The Dizzying & Suspenseful Album Saga Continues

What happens when you receive damaged product 6 weeks before your first album release celebration, Wendy?

We received 1000 copies of our new album, "We Are One" three weeks ago and much to our dismay, we discovered the majority of the CDs we opened were scratched/scuffed. We contacted the manufacturer and overnighted sample unopened copies for them to examine. They passed it to upper management while we waited for their verdict. Two weeks passed before we got their final decision and indeed, they agreed there was a manufacturing error and we made arrangements for UPS to pick up the cds so that the manufacturer could re-print the discs and re-package them and ship them back to us. . . I opened about 250 copies to find enough unscratched copies to send to regional media in anticipation of our two release celebration dates in May (May 20th at the Mucky Duck in Houston & May 27th at Luna in San Antonio). We got about 50 usable copies for media and radio and UPS picked up the boxes yesterday to bring BACK to the manufacturers.

It's no mystery that this is already a quite irregular, risky and hectic business. I'd like to believe that I have a rather high tolerance for the pitfalls that accompany it but this particular set of curve-ball circumstances has leaned heavily on my patience and ability to stay calm in troubled waters. I've invested most of my financial resources and all of my time and love into its creation and in a sense, the direction of my career is riding on its success. It's been scary. I've been addressing my deepest hopes and fears and questioning my purpose and intentions in the midst of all this disheartening madness.

I've been working like a one woman army from dawn till midnight most days, running the business, strategically planning and budgeting tours and release events, negotiating with venues, rehearsing our awesome band, playing shows and preparing for media. I've kept my mind open, seeking out appropriate synergy in management, booking and publicity. I've kept my heart open and inner gaze fixed on both the tiny gifts of the present and the mystery that lies just over the horizon. I'm learning how to ask for help. It's kinda freaky, but a great lesson. Although the birthing process has been riddled with complications, "We Are One" is the finest project I have ever had the pleasure to create. The desire to spread the music's magic propels me to move forward in good faith and grace.

More than ever, I've been so grateful for my fans, community, friends and family and your endless, unconditional love and emotional support. I apologize that I couldn't get copies in your hands sooner, but I can guarantee that it will be worth it once you get the album. Pre-Order Patrons, I hope you're enjoying the album digitally. If you don't have it and want to purchase it online, it is available on CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/wendycolonna1 . If you are already enjoying the album please write a review on CD baby.

Radio, Events et More:
We've been getting radio play in Belgium, the UK, Austin, Louisiana. . . and we haven't even sent out formal CDs to these stations! It's really exciting and has kept my heart lifted to hear the joy of DJ's sharing the songs with their listeners. I hope it's as infectious an experience for you. . . As of now, Album release parties will begin on May 20th at the Mucky Duck in Houston. The Following week, on May 28th we will be celebrating and performing the album at Luna in San Antonio. Both of these are AMAZING rooms and we hope you'll share news of the parties with your friends! We are still working on the details of Austin's release event and have booked celebrations in Lake Charles & Lafayette, LA in June. We're heading west to Lubbock, Amarillo and New Mexico in July/Aug and are working on other Texas and Oklahoma dates. Things are moving in a powerful and positive direction despite the obstacles.

Website Under Construction- Here's where you find out about tour-dates:

We're also working on a new website. If you're looking for tour-dates you can visit http://www.reverbnation.com/wendycolonna or http://www.facebook.com/wendycolonnamusic for details.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for listening. Thanks for believing.

Wendy Lorraine Colonna

What Rumi SXSW & Spring Do to Me. . .

"Inside this new love, die. Your way begins on the other side. Become the sky. Take an axe to the prison wall. Escape. Walk out like someone suddenly born into color. Do it Now, You're covered with thick cloud. " Rumi

I don’t sleep that well when I know I have to wake up before dawn. I wake every hour or so to peek at the clock to see if the time has come for me to rise as I know I will be ascending the same darkness into which I made my descent many hours earlier. My dreams are wild and I don’t quite enter a full restful sleep on nights like this. Lately, because I’ve recently committed to a pre-dawn start time for yoga several days a week, this pattern continues. As I lie in bed these mornings, I’m a strange combination of eagerness, resistance and exhaustion.

It seems like this is how I feel about spring too. The oaks are dropping leaves, the pecans are sprouting leaves and the flowering trees evocatively display their luscious hues of red, pink, white and purple blossoms against naked limbs. . . I’m amazed to witness the death and rebirth, the bare, wiry branches of my lantana bushes seem lifeless while sunshiny buttercups and strange chartreuse weeds populate the lawn. I’m ready to kick winter and all its fatty, lazy henchmen to the curb, but certainly not ready for the oppressive heat of a central Texas summer.

This is also, strangely how I feel about SXSW excitement, dread and fatigue. There is something so overwhelming and bittersweet about this monumental pilgrimage. This pilgrimage is not exempt of the ancient ritual and reverence that accompany such a phenomenon, but akin to other pilgrimages of its size, one may often feel as though the essence of its grandeur is lost inside the madness of the swarming of the pilgrims, sloshing booze and false sincerity (ok, maybe the latter are exclusive to the sxsw phenomenon). I am intrigued by the film and interactive parts of the conference as I believe those industries are still growing in many ways, but then comes the music part. . .

With the music industry in so called “shambles,” one wonders how artists, managers, agents, labels, magazines can afford to make this yearly pilgrimage to the center of Texas, if it’s worth it to them, if it pays off, if anyone ever gets discovered in a city where every parking lot, shopping center, front yard and shot bar becomes a live music venue.

Major popular acts showcase and headline exclusive and impressive parties while mid level and independent bands fight feedback and play ten or twelve shows for free in 3 days hoping to be discovered by a new scout. I am perplexed by the entire parade. Sure, the city of Austin and local businesses and service industry professionals make a killing, but what happens to the bands and solo artists? Do they get discovered? What does that even mean anymore?

All the articles and experts say that major labels are losing their footing. There is such a small amount of available retail and piracy is at an all time high. These articles also give kudos to innovative independents who can swiftly modify their plan of exposure to fit the trending social media and collect money through digital sales and live shows. . . A large percent of radio is pre-programmed corporate mess geared toward teens while adults gravitate to xm and public radio to find new artists. Most consumers feel entitled to free music. It really is a big mess, despite the fancy martinis and plane tickets and exclusive stuff.

There is a lot of doom and gloom talk amidst the pilgrims. There is also a lot of hope and faith that propels them to take the risk to come to Austin despite what the articles and experts prophesize.

There are panels that navigate professionals into new paradigms, but as in all triumphant journeys one must be willing to release the construct and discard the artifice of the old and embrace a little naked tree limb on a cold windy day. . .

I met some really nice people doing really empowering work this SXSW. I saw a big party on every corner and witnessed great music being made. I heard a few songs that moved me to tears. My ears did not bleed from as much feedback as years prior. I guess it was a good SXSW for me.

I’m bringing a new baby/album into the world this spring/summer. . . It’s been 9 months in the making and has required most of my focus and resources. I’m fully invested. Like lots of mothers to be, I worry about the state of the world into which my precious new creation is being born. I don’t know what that will look like as every day new obstacles present themselves and new solutions appear.

I’m exploring what it means to let go of the past, release old experiences and the very real fear of future disappointments. I don’t have the answers, but I’m committed making choices out of love and not fear, decisions out of trust and not desperation and to building a team based on integrity and the love of the music.

It’s mid morning. I’ve finished yoga. The cloud is not so thick. I’m breaking down the walls. I’m a sensual little purple flower on a naked tree limb being born into color. . .

Thanks Rumi

Good Morning, Grandpa.

Good Morning Grandpa. I'm sitting at your kitchen table eating a peanut butter covered english muffin as the snow gently blankets your naked Japanese Magnolia tree, the three droopy red barns in the back, the pond and your frozen compost pile. I wonder how many mornings of your long life you did this exact ritual at this very table. . . It's so quiet here with the snowfall. So beautiful. I can hear myself think and these days that's a rare and magical occasion.

Last night, Monica prepared a beautiful shrimp scampi primavera with homemade pasta. She is a great cook. You'd be so proud of her whisking around the kitchen. I helped a little with the pasta, but mostly admired her culinary dancing. The boys tried on some of your clothing while we sipped on wine. They looked so dapper! You were so stylish! I guess you had to be to keep up with Grandma. . . We shared stories about you while sitting around the kitchen table. Your octagonal table with the rolling chairs. Your chair still has the cushion on it with the cover that grandma knitted.

Monica and I traded stories about which of your sandwiches were our favorite. Hers was the tomato and cheese, mine was the cold cut, tomato and peanut butter on pumpernickel. Chad gloated about the pizza tour of North Kingstown that you gave him a couple of summers ago and John told us all about the card games you guys played.

I've been sleeping in your room. It's cozy and the radiator squeaks and whistles and hums through the night. The view out the window of the backyard is lovely. I bet you were so proud to gaze upon that expansive yard in the mornings. It's a beautiful sight. I remember the last time we visited, we were out back and I walked around some of the yard with you. You were having so much trouble walking and you were upset that Diane wouldn't let you cultivate a garden that spring. You were a legendary gardener. We talked about your garden and the size of the squash and the flavor of the tomatoes that you grew.

You sat me down and made a case for matrimony and I told you you would be the first invited if I ever got married. I held your hand and listened as you described why you loved being married to Grandma all those years. You guys were a pair. Donning affection and arguing with equal passion and volume. You told me how sad you were that my parents divorced and how you were worried about my dad. At the time, you guys were still not getting along. I know he loved you and Grandma, but you guys were always so critical and righteous and crazy when it came to him. You guys constantly butted heads. I held his hand at your funeral. You, he and I haven't spent time together since I was a little girl. He had no idea that you and I were close. I think it made him so happy to know that you and I were close all those years he felt he had to keep his distance from you guys. At the funeral, dad kept saying to me with awe in his eyes "You really loved the old guy didn't you?" Of course I did. And I had no idea how much I would miss you and Grandma and your stories and lectures. No Idea.

I had a dream the other morning, just before waking that I want to share with you. I was in a small boat at night on the Hudson River that traveled from island to island and around Manhattan. In the boat was a beautiful woman. When she spoke to me, she engaged me with such genuine passion and she had a special way of holding my hands and gently rubbing them as we spoke. I was utterly moved by her presence and how intently she delivered her message and how well she listened with her ears, heart and hands. I wanted to become her.

When I told Chad about the dream, he reminded me that Grandma did the same thing when she engaged a person. She held their hands and spoke to them with open honest eyes and spoke the truth as she saw it. I guess that you guys are still here watching over the house and maybe even over us.

I hope you liked the house concert we performed in your living room. There was so much life in the house that night. Monica has done such a great job bringing sanctuary and order into the rooms. She's doing really well. You'd be so proud of her. We miss you and Grandma. I'm sorry I wasn't around more. I love you.

I've got to go now. Time to prepare for a trip to Boston to perform. . . I'll see you and Grandma in my dreams.

A Song For you, Valentine. . .

The Title Track to the new album. . . "We Are One". . . for you. . .

CLICK HERE to HEAR . . .

Folks who pre-order the new album, check your inboxes. . . there's an mp3 on its way to you!. . .

Enjoy, Beloveds!

Wendy Lorraine

East Coast Tour, TX Dates & Album Update

Greetings,

Our 2010 gig-year started off with a packed house at the Mucky Duck in Houston, TX. It was our first show there and I was so grateful to have such warm reception! Since then we've been on the go nonstop. It's been a blessing and a whirlwind. . .

NACA, WFUV's On Your Radar & NE Tourdates

I have been selected out of thousands of performers to showcase at the prestigious National NACA Conference in Boston in February for at their 50th Anniversary Celebration. Because of this great opportunity, we booked a tour around the Northeast in February.

John Platt at WFUV in NYC invited us to perform at his emerging artists series "On Your Radar." So, we will be kicking off the tour in style at the Living Room in NYC on Feb 9th at 8pm.

We have tour-dates in Mass, Rhode Island, Connecticut and NYC on our calendar below and we hope that you will bundle up and come see us while we're on the East Coast.

Upcoming Texas Tourdates
Friday, Jan 22nd, The Auslander, Fredericksburg, TX 8pm
Saturday, Jan 23rd - Momo's, Austin TX- Chad Pope's Birthday Extravaganza! 10:30PM
Thursday, Jan 28th, Opening Bell Coffee in Dallas TX. 8pm

"We Are One" Album Update!

We received the masters on Friday. After listening over the weekend, we're even more excited. This album is absolutely incredible. I am so honored to have worked with such an amazing producer, Papa Mali, in such a badass studio, The Nest (analog at its finest) with such amazing musicians. I hope that you will love it as much as we do.

You can Pre-Order your album here: WE ARE ONE PRE-ORDER
However, Friday, Jan 22nd we're taking all Pre-Order Packages above the $50 level off the menu.
WHY PRE-ORDER?
Everyone who pre-orders will receive their copies weeks in advance of the album's Official Release date (still TBD). Plus, the money goes to fund the album's creation and packaging. . . And you get it autographed and get sneak previews!

So. . . There it is. . .
Love & Light,
Wendy Lorraine Colonna

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Pre-Order The new Album Today and Take Part in the art http://www.wendycolonna.com/wendysnewalbum.htm

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." - Buddha