Spring

Finally Spring! It’s been a long year, and hoping for live shows again and better days. I’ve been busy narrating books for audio, and also, teaching and recording new songs.

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Right now, my “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” audio book is available on many audio platforms including Google Play. If you haven’t downloaded it, join in at https://www.chirpbooks.com/audiobooks/detroit-maiden-energy-by-carolyn-striho. “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is also available at Detroit area bookstores and in northern Michigan, as well as on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Thanks for the support! I also just narrated and provided my song “Sometimes I Wonder” for Jen Knox’ “Resolutions” – check it here at: https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/499282472/Resolutions-a-family-in-stories And here’s how to listen to a sample and download another book I narrated, Romayne Kazmer’s “Letter that Moved My Father” https://www.booktopia.com.au/letters-that-moved-my-father-romayne-kazmer/audiobook/9781736767788.html

Also, thank you again for the Detroit Music Award nominations for 2021. I’ve received 4 nominations in the Rock/Pop and Classical Categories, and Scott Dailey also received a nomination. We’re honored and best wishes to all musicians, artists, writers and performers in April and beyond 🙂 https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/2021-nominees

We’ll be booking live shows when the coast is clear, and have some cool venues we’re looking forward to playing. We’re hoping to have the new album out later this year digitally and maybe CD/vinyl formats, too. And the U.K. is calling…our shows are scheduled when everything is a go again.

Sending love, empathy, kindness, and hope to you,

Love,

Carolyn

Marching to Music

February is freezing for my funny Valentine… but with stress and rough times, there’s some good music news: Thanks for the nominations in the 2021 Detroit Music Awards. I’ve received 4 nominations in the Rock/Pop and Classical category for Outstanding Instrumentalist for piano (Rock and Classical), Outstanding Songwriter (Rock/Pop) and Outstanding Vocalist (Rock/Pop). And Scott Dailey received a nomination for Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist for guitar. Thank you, it’s an honor to be among such great company. Congratulations to all musicians and artists on creating during the pandemic, too. https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/2021-nominees

Carolyn and Scott performing for “Sing it to Me” and for Italy tour

But stunned and so sad to hear we lost wonderful Patricia Izzo. Patty was magical and we worked together on many photos for my music albums and more. Patty’s friendship, care, artistic vision and warrior charm made Patty, and her art surreal and amazing with wildly original photo shoots! Besides being such a fabulous artist, Patricia’s family was the love of her life and the wonderful River’s Edge Gallery. Patty brought her heart to her art and life with madcap fun. I loved her, we all did – Patty made you feel like a million bucks, and she loved you right back!

From “Honesty” album cover- Patty Izzo
Crime of Passion – Carolyn Striho by Patty Izzo
Patt Slack, Carolyn Striho and Patricia Izzo – River’s Edge Gallery Detroit Maiden Energy Book Opening 2019photo: Stacey Sherman

So sorry to hear about Chick Corea and Mary Wilson (Supremes). It’s hard to believe we lost these magnificent trailblazers of music. I was honored to have seen Chick Corea up close and personal when playing the Detroit Jazz Festival in 2009. And we were excited to perform “Keep Me Hangin’ On” by the Supremes at the 2019 Don Was’ Concert of Colors. And sad news on Detroit DJ Jerry Lubin, a wonderful man on the air and off. Jerry was so influential when I listened as a little girl to WABX-FM

Union Street Detroit closed! We had album releases, New year’s Eve gigs, birthdays, music meetings, dragon eggs, marvelous drinks, dancing on the bar, the place to stop before/after shows at Majestic, Magic Stick, and C Pop. When John Belushi’s brother, Jim, lost his cell phone there and I found it for him when Detroit hosted the Superbowl. And of course the lunches with Patti Smith and Freddie Brooks and our “Secrets and Space” album release and photo shoots. Sigh…

I’m finishing up my song “I Will Rise” with Scott, with a video, some razor sharp guitar songs on electric, and can’t wait to record more! With shows slowly being booked at clubs late this year 2021 and a return to festivals with a full band., The U.K. festival is back on at Isle of Wight – but that could change too..

Will the Festivals go on in 2021? We’re on another amazing Isle of Wight Rhythmtree festival, July 2021 – fingers crossed!
Scott and Carolyn performing for virtual shows and Arts Beats and Eats 2020 – from Facebook Live
Carolyn in Snowy Michigan 2021

It has been almost a year since everything shut down, so we’re hopeful this Spring brings good days and nights! Stay warm xx

Love, Carolyn

Patricia Izzo photography (c)

December 2020 Age of Aquarius and Happy New Year 2021!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas! Belated Happy Hanukkah and cheers to the upcoming New Year. The Winter Solstice was just here with Jupiter and Saturn together in the sky. With covid sad news and so much a mess, I was just having hopeful thoughts in a weird time. Praying for the world!

If you might need last minute holiday gifts, don’t forget local books and music. “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is in some of the best Detroit and Michigan bookstores, music stores and several U.K. bookstores and an Audiobook on Google Play, Scribed and soon to be on Audible. My book is listed on Goodreads. It’s on Barnes and Noble. It’s on Amazon. You can buy it right from me, too or at Aquarius Press. (I ordered another new shipment as the last one sold out!) There’s even singing and music in the Audiobook. https://www.scribd.com/audiobook/480011823/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-poems-and-lyrics

There is more news on the book coming up in 2021 while we start more recording. And thanks for reading a bit more, below..

Carolyn at Boyne Mountain, Michigan – photo: S. Dailey

            New Year’s Eve 2021, our “Promised Land “ video was part of the benefit for Detroit Clubs who have suffered during the pandemic, including Detroit’s PJ’s Lager House, Northern Lights, Small’s Hamtramck, Magic Bag and more for the FEZ Fundraiser with many great Detroit bands. Yes, there has been very little live music this year except virtually!  https://www.facebook.com/events/808235183235076/

            We had a great video for a local television Christmas show which is moved to the next holiday! That’s the usual for this year but we’re now working on a video and new releases for 2021. I’m glad to be writing from my little humble spot here in the world, warm and watching snow with a guitar and piano nearby. We’ve been on holiday break and students and teachers have been so busy remotely/virtually learning. My students are great and I’m thankful to them for their humor and insights!

Carolyn at home recording December 2020 (note: this photo was huge on FB, whoops)

            We have changed some things this year and are still going. The woods and river up north and the city sounds and sights keep moving here in Detroit. I have more new songs I’ve written and Scott’s got some new pieces of music. Our band will be back with us in high energy when live shows come back.

            Love and prayers to good health, music, books, art and you.

Carolyn Detroit

Scott and Carolyn live at The Pink Fund – photo: Stacey Sherman 2019

November News Now (more than ever)

Hello for a hopeful, stay at home Thanksgiving! I’m celebrating the Audiobook release of Detroit “Maiden Energy” on Apple ITunes, GooglePlay, Scribd, Nook and Audible! Yes, it’s narrated by me of all people and I hope you like it. It seems like the time to listen to it, so check it out! https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Carolyn_Striho_Detroit_Maiden_Energy?id=AQAAAECcYQwhgM

Thanks for the nice interview in Ann Arbor’s Current Magazine and on The Stratton Playlist by Lori Stratton about my book, music and more. Here’s the interview: https://www.ecurrent.com/music/carolyn-striho-new-audiobook/ and soon to also be a new article on https://strattonsetlist.com/

And on Thanksgiving weekend, I’ll be doing a virtual performance on the Rochester Library Shop Small Saturday event and Sunday event! Check it at https://rhpl.org/authors-fair  with more info at https://rochesterwriters.com/shop-small-saturday-author-fair/

Detroit Maiden Energy cover

There is new writing and tracking of new songs we’re recording at the home studio. I’m thinking we may be able to release the new material in late 2021, all willing I’m teaching full time, and it’s hectic virtually.I’ve included some more recent memories on this post for a sense of hope. And here comes winter on the heels of a great, historic election and the spiraling virus. So please wear a mask and stay safe! Love, Carolyn xo

Scott Dailey and Carolyn Striho onstage at Detroit’s Music Hall Cafe/Aretha Franklin Jazz Cafe September 2020 WDET-FM NPR Detroit

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On stage at the Detroit Music Awards 2010
Cliff Bells Detroit 2008
2019 Detroit Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Ice Rink and on the Big Screen Downtown 40,000 people ABC News Detroit

Secrets and Space Album with Carolyn Striho, Luis Resto and Dave McMurray – Detroit Energy Asylum

Carolyn Striho, Sinead O’Connor and Tori Amos – London, England 2005 after performing onstage

October leaves are falling….falling to the ground.

October’s here, and we’re missing playing live shows! Our U.K. tour is moved to summer 2021 now. But thanks to Arts, Beats & Eats for the virtual live show, Detroit Music Weekend and Congregation Cafe for recent gigs in Detroit. And I’ll be featured on The Nooner Show Podcast October 14th with thanks to Jackie Wallace for the live interview! https://www.facebook.com/TheNoonerShow/

UPDATE: The Audio Book version of “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is finally coming! It will be on Findaway Voices and Amazon Audible Books (Aquarius Press Detroit). You can also order the hard copy from me directly at paypal.me/carolynstriho1 with a note and it will be mailed out, too. My book is at Detroit and Michigan bookstores, including Book Beat, Horizon Books Traverse City, Nicolas Books Ann Arbor, Dearborn Music, Mayflower Books, Street Corner Music, Flipside Records and more! You can also order from Amazon or Aquarius Press. https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837

In celebration of my book’s one year anniversary and the Audiobook coming out, I’ve got another great interview being published soon, too! Thanks to writer Lori Stratton for the interview on The Stratton Playlist. The interview will also be in Current Magazine Ann Arbor this winter, coming soon, too! I’ll post the interview here on my Website with more at https://strattonsetlist.com/

New releases! I’m featured on the album “End of the Night” for Record Store Day 2020 U.K. compiled by Rob St. Mary and distributed by Light in the Attic Records Seattle. My song “Rockin’ Right” is included with one of my first bands The Cubes. It also features Don Was’ first band The Traitors and Hiawatha Bailey and The Cult Heroes “Amerikan Story” with much more at https://lightintheattic.net/releases/6628-detroit-punk-archive-presents-the-end-of-the-night-1976-1983
And Orchide Records Detroit released an album with Detroit Energy Asylum which was my band for many years featuring Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, myself and great world-renowned Detroit musicians. For those who liked “Secrets and Space,” “Recreation” features new mixes of several covers with a never-before-heard lead vocal by Patti Smith on “Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” (by The Marvelettes written by Smokey Robinson). Produced by Freddie Brooks, it’s a gem  at https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/product/dea-recreation ;  https://secrets-space.bandcamp.com/album/secrets-space-original-soundtrack-of-transition

Also, thank you NPR WDET-FM’s Ann Delisi for the Detroit Guitar with Gabriel Currie taping at Music Hall Detroit. The link is coming soon with the video – Scott Dailey and I had a blast running through some music on this fine guitar with arwork by Sabrina Nelson for the WDET 101.9 Fundraiser.https://wdet.org/posts/2020/09/09/90016-win-a-one-of-a-kind-echopark-electric-guitar/

So I’ve been teaching remotely, and my high students are doing creative writing. This is a real treat, as they next will also be doing songwriting. Scott Dailey and I have started more recording and with our song “I Will Rise” coming out this Winter or Spring with several other new songs, it’s perfect timing to move back inward to the winter months, leaving the sun and shine to a ruminating cloud of covering snow. I know, I’m dreaming of better times. It’s been a terrible time with the virus, the administration with the over the top, cruel president in office, and then our Michigan Governor’s life being threatened in a major way. So these are times to remember recording with “I Will Rise” and more soon. 

Thanks again, please stay safe and well ! And Vote Blue!! Love, Carolyn xx

See you in September…

Hi! Happy September! We’re missing many festivals we have played, including Donne in Musica in Rome, Italy, The Isle of Wight, U.K. Rhythmtree Festival, many years at Arts Beats & Eats, The Detroit Jazz Festival, Earthwork Harvest Festival in Lake City, Michigan, Dally in the Alley in Detroit, The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, and the Michigan State Fair and more! But we did a new Facebook livestream fundraiser with the Soaring Eagle Arts Beats & Eats Festival. Arts Beats and Eats is raising money for musicians impacted by covid-19. For every dollar you donate to us at PayPal.me/carolynstriho1 for our virtual show by October 1st, Oakland County, Michigan will match that amount up to $500,000 and donate it to the Arts Beats Eats Musician’s Fund for Michigan musicians who have lost over 50% of their income due to COVID-19. Thank you for caring! https://www.facebook.com/striho/videos/10222355425450182/
More info at https://artsbeatseats.com/virtual-showcase-supporting-local-musicians

The Audio Book for my “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is coming this Fall. In the meantime, you can order the hard copy from me directly or through many Detroit and Michigan music and bookstores, including Book Beat, Horizons Books Traverse City, Nicolas Books Ann Arbor, Dearborn Music, Flipside Records and more! You can also order it from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Aquarius Press. If you buy it from me at paypal.me/carolynstriho1, I offer a discount, too! Let me know in an email or DM to me and I’ll get it over to you! Also at https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837

I’m featured on the album “End of the Night” for Record Store Day 2020 U.K. compiled by Rob St. Mary and distributed by Light in the Attic Records Seattle. My song “Rockin’ Right” is included with one of my first bands The Cubes. It also features Don Was’ first band The Traitors and Hiawatha Bailey and The Cult Heroes “Amerikan Story” with much more – check it at https://lightintheattic.net/releases/6628-detroit-punk-archive-presents-the-end-of-the-night-1976-1983

Also, Orchide Records Detroit released an album with Detroit Energy Asylum which was my band for many years featuring Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, myself and great world-renowned Detroit musicians. For those who liked “Secrets and Space,” “Recreation” features new mixes of several covers with a never-before-heard lead vocal by Patti Smith on “Hunter Gets Captured by the Game” (by The Marvelettes written by Smokey Robinson). Produced by Freddie Brooks, it’s a gem at https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/product/dea-recreation
https://secrets-space.bandcamp.com/album/secrets-space-original-soundtrack-of-transition

While I miss playing at festival times, we are working on many new projects, have rescheduled the U.K. tour and some recording with more good surprises.

Thanks again, please stay safe and well, and Vote!
Love, Carolyn xx