tag:musicofthistle.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news?p=1Latest News2023-12-16T11:17:51-05:00THISTLEfalsetag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/73201712023-12-16T11:17:51-05:002023-12-16T11:17:52-05:00Mysterious Star: A Tribute to Poe release is January 19, 2024!<p>I'm so excited for you to hear my new record <i>Mysterious Star: A Tribute to Poe</i>. </p><p>In October, THISTLE played some concerts sponsored by Chamber Music America in anticipation of the release of this record.</p><p>On January 19th, 2024, the 250th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, we will be celebrating Poe with the release of a record inspired by his works. 9 original songs for chamber instruments and voice. Yay!</p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/218366/0658773719cec0a3910af2dd4ade0dae5f0114df/original/thistlelook1-62.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/70348022022-08-10T11:48:03-04:002023-10-16T10:50:32-04:00"Mysterious Star: A Tribute to Poe" is almost finished!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/5a1c4aab941ab9116313d7503161fbe95e6ee84b/original/img-1470.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hi folks! I've been working hard on recording, editing and mixing this record with Jeff Cook in Manhattan and Brooklyn for the past two years. Currently Oscar Zambrano is mastering these 9 precious tracks. As of yet, there is no release date planned. I am taking my time looking for labels and putting together tours. But I can't wait to share the beauty of this record with you. xo</p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/66924662021-07-19T17:13:38-04:002021-09-29T05:25:02-04:00Martha's Vineyard concerts were so fun!<p>I brought percussionist Al Cerulo and cellist Aliya Ultan to the Vineyard for a couple of concerts in July of 2020 and we had a lovely time. Al premiers works internationally by modern classical composers such as Jude Traxler, Paula Matthusen, and Randy Gibson, while Aliya Ultan is an up and coming avant guard performer and composer in NYC. We got to play acoustically at the Chappaquiddick Community Center and were absolutely delighted with the sound. Thanks to all who came, it was magical. I have been visiting Chappaquiddick Island since 1987, and my brother is buried in the New Chappaquiddick Cemetery. Here's us in my backyard!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/bb1e233fc1127fcadbe3705cfdbceb23685f0e87/original/img-1234.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/65920352021-04-02T10:05:42-04:002021-10-30T12:16:00-04:00What a long, arduous journey!<p>Hi all, it's been a long period of silence and inactivity on my end. When the pandemic struck the US, I was working on recording my Edgar Allan Poe inspired album "Mysterious Star." I had slipped two discs in my neck a few weeks prior to the lockdowns, and I would be unable to play harp for the next nine months. All my hard-earned, exciting gigs for 2020 would be cancelled. My main livelihood was also threatened. My recording studio would be closed for nine months. I, like many others, fell into a depression. But I'm pleased to finally be booking some outdoor shows for summer 2021. And I am now almost finished recording the album I have been working so hard to arrange for orchestral instruments such as cello, flute, trumpet, horn, glockenspiel, vibes, and hand percussion. There's even a crystal singing bowl on The Raven, and I can't wait for you to hear it!</p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/58815342019-09-05T10:32:56-04:002022-05-08T23:04:40-04:00New Album "The Ice Maiden Comes" Is Available!<p style="text-align: center;">Check out my "Music" section for the link to purchase on Bandcamp :)</p>
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<p>My new album is out and it's available on all platforms! It's best found by searching for the title. xo</p>
<p> </p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/57415982019-05-03T12:27:53-04:002022-04-19T01:03:19-04:00JUST JOINED RASPUTINA<p>Hi! Renowned cello folk/rock band Rasputina has asked me to join as back up vocalist and harpist. </p>
<p>I'm thrilled to announce that I'm playing on their North Eastern tour this summer. </p>
<p>Check out this <a contents="link" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/OfficialRasputina/events/">link</a> for dates xo<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/7d3c9592f551d8e6fc42035e3acfc1f7bdab1b47/original/melora-with-cello.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/56968162019-03-27T14:45:02-04:002022-02-06T09:51:14-05:00New Album to be Released June 11th<p>Hi All, It's been a long time coming. I got really sick in 2018, but managed to record an album of 11 songs, each inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen story.</p>
<p>The cover has been shot, and the music has been mastered. Now I just need to have them pressed! Very excited to present this to you.</p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/53361832018-07-08T09:19:35-04:002021-10-02T16:09:40-04:00Nice time playing Greenwood Cemetery for Rooftop Films<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/63b9a7f3fa94c2eede11007de7922619d1c7a046/original/img-7319.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Last night I played for audience members in Greenwood Cemetery before we watched a brilliant biopic comedy about Emily Dickinson. "Wild Nights with Emily" was written and directed by Madeleine Olnek, and stars Molly Shannon. I've been wanting to play in Greenwood for a while now, and am so thrilled that I got this opportunity. It was a great night!</p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/53262882018-06-30T17:28:31-04:002021-08-20T15:00:43-04:00Finally, recording this Hans Christian Andersen album!!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/0c11bfbe1e9a447287ebcc048ed71d6bded04944/original/thislte-and-rich-stein.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Wow! So much has happened since my last post. Among those things was some extended European travel, wherein I got seriously sick from some Transylvanian vibes. Love you, Romania, but omg, I almost died this winter. </p>
<p>I am happy to say I've been in the studio since January, recording this album of 11 tunes based on Hans Christian Andersen stories, and it is sounding good. Here is a pic of me and percussionist Rich Stein taking a selfie break during one of our rehearsals. </p>
<p>Stay tuned for more deets on the album.</p>
<p> </p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/47351552017-06-06T11:38:54-04:002022-06-02T05:11:18-04:00Germany tour with Pook was a blast!<p>I returned last week from a 6 date tour in Germany with violinist Carolin Pook. We played Wuppertal, Cologne, Moers, Hannover, Berlin and Haverland. I rented a car and a harp that both turned out to be brand new. Here's a pic of me playing in a DIY shopping cart throne at Platz Project, the super progressive co-working shipping container community in Hannover. Half way during the show I looked up and there were so many people gathered! I have to say that was my favorite show. Another great moment was when an elderly gentleman at the Berlin concert told me I was strange, but that the world needs strangeness, and that my music touched everyone's hearts. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/eee65ac5b8cc5fde2f7ef24464cb5bb5c3b5d682/original/shopping-cart-platz-project.jpg?1496763426" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/45897622017-02-14T11:37:28-05:002022-05-10T03:09:11-04:00Booking for THISTLE with Pook in Europe this spring<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/b95afac6166bcb472c0105dc5faf80b3bbc967bb/original/pook-and-thistle-with-pillar.jpg?1487090223" class="size_l justify_center border_" />photo by Dwayne Michael CampbellTHISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/45848742017-02-10T13:55:36-05:002022-04-30T05:33:25-04:00Update! 2/10/17 concert has been moved to San Damiano MissionHello! Our booking was not honored at the Park Church Coop. Unfortunately due to the last minute cancellation, in the face of the unlikelihood of finding a new venue in 12 hours, the Nouveau Classical Project let their musicians have the night off.<br>We have moved to San Damiano Mission, 85 N. 15th St., Brooklyn NY<br>And we are playing with Kelly///Moran! Starts at 8 xoxo<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/462198b338bd0b697bec790f43eeab9a109a26e4/original/thistle-kelly-moran.jpg?1486738620" class="size_l justify_center border_" />THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/45411382017-01-07T13:06:04-05:002017-01-07T13:06:04-05:00Nouveau Classical Project to play with THISTLE 2/10/17I am so pleased to announce that THISTLE and the Pookestra will be sharing a bill with <a contents="Nouveau Classical Project" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.nouveauclassical.org">Nouveau Classical Project</a> on February 10th at the Park Church Coop.
<p>"...bringing a refreshing edge to the widely conservative genre...NCP's work makes a stage for finding nuance in rigid categories." - VICE<br><br>"Classical music’s got an edge these days, and we have the Nouveau Classical Project to thank for that." - MILK MADE<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/7ec60f265d7f2da114a1b61a7d8813d813afecc6/original/ncp.jpeg?1483812278" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
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<div> </div>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/45202582016-12-21T09:27:04-05:002021-10-04T14:17:26-04:00New Salvi Harp Ordered!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/f97af135886209d6e631946b1d20460db20a5f49/original/salvi-ana-black.jpg?1482330190" class="size_l justify_center border_" />I made it to the Salvi showroom in Los Angeles over Thanksgiving, and I chose this Salvi Ana model as my new harp! (This pic features some other lovely harpist's harp, thanks internet!). These are made to order, so it will be 3-4 months before this bad boy comes over from Italy to be mine. Meanwhile, I'll be tuning and retuning and tuning my Merlin R Harp and playing for you at a few shows in NYC--January 6th with Carolin Pook on violin at the Park Church Coop, January 7th solo at Pete's Candy Store (4pm) and February 10th at the Park Church Coop with the six piece chamber orchestra conducted by Pook! yay!THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/44753902016-11-19T17:21:59-05:002018-07-08T09:15:41-04:00WINTER IS COMINGHere I am playing for the second time with the chamber orchestra at October 22nd, 2016 at the Park Church Co-op. Bala Skandan joined us for a couple of songs on mridangam. And we tried out Carolin Pook's new arrangement of The Nightingale--see the vid below!<br>I'm booking shows and I have a few lined up for winter time. Some of them will be solo or duo, all in NYC for now.<br>I will begin applying for grants for the chamber orchestra in December, as well as booking another solo/duo European tour for next spring. <br>I can't wait to play my harp all day inside with the shades drawn this winter...oh wait, I do that anyway!<br>Currently working on writing The Wild Swans.<br>Looking forward to seeing you soon.<br>xo<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="vimeo" data-video-id="192282758" data-video-thumb-url="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/603591248_640.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/192282758" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320"></iframe></p>THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/44020172016-10-03T15:56:41-04:002022-09-13T01:16:40-04:00Rehearsing with Bala SkandanI am making this guy learn my odd meter, odd measure tunes! So thrilled to be playing with mridangam again!!<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/c2808327c9494f417696fe2241923cd78af3b815/original/img-3849.jpg?1475524566" class="size_l justify_center border_" />THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/43940272016-09-28T09:48:48-04:002016-09-28T09:48:48-04:00October 22nd--Playing with Pookestra at the Park Church Co-op!Hi there!! I am so excited about the next show I will be playing. Bala Skandan, an exceptionally talented and renowned NYC-based mridangam player, will be joining our all female chamber orchestra as guest artist. Mirdangam is a double headed drum played in Carnatic (Karnatak, or South Indian Classical) music. I used to sing in this genre and I LOVE this instrument. When played well, it is quite stimulating and awe inspiring. Carolin Pook will be conducting her own arrangements of my songs in the vein of her Pookestra work, which includes whole-ensemble improvisation. My dear friend Niabi is opening up for us with her solo electronic project Searmanas--a hypnotic and canonistic ritual that is not to be missed. Jesse Gelaznik shares the orchestra with me this evening, adding a few more members as well, to debut yet another freshly written classical piece for us. I am very excited about this show, and I hope you are too! xoTHISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/43607982016-09-07T13:06:31-04:002017-01-15T22:04:36-05:00Back in the States and ready to play!I landed in the states August 30th totally dizzy and about to pass out, with a sprained finger and a broken heart. During my three week thing in Europe, Carolin Pook and I played three great shows in Germany. Here we are in a church with 6 second delay! hanging with Jesus. I think our favorite show was at Ort in Wuppertal, where we played to a standing ovation and came back to bow three times. In addition to playing music, I toured the town and birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen in Odense, Denmark. It was everything I had hoped it would be when I dreamt of going as a young girl. I also hung out in Dublin and got a feel for the old country. Sadly, no harp music was to be purchased or heard by these ears in Ireland. Now, it's back to work on the album!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/218366/373820662c90756d4a578c72a009eb105ec26ab7/original/img-3635.jpg?1473267398" class="size_l justify_center border_" />THISTLEtag:musicofthistle.com,2005:Post/43128512016-08-06T10:04:35-04:002016-08-06T10:04:35-04:00Headed to Europe!I'm going to Europe in four days! First stop is Dublin, where I will hear some Celtic harp music live and check out a local music store...see if I can't get my hands on some relevant sheet music. Then I go to Copenhagen and on to Odense, the birth place of Hans Christian Andersen, my hero, and the star of my show. After a quick stop in Belgium to see a friend, I will be playing music in Germany with my dear friend and arranger, Carolin Pook. Yay!THISTLE