Time for a fun music post. I’ve never talked about the music often playing at EEC Forest Stewardship. Winter is a good time to build playlists and collect some new beats for revving up into spring work here on the farm. As little lambs awaken, seeds start to shake under ground, and my own body begins preparing for the shift from cold dark, to warm light. It helps to have a few days of 60s and 70F with full sun to awaken movement and growth. At the start of The New Year, my music was festively seasonal, with lots of medieval choral arrangements, Celtic traditional, and some classic carols. I discovered the Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd, and found the artist Calan, who preforms a traditional song for the ghost horse of deep winter on the album Nadolig yng Nghymru (Christmas in Whales). My other favorite from this playlist is Spem in alium, arranged by Thomas Tallis on the album Great British Choral Works. Wonderful winter music to lift the spirit and bring the body into dance.
After the light began to return, I shifted listening out of the holiday spirit and took a deep dive into feminist rap. Yes, it’s a right turn from carols, and certainly an uplifting direction to continue in the vein of after recent election catastrophes. There are more recognizable names on this playlist, from Lizzo to Missy Elliot, but please also take a moment to check out epic women like Nitty Scott. Her album Creature! is amazing, and as potent a personal story as Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize winning album DAMN. If you have not listened to the first rap album to win a Pulitzer, I highly recommend it. But back to the feminists- OSHUN vol. ii. They are best known for 100k, but Omgoddess and Techs are lyrical lessons with sharp tongue wit. Another great woman artist on the list is Ana Tijoux. Her album Vengo will have you up and in the fields planting seeds, or at least moving your hips and toes to her marching rhythms with full brass band on her title track. Once you are up and moving, keep the beat hot with some Arabic Pop by Ben Haana Wa Maana. Their album DAM, not to be confused with Lamar’s DAMN, holds a power pack of club beats and a front woman who will knock you out with her compelling voice. If these women don’t get a rise in you, you’re probably missing a pulse.
If you’re not ready for the cultural shake up of rap, then try these other strong women singers who will still have you dancing and swaying through whatever work you happen to be engaged in. I’ve had Elastic Heart, by Sia on repeat from time to time. I know her album 1000 Forms of Fear came out in 2014, but I’m usually about a decade behind on what’s hot. Another kick ass all women band from a few more decades back is Fanny. Who? Yeah, they were an incredibly influential rock band from the 70s- but you’ve never heard of them because they were women, and founded by a fabulous Filipino Americans, bassist Jean and her sister June Millington, a savant on guitar. I’ve got all their albums, but a highly recommended first listen is Fanny Hill. To learn a heck of a lot more about this group, please watch the PBS special Fanny, The Right to Rock. Another ground breaking album to check out is The Navigator, by Hurray for the Riff Raff. Their song, Pa’lante, is about pushing through and not giving up. The album reaching through the music into your soul.
These artists help me get through my day, offering literal beats to the rhythm of my day. These playlists motivate, escalate, and elevate my mind, body, and soul. So much gratitude for the creative energy put into every song, and with it, every scoop of my shovel, every push of the hay rake, and each task to be done. Let the music live through us, and the words of every song bring us closer to connection and understanding. Hearing something different might spark a new idea in this world. That’s the gift of these talents, laid out on the stage for us to witness and mull over. Please share more tracks and beats with us in the comments below. I’m always up for a new listen, or discovering old songs that have yet to be heard. Enjoy these tracks and tell me what you think.
EEC Forest Stewardship 