Autumn affirmations of Rock Art, Pagans, UU's and the State Fair.

Randy Granger at SWEC 2013 Gala Fundraiser 

Happy autumn friends. We are blessed with an extended Indian Summer here in the Chihuahuan desert of southern New Mexico. Our Rio Grande is mostly Rio Seco (dry) this summer sadly. We had such great rain and were happy for it. Let’s hope it replenishes the watershed. Since my last post I’ve performed up in Albuquerque at the NM State Fair in the Indian Village at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Albuquerque where I got to try out their new worship hall. It is beautiful and austere, very UU. They love my music there and I love playing there where people really listen to the spirit and intent of your music. Also I’ve performed here at the Southwest Environmental Center’s SWEC fundraiser Gala on the Downtown Street of Las Cruces. It was posh and a beautiful evening settled into our downtown canyons and my music swirled and caressed the people and buildings. It was a great cause. I wasn’t paid more than a utility payment for playing, I'm grateful, but hey it’s about keeping the circulation of giving and receiving giving. 

Las Cruces Pagan Pride Day Young Park 

Last weekend I performed at the Pagan Pride Day here at Young Park in Las Cruces. The weather and day was ideal and our fall weather held out for us so well. I really believe diversity is having a respect for everyone’s own journey to his or her Creator. It’s more than lip service for me and I was honored to be  headline the day. My booth was stocked with the rattles, flute, Sage, Smudge, jewelry and music I carry. I also reconnected with some great drummers in the area and we jammed on stage and afterwards that night at Susan Jewel’s drumming studio. My hands were sore. Ha-ha. I love me some drumming.

With all of my recent gigs the number of people who come up to me and tell me how they listen to my music is touching and a much needed affirmation to continue. They say they listen to it every morning to get into a peaceful zone, as they work on their art, their computer, at work, before bed, doing mediation, prayer etc. I’m just so completely overcome with emotion and gratitude when I hear this. One woman came just to buy a copy of Strong Medicine for her friend who has been diagnosed with cancer. She wanted to give her a copy personally.

Another said it was all they listened to when their brother was in his battle. Another has a young, healthy, athlete son who just had surgery for testicular cancer and he said he listens to Deep Peace to You over and over for comfort and strength. I’m so touch by their personal stories. As I work in the studio it’s easy to forget my music impacts the world. When I’m stressing over money I don’t feel I’m anything special and certainly not important to anyone. So these testimonies are affirmation and feedback from creator/universe saying yes you are and you need to birth even more of your music into this world. So thank you.

This weekend I return to perform for the second year at the Rock Art Rendezvous near Comstock, TX. It is at the White Shaman Preserve across from Seminole Canyon St Park. The Non-Profit Rock Art Foundation’s mission in part is to: 

Educating public and private sectors about the endangered status of rock art in Texas

Restoration and preservation research

Acquiring endangered sites for transfer to agencies capable of ensuring their integrity.

Continuing to locate and document previously unrecorded sites

Fostering harmonious relations with land owners for site management / protection and supervised visitation

Archiving photographic collections

Every year they meet and have a rendezvous and organize hikes to the pictograph and petroglyph sites over five millennia old that dot the lower Pecos river area of the southwest. It’s breathtaking and humbling to go on these hikes mostly on privately owned land. I first went three years ago and jammed at night with the other great musicians who come to the gathering.  So I performed a concert last year on the Saturday night and was invited to return and do it again. The feedback from the crowd was strong, supportive and laced with appreciation. I’m the one who is most appreciative the opportunity as I totally support their efforts.  I play me flute at the cave rock art shelters and feel my ancestor’s spirit and presence. They care they took to leave those ancient messages makes me feel so grateful I get to see it. Truly. And, I get to some really special and great friends again !!!!!!

Rock Art Foundation

Work on the new album of solo Native American flute "Ancient Grace" music continues. I haven’t launched the Indiegogo campaign yet because I haven’t been able to edit and finish the video. It takes so much time and care it’s been a challenge. I’m sorry for that. I very much know there is support for it and I will burn the midnight oil to get it launched before I get too overwhelmed. Several people have supported me through PayPal and I have a folder with their backing info. You can also do that in any amount you wish. My PayPal is hangguy@gmail.com Be sure and copy and paste the email as there are 2 “g’s” Thanks

Talk to you after the Rock Art Rendezvous. You can always support them too at www.rockart.org and learn more about their amazing work and mission. 

Blessings to you at every turn. Be sure and check me out on iTunes, Amazon.com, CDBaby.com. Pandora, Youtube and my website. 
Randy

randygranger.net

Why do YOU do your music?

Ask any musician who can form a sentence why they are a musician? (and good luck) I’m talking here about the ones who do music as a job, a continued passion not the dabblers. I mean the one’s who don’t have a back up plan because they’ve never considered there is one. Not to diminish the rest of you. If you are making music then the most power to you my friend. Keep on. But when you “do” music and make a living at it solely or part-time it changes the dynamics completely. Believe me. Try it you’ll understand. 

A couple of recent interactions have me questioning. It’s about expectations of you as an artist, your audience, (if you’re blessed with one), where you will perform, how much you’ll expect to be paid and how you replenish your energies at the end of the day.  I was on a jury selection and a guy overheard and friend and I talking about my music, being on the road etc. This guy turns and asks if I’m a musician? I say yeah and he asked the usual 50 questions, where? Who? Band? When? And, of course, if I’d heard of him.  Long story short he keeps coming back asking how I do it as in who books my gigs, who makes my CD’s, which band do I use, did I need a drummer? How do I make a living at it? I’m so used to this I just rattle off answers like a robot. He is so persistent I just say, “Look man I work all the time, all the time, promote like hell, have few friends, drive 14hrs a day, sleep in my car at rest areas, eat the same food for a week, spend little and just trust someone is going to show up to my gigs and I can sell some music to keep on doing it.”

He looks irritated and says, “Well I would never charge for what I do since I’m in a praise band. I believe in giving it away.” Ok. Delicate territory. I’m about ready to head butt him hard, but remember I’m enlightened. Must....educate. I remind him he asked how I make a living at music and say, “It’s because I have to dude, just like you need to keep your job to pay your bills right?” People who play for free are a bane to we professionals, but that’s for another time. Ha-ha 

Part of a working studio

The other thing that happened is much more affirming, but it is part of the same wheel. I’m working on my new album “Ancient Grace” an album of solo Native American flute music. It is in direct response to the many listeners at shows and people online I hear from asking “Me” directly for an instrumental CD of my music they can meditate, fall asleep, relax, do yoga, massage, rekei to. I said yes I’d record one. As you recording artists know, when you’re working on an album project you are alone either in your studio or with an engineer who, for professional reasons, won’t give you feedback except on how it sounds. You work for hours and hours trying to avoid ear fatigue. You don’t eat or drink because those sounds come through the mics and if you aren’t recording Didgeridoo it won’t be a pretty sound. Some days you think Yay this is sounding/feeling great. Other days you think what the hell am I doing here? I suck. My music sucks. No one will buy this. Time to sell even more, or everything, on EBay. Those are the tough days for sure. It’s natural. Just take a break. A walk. If you didn’t have high standards you wouldn’t feel this way. 

I find Orange and Red help me work. ;-)

So in my meditation I was asking the Universe, Spirit... for a sign that my music matters, that it has a place in this world. After a while I check my email and found this from a fan that bought my music two years ago at a festival. He told me I needed to buy a private plane that it would be easier than driving everywhere. I’m totally serious. Anyway, here was this email from him and I just dropped my head on the table, emotional and grateful for the perfect sign. Here is the edited email for privacy:

 “Hi Randy,  We met at ….. a few years ago. A quick story:  I was driving from NC to PA on a day that every idiot that could get a car was out driving stupid. I was stuck in traffic and was about to pull out my gun and shoot myself then five others when one of your songs came up and I chilled out. So in a way, you saved 6 lives! 

Obviously I'm kidding, but I am amazed at what music can do. I hope you're still making great music. Take care”

When you put your heart, soul and passion into your music you don’t have anything left for yourself and, believe it or not, that’s ok. Just find the way that you recharge whether it is watching Breaking Bad reruns, playing games, cooking, hiking, meditating…..whatever. Do it because in the end the fact that you are inspired and given the gift of creativity and talent means YOU DO MATTER and what you do makes a difference whether you have 3 or 3,000 listeners.

I’m in Albuquerque this Sunday. Please come out, share it with your friends and post on your Facebook, twitter feeds. My Facebook page: Facebook Randy Granger Twitter: @RandyGranger  I appreciate you comments here. Thank you
RG

Sept. 15, 9:30AM and 11:00AM. Unitarian Universalist Church of Albuquerque, 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuqeruqe, NM http://www.uuabq.org/ 

Sept. 15 7PM Expo New Mexico State Fair, Indian Village, http://exponm.com/state-fair/indian-village-schedule/ 

Radio Interview and live chat tonight on "Dimensions of Spirit" Hey Z Radio.

World of Faeries Fest by Mike Smith

Hello friends. My hope is that your Indian summer days you are happy, well, content and the same for your loved ones. I'm busy laying down tracks for my new album "Ancient Grace"which will be an all original solo Native American flute music album for meditation, healing, yoga, Rekei, massage etc. In other words the kind of CD you ask me for when I meet you at concerts or through emails. I am seeking funding as far as pre-orders at whatever level of donation is comfortable for you. I will also run a funding campaign on IndieGoGo which will run concurrently. There is a fee associated with the crowd source funding programs like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, but whatever way is most comfortable for you. You can paypal to support at hangguy@gmail.com. 

It is clear to me my music offers healing to listeners and my background, spiritual practice and training as as metaphysician, healer, massage therapist and mystic from a long line of Shaman's and Seer's, is for that purpose. As I do free smudging at my booth at concerts the emotional releases, tears of joy and healing are real and is an extension of my music and spirit. 

On that note join me tonight in a live interview on "Dimensions of Spirit" on the Hey Z Radio network. You can stream live and even join in the live chat. Program runs from 6-8PM MST (Denver). The link to join and listen is http://www.heyzradio.com/listen-chat

I look forward to your questions and comments in real time. 
Thank you for your support. 

Here is a video of Double-Barrel Train Wreck from my cd A Place Called Peace. This vid is from a PBS special on my music. What a great honor. Enjoy and feel free to share. 

Alchemy as a Music Metaphor

“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho’s seminal book “The Alchemist” is a fable like story of a Sheppard boy searching for the meaning of a recurring dream. Along the journey he meets archetypes that tell him it means treasures, wealth, secrets but an alchemist reveals it is his own personal story that he must transform into the metaphor of gold. "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it" is the core theme of the book. Coelho was met with failure and ridicule when his book was first released and after a “period of healing” so believed in his work he went door to door of publishers. This undoubtedly, his own personal transformational journey he wrote about.

Las Cruces Museum of Art Feb 1, 2013

This week I taped a short radio interview about my album Strong Medicine and also to promote an upcoming show in El Paso, TX Feb. 10. The interview is scheduled to air Feb. 9th 11:30 AM MST at www.ktep.org on a long-running program called State of the Arts. The interviewer had listened to and reviewed the new CD and had a page of notes. She is a pro and musician as well. She said to me before the interview that she is incredibly moved by this new album, paused then said, “You know Randy, you’re an alchemist.” She said I had turned so much love, pain, grief and loss into something so personal and moving that is stunned her. She shared a story about her own loss and how when her mother was battling cancer in the last stages she heard a bird singing loudly outside her window during a thunderstorm. Just then she received a call that her mother had passed. So when she heard the line in my song “Where Did You Go” about a bird singing outside a window, she knew I had been in that place too—where the artist makes the personal into the universal. Alchemy.

Las Cruces Museum of Art Feb 1, 2013

The process of writing and recording the music for Strong Medicine felt like mining, which is another metaphor for how we get gold. If you’ve any knowledge about gold mining it is messy, hard, ugly work that involves searing heat, tons of water, chemicals to extract the gold and a lot of sweat and dirt. Sometimes making art is like that too. You don’t come out of it clean, shiny and radiant. You need time to heal and recover too. It is an enormous privilege and responsibility to be given the gifts and talents to do this. You want to avoid sentimentality and cliché as much as possible. You gotta dig deep and mine that emotional core of each song in an authentic way. Listen to the interview if you get a chance. If you miss it the State of the Arts website posts past shows so you can catch it later. I only hope I was an alchemist of this music for posterity and for you, the listeners. Ultimately though, it has to be about my own, the artist’s, transformation from raw materials into something precious and worthy and my own personal transformation.


During the interview she got choked up a couple of times which is very humbling to me as she is a pro. At one point, when I mentioned my late partner’s name in reference to a lyric a speaker in the studio howled and squealed with feedback for an unknown reason. This shook us all up. The engineer piped in and said he had no idea what that was caused by and suggested we had a ghost with us. We exchanged a knowing glance. I think this will be edited out of the interview though.

Don’t forget I’m playing a full concert 3PM, Feb 10, at Grace United Methodist, 400 N. Carolina Dr, El Paso, TX. www.graceumcelpaso.org/about.html it’s Free!

Radio interview airs Feb 9 @11:30AM MST, www.ktep.org Stream live or listen after program airs at http://www.ktep.org/programs/state-arts

Peace and well being

Randy

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.”

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.

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

Kicking around the southwest getting ready for summer touring.

Greetings I hope this summer is finding you and those close to you safe and happy. Last Blog I reported I was up for several New Mexico Music Industry Awards. I am happy to report I won one of those nominations in the category of New Age Contemporary. I was surprised and honored as I accepted the award for all the hard working musicians in my part of New Mexico. It was a top-notch awards ceremony with amazing performances, formal banquet and all the major players in New Mexico Music. Lest you don’t think that is much several are Grammy winners and recently Oscar winners. Music is big and close to the burgeoning film industry here as well. I met the two other musicians from Las Cruces who were also nominees, C.W. Ayon in Blues and Mick Harris in Pop. C.W. Ayon won his very competitive category. Though we had met half-an-hour before the awards show I hit it off with he and his wife immediately. Maybe it is because we are both extremely hard-working independent artists. Or maybe it was that we were all three sitting at tables nursing beers because no one would talk to us. The music industry in New Mexico is heavily represented by the northern cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Most have never been to Las Cruces, which is, incidentally New Mexico’s 2^nd largest city. I introduced myself to one of the major distributors of Native American Music who was presenting that night. He dismissed me quicker than you can open a beer saying, “I was wondering who ‘Randy Granger’ was.” Okay. I was polite and professional and slightly embarrassed that I had been so nice to him and his wife.  He was presenting two of the categories I had multiple nominations in and mispronounced my name. I wanted to show my award to him afterwards but thought better of it.

Awards do count. Especially the awards where you don’t have to beg every Facebook friend, relative and acquaintance to go vote for you. These awards were pre-judged by New Mexico music pros then sent out to some seriously qualified national judges. I mean seriously well known. I was blown away by that. The people who weren’t talking to me before all of a sudden were seeking me out saying hey we have your music in heavy rotation at our station could you record a station ID? It is all part of it. Awards for independent musicians help bring us cred, attention and better paying gigs. You have to make really good music first though. No substitute for music that sounds killer, has feeling and raises you above the hundreds of thousands out there. Here is some good press we had in our local papers http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_15156196 my hometown of Hobbs, NM ran a front page story and interview on my award. I was so happy knowing my family would read it and feel proud. They have always supported me in everything I’ve done. You can read the articles and more at my website http://www.randygranger.net/press.html.

I was in Santa Fe playing some shows and thought the awards ceremony was Saturday night so I rushed to my room after playing followed by a trip up to 10,000 Waves to soak in the communal tubs. Drove an hour south to Albuquerque only to find it was the wrong night. I just laughed at myself and went back ending up with a great night strolling in and out of live music venues around the Santa Fe Plaza. I conducted a flute playing workshop for the Albuquerque area flute circles and had a wonderful time seeing some friends and meeting new ones. Melissa Dominguez, a Santa Fe photographer and college friend I hadn’t seen in too many years took some really nice photos she let me post here. Yes that’s a Kilt I’m wearing. Specifically a Utilikilt which I absolutely enjoy wearing both on and off stage. You’ll love their approach and humor.

My schedule for this year’s International Native American and World Flute Association’s (INAFA) convention for me is:

Lead a Clinic titled “The ABC’s of Playing the Native American Flute” in Lecture Room 143, July 15^th at 1:00 PM

Perform July 14^th at 7:30 PM with Michael Graham Allen aka Coyote Oldman in Gantner Concert Hall

Perform Solo concert: July 15^th at 3:00 PM in the Phillips Recital Hall

You can find out all about the Convention at http:///www.inafa.org. For the first time INAFA will be allowing main performers to offer private lessons during the Convention. You can email me directly for info an costs at lonegranger@netscape.com. I have over 15 years teaching guitar, percussion, voice and Native flute along with being a lifelong, classically trained musician I have worked with some of the best flutists such as Michael Allen and R. Carlos Nakai. If you want to get an intense private lesson and evaluation feel I don’t have much free time at the convention so slots are going quickly. I will also have a booth with my Indian Summer Music Award and NM Music Industry Award winning CD’s, t-shirts and more. I plan to have two new CD’s available and am working on the details now and will be ordering them soon. I am so absolutely excited about these new CD’s.

I’ll be playing in El Paso at the end of June. You can always bookmark my calendar at http://www.randygranger.net/calendar.html. While up north in Wisconsin I will do a few other gigs including the 6^th Anniversary World of Faeries Festival in South Elgin, IL. I am open to booking some House Concerts or flute circle performances/workshops. Email me if there is an interest. I look forward to seeing again the friends I made at the 2008 INAFA Convention. Don’t be shy. Say hello.

See you down the trail,

Randy 

Native American Flute Firefly music in the Texas Hill Country.

What's in a Stereotype?

Last week I had the good fortune to attend and perform at the Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque. The media said over 150,000 people were expected to attend. Seeing all those people in ordinary clothes, in tribal regalia and western wear brought home the diversity of native peoples and the creativity and talent. Living in southern New Mexico I don’t really get to spend much time with Indian people and the few that are here I have friendships with. It isn’t like other parts of New Mexico where there are pueblos and reservations and an abundant community. When I lived in Albuquerque I was very involved with Native health issues and met many an “urban” Indian. The Native American flute festivals are mostly non-natives though they have borrowed heavily from romanticized ideas about spirituality, art, etc. Being in the Pit when over 3,000 dancers in full regalia entered the floor with the powerful drumming and singing made some experiences recently seem like Indian Lite. Not to be to dismissive, but you know when you are in the presence of authenticity and it comes from the heart and from a shared language or culture free of superficiality. Exploring my own murky Indian ancestry has made me even more deeply respectful of the self-reliance and reverence for the natural rhythm of creation. I get it.

Browsing the hundreds of vendors is pretty awesome…well I imagine it would be with money that is. I ran into my friend flutemaker Butch Hall and we had a short visit which was wonderful. I send people to his website all the time for his affordable, nice flutes. I heard some awesome music, saw amazing tribal dress, was moved by the drumming (not the drum-circle variety mind you), and hopefully offered something to the atmosphere. My set was ok but the Hang can be a challenge to mic live. I kept getting a horrible low feedback that had the poor sound guys scratching their heads. Not one but two trash trucks came to empty the dumpsters during my set and a 35mph wind came wanting to play my flutes along with me. Sigh… I just had to laugh when the trash trucks came thinking ok I guess I need some humility right? It’s all good. I met some nice people and sold some CD’s thankfully. Earlier in the week I had played at the Tamaya Resort on the Santa Ana Pueblo. Talk about swank. It was like five miles from the road situated above the Rio Grande. As the sunset lit up the Sandia Mountains me and the other locals all looked and nodded knowingly. We know how special this place is. Our ancestors have been here centuries. It is in our blood, skin and bones. I hope that my music reflects that. Indian people call non-Indians who dress and act Indian “Wanabees.” Not a nice term but you know one when you see one. I’ve never wanted to be anyone other than more of who I am. Walking around the Gathering with all those Indians I felt at home but reserved, respectful. It isn’t a zoo and seeing people with cameras just inches from dancers faces I felt sympathy and regard for the patience the dancers had. I’m comfortable in my own skin and know that is a formidable asset. When I smell the ever present Sage and Sweetgrass at flute festivals as ubiquitious as patchouli and a Grateful Dead show I have that patience too. When people throw around the word “Spirit” like it is some cosmic jukebox that “just plays through me” I may silently groan but wish them well nonetheless. Spirituality is such a personal issue and there is a reason it is called a spiritual “practice.” I hope when I play and present concerts that I do some small part in shedding the stereotypes that all Native People are either something out of Dances With Wolves or worse. What I saw at the Gathering just solidifies the idea in my mind that Indians are vibrant, creative, forward thinking and very much alive, thankfully.

I was playing my Hang and Flute on the UNM campus in this cement sculpture called Center of the Universe just to see what the acoustics were like. A guy came up to me and we started talking. He said he is a music producer and wanted to know where I was playing. I said at the Gathering of Nations and he said, “That’s a really odd clash isn’t it? A Swiss instrument at a Native festival?” I said that they are both innovative cultures and pointed out that hip-hop, the bass guitar and keyboards are exactly Indian but were all there too. That is just to point out that preconceptions can run deep and I see them as a chance to inform. It is interesting that while I was playing a homeless guy offered me his sweater and another one in a wheelchair stopped and listened and clapped. Either they thought I was homeless or they could feel my openness. Either way both were real acts of generosity from people who seemingly have little—seemingly.

Be Well
Randy

Check out my new cube! Gathering of Nations 2009

Get my cube or Create your own

Taizé Service, Meditation and Thoughts

This time of the year I always find myself in a contemplative and somber mood. It could be the 60mph spring winds, the years of attending a Catholic school and being an altar boy well in to my late teens or the fact that it always gets cloudy on Good Friday. It can’t be coincidence that Christians, Jews, Pagans and ancient Greeks all mark this time of year with some sort of ceremony or service. On some calendars it is the beginning of the New Year. Easter always falls on the Sunday nearest the full Moon following the Vernal equinox. Whatever the significance I find myself combining two areas of my life this season; music and service. I will take part in a Taizé service at a local place of worship. Taizé is a type of service that “emphasizes silence, light, and above all the meditative weaving together of prayer and music.” It was started by a monk, Brother Roger, during WWII in Burgundy, France. He offered refuge to Jews and later German POW’s and began an inclusive ceremony with the other monks. Brother Roger would pray in the woods as to not bother his non-Christian guests. That alone is remarkable.

Taizé services have become popular all over Europe and the US for their simple concept of meditation, silence and the music. Candlelight is the only light used along with some inclusive prayers and chants. Tonight, I will be the music. Going back and forth between Native American flutes, the Hang and singing I will be able to use my tools and talents in a way that is exactly like I had been searching for. I had approached the music director of the church several months ago saying I wanted to have some sort of music and meditation hour where people could come and go and that there would be no applause or performance per se. He forgets that I mentioned that when he, I and the new minister met to discuss this Taizé service. Point is that it seems the consciousness and intent attracted what would be best for everyone, and I’m really grateful. Check my Calendar if you want more information.

Being a professional musician involves so much more than chasing recognition and awards. Making a living means doing commissioned pieces, Busking, getting paid for individual downloads or listens on Rhapsody sometimes .06 at a time. It adds up. I’m learning to expand completely my own idea of what success means and understand that my opportunities are unlimited—something I actually affirm every day. So one week I’m playing a Taizé service (and getting paid), later this month I’m playing the annual meeting of an Industrial Heating Equipment association at a resort in Albuquerque, three days later the Gathering of Nations Powwow and at least three albums worth of music to record, release and promote. But, for tonight, I will gather all the skills and magic that has led up to now and uses my music in the truest way I know to bring comfort, healing and peace.

Happy Easter, Passover, New Year or however you mark this season.
Randy

Here is a video of an unrecorded song Hello Daddy. Soon to come....

Scheduling a concert in your hometown can be a risky gig. If you bomb and no one shows it can be hard to swallow. On the other hand if you are widely successful you are tempted to stay closer to home. How should an artist measure success then? Monetarily? Audience size? Quality of performance?

I feel my most recent hometown show was a success in the sense that I presented an entertaining performance and people were moved. Some told me a musician hasn’t made them cry, like I did, in a very long time and others were just happy. I made a profit and filled most of the seats. Yet that nagging habit of wanting to see how it could have been more successful is something that I’ve been fighting to not let creep in to my consciousness. Why weren’t more people there? Where were all the musicians I know etc? I come across people all the time who ask when I will play in town and to let them know. I did. I understand how hard it is to get people out the door of their home. I think did I piss them off somehow? Was it the venue? Spring Break?

And yet I have nothing to feel disappointed about. People came and stayed the whole concert. I felt good about my performance. Maybe it is the fact of just how hard I had to work to get every single body in the seat. And, let me tell you it is just like a politician getting every single vote. An audience is voting that you have something entertaining to offer by showing up and a couple of hours. This is not something I take for granted. The venue didn’t confirm with me until two weeks before the gig and even then there was a miscommunication on rates etc. I hadn’t experienced so much stress in a very long time and still feel it. The stress was trying to rely on other people to keep their word and do their jobs; nothing new but probably a carry over from prior local gigs. I won’t go into all the details of just how much work it was in the midst of a CD release and tour because I don’t want anyone to think I’m feeling sorry for myself or complaining too much. I’ve always wanted to be honest about this musician’s life because it is something only I have insight into. CD sales were good but even then I noticed people were holding back a bit and women were holding their purses a little closer to their bodies. This economy has people very cautious and many people I know have lost half their investments or retirement money. I don’t have those kinds of worries because I make my income from gig to gig and CD sales literally. I know every time I go to the store that prices are more on just about everything. Shipping CD’s, promo packets, posters, photos, promotion, music contest entry fees etc. all seem to be more than last year and I get nervous when I don’t have gigs lined up that I know will pay.

I think it is my responsibility as an artist to be as authentic and close to the truth of my being as possible and give give give so much that we can all transcend for just that time it takes a song to take shape and change the molecules, the very atmosphere of the room. No small order, but one I am so committed to that I dig as deep as possible that I sometimes don’t have the energy to load my equipment afterwards. That’s okay. I do what I do because I feel compelled to do it and love that exchange and honor each individual there.

I did a two-hour set that involved Native American flute music, stories about the flute and its legends, songs on my guitar and vocals, several Hang drum songs, a HAPI drum demonstration, a demonstration on an ancient Mayan clay artifact replica flute shaped like a leg and a great version of “Oasis Bound” with Wayne Crawford the poet I just released the CD with. There was lots of laughter and tears especially when I did a song on guitar called “Hello Daddy” a song about growing up in southeastern New Mexico. The venue was really comfortable with nice sound and lighting. I did one encore and there were calls for more but I was so exhausted and had to be out of the venue by 10 or lose my deposit. I so enjoy being able to pace and work up a set and introduce songs. It gives the audience insights into my music and my writing. It is a privilege and a real luxury as opposed to the 30-minute sets you get at showcases or most festivals. I allowed people to take photos so hope some of them come back. I couldn’t find anyone to video tape the concert for me so left my video cam running the whole show and hope to post some of the vids soon. Overall I have to focus on the good that took place and move forward. There was much good and I feel I made some people happy. I had an amazing time and even printed up a set list and bio that each audience member received. That way I had to keep to a set and they could hopefully make notes of which songs they like and which CD it was from. Did it work? I don’t know but people were all smiles afterwards and I so appreciate how many people took a chance on me.
Thank you Las Cruces.
Randy

HAPI Drum Demo Improv

How much service is enough?

I’ve been thinking about the concept of “service” lately. After six years of playing at Hospice every week I was in town I decided to move on for a variety of reasons including wanting to play for people who are healing. I do think that death is a form of healing but felt playing for people who are returning the serious challenge of recovering was important. I had a meeting with a local Volunteer Coordinator at a local hospital. Well truthfully one of the hospital chaplains wanted me to play in the sanctuary she had pushed to be built and wasn’t interested in my work with patients. When I met with the other hospital’s volunteer coordinator I had to bring a background check and letter of reference. I haven’t had a letter of reference in decades. As I sat across from her at the cafeteria table in a sport jacket no less I sensed some serious doubt. She asked what I would get out of it since they couldn’t pay me and there wouldn’t be an audience like I’m used to? I explained that the commitment to service is an important part of my life. I noticed a panicked look on her face and realized she was probably thinking I meant “community service” or something like it. Further I realized she was mistaking my ego for the unselfish idea of service I have which is doing something without any expectation of recognition or compensation. She did suggest that I could perform at some volunteer luncheons for free and drive patients around to their appointments.

It became clear there was no place for my music at this hospital when she said the director gave her a dirty look when she mentioned music. Hopefully I will meet an administrator through my work that will place my music beyond the red tape of it all. As I drove home I thought how else I can serve. I was probably depressed a little when I reflected on how so many musicians reached out to me when my music started to get such awesome airplay and I played more and more high profile venues. They all wanted to know point blank how I did it and how they could do it as well. Some were friends and others were people who hadn’t really spent more than a few minutes sharing the same air. Some sent email after email asking who? What? Where? How? How much? As usual I was generous with my self-learned information as I knew so many other flute players were downright hostile with theirs. One musician asked again and again how to accomplish what I did and I explained I hired a music promoter—the least expensive one I could find I should point out. I explained that there was one promoter who was way out of my price range but cold deliver the goods because he was so aggressive but that most programmers never played his clients again once the campaign was through. He asked me for his contact info. I told him to look it up. Seriously. It’s like someone asking you if you knew the best landscaper and you said yes but they charge $2million dollars and no one in this town can afford that and later you realize they hired “that” person for their middle class neighborhood.

Is that service? I have a video up on YouTube on learning to play the Native American flute. I get emails every day from people asking me where part two is. I play so many benefits that a radio interviewer asked me what I possibly got from it and why I play so many. I charge so little for performances that an Air Force Base who has hired me laughs every time I give them my fee saying “Do you know out of all the native American flute players we contacted you where the only one we could afford?” Schools and senior centers are on my regular performing “private” schedules which I do for free, etc., etc. When I did chair massage at Wild Oats in Albuquerque I would ask the employees to sit in the chair for a free massage when business was slow. I knew that gathering the energy going happened in both giving and receiving. I have logged over 1000 hours of hiv/aids educations in prisons, schools, hospitals and more because I knew there was a need.

Balancing the idea of service while still being able to eat and pay bills has never been exactly easy and I’m grateful for every check and .39 download I receive. Helping out other musicians who appear on the charts ahead of me whom I never hear from again is not quite what I had in mind and won’t be doing that type of free consulting any longer. Mother Teresa used to clean the sores of lepers in India much to the disproval of the church. I know the right service will present itself to me I just get a little discouraged in the meantime and should know better……

Randy