Music as Good Medicine

Randy Granger, Rock Art Rendezvous 2012 photo by Greg Bodin

Greetings friends. As fall gives way to winter here in the southwest I hope you are all settling into the change  of seasons with good friends, family and music. I’ve been on the road quite a bit performing at Native Rhythms in Florida, the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, Yosemite festival, New Mexico State Fair and various other festivals, concerts and appearances. Staying busy is how I prefer to be as a working musician of course. Since Strong Medicine was released in September I've been performing music from it at shows. It has been received well and seems to be moving people emotionally. The response from listeners has been moving as they share their own stories of strength, grief and compassion with me. Often they are unable to speak or are overcome with emotion as they express gratitude for being able to connect with feelings of healing. What’s interesting is that many have not heard the back story yet feel the emotions from the music. How grateful I am for their honesty and openness and willingness to share their stories. I believe the music of Strong Medicine is meant to heal. Certainly the music ranges from meditative, joyous, peaceful and healing. You can hear the clips at Cdbaby.com and decide for yourself.

To order the CD from me directly go to my website via PayPal securely using a credit card or bank account. If you’d like it signed simply indicate that in the notes to me. It is also on iTunes, Amazon or CDBaby.com. Feel free to leave a review. I’ve included a couple of recent reviews and articles published about the album. I find them very thoughtful and well written.

I’m in the process of booking performances for 2013 and am open to house concerts, churches or shows in your area. Feel free to contact me at hangguy@gmail.com for booking questions. In December I will be in Colorado working on a mixed-art performance with renowned writer Craig Childs. In January I’ll be performing at Green Valley in Arizona. February finds me in El Paso, TX, Feb. 10, for the  2^nd Sunday Series at Grace United Methodist - 400 N Carolina Drive, 3:00pm. 

May the peace and reflection of the season comfort you and your loved ones always.

Peace

Randy

Reviews:

Give local books and music this holiday By S. Derrickson Moore / dmoore@lcsun-news.com Las Cruces Sun-News Posted:

lcsun-news.com

December 9, 2012 Las Cruces Sun-News 

LAS CRUCES - "Strong Medicine" by Randy Granger (www.randygranger.net). Award-winning singer-songwriter-musician Granger calls this album "my way of transmuting into music the unconditional love it took to help my beloved through pancreatic cancer."

The result is honest, sometimes surprisingly upbeat and steadfastly loving and healing.

"Deep Peace to You" could become a timeless lullaby as well as a classic comfort anthem. "Dancing Skin" and "Where Did You Go" are moving love songs. Granger's unique perspectives, Indian heritage and skills with Native American flutes and percussion are showcased in "Hawk Medicine On I-10," "The Radical Faeries Morphine Drip" and "The Hospital Stairwell Blues."

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sunlife/ci_22154791/give-local-books-and-music-this-holiday

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at (575) 541-5450. Follow her on Twitter @DerricksonMoore.

_________________

Friday, 30 November 2012

Multi-instrumentalist Randy Granger delivers a triumphant tribute to loss and recovery with ‘Strong Medicine’

By David Salcido

For the Las Cruces Bulletin

It’s been a long two years for musician Randy Granger.

In the first year, he watched as his partner of 10 years, poet Wayne Crawford, slowly returned to the spirit world, leaving him with responsibilities of estate closure and a grueling return to the stage.

In the second year, he gathered together all of the elements of that experience and processed it through his music. The result, “Strong Medicine,” is both a tribute to the poet who shared his life and a universal gift to any who have ever sought understanding in the face of tragedy.

Granger remembers the day, back in October 2010, when the diagnosis was delivered in a cold examining room of a research hospital in Houston.

“We were shocked. You could feel the room swirling and closing in,” he said. “That was a difficult night, as you can imagine, back at the hotel. We both were very emotional and just didn’t know quite how to process the information.”

Five months later, Crawford was gone. The ordeal, however, wasn’t without its moments of clarity.

“When we were in chemotherapy was when I first heard the sound of the pumps,” he said. “I was mesmerized by the sound and thought it was worth documenting, so the next time we went I took a little handheld digital recorder and recorded the sound. Wayne saw what I was doing and said, ‘You’re going to get some really great music out of this.’” The words proved prophetic.

“What I was doing was what songwriters tend to do,” Granger said. “We take emotional snapshots. I was hyper aware of everything that was going on. Somehow I knew I had to put all my grief on hold. I had to store it for later use. I didn’t start to write any of the songs until he had passed away.”

In fact, it was a full year before Granger began writing the songs that would become “Strong Medicine.” A year in which he hit the road and reconnected with his fan base, while also dealing with the problems of settling Crawford’s estate, selling their rambling home and downsizing for his new life as a single man. When the muse finally called, he was more than ready to meet the challenge.

The title track, “Strong Medicine,” opens with the sound of the chemotherapy pump, playing in counterpoint to Native American drum and traditional flute, then flows into the poignant play by play of painful discovery and hopeful regeneration. As in most of the songs on this album, the lyricism of each powerful word resonates with a poet’s heartfelt precision. The plaintive vocals wring emotion from every line and it is here that the storyteller truly comes of age. Artifice is burned away and all that remains is pure, raw emotion.

Another standout is the gorgeously simple “Where Did You Go?” A single acoustic guitar is joined by a mournful flute, but it is the gentle overdubs of the artist singing harmonies with himself that give the song resonance. Once again, it is the words, however, that provide the power behind the emotions. “Are you the bird who sings outside my window? The gooseflesh on my neck?” Who hasn’t asked these questions when a memory moves us to remember those who are no longer with us, except in spirit?

Even the instrumentals that have been Granger’s stock-intrade for the better part of the last decade have taken on an edge that is anything but emotionless. “Awaken Dreamer,” “Hawk Medicine On I-10” and “Marfa Lights” are haunting glimpses into a cultural pain that is only beginning to surface.

National promotion and marketing of“Strong Medicine”will begin in January 2013. Will it have the impact and acceptance of his 2008 award-winning release “A Place Called Peace”? All signs point to yes.

“The response when I play it live has been almost overwhelming,” Granger said. “I don’t think people are responding because of sentimentality, I think they’re responding to the authenticity of the emotions.

“That’s very rewarding.”

Granger said he believes that this incident has brought him to a better understanding of himself and his process.

“Before I came to Native American flute music, I had been a songwriter and performer for decades,” he said. “This is like coming back around to myself, but with an entire new quiver full of tools and instruments. This album is my return. I did the relaxing ambient stuff and I’m really glad, but I now have something to say and this album definitely communicates that.”

Dallas, TX "Gratitude Music Concert" - Randy Granger and Cornell Kinderknecht

 Gratitude Music Concert - Randy Granger and Cornell Kinderknecht

• What else to do besides shopping on the days after Thanksgiving? Come and Bliss Out to this wonderful collaboration of two renowned Soulful Southwest Musicians. Share a fun and moving evening of World and Southwest influenced music with friends expressing Peace, Joy and Gratitude. Cornell Kinderknecht (Dallas, TX) and Randy Granger (Las Cruces, NM). These two engaging performers will present an evening of music and entertainment. Cornell: world flutes and winds; Randy: Native flutes, Hang drum, percussion, guitar and voice. Admission: suggested $15-$25 / person. Saturday, November 24, 2012, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Dallas Meditation Center 727 S. Floyd Rd., Richardson, TX 75080 This beautiful setting is in a yoga/dance/meditation room. Floor and chair seating are available. Some mats and cushions are available but feel free to bring your own cushions or blankets for floor seating. Parking is directly in front of the building. Additional parking is available along James Drive and at the church across the street. Cornell's website: http://www.cornellk.com/ Randy's website: http://www.RandyGranger.net/ Dallas Meditation Center: http://www.DallasMeditationCenter.com/ Find a map and directions here: http://www.dallasmeditationcenter.com/DMCDirections.htm

Dallas Meditation Center

727 S. Floyd Rd, Richardson, Texas 75080

View Map · Get Directions

What is a successful tour?

Greetings and happy Summer folks. I found it hard to believe my last post in around June 23. Since that post I've been to North Carolina to perform and all the states in between. Also I've been to the International Native American and World Flute Association's convention as well as The World of Faeries Festival and back. Making two trips to the upper midwest was a challenge to say the least. I felt I had to get back and work on my album, plus I had no scheduled gigs at this time. Slowly working on booking more gigs in between festivals. The album Strong Medicine is my priority at the moment, however, I need to work i.e., gigs, festivals, performances and merch sales are how I earn an income. While the CD project successfully funded through Kickstarter, that money is sitting in the Amazon account and will cover the cost of the CD production only.

So what makes a tour or other gig a success? People ask if I break even on this long-distance gigs? I don't feel it necessary to share that with people but suffice to say I couldn't be doing what I do if I didn't break even or make some profit. I have bills, insurance etc. like anyone else. Difference is I am doing it alone with no help, health care, sick leave like other's benefit from being employed. When I'm driving I am all too hyper aware that at any moment another car could change lanes, stop suddenly, be distracted or a huge Deer could jump into my path and that's all she wrote. That thought alone can make for a stressful drive that leaves no wonder why I am so exhausted most times after driving 3000 miles round trip for a tour. I drive alone and sleep at state parks, campgrounds or crash on people's extra beds or couches. THIS, my friends, is how me and many many many an independent musician does it. It is scary at times but also full of freedom and often really beautiful, unexpected joys. 

As I travel the back roads of this country and meet so many people living their own lives I feel so privileged and fortunate to do what I do. I try as much as I can to focus on what is good about it. Unless you've lived it though you simply can't be truly aware of the challenges and sacrifice it takes to do it year after year. It takes a special passion and a sense of being compelled which is something other musicians tell me they also feel. These tours were a success for me because I did the best job I could possibly do on that day. I brought my music to many strangers who I hope are now fans. I connected with other musicians as peers and we sat in on each other's sets and traded CD's. I connected with people who were fans and are now my dearest friends. I got to see how beautiful our country is from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma where Bison, Elk and other creatures roam the park to the mountains outside of Asheville, NC and camp in the Ozarks where I played a private concert under the milky way lit by battery operated christmas lights and a roaring hard-wood fire. It was magical! All of it. That, for me is a success. I made people happy, dance and smile. The heartfelt comments I get from people who take the time to tell me about their experience is priceless like this comment from a woman who, although recovering from surgery, made it a point to bring her family to come here me at the Fairy Festival, "Randy, so good to see you at the Fairy Fest this year...I always love your soothing and beautiful music. It made me smile that [my family] enjoyed your music and just relaxed and took in your amazing spirit. I hope you know how many souls you touch through your loving, heartfelt songs and your beautiful kind soul. Look forward to seeing you next year and much love and peace to you." 

Comments like that I may not be able to cash at the bank but I bank them in my spirit to give me strength and inspiration. I led a workshop at this year's INAFA convention and offered private lessons as well as an afternoon performance and played in the Performer's Jam closing concert Saturday night with musician's like R. Carlos Nakai, Peter Phippen,  Xavier Quijas Yxayotl's,  Amir Abbas Etemadzadeh and my friend's Cornell Kinderknecht and Rick Dunlap, Joe Young and others. What a pure delight. To me that is success. But all that aside. A woman who had been in my workshop and heard my concert came by my table. She said she knew she was destined to learn a major life lesson regarding a decision she had coming up. She said, "Watching and hearing you I figured out what that lesson is. It is embodied through you the way you are so authentic, giving, open and free with yourself and your music. From you I realized that I 'can' be myself so fully and true to myself and I will be exactly who I am supposed to be. So thank you Randy, for being yourself so completely that you inspire so many others to do the same." I was humbled and a little stunned. It did remind though why I do all of it that I do, because I am compelled to shine my light so fully that even shadows can't be seen. 

At this year's World of Faeries fest I played with some of the other acts there including Three Pints Gone, Patchouli and Magic Mama. We got rained out hard Saturday afternoon with vendor's tents and merch flying across the park but Sunday's weather was absolutely beautiful and no one wanted to leave. 

September 1 & 2, Labor Day weekend I perform both days at the Franciscan Festival of Fine arts in Mesilla Park, NM a lovely festival. And also a Full Moon Concert at White Sands National Monument Sept 1st at 7:30PM. September 13th I'll be performing at the New Mexico State fair on the Indian Village stage 7PM I think. Later in Sept. I'm returning to perform at the Yosemite Flute and Art Festival in Oakhurst, CA. 

I hope to see you out there on the trails. Please say hello. More info on the new CD soon.
Peace and Love
Randy

Slideshow


A video I recorded a the Weeping Grotto deep in the Ozarks before my evening concert. 

Kickstarter news coverage.

Newspaper article on my Kickstarter campaign. It runs through July 1st so please consider donating and supporting the project if you haven't already. Thank you

'Cathartically joyous' — Granger channels loss into creativity

By Andi Murphy / amurphy@lcsun-news.com

Posted:   06/22/2012 02:07:48 AM MDT

Click photo to enlarge

Randy Granger plays the hang drum for a crowd June 16 at the 2012... (Niki Rhynes/For the Sun-News)

• 1
• 2
• »

LAS CRUCES — A hospital room. The machines pump the body with liquids that battle a terminal cancer. There are beeps and hums from these machines. There is music there.

"An upheaval like that; I was sort of taking notes, mental notes, because I know you can't go though something like that and not learn from it," said Randy Granger, a local musician.

As the days passed, with Granger waiting and caring for his partner in faraway hospitals and at home, the cancer proved to be too much for machines and science to battle. Wayne Crawford died in March 2011.

Later, Granger thought about ways he could translate his painful, personal experience for everyone else. He wrote 13 tracks for his sixth album, titled "Strong Medicine," in the world and Native American genre. He is raising money for the production of this new album on Kickstarter, a funding website. He needs to raise $3,500 for the production of CDs: the disc, cover and artwork. So far, he has $3,366 pledged from 80 people throughout the Internet world.

Through Kickstarter, the public can take a look at his project and decide to become a backer, or a person who pledges a specific amount of money toward the project's completion (or start). In turn, the backers receive a gift from the artist. In Granger's project, backers receive digital copies of the new album, a signed copy of the album, an honorable mention in the album cover, a 30-minute flute lesson with Granger or an enchilada dinner and performance by

---

Advertisement

---

Granger.

"It's about 75 percent done," Granger said about the music to be etched on those discs.

Granger is a busy musician these days and is currently in North Carolina being featured in several music festivals in that area. When he comes back, he will finish up the tracks and get production started — if his project is fully funded via Kickstarter, which is a likely case. Then it's off to Wisconsin for the International Native American and World Flute Association convention, he said.

"Part of being a musician is to really take your music to where people haven't heard you," Granger said.

It is only in the last seven years when he has been a full-time musician.

"Music has always been who I am and I've always done it," he said. "It's not an easy life. You have to make some sacrifices, but that's OK, when you do what you love and you do what you're put here to do."

Since he was about 5 years old, Granger has been singing. Then he moved on to drums and many other kinds of instruments. He plays a variety of percussion from throughout the world and started playing the Native American flute in 2004.

He's strongest in the percussion department, but has been giving music lessons since he was in high school, he said.

His music has been nominated and awarded at the Indian Summer Music Awards, Native American Music Awards and New Mexico Music Industry Awards, among other award organizations, according to his website, randygranger.net.

In this midst of all the notes, he also majored in journalism at New Mexico State University, but that was something his mother made sure he had to fall back on if music didn't work, he said.

He also practiced as a massage therapist for a few years and that's where he was introduced to his calling.

"I think that's where I first started hearing flute music," Grangers said. "It's a peaceful instrument and peaceful music."

He attributes his ability to play numerous instruments — quite well — to being in band. It taught him discipline and how to focus on sounds.

When people ask him at festivals or demonstrations "'how long did it take you to master that?'"

"I always say that I'm still learning every single time I play it," he said. "Learning a new instrument is actually fun for me."

He knows the language of music. He knows how to express himself and how to draw the sounds he wants from many different instruments because they all have the same scales, notes and sounds, he said.

For "Strong Medicine," he wanted to express the feeling of being "cathartically joyous." In the title song, the beeping and humming machines he recorded in the hospital start off a beat. It's about transforming fear, pain and grief into something beautiful: into a song.

It's not sad for him in any way, though. It's "cathartically joyous," Granger said.

Andi Murphy can be reached at (575) 541-5453.

Randy Granger

• Donate and help the production of Randy Granger's new album, "Strong Medicine" at www.kickstarter.com/projects/randygranger/pre-order-strong-medicine-the-cathartically-joyous

• July 1 will be the end of the KickStarter campaign.

• The album will be available online at Amazon.com, iTunes, CDBaby and Spotify with hard copies available at Quillin Studio and Gallery, 317 N. Main St., where they carry all his other albums.

• "Randy Granger" on Facebook.

• randygranger.net

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sunlife/ci_20914585/cathartically-joyous-mdash-granger-channels-loss-into-creativity

Kickstarter update.

Recording Cello and Hang with Alison Reynolds of La Cella Bella

Glad to report the Kickstarter campaign for the new CD project is over halfway funded as of today, the fourth day since launching. It is very encouraging and am I am beyond grateful. Remember that if I don't meet 100% of my funding goal I won't receive a penny so it is important to keep the momentum going. Please continue to share this project with your circle of friends, family, co-workers, other flute players etc. Recording continues and is spurred on by this great start of the Kickstarter campaign. I laid some tracks down with a Cellist friend Alison Reynolds for the song "Comes the Moon." So excited about the music on this album. It combines my life-long career as a musician with the newest instruments I've incorporated in to my music like Native American and World flutes, the Hang, Halo and hammered dulcimer.

A few things I do want to communicate to all of you:

• You can donate ANY amount you want regardless. The reward levels are not the only amount or level you can contribute. You can even contribute more without accepting a reward. So please tell your circle of friends and family about this.
• Since Kickstarter has only been around since 2008 many people still don't quite understand what it is. I get many emails from people on my email list who have replied saying good luck on the new CD but don't quite get what I'm asking.
• Word of mouth is the MOST effective way of spreading Kickstarter campaigns. Please share this campaign with everyone, regardless if you think they might like my music, you know. Some people just love to support artists and good causes. Don't underestimate people.
• I only receive the funds for the CD if 100% of the goal is met. Please do what you can to keep this momentum going. I'm am burning the candles at all ends to get as many songs completed and recorded before I go on a short two-week performance tour to North Carolina. Check my Calendar to see more. 

Thank you very much for your encouragement and support. Spread the word! Check the campaign's efforts and status on the Kickstarter page. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randygranger/pre-order-strong-medicine-the-cathartically-joyous 

Much peace to you
RG

Kickstarter

Hello friends,

Today I launched my Kickstarter campaign for my new album "Strong Medicine." In case you haven't heard of  Kickstarter, it was created in 2008, is what is now called “crowd funding” where the general public, or backers, contribute money towards at different levels in exchange for rewards. Rewards could be a copy of the finished CD, their name in the liner notes or a house concert  and is quickly becoming a very popular way of raising money for projects as varied as recording or releasing a CD to films, inventions and books. 

Artists, inventors, musicians etc. develop a campaign and a funding goal with a precise deadline to raise the money for their project. Kickstarter is an "all or nothing" model which means if your backers don't contribute 100% of your funding goal then you receive nothing. It can exceed the goal amount and all the funds go to the project. Different levels of "rewards" are an incentive to backers and are fulfilled once the project is completed, in this case once the CD is manufactured and released. The contributions are processed through Amazon.com and aren't processed until after the goal is met. If the goal isn't met then nothing happens and your contribution isn't processed. Very simple.

I'm personally inviting you to check out my Kickstarter campaign at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randygranger/pre-order-strong-medicine-the-cathartically-joyous  and take a look. Decide if you want to support my CD project and then contribute at the level you want. That is all you need do. This CD won't be released without your help so please contribute what you feel you want to and can and share share share it with your circle of friends and family. If you know anything about the inspiration behind this CD you know it is coming from my heart and a place of healing, humility and gratitude. I hope people who hear the music on this CD will find comfort in knowing that grief and loss can be transformed, through music, into joy and release. I am so excited about this new music and have recorded 3/4ths of the album. 

If you have any questions feel free to email me directly or post your question on my Kickstarter page. The whole concept about Kickstarter is transparency. Something I believe in as well especially as I'm mining my experiences and transmuting personal emotions into universal songs that anyone who has experienced unconditional love, loss, fear and surrender will relate to. 

Thank you very much for your support and for contributing to get this music out into the world where it belongs. Click here http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randygranger/pre-order-strong-medicine-the-cathartically-joyous to contribute and support my project.

Who is listening?

Greetings friends. I hope summer finds you all well and in good spirits. Me, I'm working very diligently on my new album. I'm writing the songs, laying the tracks, asking in a guest musician or two and designing the artwork all simultaneously. It has me thinking about who is listening. Who is the music for? Who will hear it? Will anyone listen to the nuances and micro decisions each song's story tells? Recently while playing at Hospice I was slowly walking up and down the hallways so my flute would resonate in each room. It was quiet less the sounds of beeps and occasional TV sets broadcasting daytime shows. As I was packing up my gear to leave I feel a touch on my shoulder and a small woman says, "Thank you so much for being here. You might think no one is listening but every time you come my husband's face is so relaxed the whole time and his breathing is so peaceful." This stuck with me for days. That Saturday I went Busking at our Farmer's Market and the cacophony there is overwhelming especially now that so many hollering groups are there now. They play somewhere between Hillbilly music and a warped bluegrass. I love good Appalachian and Bluegrass don't get me wrong. It is tough to be heard on my Native American flutes and Pan instruments, almost impossible. The vendors have begun to complain they can't even do business when those groups are there.

So I was Busking away and between songs a vendor came up to me with a dollar bill. She put it in my case and began to walk away then turned around suddenly. She said, "I'm sorry, I was going to compliment you but I started to cry. When you played Amazing Grace I thought of my mother who passed away recently. It was so moving and I wanted to thank you." Another woman in one of those motorized wheelchairs rigs came zooming right at me pretty fast. I thought oh no I've pissed someone off. But she waited until I finished and said, "I wanted to tell you I've been up and down this entire market and asked someone where that flute music was coming from and they pointed to you. I had to come back and tell you you are the best music I've heard all morning. Thank you." She put a buck in. Woo hoo big bucks. haha. I'm kidding but what these two people reminded me that in fact, someone is always listening. Thus is the power of the music we make, the vibrations we emit so always be conscious of that and respect your audience. You may not be able to see them but they ARE listening.

Near Ramah, NM photo by Laura Hall

I will give you a chance to Pre-Order the new album/CD which is called "Strong Medicine" very soon with incentives and rewards.......stay tuned and check back please.

I have some upcoming shows in June in North Carolina. Please let people you know in those areas know about the shows. Of course if you live in the Chapel Hill area of North Carolina please come yourself and bring lots of friends.

• June 16, Las Cruces, NM 1PM, Southern NM Pride, Pioneer Park, Downtown Las Cruces
• JUNE 21-24,   Handpangea near Asheville, NC Gathering of fans, enthusiasts and players of the Pan family of instruments like the Hang, Halo, Bells, SPB, etc.  Randy Granger concert Friday night, June 22nd. at Laughing Waters Retreat Center near Asheville, North Carolina 
• June 26th  - Covenant Place 103 Culbreth Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27516. 3PM Randy Granger performs for the Summer Bash.  Private show. 
• JUNE 26 - Carrboro Century Center 100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC, 7 - 9 PM. www.carrboro.com/centurycenter.html $6. Randy Granger in concert. 

Thank you for reading and for your support. Much peace and prosperity to you always. Be sure and "Like" me as they say on FaceBook.
Randy

Live performance from a recent show.
Enjoy

The anatomy of an interview

The anatomy of an interview

Interviews whether they are print, live radio, TV or recorded for later even podcast are a vital and necessary part of being an artist today. You have a chance to reach listeners who may come to your work for the first time. First impressions being what they are critical and I use that word in all its meanings. Recently I did an extended phone interview with a station out of Santa Fe, NM, KSFR that brought these points home. It was ostensibly for the upcoming Gathering of Nations PowWow in Albuquerque where I’ll be performing April 27&28. The first questions were about significant women in my life and how I would like to honor them being the end of Women’s Awareness Month. Of course I was thinking….um is this the right program? Did I get the info wrong? But I went with it and you’ll hear it. You’ll hear me speaking spontaneously and from my heart about the first person to mind, my mother. The interviewer skillfully led that into my background, my Native roots, my music and other areas I couldn’t have prepared for if I wanted. Those are the good interviews: the ones where you don’t chit chat beforehand and are forced to get out of your own self-promotion and try to connect with the question, the interviewer and especially the listeners.

You will hear me speak about that aspect of the listener and how I realized years ago that you don’t speak into a vacuum. You must have some consideration, be succinct, remember the question, get out of the way and be present to that moment alone. I’m grateful to have done so many interviews that I can be spontaneous and go with the flow. But I’ve found you can’t be distracted or look at notes. I visualize the question and the “arc of the answer” so to speak. You learn to talk about your music in a detached way instead of saying ummmm I have no idea where that song comes from sorry…. As I have heard many an artist say.

I hope you will learn something about me as you listen to this interview and about my music. I was visiting a friend at his ranch in southeastern Arizona and sat outside during it. You can hear his Turkey, Clark, goggle a few times, the chickens and even the whiney of a horse. I love it and worked it in. Please feel free to comment and share. Next interview you can also stream live is Monday, April 9^th at 10AM MDT at KGRT.com. It is a Country station so should be interesting but then again, I like that.

Randy

See them tumbling along

Randy Granger NM Cowboy Days 2012

This weekend I played again at the New Mexico Cowboy Days festival here in Las Cruces, NM where I live in the heart of the Mesilla Valley. Typically spring in southern NM is our windy season. Not just breeze but gusts of 45-65mph pure dust that feels like half of Arizona, our neighbor to the west, ends up in your house and teeth. I marshaled through my set on Saturday by playing as hard as I could trying to find the direction of the wind so I could put my back to it. Was a struggle as vendor tents flapped and leaned and straw from the bales pelted the audience. The Pavilion is set outside and there is no real way to avoid it.

Though I’ve tried many a wind break device on my flutes I’m of the school of tough it out and play your loudest, hard-wood flutes preferably of a higher key. One fan noted on Facebook that it was like they were listening to me in a canyon as the winds swirled by. Nice spin on things and I’m glad it didn’t come off like a struggle. I told more stories about the flute and music than normally trying to wait for a break in the gusts and did a song with backing tracks, Hallelujah, so stretch things out in a pleasing way.

My friend Donn Shands had sent me an innovative wind screen he calls his “Dead Kitten.” It works, but like I said I’m of the tough it out school. Though next time you can bet I will practice more with the Kitten before a windy outdoor gig. Thing about our winds is they swirl from no direction in particular. Humbling. The sound guy said it only got worse after I left with vendors leaving early and a thin crowd. Glad I had some people.

Sunday was the absolute windiest with a cold, low front moving in from southern Arizona. When I got to the gig even the vendor tents had been moved into the courtyard. That should have been a sign. I found myself circling the mic to find the direction of the wind with not much success. The mic stands and flutes were constantly falling over. Was almost comical. I felt bad and did several vocal songs but even the sound of the wind in the mics was a distraction and we all knew it. You do your best every single time. The temperature dropped and we all began to freeze. The rest of the day the skies here turned an unsettling orange as winds howled. Facebook was alight with people saying how restless and uncertain they felt from the weather. I hope the festival broke even and the vendors too. When you are relying on a crowd can be hard to make due. My CD sales were paltry. Thank goodness I got paid.

Point it you show up for your gig, contracted or not. Do your best, try to make people smile or feel something with your music. I didn’t bring my Hang drums because I was respecting the theme of the event. This weekend a documentary on the Bataan Death March, “Bataan: The Making of a Memory” by director Stephanie Dove, will premiere in Las Cruces at the NM Farm and Ranch Museum. It uses some of my music in it and I am honored.

I am also honored to announce I will be performing with Michael Graham Allen at this year’s International Native American and World Flute Association’s convention in Eu Claire, WI. I will also be offering private lessons to attendees and conducting a workshop titled, “The FUNdamentals of Playing the Native American Flute” on Sunday morning. Sign up for both as early as they are posted. I plan to have a vendor table as well. Visit the website for convention information. Worldflutes.org. April finds me at the NMSU American Indian Week doing an indoor concert April 11^th @5PM and The Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque April 27 & 28, as well a shorter concert 11am, Sunday April 29^th at Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation   Check my website calendar for times please randygranger.net/calendar.html for information. Please come out and support and say hello.  

Thank you and happy Spring Equinox

Randy 

Healing at Hospice with Native American flute music

Recently I had an experience playing Native American flute at Hospice that I wanted to share. I’ve returned volunteering once a week at our Hospice playing flute music and sometimes the Hang or Moyo. My Hospice experience has been going on for over seven or eight years, playing once a week when I’m in town. It began when I was asked to play for the annual candlelight memorial then I asked about volunteering there. When my partner’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis came early fall of 2010 I stopped pretty much everything to care give, without reservation. Since his passing March 2011 I had not been able to return just until a month ago. We used home Hospice towards the end.

This past week I came to play before my own grief counseling session. It is odd when I walk in now the staff and patient’s families are so happy and appreciative. I’m actually uncomfortable with the attention just try to keep my head down and nod politely. I was playing in the hallway where there is a tile floor and skylight. I like the sweet spot of the acoustics. A man leans out of a room and is listening. He is in his late 40’s probably and walks with a cane and leg brace. He stood by me for a couple of songs so I say hello and chat a bit. He works up the nerve and asks if I could go into the room where his wife is and play a song. He said she can only move her head now and will probably pass soon. I said of course. I walk in and there is her hospital bed, a chair right next to her head where he no doubt sits and a TV right at her eye level. He tells her I’m the one playing that nice music and I’m going to play for her. I sit down and just off top of my head play “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” smiling at her while I do. She starts saying, “thank you, thank you” and tears flow down her face. Her husband comes and wipes the tears and he is crying. When I’m done I tell her she has a great man and kiss her forehead. As I leave there are a few nurses saying thank you to me and crying too.

Fortunately, I held my composure. I play in another wing and another man asks if I could come into his wife’s room and if I had a tape? I didn’t have one but he said every time I come she calls her son to hear it and wanted a tape for him. I promise to bring a CD next time. With Hospice you don’t know if they will be there the next week or not.

What this brought to mind is exactly why I began to play the Native American flute in the first place, and I suspect many of you as well. The sound of the flute is so peaceful and tranquil it takes listeners to that place of deep stillness where healing and reflections happens. Playing at someone’s bedside is light years away from headlining a festival, following my chart positions, sweating over bills, chasing gigs, playing in a wine bar etc. Different because there is no applause, no one asking who made my flute or what key it’s in. Not that those things aren’t interesting, but to me it is a humble reminder of the true power of this healing instrument and to play it with reverence each and every time regardless whether it is made of pine and cost $50 or made of Purple Zebra and costs $1200. It isn’t the Bling it’s the being, you who makes that thing sing. I’m interested in your experiences and thoughts about this.

Much Peace

Randy

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Delicate arches and the art of promotion.

Delicate Arch - Arches National Park

Recently back from the Moab Flute Festival. Moab is nice and I always enjoy my visits to southern Utah. This time I was able to make a short day trip to Arches National Park and hike up to Delicate Arch. I lie on the rocks after the 1.5 mile steep hike and felt the support of the ancient stones and gave it my grief and sorrow. I brought a couple of smaller flutes along and began to play, eyes closed and finished to applause from the fellow tourists and hikers. I, of course invited them to the concert that evening. Some very nice players and music to a modest audience.

Moab Flute Fest. photo by Mark Hawkins

I left a day early because of weather and drove through blowing snow from just outside Moab to Albuquerque, a normally seven-hour drive. Just outside Farmington I became very ill and thought it was food poisoning. Turns out it was more likely the Norovirus that has been hitting the area where I live pretty hard. I pushed on three more hours to get home and collapsed into bed then the toilet the rest of the night it seemed.

The Thursday I left I filmed a feature for our local PBS station. I have word it will air this Saturday night, February 25^th at 10:00PM MDT. For now it will air in the southern New Mexico, El Paso, Juarez, Mexico markets. The station is KRWG-TV, Channel 22. Station website is KRWG.org. This is the premier of a new series for them called “Music Spotlight” where they intend to feature musicians from the southern New Mexico area in a performance type program they say inspired by Austin City Limits. I was their first artist, their guinea pig so to speak. It was a strange being in a huge production studio with only three professional cameras, no audience and just me for 26 minutes playing flutes, the Hang, singing and talking between songs. Just like concert but very much Not. I’m sure something good will come out of it and I’m very grateful for the coverage.

A neighbor came over with a complaint. She said she was just about to fall asleep with the TV on the other night and I woke her. I said I was sorry. She laughed and said my promo for the upcoming show came on and I said, “Hello, I’m musician Randy Granger …..etc.” She said she was surprised I hadn’t told her that I must either have no ego at all or didn’t want her to know. I bring this up because it comes up often, from non-musicians especially, how my being in the paper all the time, on the radio, on Sirius or Pandora, on television occasionally how big my ego must be or how it must give me a big head. I’m dumbfounded and try to just be gracious. You simply don’t sustain a career on ego. It takes passion, dedication, a calling, a belief that you have something to communicate that is worth hearing. I do. Promotion and marketing are just tools.  How else do you think people hear about your music I often want to respond? I mean Coke doesn’t need advertise but they do.

I should be receiving a DVD copy of the special and hope to include it a DVD of my music videos I’m producing. Thank you for your support as always.

Randy

Feeling the Love in February

Concert at Branigan Cultural Center Feb. 3, 2012

February is the month of Love as they say. I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and happy. Here in Las Cruces, NM where I live we have a month-long celebration called “For the Love of Arts” when our dynamic arts are in full tilt. All mediums of art, poetry, sculpture, fabric etc. are on walls of restaurants and galleries and events happen almost daily. It was my honor to be asked to perform a concert for the kick off. The first Friday of each month we have a downtown arts ramble where our entire downtown area, where a plethora of galleries and theater’s are, organize opening exhibits, musicians, food, wine everything you need to enjoy art. I was the main attraction at the Branigan Cultural Center and the people were out in force. It was so much fun and so enjoyable to play. Two younger boys joined me on stage as fans oblivious to the hundreds of people listening in their seats or milling about enjoying the art. Enthusiasm is always welcome I say!

In conjunction our local weekly paper The Las Cruces Bulletin ran a feature story “Making music of life and loss” on my in the arts section at page C004. It was a nice story and I appreciated the coverage. Last week I was contacted by our PBS Television station, KRWG-TV, about filming a half-hour piece about me and my music in the style of Austin City Limits or similar. Of course the taping is this Thursday so not much notice but I’ll crunch it out and do what it takes. I’m grateful. I’ll have a nice piece of film to help me get gigs. And that is what it is about really. As musicians we compete for people’s attention against the slew of media, social media, iPads, Kindles etc. How to stand out is a daily question. It is never about ego but getting your music to as many people as possible because, isn’t the goal of art? Making a living is a pretty serious goal these days for me so if I sell a few more cd’s, get a few more bookings then I’m making progress—doing something right.

This Sunday, Feb. 12^th I’ll be performing special music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Albuquerque, UUABQ for short. Services are 9:30 am and 11:00am, 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Website is http://UUABQ.org. I enjoy performing here as they crowds are large and enthusiastic and the message is always thought provoking for me. I’ll be performing special music before and during the services on Native American flute, Hang and vocals. Come out and say hello.

Next weekend I’m a guest artist at the Moab Flute Festival in Moab Utah Feb. 17-19. Evening concerts are at 7:00 Saturday and Sunday nights at the Moab Arts and Rec Center, 111 East 100 North, Moab, UT http://www.moabmarc.com/marc/. $10 covers for both nights. In the lineup, as far as I know, will be myself, Steve Rushingwood, Wounded Healer, Nino Reyes and others. Moab is breathtakingly beautiful and next to the Arches National Park. Here is a short synopsis: Friday night Meet and Greet at the Archway Inn fire pit @7:00pm. Saturday 10:00am gather at Moonflower Canyon for opening ceremony. Following will be an Echo Hunt into private canyon. Indoor concerts at the MARC at 7:00pm Saturday and Sunday nights. $10 covers both nights’ concerts. Sunday 10:00am Rim-Blown flute workshop with Frank Harter. Sunday field trip to Corona Arch followed by evening concert.

Visit their Facebook page for more info at Echo Hunters Association or type in Moab Flute Festival.

Last weekend filmmaker David Salcido and another friend filmed footage for my new video for “I Am the Mountain Within” from Pura Vida. It was a blast if not a little chilly in a kilt and thin tight shirt. Here is a photo from that day. It is so nice working with others to get your music out there and get their creative input as well. It should be out in a month. Watch my YouTube channel. 

Much love, music and peace.

Randy