazing legacy, are concerned, uneasy and unsure of what to do. Some musicians who were at Shady Grove last night have assembled a petition to present to City Council.

Thank you for supporting music, the medicine of the soul.

The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of man's body. - Francis Bacon

You are the music while the music lasts. ~T.S. Eliot

All deep things are song. It seems somehow the very central essence of us, song; as if all the rest were but wrappages and hulls! ~Thomas Carlyle

Music is the universal language of mankind. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Outre-Mer

Music's the medicine of the mind. ~John A. Logan

If the King loves music, it is well with the land. ~Mencius

Without music life would be a mistake. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

He who sings scares away his woes. ~Cervantes

Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. ~Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name

Were it not for music, we might in these days say, the Beautiful is dead. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Co-creating your life and your country- Messiahs, Obamas and Redefining our Value as US Citizens

Yes, my very first open, online discussion of accountability, history and our power as a people to participate in this "CHANGE" we've been hearing so much about. . .

Several people have openly criticized Obama supporters, saying they have unfairly "deified" him. I find it very typical and perplexing at the same time. In my entire adult life (I'm 31) I've felt as though I have been powerless in my participation as a citizen to bring forth a change for good in my own country. I watched my parents, activists and educators be criticized and crippled by the rich and powerful in my hometown. As a result I've worked to become an activist with music and yoga, enriching the lives of people as I travel with love, community/connection and occasionally wisdom. To me, at times, these are the only ways I have felt empowered to participate in this country's wellness and as a counter force to its destruction. The last eight years, I've felt as if ANY of our input would be thrown in the White House paper shredders still in the envelope.

I am simply enthralled to bear witness to the mantra that Barack Obama and Joe Biden have been repeating- calling ALL US citizens into a place of personal and political empowerment. Before, during and after the election, it has been unwavering, they have been urging the PEOPLE to participate in improving their own lives. Which is why I find the savior thing awfully strange.

The part i find typical is that we've all observed through our narrow understanding of history that when people become desperate, they seek out a "Messiah" they can lean on to get through the rough times. Sadly, as we have learned through history's pages, when leaders who represent wisdom, truth and courage don't deliver the "quick fix" people react with some form of crucifixion. This is, if these inspirational leaders aren't assassinated fist by people whose nearsighted dynasty thrive on violence and destruction. I am hopeful that Obama will continue to remind people of their individual and collective ability to participate in the healing of their lives, our lives.

More than that, though, I pray for the citizens of the US, that we may look beyond this cycle of hope and violence and see that we truly do have the tools of empowerment and grace at our fingertips before we become impatient. We have a legacy, children, limited resources and a lot to become accountable for in order to become the individuals and the nation of which we dream.

We must open our eyes and enlighten ourselves. We have turned our gaze away from US instigated wars which have had no specified terms of victory or end in sight. We have ignored our excessive spending habits and have replaced community with entertainment. We have staggering and sad statistics that rank us top in the world with child obesity and type 2 diabetes because we have not set the standards of preventative health for our very young and impressionable. Everywhere, education is laughed at as a worthless "long track" to success and sense of earning has been replaced by a sense of entitlement. We have ignored our energy crisis and how many children "No Child Left Behind" is leaving behind. We can all see it, but something has happened in us as individuals that is tying our tongues and binding our hands. Simple and essential principles of nurturing have been popularly disregarded as "dumb, tree huggin' foolery."

Good news is that we are empowered- and that our new leaders are actually encouraging us to restore our sense of true value- not with gas guzzling over sized vehicles and and the latest in video game interfaces in surround sound- but with our minds, hands and hearts.

The even better news is that I don't believe that this means we have to agree, but I do believe that we have a duty to participate.

So- Dust off your ideals and dreams. Shake off the excess. Get up in the attic of your mind and dig out your hope and remember how good you were as a kid at devising strategies and schemes over the wildest of endeavors. You could build something out of nothing then and you have more resources before than you can fathom. . . Start the revolution from within. Honor the divine creative presence in your life and get busy co-creating your life and your country.

Young. . New . . Year. . Into the Mystic

Holidaze
I don't know about you guys, but this season's transition liked to knock me out of my rocker with all its madness. . . My holidays ranged from profound moments of breathing in gratitude and sipping on moments of divinity to trembling in chaos and uncertainty. Whoa nellie. I'm very grateful for the challenging experiences and also even more grateful for the opportunity in the young year to cultivate better boundaries, disciplines and rituals in my life. . .
Intentions and Inventory:
I am setting intentions on perceiving each choice in my life through three lenses. . . 1. "Is this supporting wellness?" 2. "Is this brave?" 3. "Is this in integrity with my highest vision, can I be accountable with this choice?" I am feeling so many things in this inventory process- disappointed, sad, joyful, grievous, relieved, realistic and excited. I hope that each of you are giving yourself the gift of a fresh inventory sheet and a new opportunity to find joy and love in your everyday lives. . . It's so easy to let that fall low on the priority list. . . Thank you all for being mirrors to me, showing me, in your many ways so many perspectives and visions and revisions. . .
2009:
I look forward to 2009. For the first few months, I will be staying close to home. I am going to complete the songs for our new album and will be working the details of recording, producing and releasing the new album. I also hope to cultivate my yoga practice and attend some trainings to enhance my teaching tools. Excited!
Touring:
Our European tour was amazing. We look forward to returning in the summer (we hope!). Learning all the way. We have a lovely blog space with our tales and photos from our travels in Italy & Belgium. Check em out! Our friend, Conrad made some sweet videos of a few tunes on Youtube. And. . Ginger Leigh put together some hysterical videos of some of our trip in Italy.

This month!
I hope to see you all in our tours. Will keep you posted on when we're coming your way. . . This month we have some really sweet shows in TX This week we have Austin & San Antonio and we will be doing shows at new-to-us venues, HOUSE OF BLUES in Houston and THE FAIRMOUNT in Forth Worth this month. Check the calendar for details and more dates.


In Love, Hope and Grace,
Wendy Lorraine Colonna