Storydwelling

Vibrant.  Deeply Rooted.  Profound. Bold.  Incredibly approachable. These are the descriptors that crossed my mind when I first encountered Heatherlyn in the midst of the spiritual community I know as home in Denver.  She joined us on the morning of Father’s Day to add her gifts and perspective to our liturgy.

Her music that morning was soulful, notably well crafted, encouraging.  I enjoy learning more about singer/ songwriters who make good music and are deeply committed to a path of following Jesus.  So I asked to know more.

Without hesitation, Heatherlyn handed me a copy of her upcoming release, Storydwelling, which will become available to the public on Tuesday, September 13th.  I’m so excited to have had a sneak peek at this album! It became a staple on my iPod, providing meaningful cadence for my cross-country move, added life to the dull task of unpacking boxes, and became blessing for work in a new studio space. As I listened, it became apparent that my first impressions of Heatherlyn are accurate, and embodied in the music she and her musical cohort produce.

Heatherlyn and the Storydwellers—including Matt Patrick, Aaron Fabrinni, Tyler Burkum, Zack Miller, and Ben Rosenbush—are planted in Minneapolis, MN, for the moment.  Their Storydwelling project threads together rhythms and melodies of Reggae, Folk, and Soul.  The lyrics invite compassionate empathy for people who share stories we relate to, as well as stories beyond our personal experience.  Some tunes are buoyant, encouraging the collaborative work of peacemaking.  Others, like “You’ll Never Know,” express the haunting reality of loss and separation in families caused by addictions.  As I experience a pseudo-transient life for the moment, my personal favorite is “Home With You Continues,” which posits the nature of real home.  And, really, how can you not like a song that opens with the line, “If we lived in a conversion van RV”?

Keep your eyes and ears open for this album.  If you enjoy quality music by singer/ songwriters—well crafted, poetic, and thought provokingly tangible lyrics—you won’t want to miss out.  On Sep. 13th Storydwelling will be available for purchase/download on iTunes, Amazon, & CDBaby.

For those of you in the Minneapolis area, you can see Heatherlyn & the Storydwellers on October 4th for the Storydwelling release concert.  They’ll be filling the room at The Ritz (The Ritz Theater www.ritzdolls.org; 345 13th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413) with tunes and soulful presence starting at 7:45 pm, with Ben Rosenbush offering up some refrains to kick things off ahead of time at 7pm.

Until then, you can find out more about these people who are working to bring peace, beauty, and compassionate presence into the world with their lives and work—including but not limited to their music.

Check them out at:

http://www.heatherlynmusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/heatherlynmusic
http://www.youtube.com/heatherlynmusic

Go. Groove. Set your body in motion to the rhythms. Shout. Be rooted. Connect. May we join these dynamic artists, wherever we find ourselves, in living lives that make space to listen deeply: to our own stories, the stories inhabited by our neighbors, and the refrains of love and resilience we will find there.

Listening with you,
Stefani