I’ve been reflecting lately on the experience of singing while pregnant.  As my little boy (that’s right, it’s a boy!) grows inside of me, it has been very special to sing to him.  I find that singing while having another little being with me makes the notes somehow feel more resonant.  I’m not sure if this is a physical reality or just an emotional experience, but the only way I can describe it is that it feels like the notes travel “further” and the tones sound more “full” to me.  It is so interesting to think about how changes in the body can affect changes in the voice.  After all, it is a very physical exercise to sing!

It is also very sweet to see how music affects my little guy.  I’ve read that at this point in his development, a baby can hear quite well and, when born, can recognize voices and songs that he heard in utero.  Sometimes when I sing a certain song or prayer, he will move around a lot in my belly.  It is pretty amazing to feel him responding that way.  I can’t wait until he is out here with me so I can sing to him and see his little face!

These experiences remind me what an important part our voices play in connecting with each other.  The way we speak, the things we say, how we use pitch and tone in speaking and singing----all of these things communicate so much to one another.  It makes me reflect on how much care I want to take with how I communicate.  And it also reminds me that many of these things just come naturally to each of us.  We can trust our hearts and our voices will communicate our true feelings.

As this little guy continues to grow and develop, I also think about how many things I want to tell him about life, and how I’d like to do that in song.  Yep, I’m sure he will be the subject of many songs I will write---silly ones about day-to-day routines that will be just for him and me, as well as more developed songs that may be on future albums. 

What an adventure it all is!

Yep, that’s right!  My husband, Teddy, and I are expecting a baby!  We are so excited and so grateful to have this little one coming into our lives.  I’m about four and a half months along and am due in late October.  Each day has been an adventure as this little one grows inside of me.  It really is such a miracle to experience!

I’ve been more absent online for the past quarter because I’ve been quite sick with nausea, fatigue, headaches, etc.  It is tough work being pregnant!  It has taken all of my energy just to do my work and function somewhat normally and I’ve had to cut down on my activities.  But of course, every minute of sickness is more than worth it. 

I’ve already learned so much from this experience.  Out of necessity I’ve had to let go of a lot of my attachments to what a “productive” day looks like, I’ve had to re-assess my priorities on a regular basis, and I’ve had to choose to just let go and not worry about a lot of things.  Interestingly, I will need all these skills as a parent, so I can really see the wisdom in this whole process.  It is really preparing us for parenthood!

All of this learning and all these experiences are inspiring me and I look forward to continuing to make music that explores what I’m going through.   As always, I’ll keep you updated here. 

But in the meantime, my main creative project is this little baby!  So, if you haven’t already, be sure to download my latest song “Plaything”, and I will share more music as it is available.

Stay tuned for more updates and adventures as I navigate this next stage of my life!  I look forward to sharing it with you.  

I’m very happy to offer you a never-before-heard song of mine for free download!  It's called, "Plaything", and I’d like to tell you a bit about it.  (Scroll down to the very end of this entry to hear the song and get your copy.)

This song deals with a concept in the Baha’i Writings referred to as the “insistent self”.  My understanding is that the insistent self is like our ego. It is the force that tries to put our desires and our comforts first, neglecting the needs of others.  Giving into the insistent self can lead us to be judgmental, argumentative, and to be rigid in our thinking and our behavior---the opposite of the humble posture of learning that we so desperately need in the world today. 

In my opinion, most of the problems of the world are caused by our lack of awareness of our intrinsic oneness as a people, and our ability to shut out the pain and suffering of others, turning a blind eye to them. 

But, there is much hope, because learning to be aware of and manage our insistent selves leads to spiritual growth and stronger unity in the world.  It leads people to live lives full of service to others, and gets us in touch with the most powerful and noble force—the human spirit. 

The lifelong struggle to step away from the insistent self and towards the human spirit is actually a very beautiful process.  As we continually strive to choose the higher path, we grow and we move closer to fulfilling our purpose in life.   

Having an insistent self does not mean we are bad, it just means we are human.  And I believe the human spirit is inherently noble and knows just how to guide us free of the constraints of selfishness into peace and generosity.

During most of the song I am singing to the insistent self, expressing my awareness of it and how I’m going to deal with it.

My hope is that this song is a source of strength for all who strive to lead a life of sacrifice and service to others.  This song is for you.

Huge thanks to awesome music producer Jarome Matthew for collaborating with me on this song!  

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Here are some excerpts from the Baha'i Writings that inspired this song:

“O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.”
--Baha’u’llah

 

"May He guard us ever, from the recklessness of the insistent self."
--Bahiyyih Khanum

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Plaything

Credits:
Vocal melodies, lyrics, vocals, and guitar by Laura Harley
Music tracks by Jarome Matthew
Produced by Jarome Matthew

Lyrics:

I hear you whispering to me
You try to tell me it’s all about me
And you tell me to think of only me and myself

But I am not interested
That kind of thinking is tired and reckless
In a world that’s so full of pain and suffering

So when I see you I walk away
And when I hear you I walk away
And there is just no more time to waste
And I am moving on  

And I am on to you
I know you must insist
But I am so much more
Than all your whisperings

Just try to trip me up
I’m not your plaything
And I know you well 

My own mystery
My soul is guiding me free

When I hear my own heart beat
I want to feel that the pulse is racing
From me to you and from you to me and we’re connected

And when I hear that voice speaking
I will notice but I will stay free
From the prison of self that tries to cage me in  

So when I see you I walk away
And when I hear you I walk away
And there is just no more time to waste
And I am moving on

And I am on to you
I know you must insist
But I am so much more
Than all your whisperings

Just try to trip me up
I’m not your plaything
And I know you well
My own mystery
My soul is guiding me free

  



Other music by Laura Harley:

“Laura Harley” (2006): A collection of songs about Laura’s experiences while on pilgrimage and striving to be of service in the world.  Buy it at CD Baby or in Laura’s store.

“This One Chance” (2009): A 5-song EP about the strength, vulnerability, and courage it takes to live a meaningful life.  Buy it at CD Baby or in Laura’s store.  (Laura has also written a companion book to this album!  Find out more here.)


Click the arrow below to listen to "Plaything", or click "download mp3" to get your own copy of the song.

I've been absent from the blogosphere for a few weeks because I've been hard at work on some new creative projects.  

One of them is a brand NEW song that I'll be releasing here on the site early next week!!  And the best part is that, as a gift to you, it will be a FREE download!  Yep, that's right.  Just come on over and download your very own copy.   

I am really excited about this song.  It is about a concept that is really important to me, and I am thrilled at how the music has turned out.  This is another collaboration with my dear friend and talented producer, Jarome Matthew.  He sent me one of the final mixes yesterday and it sounds awesome!  The vibe of the song is similar to the style of my first solo album. So excited to share it with you!

So, stay tuned and I'll share more with you very soon...


Photo by Studio 306

This weekend I spent time with a group of friends studying a course about how to help build spiritually-empowered communities.  Among many other concepts, we discussed two things that are very close to my heart as a songwriter: story-telling and music.

We talked about the art of story-telling and how crucial it is in sharing history, sharing learning, and building unity in a community.  We also talked about how stories can actually help children gain experience in their imaginations, and this “experience” can actually help them learn important things for their lives. For example, when a child learns a fable about being generous, they insert themselves into the story and it is as if they have lived the experience described in the story.  Teachers and parents can often immediately see changes in behavior after children hear stories. 

As a songwriter, this is fascinating to me because a huge part of my work is telling stories.  I think that people of all ages insert themselves into the stories in their favorite songs.  In doing so, we have emotional experiences that help us to learn about ourselves and the world around us.  It really makes you think about how important the kinds of stories we choose to tell are.

We also talked about the power of music and how it can evoke emotions, help people feel inspired, and motivate people into action.  Often we think of music as just “entertainment”, but that really cuts us off from the many ways music can be a part of our lives.  Music can help us learn, help us connect with other people (especially when we sing together!), and even help our brains develop (did you know that when you sing, you use more of your brain than virtually any other activity?!). 

I resonate with this in a major way, since I’ve chosen to devote so much of my time to making music.  The reminder of how powerful it can be in all aspects of life re-motivates me to keep writing and sharing. 

This discussion came at a great time for me, since I’ve been actively working to make more time to write music in my daily schedule.  So far, I’ve written two songs in the last couple of weeks and started a third!   It is so great to be writing more again.

What are your thoughts about the way music affects you, your relationships, your life?

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This is a photo of a plaque I keep in my office:  

I’ve had it since I was a little girl.  I remember gazing at it in my childhood bedroom many times and thinking about the many implications such a simple phrase (but complex concept) had for my life.

I’m still trying to honor this idea every day.  Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about detachment---not detachment in the way that I don’t care about things, but detachment in the way that I try not to be too attached to any outcome.  One metaphor for this concept is a ship sailing upon the sea, letting the wind and the waves carry and guide me, rather than struggling against them.

Having this attitude enables me to not get mired in the stressful things of life, and to instead be more present and effective in each thing I undertake.  It makes living a challenging life sustainable, rather than overwhelming. 

In order to maintain this attitude, I need to be very aware of trying to stay in this mode.  It is definitely a work-in-progress, and I imagine it will be for my whole life.

 

So, where do you need to detach in your life?

What helps you maintain this approach in your life?

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Recently I finished a new song.  Writing it was an exhilarating experience!  After I write a song that I feel really excited about, I often enter into a state I refer to as "Post-Songwriting Bliss" (PSB).  

I'm sure that other artists experience something similar.  My particular PSB is characterized by the following symptoms:

-Feeling giddy one moment (i.e. jumping up and down with excitement that this song is mine!), and then feeling moved to tears the next moment at the beauty of the experience of writing it.  (Note to self: since this behavior may appear crazy to others, it's best to be alone at this point.)

-Not being able to stop playing the song over and over (during which I may injure my fingers from playing so much, lose track of time, and miss previous engagements).

-Feeling like anything and everything is possible.

-Feeling overwhelmingly grateful for having been a part of this songwriting experience.

-Having the song run through my head non-stop, even during interactions with other people, and sometimes keeping me up at night (but instead of being annoying, this actually makes me happy).

-Catching myself daydreaming about the song and smiling at times when I should be concentrating on something/ someone else.

-Exhibiting paranoid behaviors having to do with never wanting to forget or lose the song.  For example, I will often record the song on my computer, back up my computer, and then ALSO call my voicemail and play it into the message in case something happens to my computer AND my back-up.

So, when you are creative, do you experience something similar?  Or I am alone in this wonderful kind of craziness? 

I look forward to sharing new music with you all soon!

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I love the early morning hours around sunrise.  Here in Minnesota, the cold winter mornings make for some beautiful sights as the early light plays on the snow.  I love to look out at it as I sip some hot tea and do my morning prayers and meditation.  

This morning I walked out of my room and saw the pink sunrise light shining on the wall before my piano:





Then I went to the window and saw the sun peek over the horizon:





Then I made tea in the kitchen where the light was warm and bright:





And then I sat by the window thinking, praying, meditating before having to dive into the work of the day.  Lucky me, this is my view looking out over the Mississippi River (you can see the Minneapolis skyline in the distance):




I often find I am most creative in the morning.  In the early morning I can often hear my intuition most strongly and connect with what is most important.  It is a delicate, gentle, beautiful time of day.  Not all mornings can be experienced like this one, but whenever I get the chance, I try to build my schedule to protect and be present at this time.


What is your favorite time of day?

When are you most creative?

How can you protect and be present in that time?




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This weekend I was in Chicago for some meetings.  On Saturday night, I had the precious opportunity to go to the Baha'i House of Worship.  If you've never been there, I highly recommend going.  It is a beautiful place to go and pray or meditate.  It is open to anyone and everyone, of all backgrounds.  Symbols from all the major world's religions are inlaid on the structure itself, and the result is a building that looks both delicate and strong, and an environment that feels peaceful and welcoming to all.

I hadn't been there at night in a long time, and it was very beautiful.  It was a foggy, rainy night and the House of Worship looked like a jewel rising from the mist:



When I stepped inside, it felt so peaceful and calming-----quite a contrast from the stress I've been feeling lately.  I had the chance to pray and meditate for several minutes there, and it was exactly what I needed.   I was able to just pour my heart out in those prayers, asking for help with the challenges I'm facing, and praying for healing, peace, and strength for friends, family, and those suffering all around the world.   

Almost immediately I felt stronger and more calm.  What a gift that visit was!  

What is your experience of meditation, prayer, or other spiritual practice?

What effect does it have on you?

Lately everywhere I turn, music is calling me back to it.  I haven’t been writing as much as I’d like to for the past several months because of some big transitions in my life and lots of things that I felt I needed to prioritize. 

When I don’t write for a while, I miss it terribly.  I miss it like you miss the freedom of being a child---with a wistful sort of longing, and an emotional memory that lingers for days.  Sometimes, when life gets really tough and really busy, I feel like I’ll never get the time to write again. 

But then I have to remind myself that although there are times that my other responsibilities need to be addressed first, writing music is also my responsibility.  I’ve been given the ability to write, and it allows me to be of service in the world, so I need to make time for it.  And, of course, it is only me that can make that time.

Sometimes people who listen to my music email me with thoughts about my music, questions about my writing process, and questions about when I’m going to release something next.   As I was writing back to someone recently, I realized that just the process of writing ABOUT my songwriting felt therapeutic and compelling.  It was a reminder that I need to get back to it, for my own growth and health, and to be of service in the world.

I’ve been thinking lately about the kinds of creative projects I want to work on next, and it is an exciting process to contemplate these next steps.  

I'll share more news soon, including a never-before-heard song I'll be making available as a free download!
 

What is calling out to you in your life lately?

What do you need to get back to?

What are you longing for?

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