It’s summer and I sure miss performing! Postponements are now going into 2021 and remote teaching this spring was sure new for teachers and students. I was proud of my students. Now summer is here with so much anger, outrage, illness and lives in danger. It’s hard to write with gushes of emotion then silence.
There’s good news in that I’m about to record an entire new album which surprises me. But it’s been a very strange year and I’ve written new songs that are in demo form now. I’m excited to be able to record even without an entire band. The restrictions with covid 19 are so necessary and yet people still want to “break out of them” and go against wearing a mask or caring about each other. With the virus of racism and police brutality against Black people, too, these have been sad times.
Carolyn at home going out on the street! May 2020
And in recording the new album, I thought it’s time to finally get “I Will Rise” done, which I had started to write after The Women’s March in early 2017 (and 2018). We knew from the start that getting that so-called president out of office would be best. I felt like I had an idea which came to fruition last year with The Pink Fund and PBS’ Those on the Front Lines of Cancer. Molly McDonald from the Pink Fund encouraged me to continue finishing “I Will Rise,’ and filmmaker Keith Famie also used the demo song for his PBS special in Detroit both in 2019.
Carolyn at Max Fisher Music Hall in Detroit with Scott Dailey and Amp Fiddler on Don Was’ Concert of Colors
So I premiered the song live with my husband/guitarist Scott Dailey at The Pink Fund’s Dancing with the Survivors in October just before my new book “Detroit (Maiden Energy) street princess poems and lyrics” came out. It was a great time, and inspired me to record a final version now of “I Will Rise.” I’m also updating my website to include some poems in my blogs and also, photos of my retrospective of posters and Bands I’ve had. Also, I’m doing a new Zoom or Facebook Live event of music and poetry. I’ve been writing, singing and recording for years, working with some of the best musicians in the world for years, and am proud of my recordings and shows and bands.
Photo from The Pink Fund 2019 Dancing with the Survivors – Scott Dailey and Carolyn Striho – (credit: Stacey Sherman)
In other record release news, Orchide Records Detroit released an album with Detroit Energy Asylum which was my band for many years. Featuring Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, myself and many well-known and wonderful Detroit musicians, Patti Smith also makes several appearances. “Recreation” is available on Orchide Records Detroit and for those who liked “Secrets and Space,” “Recreation” features new mixes of several numbers and a never-before-heard lead vocal on Smokey Robinson’s song (sung by The Marvelettes) “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” by Patti Smith. Patti and I duet on The Four Tops’ “Reach Out.” Produced by Freddie Brooks, it’s a gem! https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/product/dea-recreation
Luis Resto, Carolyn Striho, Dave McMurray – by Gary Graff/Oakland Press, photo Bill Schwab and Freddie Brooks 2000
And another record release! I’m featured on Detroit Punks Archive entitled “End of the Night” compiled by Rob St. Mary and distributed by Light in the Attic Records (Seattle) with Record Store Day 2020 U.K. My song “Rockin’ Right” is included with one of my first bands The Cubes. The album includes Don Was’ first band The Traitors and also Hiawatha Bailey and The Cult Heroes “Amerikan Story” with much more! Check it here at https://lightintheattic.net/releases/6628-detroit-punk-archive-presents-the-end-of-the-night-1976-1983
Detroit Punk End of the Night double album Record Store Day U.K. 2020 Photo: Bookie’s Club Sue RynskiCarolyn Striho’s “Detroit Maiden Energy” with Kate Parker’s “Strong is theNew Pretty”, HorizonBooks 2019 Traverse City, MI
And it looks like we have several new livestream shows in late July at Detroit’s Music Hall, Otus Supply in Ferndale, Michigan, and even a new book/Audio livestream show! So that is cheery news in these times. The Audio Book for my book “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is also coming this summer. My book is at many Michigan bookstores and soon to be in Milwaukee, Chicago and in England. You can buy it on Amazon, too, Aquarius Press, or directly from me https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837
Begin Again
All the confusion couches the coast
rocks, rain, ruin return again
inside, harder, happens to me,
but happens to be the one quick avenue of alive in the pain
Birds floating, singing loud, sun shining, seems so rude to leave Detroit’s beginning so fast
hurtling hurdles of hard crunch as shoes hit pavement near the river again
again and again the city won’t end just begging to begin again
scatters our blood and only pretends to not care,
when it’s very soul depends on our love
through the hate we consider,
watching the dove spread its wings over water
and splash as it flies away from the smokestack,
away sunrise… away from rocks, rain, ruin, return again
again and again the city won’t end just begging to begin again
Detroit Energy Asylum w/Patti Smith (Carolyn Striho, Kenny Scott, Pam Marcil, Dave McMurray, Lenny Kaye pictured) Industry, Pontiac, MI 1995
Thanks for the support. Love, and stay safe! xx Carolyn
Carolyn Striho, Sinead O’Connor and Tori Amos, 2005 Royal Festival Hall, London England2005Scott Dailey and Carolyn Striho, Hope and Anchor Islington, London, U.K. 2018
Well…a tentative Happy May! It’s hard to hear about
our community, state and world music, writing and art events being cancelled.
Everyone’s safety and health is so important, and we’ll all be back soon…
First, thank you for so many, many views the first night of our Facebook Music Livestream on Saturday April 4th ! It was in the room, so to speak, so I’m glad you liked it as it was quite live! Here is the Facebook link. The Video was just uploaded to You Tube by The Isle of Wight, U.K., too, where we performed 2 years ago and will again! “I Will Rise” is a forthcoming music Release coming up this year when we get into the studio soon.
April 30th, I was honored to be talking about my music and art in an online appearance on PBS Detroit’s WTVS and the City of Detroit’s Covid 19 Artist Relief Fund by Rochelle Riley & Mitch Albom with such artists as Jeff Daniels, Big Sean, Steffanie Christi’an and many Detroit artists. You can watch my segment at the .mov link or view the entire 90 minutes here at Channel 21 Comcast TV/Detroit WTVS. http://detroit-vod.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/watch/4?channel=3
With music events/gigs and poetry events in April, May, June and July cancelled or postponed, our U.K. tour 2020 has been moved to 2021. The south Florida Book Tour is hopeful but likely moved to Spring 2021. I’m writing new music and we’ll be recording more, too. The band will come into the studio when we’re allowed to get all together again!
Thank you for the Detroit Music Award Nominations 2020 for Outstanding Rock/Pop Songwriter and Singer, and for Scott Dailey for Outstanding Rock/Pop Instrumentalist too! https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/2020-nominees
I’ll be releasing the Audio Book on Amazon and other outlets, so look for it this early Summer. It’s good news with some more good news on “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” soon. I miss everybody, my family, students, musicians and friends. And there’s so much emotion behind this post, even if it seems like a “regular” update/blog. We’re all so grateful for grocery and pharmacy delivery and the bright days ahead, with special big thanks to the hospital workers. In the meantime, as we’re artists and everything is cancelled, please download music, books and support Detroit, Michigan and world artists. Here’s a bit of my recent music catalogue (partial list) or the book in the meantime, and prayers to the world!Love, Carolyn https://music.apple.com/us/artist/carolyn-striho/276003130
DETROIT MUSIC AND BOOK DATES POSTPONED, MICHIGAN BOOK DATES POSTPONED U.K. TOUR POSTPONED UNTIL LATER IN THE SUMMER
A new update as we get moving through another lockdown week. We will be working on the Facebook Live event for Saturday April 4th, 7 pm EST with several songs and poems. The redbird is up and singing, and there could be some buds on the trees. It’s still cold but – this is the least of our worries. I sure hope everybody is doing OK under these extremely worrisome and stressful circumstances. Most of our music events/gigs and poetry events in April, May and June are postponed. Our shows overseas in the U.K. are postponed. School is closed. Thinking back when I was recovering from cancer surgeries almost 7 years ago, I could do barely anything at first but try to just walk a few steps….a sort of quarantine, but I’m remembering so many kind people who helped! This last weekend, friends and fans asked for live music and live poetry online. Scott Dailey and I are thinking of scheduling a Facebook music livestream soon. And we’re using this quarantine time to create stuff. I’m working on another book and waiting to go back to teaching while we record new songs, And thank you for the Detroit Music Award Nominations 2020, too! https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/nominees
I did have a couple more nice announcements about my poetry here. First, my book “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” street princess poems & lyrics is now in a Kindle version on Amazon! So you can download it right from this link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086J9H6J6 – so happy to hear this news! Thanks to Heather Buchanan and Aquarius Press, my publisher. And it has also been added to The Kenyon Review poetry title list! Please note that my book was in the top new Releases for Amazon poetry in October 2019 and was a best seller at Horizon Books in Traverse City, Michigan in January 2020!
Thanks to the incredible medical workers at this time, too. We heard a National Security Alert and these are scary days and scary times. It reminds me of stories my Dad and Mom told me and Dad’s stories in the war…Everything’s cancelled and I’m trying to get a grip on my blog, my music, my writing and poetry for another book – much is there for it – and Facebook livestream. We are recording a new album which I’m quite excited about. I can only say how much I admire the courage, resourcefulness and desire to overcome adverse anxiety. I’m sorry for everyone suffering. We likely will have to depeche-vous et attendre maintenant and for some time – hurry up and wait now!
Today is a bit warmer and the sun is out bright finally! The uncertainty of just what we can do is over the top. Can we breathe the air in a hallway in an apartment? Can we bike ride? Nobody is in a place to not have to contend with losing a job, and not seeing family and friends. While I miss my students tremendously, my music friends and fans, my family, I’m grateful they are at home, safe and sound, even though the social beings we are compel us to kind of go a little nuts right now. If you’d like, please download some of my music catalogue (partial list) or the book in the meantime, and prayers to the world! https://music.apple.com/us/artist/carolyn-striho/276003130
UPDATE – Will be RESCHEDULED due to Coronavirus – Friday night, April 3rd I’m part of the National Book Event at Detroit’s Scarab Club in early April for National Poetry Month with my book “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” street princess poems & lyrics. I’m honored to be on this national poetry show, hosted by Aquarius Press and The Scarab Club, which features Lupe Mendez from Texas, Brian Gilmore, John Jeffire and so many Detroit poets – and with music by me and Scott Dailey on guitar, and Tracy Kash at 6 pm to 8 pm -! https://scarabclub.org/
There’s some super music shows we’re doing in April and May with bigger details next month and specifics. And the U.K. tour is coming this summer. But first, we’re recording new songs and there will also be new Book/Music Event in Grand Rapids this Spring, too, at Schuler Books for “Detroit (Maiden Energy).” https://www.schulerbooks.com/
Good news also on my book: “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” street princess poems & lyrics was just added to Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor and Brilliant Books in Traverse City! You can also pick it up at Book Beat, Dearborn Music, Mayflower Bookstore, Horizon Books Traverse City and Horizon Books Cadillac, Leelanau books Schuler’s in Grands Rapids, at Pure Detroit and in Toronto, Canada. It’s also on Amazon, Target or Barnes and Noble websites. Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837
Thanks to Jeff Milo from WDET-FM and The Metro Times and Ferndale Library for a great interview for the podcast! https://alittletooquiet.podbean.com/ where I was interviewed recently, – here is the Interview! https://podbay.fm/podcast/1485477183/e/1584098894. Jeff gave me such great press, too! And thanks for the airplay on Local Spins podcast and airplay in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Local Spins WYCE 88.1 FM John Sinkevics – appreciate it! And don’t forget to support Michigan music with this great compilation CD we are on – you can also hear it at all Starbucks (!) – https://localspins.com/product/michigan-music-compilation-cd/
Short of doing a decade overview – and this decade was quite a changing up decade with three albums released, tours of Italy and the U.K. and many awards and videos with great Detroit shows, too (and a wedding and teaching and Wayne State University degrees, health challenges, very challenging and sad loss of my father, but also much grateful love 🙂 – here’s a little recap of 2019
The first book is here! “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is available now with “street princess poems & lyrics” with some prose, finally done. The next book features much more prose but first things first! Thank you to Aquarius Press/Aux Media and Heather Buchanan, to the great writers who sent me blurbs for the book and fantastic reviews and family, friends and Scott Dailey and the band for the support! And to WDET-FM NPR Detroit’s Ann Delisi for the great interview which ran for 2 weeks on WDET-FM.
One of the bigger highlights was returning to Detroit’s Concert of Colors with Don Was in July at The Michigan Theatre in Jackson, Michigan and the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Film Theatre for shows filled to capacity.
I was featured in a PBS special “Those on the Front Lines of Cancer” and my song “I Will Rise” was also in the film. Scott Dailey and I performed the song at “Dancing with The Survivors” for The Pink Fund in Southfield, Michigan, a beautiful night!
We performed up at Earthwork Harvest Gathering up in Lake City, Michigan, with Erin Zindle joining on violin and started doing new recording for a 2020 release
The Downtown Detroit Tree Lighting was amazing in November with approximately 50,000 people attending in the freezing just before Thanksgiving with WXYZ-TV Detroit (ABC) and Downtown Detroit Partnership. Thank you!
November also included the first Book Events at the stellar bookstore Book Beat in Oak Park, Michigan, world-renowned for its particular attention to writers, artists and literary fulfillment. We were also at the River’s Edge Gallery for a Book Event reading in Wyandotte.
The packed house with The Orbitsuns at The Cadieux Café in November on my birthday, a May date at Trinity House Theatre with Mary McGuire and Chris McCall and other shows including Focus Hope in Detroit – culminating in a big 4 night stand with EBird and Friends in Ann Arbor in December! Thank you Erin w/ four tremendous sold-out shows at The Ark.
I’m also honored to have one of my poems in RESPECT: The Poetry of Detroit Music and reading at the Book Event at Third Man Records Detroit. I just another great Book/Music Event In Traverse City, Michigan with Horizon Books and a fun interview with DJ Racin’ Jason on WKLT’s Morning Show – thanks to fabulous DJ and friend Terri Ray as well.
Also, there’s a great new album titled “Recreation” produced by Freddie Brooks and Orchide Records – it’s a great, rare 10 inch red vinyl, and it features our celebrated band Detroit Energy Asylum and Patti Smith. Here’s a link https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/products
With some nice radio airplay this year – thanks to WDET-NPR Detroit, WKLT-FM Traverse City, WHFR-FM Dearborn, 107.1 WQKL-FM Ann Arbor, Michigan, WAKT-LP 106.1 FM Toledo, Rock-Radio-UK Spins in Porstmouth England U.K., WYCE-FM 88.1 Grand Rapids, Ferndale Radio 100.7 FM, WLNZ 89.7FM in Lansing, thanks!
