On the website of Vanessa Lively you'll see noted that she creates folk & world music that beautifully joins heartfelt lyrics with soulful vocals. This is true - deeply true - and time with Vanessa is a rich, deep, and also uplifting experience.
Song of the Soul
Song of the Soul invites you to a soul-level encounter. Music has the ability to proclaim the soul's language beyond what mere words can speak. That's what we seek as we invite our guests to share their Song of the Soul. You will hear the music that has charted the steps of their spiritual journey, that has provided a touchstone in the soul's dark night, and sung the hearts awe and joy when come to the Light. As you listen to Song of the Soul, you are both witness and companion to our guest's spiritual path and sacred testimony.
Song of the Soul guests provide 20-23 minutes of the music of their soul, and Mark Helpsmeet explores with them the relevance and meaning of this music to their experience. Most guests are musicians, usually sharing their own music, but some guests are simply sharing music they've been impacted by, written and performed by others.
The theme song for this program is by Cris Williamson and is called "Song of the Soul". Please check out the wealth of great music Cris has gifted to the world.
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The Road, the Reason, The Destination: Spring 2020 Song of the Soul
A visit to a rich variety of musicians featured on Song of the Soul in the early days of the pandemic, highlighting themes of The Road, The Reason, The Destination, with songs by Spook Handy, Andi Renfree, Laura Marie, Ksenia Mack,
Life, Loss, & Lyrical Longing With Judi Jaeger
Judi Jaeger grew up in Canada, but moved to the USA decades ago and became a US citizen. Considering her early passion for and proficiency in music, it's surprising that she completely abandoned that side of her soul for about 25 years, while studying and working as a lawyer, and as a parent.
True Green Irish: Joanna Clare
Joanna Clare started her violin quite young on rather standard Suzuki method fare, but along the way Irish music captured her, both as a dancer & as a fiddler. And along the way, new Irish tunes began flowing out of Joanna's fiddle. Though she is a Philadelphia-based material science/engineer by day, music is inextricably linked to her mind & soul.
No Regrets From Friction Farm - Aidan Quinn
Aidan Quinn is half of Friction Farm, and together with Christine Stay (listen to her Nov 2020 interview) they make beautiful, fun, and inspirational folk-Americana-roots music.
Stand Up, Come Along America, It's Our Turn Now for a Love Revolution on Juneteenth: Songs for Social Change 2021
6 songs from 6 finalists in the Songs for Social Change 2021 contest, sponsored by the Renaissance Artists and Writers Association, founded by Ananda Marga, presented by one of the judges, Arun/Ed Glassman.
Stardust Saltwater to Devil's Darner: Jonathan Foster
Jonathan Foster's music has magic, melody and even some mirth. He's got a deep connection with the Earth, grown out his origins in the shadow of the Adirondacks of the Eastern US, now thriving in the Rockies of Northern California. His alter ego/day job is as a wetland ecologist, glimpses of which peek through his great folk-country-rock lyrics and sounds. I may even get to see him in person, performing in Trempealeau, Wisconsin July 27, 2021, at the Trempealeau Hotel.
Musical Elements Pre-COVID
Glimpses of 7 of our musical guests back in early 2020, before the pandemic became our country's focus, focusing on songs of each related to earth, air, water, fire, and other essential elements of creation.
A Country Heart in Boston: Kirsten Manville
Despite having spent 6 years in Nashville, Kirsten Manville's true home is in the Boston area of MA. Raised with important influences from old-time, classical, folk, & rock music, country music has been foremost in Kirsten's heart since she was 8.
Passionate Guitar in the Woods: Sage Leary
Sage Leary has a gift & a passion for music that blossomed early and impressively, such that he released his first album of all-original music at the age of 14, his second at 16. He can rock it, he can blues it, and he can definitely acoustic Americana it. Raised in the outdoors and the woods, his music touches the Earth but reaches celestial heights, powered by a visible and almost symbiotic communion between Sage and his guitar, enhanced by his looping, vocal, and beat-boxing skills.