Christina Morelli

Give a Little Bit...

rebelspiritmusic:

It’s so easy as artists to get caught up in the selfish aspect of the business.  Constant self-promoting, unavoidable praise and criticism, and the permanent wheel of creativity that spins in your head leaves little time for other outlets in your life.  Sometimes, it’s best to stop for a moment, and instead of working on your own project, dive into helping someone ELSE unlock THEIR creative spirit.

Such was the case yesterday, when some of NYC’s finest artists came together to host an event for the Liberty House, a Women-In-Need Residence (WIN) in Brooklyn.  Organized by Rebel Spirit’s Deena Goodman, the day consisted of an acting workshop provided by Miriam Ganz, and a songwriting workshop taught by Wes Hutchinson and Casey Shea.  Alyssa Montoya, a client services volunteer and event coordinator for WIN, created a lovely environment for both the children and volunteers to feel comfortable, welcome, and excited about the day.

Miriam got the day started with a few warm-ups for the kids to loosen up and grow comfortable with the instructors, using props, sounds and movement that erupted laughter out of the relatively shy group.  After everyone was actively participating, the children split into groups and performed some interesting improv scenes, although none were more unusual than Wes and Casey’s acting debut (yes, they did a scene as well, and yes, they were more excited than most of the children).

Next it was time for some songwriting, which began with a short performance of “The World Is Waking Up,” which had all the kids clapping and cheering for an encore at the end.  I found that moment to be a real testament to how powerful music can be, and the way it brings people of all ages, races, and genders together, singing and smiling.  It’s truly the universal language.

The kids were asked to offer a few different song ideas, and while most revolved around food- chicken wings and pork fried rice, or animals, one girl offered the idea “what if kids ruled the world”… and we all knew that was the one.  Lyrics were written, including two verses, a chorus, and a bridge, and Deena brought colored markers out for everyone to note the words on posterboard and sign it.  The result was a hit called “If Kids Ruled The World.”  After recording the final performance on Wes’ computer, we sat all the children down to hear it, and will be sending the files to the program director so each participant can have a copy.  Smiles were wide and bright and hugs were abundant at the end of the session, as even the most timid child seemed to walk out of the room with a little more bounce to their step.  It was incredibly heart-warming and inspiring to see how just a few hours made a huge difference to that group on such a cold, dreary day.  One girl ran up to her room and presented Deena with a set of song lyrics she had previously written, words that were beautifully constructed and deep with meaning for her young age.

Take a moment to check out some pictures and videos from the day.  For those of you working so hard on your careers, stressing out over the next big move to make, or simply struggling with a block in creativity, I highly suggest you seek out an organization like WIN to donate your time.  There are so many things in life we can’t control, and in frustrating moments it’s easy to forget how blessed we all are-  now is the time to remind yourself.  Give a little bit… the rewards are priceless.

Keep the music playing...

Yesterday my day was filled with music, and it was absolutely wonderful.  The afternoon began with the shuffle feature on my iPod delighting my ears with the musical stylings of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, selecting songs I hadn’t listened to in quite some time and desperately needed to hear.  I stand by my theory that iTunes is somewhat psychic, and always manages to put together a Shuffle that fits my mood to a tee.

After returning home from work I headed over to my good friend’s house to play around with some new lyrics I wrote and wanted to place to music.  She blew me away with her ability to pick up a melody simply based on me tapping my pen on my notebook, and captured the mood and feeling of the song so beautifully it actually brought tears to my eyes.  This being the first time I’ve ever shared this type of writing with anyone and I was a little nervous, but the experience was inspiring and motivating all at once, and I’m looking forward to laying these tracks down and collaborating further.

We ended the night by shooting down to The Bitter End for the second week of Robbie Gil’s residency.  If you haven’t caught one of his shows this month, you need to get to one.  Now.  The man is incredible.  Between his unique, passionate voice that simply engulfs you, his lyrics that fiercely hit home, and a band that exudes energy from start to finish, everything about Gil’s performance is a breath of fresh air.  He’ll be playing next week at 10:30pm at the Bitter End, so be sure to check it out.

Tonight is Week Three of Dan Torres’ residency at Rockwood, a complete unplugged set that’s sure to blow you away in typical DT fashion.  He’ll be joined by Ryan Vaughn, Brian Killeen, Patrick Firth, Michael Day, and special guest Mat Jodrell on trumpet.  So take a break from the cold, rainy, borderline winter weather that Mother Nature has thrown our way (she’s just loved messing with us East Coasters this year, hasn’t she?) and make your way down to Rockwood for an intimate, free show that’s sure to warm up both your body and your soul.

Brothers Moving at Rockwood Music Hall

Last night as I took a seat at Rockwood Music Hall, a venue that has grown to be a second home to both musicians and music lovers, I suddenly felt transported to a small cafe in Europe, sipping a glass of wine and delighting in the entertainment provided by Brothers Moving, a group hailing from Denmark who gained notoriety as street performers in NYC.  The band, consisting of Esben, Simon, and Aske Knoblauch, and Nils Sorensen (the only non-brother) brought an energy to the stage of Rockwood that was unique, challenging, and pleasurable for everyone in the audience.  From their covers of American favorites like Joe Cocker’s “With a Little Help From My Friends” to their original Danish tunes that brought huge smiles to an audience who didn’t understand a word being sung, this group managed to take me out of New York City for a few minutes, and remind me of how vast and expansive the music world can be.

From first bursting into the scene by staging spontaneous performances at random locations in NYC, Brothers Moving is now booking and playing more notable venues, without losing the original gust that fascinated audiences on the streets.  With a unique command and tone exuding from the vocalists (Esben is a blonde, thin white guy who’s lungs almost visibly expand as he reaches levels that seem to defy capacity), and impeccable timing amongst all the players, Brothers Moving is a definite act to catch in town.  Please visit their MySpace page for more information and to check out their next show!