The Callen Sisters' Sophomore Album - Planning Stages

Hello all,

I know it's been awhile, but my sister and I have been up to no good - and by that assertion I mean that we've been writing our follow-up album to our debut. I am very, very close to being done with all the writing for this record!! (yaaaaaay!) I have a total of 11 songs, 9 of which I plan to record, and 6 of which will most likely (cross fingers) end up on this next recording.

This week I'm dog sitting for our drummer, Dave. He has a very sweet Australian Shepherd mix named Leia, and she and I have become quite good friends. Dave also happens to have a piano, which I find myself seriously lacking in daily life. Because of this easy access to a keyed instrument, and perhaps because of the lack of responsibility to tend to my own home - and let's not neglect to mention the amount of beer I have been consuming - I finished a track I was having a lot of difficulty with. It was mainly the lyrics that were perplexing. I had two lines that just would NOT come. No amount of coaxing was doing the job. It's a funny thing, lyrics. I don't know why they take so long for me sometimes. I suppose it's because I base a lot of what I write on actual experience...even if that is exposure to someone else's experience.

Whew!!! I feel as if I have been 'talking' a lot... so I will bid you adieu. Keep your eyes and ears alert, as we will post more on the recording progress (and other exciting news that you will have to join the newsletter to experience).

Love and Peace,

Beth



P.S. This is an election year. I encourage you to register to vote. Please visit our website, www.thecallensisters.com and click on the "Register to Vote" banner to register.

Join The Callen Sisters Street Team

Harmony, Melody, or Lyrics?

As a songwriter, how does the creative process begin? By plugging away at some guitar chords? Some plunkety plunk on the piano… or perhaps a melody that has you entranced?

At a very early age, I loved to write lyrics and build little melodies around them, but as of late, I find myself mostly writing the harmony first. (Being mainly a guitarist that means a chord progression or riff, although the piano is transforming that process for me). Lyrics are written in a slew of notebooks in various corners of my ‘music room' and melody always comes last. Now this is a very personal formula…a custom formula, you could say. I'm sure many people have it quite different than that.

The most blessed experience is when a song comes all at once – like a little lightbulb being switched on in your head. It's like you take a breath in, and there it all is, simultaneously and unwavering. I have only had one of these moments, but I always hope more will come.

On the Radio

Hey all! Just a quick note to let you know that "Like You" was featured on Longtown
Sound 262 on WLSO.FM.

the link is:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/918



Hope you all have an amazing New Year!

Win a Harp and The Callen Sisters album

Check out The Callen Sisters on Harp Magazine - www.harpmagazine.com for your chance to win a small harp and The Callen Sisters debut album (go here: http://harpmagazine.com/promotions/sweepstakes/the_callen_sisters/). You can also download one of their songs on the Harp magazine site for free (find it here: http://harpmagazine.com/promotions/downloads/). Tell all your friends!

Love :)

Universal Healthcare

Canada, France and the United Kingdom provide quality healthcare for its citizens. Why is the United States the only country in the Western world without Universal Healthcare?

Are you or anyone you know not covered by health insurance? Do you currently pay out-of-pocket for your health insurance? Have you been denied coverage for any reason?

This is a problem!! Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. How have we become a nation that supports a system that rewards people for NOT caring for the sick? This is amoral and disdainful.



“If you can find money to kill people, you can find money to help people.”
--French doctor, Sicko



Please, please, please, I beg you... write your Congresspeople, your Senators, sign petitions. Use this link as a starting point:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/PNHP/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=629&t=SickoCure.dwt


~Beth

The Callen Sisters Album is Complete

Our debut album, (self-titled) is finally complete! It only took us two years and change, but finally all our hard work has paid off. In celebration, we'll be hosting two CD release parties. . . one will be in our hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY the other we'll hold for all you Cosmo types in NYC. ;-)

I really want to thank everyone who had a hand in making this record. Your hard work and dedication made it all possible. It's funny, because Jessa and I went into the studio separately at first. We each were recording a set of our own tunes with two different producers. Neither of us had any plans or vision of making an album, and certainly not together. I really need to say thanks to Dan Castellani - a true visionary who helped bring this together, who assembled the wonderful musicians, and got us on our path to where we are today.

With Gratitude!!! ,

Beth