So... if you haven't gathered from my recent blogs and posts (!), I'm pretty enamored with the very inspired and organic way certain artistic pursuits have been evolving over these past several months. And when I say pursuits... it really feels like these "artistic ventures" have been pursuing me rather than me pursuing them. ​Maybe it's like that Rumi quote: "what you seek is seeking you". Whatever the case, it all makes me feel like I'm in the right place... at the right time... doing what I'm meant to be doing. Not "little me", but "bigger me", dancing and co-creating with divinity.

Well, OK... it's also just so much damn fun!!! There is that. :-) I mean, yeah, it's a lot of work, and takes considerable time and energy... but when things line up like magic and I'm in the midst of the creating, time stands still and there is no place I'd rather be. God, I love that feeling. I know you know what I mean... we all have times like that. And when life isn't feeling so magical (we all have those times, too), I appreciate the divine moments even more. And I look to those times to remind me and help me stay the course. And to stay focused on the WHY. If I can lift and open hearts with my music and presence... if I can help bring about even a slight shift in awareness that alters just one small step in someone's journey (rippling out to all of humanity)... then I am fulfilling that mission. And immersed in the joy of that. :-)

So, in addition to the new CD in the works... the collection of live recordings that transpired through "divine intervention"... there is a new music video that's just about ready for release. I've wanted to shoot a video since the release of "Walk Your Life"... and thought it would be a song from that album... but I just kept getting the hit, in light of the times we're in, to bring "Watch Love Rise" to life in this very visually experiential way.

Eric and I collaborated with a talented young film student, Ann Hanlin, who also lives out here in the woods of Battle Ground, Washington. We sat down one afternoon in late February to brainstorm possibilities. Given that our life out here... living in nature's paradise in our little vintage trailer... is a conscious choice to "focus on what matters" (in many ways), we wanted to bring that essence to life in the video. So, we decided to shoot local... in and around the trailer and on property around where Ann lives.

OK... so... trying to plan an outdoor video shoot in the Pacific NW in March is... well, it's a little crazy, lol. It was a particularly wet March... and with our varying and busy schedules, it seemed next to impossible that we'd find a day when we were all available AND the weather would cooperate. So we just scheduled a date. Took our chances. Checking the weather the days prior, it looked pretty dismal. Even the night before the shoot, the forecast was showing rain.

Miraculously, we woke up the morning of the shoot to sunshine pouring through the window. Not just no rain, but SUN... and BLUE SKY. It was so beautiful I could hardly stand it. It was the perfect metaphor for "Watch Love Rise". The sun rose to the occasion and I could FEEL the love and warmth of the Universe. That day was a reminder of the love that rises even in seemingly dark times... and maybe even because of them. There was hope in the air... the very fresh air after a long stretch of dark and wet. It couldn't have been a more perfect day to capture the essence of the song on video. Orbs and sun flares everywhere... embraced by the arms of the trees... showered by sun rays... framed in the beauty of nature as it "showed off" for the shoot. Spectacular. And SO much fun!

​So, we've spent these past couple of months editing and finessing all that glorious footage. I just wanted to share the clip and a little of the back story with you all. Can't wait to share the full video with you (and the new EP) very soon! The warmth and light of summer is the perfect time to do that. May love rise always in your hearts and in your lives... <3

Love & Blessings,
​Lauri

So... here's another little tidbit about a song on the soon to be released CD. :-) In February of this year, I helped with the music for the New Thought Center for Spiritual Living women's retreat out in Eagle Creek, OR. On the first night, one of the amazing women there came to me saying she had an epiphany while listening to me sing one of my songs that night. She handed me a note saying, "Can we all help write a new song with you this weekend? Here's the title that came to me: First 100 Days."

There was already a pretty full agenda for the retreat, but I was really taken by her flash of divine inspiration and impulse to share it with me... so I brought the idea to the retreat facilitators. We kept it simple and loose and I just asked the women there to write any ideas or insights that came to them over the course of the weekend about the title "First 100 Days", keeping in mind the theme of the retreat, "We Were Made for These Times". By the end of the weekend, I had a stack of index cards with lots of beautiful inspiration for lyrics.

We didn't have time to create a song on the spot, so I took those cards home and sat with everything for a few days... meditating on the weekend and the energy and connection with those women... and the heartfelt desire and mission to step more fully into our power as enlightened spiritual beings in "these mighty, precious days". After a few rough drafts of lyrics... going back and forth in email, sharing with everyone what I was coming up with and getting feedback... and then sitting down at the piano to "find" the music (though it really found me)... a song was born. :-)

As it turned out, I was scheduled to sing at NTCSL a few weeks later on a Sunday where that song fit the message perfectly. So once again, the band brought its heart, soul, talent, and skill to the song and that magic was captured on multi-track. Eric and I did play with the arrangement a bit in the mix and I re-recorded my vocal to bring more emotion and dynamics to the piece... but that organic, divine energy and inspiration remains.

​I am thrilled to have this song included on the new CD. It's a "time capsule" kind of song that I feel needs to be heard. Thank you to all who have contributed through GoFundMe to help make this special project happen (and/or pre-ordered the CD from my website homepage)... can't wait to share the music with you! <3

... that's a line from Carole King's (rather obscure) song, "One". It was written in the 70's and to this day can only be found on vinyl. It's a glorious piece that I had the honor of singing with the NTCSL  choir last year. So... in planning my new CD (which hasn't really been "planning", the way it has all evolved so organically), I kind of forgot we had access to the multi-tracks for the performance of that song! Listened last night and just got chills. So powerful. Eric said, "OK, so we HAVE to put this on the CD". So, voila... the 5-song collection has now become 6. :-) It fits in so perfectly with the others. And thinking about this further (I just made this connection last night), it's pretty cool that the two cover songs on the CD are from two amazing, piano-playing female artists from different generations... but with a strong connection to each other.  Sara Bareilles has sometimes been referred to as the "Carole King of her times".  My soul resonates with these women... these artists... and what an honor it is to sing their songs.  Here's a clip of Carole King talking about this connection with Sara Bareilles:

I've been having so much fun working on this new CD... can't wait to share the music with you!!! Just a reminder, if you'd like to be part of the creative process, that it's not too late to contribute via GoFundMe and/or pre-order from my website home page. Getting so close to the goal to get this project wrapped up!  Every bit helps... and I am so grateful! <3

Hello, friends! I just wanted to share a little video update live from "Wild Wish Presents" out here in Battle Ground, WA! 

Here is the link to watch:  https://youtu.be/4ystvV3nrVU 

As I write this, we are 70% to the goal to get this product out there! THANK YOU to all who have contributed so far to bring this project to fruition!  We do still have a little ways to go to cover costs, so if you haven't yet contributed and are inspired to, it's not too late to kick in and be part of the magic. This indie "heARTist" is so very grateful for the support... I could not to this without it! :-) 

CLICK HERE to Contribute via GoFundMe

Most of the songs were captured during performances at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in Lake Oswego, OR, where I have been singing (and growing!) for 10 years now. With David York at the helm, Rand Deahl covering sound, and incredibly talented and soulful musicians in the band, it is a place where magic is made. And when that magic happens to be captured brilliantly on multi-track... pure Divine Orchestration. :-)  This 5-song CD consists of three new original songs, a specially arranged version of my song "Love will Provide" with the NTCSL choir, and a beautifully tender Sara Bareilles tune... all songs ripe for the times.  I can't wait to share them with you! :-)

As I mentioned in my last blog, the songs are currently being mixed and polished by my brilliant partner and producer (thank you, Eric Montgomery!)... and then the collection needs to be mastered, replicated, and packaged for distribution for release this summer. Which is why I set up the GoFundMe... to help with those costs.

It is my absolute passion and mission to minister the power of LOVE through music. THANK YOU for sharing the journey with me!

Here is the link to contribute through GoFundMe:  https://www.gofundme.com/LauriJonesWatchLoveRise

AND/OR... If you'd like to pre-order the CD, please do so from my website home page.

​Thanks again for all the love and support! Happy spring and almost SUMMER!

​Love and Gratitude,
​Lauri