By Chuck Whiting
MCAU Editor
INDEPENDENCE,
Va. (April 2014) – Singer/songwriter/eco-activist Joyce Rouse (AKA Earth Mama) has spent the past three years
recording a new CD of original folk-Americana songs she hopes will give
listeners "a better understanding of our home, the natural world."
"A Sense of Place" reflects the spirit of Southern Appalachia with songs of
kindness, hope, love, Mother Earth, good neighbors, family and life. Some of
the songs encourage listeners to celebrate home by protecting the ecosystems,
native species, and natural water systems that face destruction in the wake of
industrialization, coal mining, and climate change. Others cherish the
camaraderie of family members and neighbors who share homegrown crops and help
each other out when times are tough. Listeners can experience the region by
taking an imaginary flight on an oriole's wings or exploring the winding Blue
Ridge Parkway.
"I
had written and recorded some songs centering around the Southern Appalachian
Mountains where I have lived for many years," said Rouse, who has
delighted audiences with toe-tapping music and green-living tips since 1994.
"These songs seemed to be the anchor for this project. 'A Sense of Place'
branches out to include a reggae song about local economy and local foods, as
well as a pastiche of other genres and topics."
The
album begins with "Detour Road", a spirited, up-tempo "rocking
chair" tune that encourages listeners to choose love and peace (rather
than hate) when they reach the "wishbone in life's highway". The song
captures the flavor of front porch sing-a-longs with gospel-esque vocal
harmonies, bluesy harmonica, playful kazoo, and fast-paced percussion.
"I
got to sing 'Detour Road' in a set at the beautiful historic Liberty Theatre in
Eunice, La.," the artist noted. "The crowd got really involved with
the refrain, and some rhythm instruments were passed around. The song is one of
my favorites on the CD because of the 'feel-good' sing-a-long energy, and even
more special with my husband's contribution of harmonica to the track."
Rouse
switches gears with "To An Oriole", a soaring and drifting ballad
that uses the words from Edgar Fawcett's famous poem. Here, the listener
experiences the "splendor" of a black and orange-flected bird flying
toward Heaven. The gentle production features Rouse's rich soprano vocals with
gossamer piano track and stringed instruments.
"Birder,
naturalist and organic farmer Bruce Allen sent me that poem," Rouse
continued. "Like many songwriters, I get these requests, and the poems
don't always resonate with me. This one spoke right to my heart."
The
song "Heaven Down Below" reveals how bank takeovers, mindless
development, mining, and mountaintop removal are wiping out whole towns,
families and communities. An Appalachian farmer faces heartbreak when he loses
his home on Whitetop Mountain. The singer promises to teach his children to
"love the land and let it show." The song aches with imagery-filled
lyrics, down-to-earth vocals, country fiddle, and a bedrock steady guitar foundation
by Bryan Sutton.
"Not
far from where I live are mountains that are being blown to smithereens to
extract the coal that is shipped all over the world to fuel electric power
plants," the artist said. "Mountaintop removal is wiping out farms
and homes that have been in families for more than a century. Mudslides and
coal ash spills have killed people, but we get our electricity without
interruption."
Rouse
celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway with "Ribbon of
Stone", a mountain folk song that celebrates 469 miles of a region and
culture "unlike any other on Earth". As the driver winds her way
through breathtaking forests, hills and valleys, she hears the sounds of
whistling warblers, looks out over mist-shrouded mountains, and touches the stitched
fabrics of heirloom quilts.
She
honors the memory of the late Keith Palmer with the ballad "Only One", a song that was
recorded as a demo back in 1992. As Rouse was finishing up the CD, the song
kept "nagging" for attention. Rouse weaved vocal accents with new
lines through Palmer's smooth tenor vocals to make the song a good fit for
"A Sense Of Place".
"Much
of our sense of place in the natural world comes out of our childhood
experiences of playing outside, wading in creeks, and exploring the wooded
areas," the artist added. "After shows, people have shared their
stories of loss at discovering the ecosystems of their childhood destroyed by
development, pollution or industrial agriculture. That sorrow underscores how
vital natural places are to children."
The
mountain reggae tune "If You Need A Chair" encourages individuals to
build community and better ecology by trading or buying homemade goods (chairs,
bread, fruits, vegetables, clothes, brooms, songs, cakes, and animals) from
their neighbors. Rouse, who lives on a mountain just outside of Independence,
Va., supports her community by buying locally grown foods. She is putting the
finishing touches on a book based on the song.
"A
Sense Of Place" was recorded in Nashville, with Rouse serving as lead
vocalist, songwriter and producer. Some of the selections feature stirring
accompaniments by fiddler/banjoist/dobroist Wanda Burchfield, keyboardist Catherine Marx, and percussionist Paul Scholten. The project was mixed by sound
engineer Rob Matson.
"I
love to hear instrumental breathing spaces in music to deeply absorb the
lyrics," Earth Mama reflected. "Listeners need time to absorb the
depth and nuance of some lyrics, so I make an effort to leave spaces for the
heart and soul of the work to blossom."
The
project and album-related performances have received positive reviews.
"The
concept of place runs through all the songs," raves fan Mary Lou Dolan. "'If You Need a Chair' is the
perfect local economy song. I'm taking it to our group's next meeting as
'local' is what we are all about."
"'A
Sense of Place' is a wonderful, 10-song ride that will make you smile, make you
move, and make you ponder, reflect and feel enriched by the musical
messages," writes Birdsong recording artist Lindy Gravelle. "The songs are so well
written, masterfully produced, and performed by Earth Mama. The Nashville
musicians, singers and engineer she assembled all play their parts with just
the right sounds to support her stylish vocals. She’s on a mission to raise our
consciousness about life on Earth, and she does it with heart and humor,
captivating and entertaining you the whole ride through."
Earth Mama performs regularly at a
wide variety of venues across the nation, including libraries, grade schools,
universities, church groups, retreat centers, conferences, museums and
festivals. She recently took on an artist-in-residence role in a small
Louisiana town. The artist weaves threads of science, spirit and art into
each concert and continues to write inspiring music in many styles with one
goal in mind: “Helping Heal the Planet One Song at a Time.”
A
15-year voting member of the Grammy Awards, Rouse's songs have been recorded
and/or performed by artists such as Maureen McGovern, Marie Osmond, and the
McCarter Sisters. She has written theme and event songs for environmental and
peace organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, UNESCO, and the International Earth Charter. She recently recorded an
environmental public service announcement for La Leche League. Her music has
been used by choral societies, children's choirs, and international choirs, as
well as community-building events. In 1995, her song, "Standing on the
Shoulders", was chosen as the theme song for a national event in
Washington, D.C., celebrating the 75th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.
In 2008, she recorded “Virginia Beauty, A Love Song
for the Commonwealth”, an anthem that has been widely circulated as a possible
new state song. The Highland Camerata featured the song in its Minds Wide Open
program honoring Virginia women in the arts. In 2011, the Virginia Choral
Society of Newport News, Va., debuted a new eight-part choral arrangement for
larger choirs arranged by artistic director James Powers. Rouse earned a bachelor's degree in
home economics from Iowa State University and a master's degree in earth
literacy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. Rouse and her
husband, Richard, live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia.
"The
recent passing of Pete Seeger and review of his life and body of work is a
potent reminder of the power of the right song at the right time to influence a
movement, or to create space in people's hearts to look at old patterns of
behavior and steer a course for better actions," Rouse said. "I am
standing on his shoulders, as well as others like Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez,
Malvina Reynolds, and Marvin Gaye. I am proud to follow in their tradition and
grateful that 'A Sense of Place' is gaining interest locally and beyond!"
"A Sense of Place", which retails for $15, is available at www.EarthMama.org,
www.cdbaby.com,
and www.Amazon.com. Digital downloads are available at www.iTunes.com and other online
retailers. For more information about the CD or the artist, call (276) 773-8529
or send an e-mail message to Joyce@EarthMama.org. To listen to selections from the album, visit http://www.earthmama.org/hearasenseofplace.php.
