Tanya Pluth: Journal and News

Our house is being painted blue, and I'm working it into a new tune...oh, yeah...little blue houses, for you and me!

Just a quick note to say I'll be reading from some of my fiction work at the Show and Tell Gallery in July. This is a great event held at Three Friends coffeehouse, and sponsored by Melissa Sillitoe. I've been invited to read with P.K. Gott, an awesome local author, and another author will be joining us. Come on out to hear it! It'll be on Monday, July 20th starting at 7pm.

The clock has started on my new album! I've been working on new tunes and am excited with the direction the writing is taking. I enjoy this time very much - retreating into a place of more creation and listening to my everyday with an ear to what I want to write about and create in voice, lyric, music.

I'll be pulling back from performing for a while during this process, but will pop up here and there. Drop a line if you'd like to hear the tunes in progress, and I'll send out a blast when I have a show coming up and a chance to play the new tunes.

Hope all is well in your worlds -

Tanya

I'm very excited to say that I'll be playing a handful of shows with a great band, The Muses. I met Tanya and Matt at the FAR-West Conference in November, loved their "Celtic Music With Zing" and stayed in touch with them since. As it turns out, they're touring through the region, and tagged me to join them on fiddle and vocals for a few shows. Come and have fun with this great live band to listen to! Hope to see you at one of the gigs - .t

2009 has brought many transitions - for me personally, for people I love, and for the nation, the world. I appreciate the air of "anything could happen" that's currently percolating. And while some part of me catches a few whiffs of the fear and worry that seem to always come along with uncertainty, mostly I find myself reveling in the bounty of opportunity that is appearing these days.

First, I'm excited to announce the start of my practice, Invite-Invoke-Inspire. This is a place where I invite folks to come and work on grounding, deepening awareness, and making choices for wholeness and healing. You can read more about my practice by visiting: www.invite-invoke-inspire.com
As long as I'm talking about creating new entities, I am thrilled to say that I'm officially working on a new album. The songs are coming together, and I anticipate that within the year I'll be looking for studio time, musicians, producers, the works. Please contact me if you have any recommendations on folks to work with in the northwest.

And, now that I've had a decent hiatus from performing, I'm looking to schedule some gigs in the coming months here in the hometown. So look at the calendar for dates coming soon!

That's all for now - drop a line and say hello when you get a chance! Thanks for reading.

Tanya

Phoenix is big. Have you been there? You know what I mean. It's long, stretched out over a desert whose only complaint comes by way of heat waves, dust storms, thunder, lightening. I just spent three days in Phoenix, Arizona at the wonderful Folk Alliance, Region West conference. I had so much fun I can't talk about it all right now, because I'm still on my trip. Currently I'm avoiding Disneyland, as I just spent 7 hours there. I'll post again soon with photos and more about the FAR-West experience.

peace -
.t

The change from summer madness in the mountains, out in the garden, surfing in the ocean, aahhh, a lovely summer ending as the Fall takes the gauntlet and helps carry us all into winter. I love the fall. Fall in Oregon feels like home, with the cold windy eves and the warm strong sun of afternoons.

This Fall I've been working on a bunch of new projects. New tunes that I'll play at my upcoming gigs (my favorites? "Pez Despenser" is a rockin love song, and "Fantastic", a tune I'm writing as an ode to spirit and change). And I'm honing the groove on a few new covers (anyone for Abba? I'll leave the tune a mystery, though...). Check out my new project, "song for your pet" at the following website: www.songforyourpet.com. I've got folks tapping me on the shoulder for this work, which feels great.

I'm looking forward to October! The Far-West conference is a favorite, and this year I'm hosting a showcase room, as well as playing in the Twitter Twatter showcase. I've already met some great folks just by putting the showcases together, and I look forward to all the jamming and grooving and meeting that occurs at the conference.

Enough for now - peace to all-

.t

October in Oregon is one of wind.Wind is a funny thing in Oregon. It isn't always super present, but on the days that it's here, it lets me know. I saw orange-leaf mini-tornadoes today, the wind whipping itself up into Fall and stirring up all kinds of mini-drafts, up drafts, down drafts, it's been a drafty day. And the leaves are so full of color - the maples changing, and for about 30 feet today I walked on a red world. . . aahh. . .

Fall is full of wonder and wonders never cease this fall! The first wonder involves teaching at Portland Community College - I've really been enjoying getting to know students there, and revisiting topics of feminism, identity, change. . . The students rock! I learn so much from them every week. I hope it's at least vaguely vice-versa. . .

The second wonder of the fall is FOUR Pride in the Arts Award Nominations...um. . .really? really, people? That's just the most amazing thing I've heard in a long time. Pride in the Arts awards are totally fan-driven - - which means through some sequence of events, people voted for Saving Graces - in multiple categories! I feel so honored by this show of fan support. Saving Graces has been nominated for:
Favorite CD of 2007
Song of the Year
Musical Artist of the Year
Favorite Lesbian Artist of the Year

I never in my life imagined I'd be voted favorite anything, let alone favorite artist, song, Cd. . . wow. . .
Did I already say thank you?

Thank you!
You can check out all the nominated artists and cast your votes too. The winners of the above awards will be determined by fan voting.

Cast your vote for Saving Graces and other artists by November 12th!
Ok enough rallying around the votes. Let's talk Winter. It's coming up, people, and there's nothing for it, but to surround ourselves in that which is nurturing: friends, good food, family, whatever activities found to be fulfilling, restful, rejuvenating. I'll be doing just that. Plus I plan on playing more gigs here in P-town and around the state. I'll be at the Gotham tavern in November and January, and will be at the FAR-West festival in Vancouver in early November. I also have this secret plan for a tour in the spring. . . more to come!

Till then, folks, drop me a line when you see fit and leave your thoughts on the Say Your Peace page!

Here's to fall,

tanya

Hey everyone!

Between nursing my dog back from the brink of yet another garbage-induced near death experience and settling in after lots of travel in May and early June, I've decided to. . . yes. . . go on another trip!

July will be Minnesota time, and I am so excited. It's been a lot of work to schedule gigs, as I'm learning that summer is tour time and I was a bit slow on the ball to get gigs. For now I've got a show up in Grand Rapids - hoping all the Flatley's and Mattesons can make it! Plus a few folks on the email list who are up North in the fine state of Minnesota. I'm up for playing some other gigs too so if you've got any venues you'd recommend, or want to host a house concert, send me an email!

Turns out I've also just had an article published in "Climbing" magazine. You can check out some people's comments on my "Say your peace" page. I've felt very honored by the kindness and generosity of people's responses to the article. Haven't decided yet if I'm going to read the "letters to the editor" in the next Climbing issue. . .

Meanwhile. . . "Saving Graces" continues to get attention and be picked up by new radio stations. My song "Well as you Will," which was featured on the latest version of "acoustic rainbow," got picked up by a bunch of radio stations around the world. I'm working on posting a full list of where you can hear "Saving Graces" tunes both in cyber space and in old fashioned radio waves. . .

I'll post some more on my travels! For now, it's gearing up for Oregon's heat wave... 100 degrees tomorrow. . . Time to go surfing!

This world is full of. . .

reviews!

Ok, not completely full, but "Saving Graces" did get another review! This time from "Indie In-Tune" magazine.

Here are some choice qoutes:

"When you think of your old favorite singers, does your list include Tracy Chapman and Melissa Ferrick? Then turn your eyes to Tanya Pluth, because she's got a sound which brings new energy to the same old scene which you already love."


And another one:

"Next time you update those play-lists, you can add her on to the list of "women who rock".

WOW! Thanks to Kathryn Vercillo for writing such a kind and generous review.

Read it for yourself:

Indie InTune review

April and May are traveling times, and I'm glad to say that the road will be full of gigs too!

Bend, Redmond, San Fran, Chico - aahh, I can't wait. Anyone up for some gold panning in the Sierra Nevadas? Let me know.

I'm still looking to fill a couple of gig nights so if you've got ideas for venues/cities between San Fran and P-town, let me know! I'd love to play where you're at.

Also, I just finished up an interview with West Duncan, a freelance writer for Just Out. Thanks West for the interview! I look forward to the article. I think.

Happy to say that I am now back and living in P-town, my town, old-town Portland, Oregon. The place that raised me as a singer-songwriter, the place full of so many wonderful artists, activists, entrepenuers and radical types, it's great to be here!

I'll be starting up regular gigs here in Portland as soon as I get more settled in. Keep posted! I'll be putting up calendar dates soon.

I am so glad to be back in Portland and able to contribute and bask in the wonder of such amazing community of friends, family, and more.

So much thanks to all the fans listening to the OutVoice Top 40 CD program and watching the list - I am truly honored and humbled to learn that fans have voted "Saving Graces" the second best CD of 2006!

I look forward to playing live for all the folks who appreciate the album - working on a tour for April and May of this spring! Hope to see you there.

How about the magic of the internet?

One morning I was at work (at my "regular" job) when after focusing on some task I don't remember for some indeterminate amount of time, I decided to procrastinate by checking my email. And there, amongst the *SPAM* notices, messages from friends, and the weekly Horoscope outlook that comes to my box, I found this message heading:

"Congratulations on being #1. . ."

Or, at least, that's all that the message's subject line said. At first I thought it must be its own version of spam. Who among us wouldn't want to be congratulated for being #1 in something? Marketers are ruthless at tugging on our egos and emotions, I thought.

Being skeptical, I nearly deleted the message. Thankfully, I noticed the email was from the folks at Outvoice.

And that's how I heard the great news:

Saving Graces hit #1 on the charts!

Just read below at my other entries and you'll see how shocked I was to:

1.) Be on the chart at all.

2.) Rise to #2 on the chart

3.) Stay at #2 on the chart for a second month. . .

and so - you can only imagine my total delightful surprise at this recent development.

Not much more to say - if you could see me right now, you'd pick up on the glow that I've got going on, in gratitude for all the folks who helped bring the album to the top of this chart.

Thanks everyone!

.t

Drove in to Portland from Bend after working half a day at my "real" job, and arrived in NE portland just in time to run through the set with Ethan and Ryan. Tried to eat some dinner but, you know, I felt nervous!

Hearing Ethan on guitar, and Ryan on drums, I relaxed as we worked through the tunes. These talented guys had my back, and I felt excited to share the stage with such skilled musicians.

I arrived at the Mississippi Pizza Pub in time to catch some folks I'd worked with in portland a few years back - Jason and Celeste, then Susan and Patricia - so nice to see you all arrive! Then the greetings just continued, as more and more people poured into the place, until not a single empty seat, table, or even wall space remained.

Lost By Reason took the stage. Wow, I loved listening to them! We traded CD"s as soon as I got a chance. If you ever have the opportunity, listen to these women play. They are truly talented and fun performers!

What can I say about performing? So beautiful and wonderful to share and create that space with all of you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Truly I feel overwhelmed with the blessings in my life, and look forward to returning all that I can to this world.

I'll let the photos say the rest. . .

peace out,

.t

It's not like I ever thought to myself, "Hey, maybe someday I'll be above Elton John on a Top-40 chart," and so, when I found that my CD had gone to #2 on the Outvoice's Top 40, well ahead of Mr. John, I had no idea what to do or say. So don't ask me to talk about it!

Except, I can say that I have no idea how it happened, and while that's true, I welcome the great news. I feel deep gratitude for all those who have found the album and voted for it, played it on their shows, or otherwise got it out into the world.

You all are teaching me daily about the magic that can happen in this world, the power of catalyst, and the pure gift of being able to share my music with the world.

And to Mr. John, all I have to say is this - since you've spent almost the entire length of my life on the top-40 or there-abouts, I don't feel too bad about booting you out of the top 10.

I'm done with my crazed tour of the West/mid-west, and after hearing wolves howl in Northern Minnesota, crossing North Dakota along a storm front that produced three tornadoes, and cresting the Contintenal Divide no fewer than four times, I am so glad to be settling down in my new home.

Here's to all your travels, both internal and external - may they be full of growth and peace.

.t

Hey everyone!

Writing from on the road. I graduated with my MFA back in May, moved out of Oakland, and hit the road. I've been traveling through California, Nevada, Southern Oregon, and spent the past few weeks in my old stomping ground, Portland. In a few days, I'll be hitting the road again, on my way to Minnesota. I'm hoping to play a few shows while I'm there - so check the calendar for potential dates!

And, here's the fun news - I made the charts! The OutVoice charts, to be exact. OutVoice is a part of the Stonewall Society and Rainbow World Radio. "Saving Graces" debuted at #17 in the month of June - just behind Elton John at #11, and ahead of Amy Ray at #27. I feel very humbled and honored to be on a list with such talented musicians. Thanks to all the DJ's who spun tracks from the album in June, and to everyone for supporting "Saving Graces" through on-line sales!

I'm looking forward to my upcoming road trip. Time on the road offers opportunity to write new lyrics and encounter new kinds of music. Many songs are in the works and I might even try out one or two at the CD release - so come to Portland in September!

in peace,

t.

One fine night in April a bunch of folks gathered at Epic Arts to welcome "Saving Graces" into the world. Joe Morishige, Miles and Zach opened the show with their sweet freestyle blues/jazz/rock grooves, and then we all took the stage together to play a bunch of tracks from the album. I invite you to check out images from the night on my "photos" page.

Everyone who came was so kind, and I'm really grateful for such support and encouragement! It was the best kind of show and a great venue for the Saving Graces CD release. Such fun to see everyone with the CD in hand and listen to folks as they thumbed through the booklet and checked out the CD.

Special thanks to Britta and Luclia for helping work the door, to EpicArts for hosting, to Joe, Zach and Miles for playing, and, of course, to all those who came - you really made the night for me, and I am so grateful to you all for listening and supporting the album.

If you were there that night, then let me know! Send a note on my "say your peace" page and I'll post it on the site.

in peace,
t.

The website has been up only a few days and already well over 200 visitors! I can't even say how great it's been to share this with so many people, and hear your responses. Much thanks to those who posted on the "Say your peace" page -just outstanding and humbling.

All's in motion for my upcoming CD release and I can't wait to see everyone there - I'll be sending out more publicity about this soon.

In the mean time, I want to thank all the folks who've shown such great support for my work in music and writing -

peace out -
t.

What do you get when you take. . .

6 months worth of recording and mixing, and add in a technological failure and a theft? You get the story of why it’s taken me well over a year to produce this first album. I originally worked with a start-up studio in P-town, Oregon, and had a fun time getting the tracks laid. Mixing went alright until everyone got tired of working with each other, so no worries, we agreed to let it be and I received copies of the files (so it seemed. . .) on DVD and went on my merry way. Sadly, two months later when I went to do the “final” mixing of the tracks, no engineer in their right mind could open the files. Or rather, they could open the files, but not all of them.

Why not just get new copies from the back-up of the tracks, eh? Well, that would be a smart thing to do, if back-ups existed. The start-up studio had all their computers stolen and only one set of backups, also gone.

It was me, two DVD’s that were useless, and. . . let’s just say August was a hard month. Data recovery folks said they could *maybe* get back 75% of the files, if I paid them about as much as it cost to re-do the whole thing. Ah! That’s the answer. Back to the studio.

Enter Joe Morishighe, of Uber Records, the hero of this story. He agreed to work with me on a giant do-over, and the rest is told in the album. Check it out! I’m glad for the do-over, as I think this version gave me the chance to add some new-er tunes, and also do more intricate arrangements. Hope you like it!

.t