“She writes the kind of songs people say nobody writes anymore. The kind of songs written by the greatest of the great singer-songwriters – songs with uniquely poetic lyric wed to gorgeous melodies, songs in which both the words and the music are equally inventive and inspired.”
“on the line”
Years ago, my father told me of the summer he worked “on the line” at Chatham Steel — across from his father. Dad told me of the oil baths that his father would dunk the molten steel into — after the formed metal parts came out of a pounding press. My grandfather was very deaf, by the time I knew him, because of that pounding noise. Dad said that when he looked up one day, at that factory, and saw his father’s face drenched in oil an sweat, he knew “why he drank.”
braving making content
Exploring songs, by other writers, playing out, experimenting… all in service of making new work.
Always a vulnerable exercise — I can admit that it takes courage and a willingness to engage with the opinions of others. I’m so grateful I’m feeling strong enough to do it again.
title track “Totem”
I flirted with the idea of calling it Totem (Titanic). Ultimately, I did not. It’s a song that “appears” to be about the fated musicians who played on the HMS Titanic. It is not. It’s about my feeling that my own “musical ship” is sinking. In truth; it is not.
What it is is me, in an unprecedented way, exalting a song and statement of my own. (How dare I point a finger to work in this way?) No. This is me daring to give voice to a part of myself that longs to be heard — a personification of “I sing what I can’t say.” And I answer the song’s final question by uttering the question, “Who am I playing this for?”
Like those musicians, knowing they were about to die, I dare say, “I play this for me.”
some comments from listeners
Dear Ms McMath
You do not know me and probably never will. But I feel compelled to say a few things to you. I saw you perform Saturday night at McCabes. I go there quite often and have seen a lot of shows there. Something about yours though, touched me more deeply than I can express. I don’t quite know why. Your music was lovely of course but it was more than that. It was more the way you seem to be as a human being…..There is an openness and a kind of vulnerability about you that affected me strongly. It is something I strive for when I write an essay but you put it into your music. I have been around the block a few times and I don’t say this lightly……. I believe when an artist, in any medium, should know about when their work touches someone… and now you do…. Thank you for a lovely evening.
Larry
Paula,
Hi, I just wanted to say that I say you performing the other night on 3rd St. in Santa Monica, and though I was only able to catch a few songs, I wanted to let you know that I thought you had a great voice and I enjoyed what I heard. I don’t always find myself doing that when I’m walking down 3rd St, but I had to check out your site. Love what I hear, and looking forward to catching you play again soon.
Jon
Dear Paula,
Last week me and my family were traveling in the US and we heard and saw you play across the street from where we were dining in Santa Monica. You sang covers of a lot of my all time favorites and you gave that ‘extra touch’ to our dinner. I bought your album and I found that you have also written a lot of material yourself.
I really love that album and I hope there will be more in the future.
Traveling in the US is always a great adventure but the little extra’s make such journeys especially memorable. Seeing black bears in Yosemite, whales heading north along the coastal highway and your performance in Santa Monica were some of my extras. And since I can’t thank the bears or the whales… 🙂
Thanks!
Bart
The Netherlands
Week 18: Wonderful human pinball machine – the TAXI Road Rally
I’m still reeling from the past weekend at the annual TAXI Road Rally. I was told, the day before the Rally, that 2,182 people were registered to attend. It was a great event. I’m proud to say that I performed at all 3 Open Mic nights. I estimate that there were about 70 performance spots – on each night – which comes to 210 of us (about 10%) who mustered the courage to get up and perform live in front of our peers. It was an exhilarating (and nerve-wracking) experience – but very memorable.
It’s amazing to bounce around at a conference full of hopefuls from all over the country – all over the world! I met musicians from Canada, England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and from all over the United States. I liken the event to bouncing around in a giant human pinball machine full of like-minded people. Everyone is very friendly and happy to share what they are doing musically.
I’m still sifting through business cards and materials that I amassed at the Rally – trying to make sense of it all and to begin the process of following up.
I’ll have more to say about it as the weeks progress – but for now, I wanted to get a post up to say thanks to Michael Laskow for creating TAXI and the Rally.
