Sara Lewis

Sometimes when I look at the state of the world, I feel like Cindy Loo Hoo on Christmas Eve, standing in awe as the Grinch steals Christmas away. Most of the time I see things in the simplest bubble gum rainbow sort of view, that everyday has the potential for great things. That you can find pleasure and beauty in little moments. And then when something happens that causes me to question that, I feel as though my world is completely shaken. I have trouble separating isolated events from the bigger picture, and take those little moments to mean that everything must be completely horrible if something like THAT can happen.

Everything is not this way, of course. They’re just life tests — moments that question how badly you want your dream, and what you’re willing to give up to chase after it. I had one of these tests yesterday, as some important people in my life questioned whether a decision I was about to make was the right choice, convinced that it was going to sabotage my music career. So I had to stop and think. To realize that they were right. And to give up that less important desire for the greater cause of my music. My music is like my child. This ever-growing and precious spirit of mine that is so dear to my heart. I have to be careful to protect it all the time, to make sure that I am doing all the right things to ensure it’s success. And that’s a tough job sometimes because it really does involve giving up a lot, to work my ass off to support myself and it, and to not let other people’s naysaying get in the way of my confidence in pursuing it.

Here’s to everyone that is pursuing a dream of their own. I hope you are not letting anything get in the way of what you want to do more than anything else in this world. I hope you are able to find people and money and resources behind what you believe in, in the same way that I have been so lucky to do. I thank the stars every night for giving me such a beautiful life. It’s a hard path that makes me break down and cry sometimes, but the rest of the time I would have it no other way. Thank you, world.

Cheers.

Hello glorious friends. How were your Thanksgivings? Gluttonous I hope.

Life gets better and better all the time. I have, for one, taken up salsa dancing. Win. Also, I used power tools recently to help build a bar, AND I’m going to see the broadway show Lysistrata Jones this evening. And these activities have all been on dates. Fancy that! (He pays for everything. I’m dating up, yo.)

In other news, 10 days till I go to Woodstock to finish the album!! Woohooo! Stay tuned amazing beautiful people.

Love,

Sara

‘Family’ is a really broad word. It of course describes our immediate family, into which we were born through our mother’s womb. We have a real blood connection and birthright to be there, and unless a relative passes away or gives us up or runs away, we are connected to these people our whole lives whether we like it or not. We might feel naturally close to them or feel like strangers that happen to know one another very well. But either way, no matter how much love there is or isn’t, they are there by default.

And then there are the people we choose to become part of our lives. That we bring closer to our hearts through a fascination and curiosity. It is a lovely thing because we get to hand-pick all of them, like delicious, refreshing apples off the tree. We grow closer to these people and start to love them, as if we have known them all of our lives. They are there for all of our birthdays and special concerts and occasions, and will listen to us rant about the same mini dramas all the time because we do the same for them. They bake cookies with us, show us things about ourselves, and love us for exactly who we are. These people are also family.

I have found that kind of family here in New York. They are this marvelous, loving group of artists/musicians/hippies that have taken me in. I am never a super regular member of their hang-outs, as I am a Harlem-dweller and they are, for the most part, Brooklyn-ites. But they make me feel so welcomed every time I see them and it is always as if no time has passed whatsoever. I know them all through mutual friends. Many of us are musicians, and we often go to see each others’ shows in the city to support one another. We play in each others’ bands, help collect tips, or make a crazy mosh pit up front and bring up the energy. There’s always this vibe of support and love that is indescribable and just so beautiful.

And I feel so lucky because tonight we are having an acoustic Thanksgiving potluck show at the house where many of these friends live. We are all gonna sit on the floor by candlelight, eat food and listen to each other play music totally unplugged. I can’t wait for the magic to start.

Thank you, New York, for giving me this gift. I owe you big time.

Love,
Sara

Love makes us all do crazy things. A few weeks ago I wrote a very long and foolish (albeit honest) letter containing all the deepest, darkest and love-filled chambers of my heart and mailed it to a boy. It was after much ado between us had passed and all the residual feelings remained post-pardum. It was the leftover spaghetti in the fridge that you leave for days and get tired of staring at it so you either microwave it and eat it on a Tuesday night or throw it out. For me it was the former. Except I microwaved my words and gave them to my former love. And now everything’s confusing.

At least my music life is all in order. I have been having many a successful meeting with my artist lady, Jenna. She is a magnificent gem of a person who often wears many different patterns of clothing all at the same time. She paints me beautiful water-colored pieces of paper with birds and hearts and flowers on them in the exact aesthetic that I had always dreamed could be the album artwork for my first CD. Oh it’s so extraordinary. And I have my last final session with my producer/engineer Julie for 5 days in December. We’re going to record some cello and do a mixing ho-down for 4 days (not much time in the conventional sense). Then it is off to the mastering man, Jim! He will make magic.

And then another company will take all of Jenna’s gorgeous artwork and all these words I write down and all the songs I’ve recorded and press them onto real CD’s and CD cases in a factory somewhere in NJ. And then it will all arrive in a big box addressed to me when it’s all done! Oh, it’s the life I tell you! I could not imagine a project more exciting.

That is all for now, my love buns. Let’s chat soon, shall we?

Love,
Sara

P.S. Here’s a picture of the studio!