I had started a few different newsletters about various things that have happened over the past few months (Trump election, personal pursuits, life of an artist) and honestly the weight of just living those things felt too exhausting to then comment on. The pressure to have an opinion and share it on some social media platform is………… harmful and the road to whatever the opposite of nuance is.

What happened? I moved, I released two songs, I did an artist residency at Lakeside Inn in Michigan where I wrote a bunch more songs and swam in the lake every day, and I went on an extremely fun tour with Delicate Steve where I feel like I got closer with my band than I ever have been. Or realized how well we all know and love each other. I started a podcast about God (that I swear will re-boot in short order, RIP Beloved Radio).

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which feels hard to write about at the moment so here’s a song I wrote several years ago called Mother. But know that after almost a year of treatment she is doing really well. I got a new angel nephew, Dean, who has a huge bald head and is quietly joyful and observant. He is going to be really tall and thoughtful I think :)

This year I feel that I’ve gained the ability to watch my mind a little better. That I’ve unhooked my self-worth a bit from the leering approval of the music industry. That I understand myself better and that hopefully means that I can understand other people better. There has been a lot of heartbreak and anxiety and joy and relaxation and grief and beauty and there’s much more of that to come, forever.

One of my favorite memories from this year of playing music was: a person came to my show at Schubas and asked for my autograph in a small book (very sweet!) so I signed it and then she closed this small book and it was an Alan Watts book. She had listened to my interview on WBEZ where I talked about him and became a fan of my music after that. It felt amazing and real to have connected to someone in that intimate way, and I was so grateful that she shared that with me. If you are reading this, can you tell me which Alan Watts book it was?

A rec: I played a show in Cleveland with Mike Tolan who has written and played under the name Talons’ for two decades. He is an Ohio legend and his songs cut right to the heart of things. I like when people are honest.. you should listen to and buy his latest offering, in retreat

A show: I have a show at the Hideout 1/18/25 with Adeline Hotel and Dave Vettraino, it will be reallyyyy specialllll, Here are tix

See you next year :)

-Maria