Deborah Crooks: News/Journal

I was recently interviewed by Andi Lit for her blog about music, books and inspiration in general. Read the interview HERE.

Greetings from Goa, err, the beach, along the Arabian Sea, where I'm closing out my travels in India with some very welcome rest and reflection after Mysore and before I return to the US. My time in Mysore was extremely rich in opportunites to stretch, both in terms of yoga practice and music. The final weeks were highlighted by a farewell lunch gig for some of my new Mysore friends and an opportunity to sing after conference at the Ashtanga Yoga Institute . The latter was not my material or usual act. During my last week in town, the opportunity arose for me to be one of David Garrigues's back-up kirtan singers at what would be a special performance at the yoga shala. David's a Certified Ashtanga teacher (aka, an exceedingly experienced and knowledgeable practitioner of traditional Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga) and a fine kirtan singer and composer and we had a great time singing in the shala.  A few days later I flew to Goa, on the coast of the Arabian sea, for some more yoga practice with another senior teacher and some necessary transition time between Mysore and the US. Goa is a completely different scene, or set of scenes, as it's long been a convergence point for the counterculture. Likewise, it was once occupied by the Portugese*, so Christian influences dominate in regards to landscape and architecture. Nonetheless, ample food and drink and warm weather spell party for most. Music abounds, and while I didn't book any formal shows here, I did get a fair amount of writing and practice and playing for friends in while getting more of a lay of the land for future visits. Which is leading me home to California! My first performance upon my return will be a spot at Sundays with the Songwriter Collectiive at Actual Cafe in Oakland. Check the calendar for more. I look forward to catching up. xoxox, Deborah

**After seeing 'St Anthony' references everywhere in Goa—on boats, houses, hotels, etc— I quickly learned that the namesake of one of my songs is the patron saint of the Portugese (as well as one appealed to for various afflictions including hunger and disease).

While I've been away, lots of reviews and radio have come in lately, including inclusion on a number of interesting podcasts and blogs. Take a look/listen: Nice review in Beehive Candy BEEHIVE CANDY: 2011Candy - February Edition One "2011Candy Says: That alt country feel that I am a sucker for exudes through the [Let's Move} and is a great shop window on Deborah Crooks. If you like the song insist on hearing more and don't be surprised by the diversity of styles you will hear." via FM102x Deborah Crooks - Time #songoftheday Deborah Crooks - Time | FM102x.com - Alt Mix Song of the Day Via WomensRadio.com #MusicMonday Promo #23: Deborah Crooks (@deborahcrooks)--Folk / Rock / Americana from San Francisco, CA "Time" included on The JogTunes Indie Podcast #65 JogTunes - The Indie Tunes List - The

Hello and happy February,

As I'm approaching the completion of my three-month yoga & music intensive in Mysore, India, I'm feeling at once ready to return to the States and overwhelmed by the fact of how fast time flies. From the get-go, I've been looking at this trip to India as an arts residency to recharge my creative batteries as much as reboot my yoga practice and that has indeed played out. Close to daily Carnatic voice lessons, the somewhat random confluence of musician-yogis here, a regular writing practice group, and kick-ass Ashtanga yoga practice have kept my days more than full. Musical events and inspiration have happened that simply wouldn't have occurred anywhere else. I met Bo, a Western Classical singer with amazing pipes, with whom I shared a bill at a benefit performance for two of our favorite local charities . At the same time, I met Lars, a piano player with a natural ear for accompaniment who was learning harmonium. He picked up a handful of my songs and performed with me at the benefit show to surprisingly good effect--I have a new appreciation for its ability to be mournfully vocal and Old-World gypsy as much as its Eastern devotional self.  Shortly after the show, Bo and Lars left town and I've been back to the woodshed and through line of Carnatic singing lessons, self (music) practice and writing. New material is on its way, and I look forward to sharing it with you upon my return to the US. I've started booking some shows, including a gig at The Actual Cafe in Oakland two weeks after my return. If you're in the Bay Area, please come! I look forward to seeing you and catching up. xo, Deborah

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illustration by Boonchu Tanti

The Belgian music site Rootstime recently did a nice review of both of my 2010 EP's It's All Up to You & Other Halves

"Deborah Crooks vocal line a bit at the sound of the singer Chrissie Hynde Pretenders' also a typical sob in the somewhat hoarse voice. The song "Let's Move" from the EP "It's All Up To You" showcases this comparison might be the best. It is also one who climbs with a vengeance after a first listening it is difficult to remove from memory falls. The great romantic songs beautifully sung "Falling" and being beautiful in its simplicity "Someone Needs You Now"are among the best songs from these two plates.

These are little-ep but hopefully as a snack and are likely to regard the run up to half full CD, which we, after listening to this song just can look forward with hope."

 Happy New Year! I was fortunate to welcome the new year (& decade) in India, where I'm midway through a three-month visit. The time in Mysore has been rich in inspiration & learning: I've found several other local musicians and yoga student/musicians with whom to jam and play, performed at a Christmas brunch and party (wearing my first sari!), and am continuing my Carnatic voice lessons with Mysore V. Amba Prasad. I've also initiated a new writing project and have been facilitating a writing practice group with a rotating cast of new and seasoned writers. It's truly been a gift to have this time to soak in new information and see what the muse brings while practicing at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute .

Some (other) highlights include....

To read more....

Listen to ‘Joy’ & other songs from my recent EPs starting today on Blues 'N Boogie Online Blues Radio Station - Live365 Internet Radio Listen in!

Wishing you & yours a fabulous holiday and happy New Year. Thank you for helping make 2010 a special year. Look forward to a great 2011. Love, Deborah

I was honored that Nusi Dekker included It's All Up to You among her picks of music on Local Music Vibe

Terrific new albums by five of San Francisco's most gifted female singer-songwriters 

The EP is in great company with other Cds by Renee Harcourt, Monica Pasqual, Liz Ryder & Jane Lui.

Greetings from Mysore, India, where I've basically gone back to school for the winter. For the next three months, I'll be living here, taking classes at the KPJ Ashtanga Yoga Institute, and concurrently, a Carnatic singing immersion with virtuoso Mysore V. Amba Prasad. While it was pretty hard to leave the Bay Area, I'm deeply grateful to be continuing both my Ashtanga and voice studies at the source. Living in India, learning more about the culture and being surrounded by students from all over the globe is making for a true cultural experience... In between yoga, singing and chanting classes, I've also enjoyed brushing up my Spanish with students from South America, Spain & Mexico, playing at house parties and working on some new material on the little Supertone parlor guitar that made the trip around the world with me.  My voice teacher here is pushing me to teach what I've learned upon my return, so hit me up if you want to practice your Indian scale in 2011. In the meantime, I'm sending you wishes for a great holiday season and heartfelt thanks for the support of the shows this past year. Speaking of which....

The weeks leading up to my flight were dense with gigs. Amid a packed few day in LA which saw me, guitarist Kwame Copeland and violist Tatiana Ecoiffier playing The Viper Room Lounge & The Joint, we made an appearance on Long Beach's

"Swoop's World Radio."

You can catch part of the interview as well as us performing "Someone Needs You Now" at

Daily Motion.

Amid that week, my song "Off Sides" got selected to be critiqued by Nashville-based hitmaker Ralph Murphy at the Taxi Road Rally so I stayed an extra day in LA to take part in an equal parts instructive, humbling and empowering critique session. Then I caught a last-minute flight to get to a sweet house concert, Chez Mana's Art in Context, which turned into a very-last-minute fight when weather stalled most flights at SFO. An extra thank you to my sisters for getting me to the gig in Los Altos on time, and my bandmates — Kwame (guitar), Tatiana (viola) and Mike Stevens (percussion)— for having my back so the show went on with nary a hitch. Played acoustic to a warm room in an intimate setting, the gig ranks among my favorite of the year. Michelle Mrdeza took some nice pics, while Mana graciously posted a recap of the show including a  live recording of 'Joy' on her blog. Take a listen and defintely keep an eye on Chez Mana whose beginning to host some very interesting events.

Looking forward to more. Love & gratitude,

Deborah

I'll be based in Southern India through February 2011. Please email deborahrcrooks@gmail.com for booking inquiries (in the States or India) or other information. 

I'm excited about the gigs that kick off November, which always seems to have a lot going on. This year entails an acoustic set 11/4 at The Viper Room Lounge in LA, a sweet art salon on 11/7 Los Altos and a full-band show 11/11 at The Starry Plough. Pick your pleasure—low-key acoustic or rock and roll, or come to all of them! Check the calendar for details.

I also recently gathered together a handful of unfinished recordings and, with the help of Ben Bernstein, Mike Stevens and the rest of the awesome musicians with whom I've been playing, completed several of these AND recorded a brand new tune. The result is a 4-song EP "Other Halves." I'll have copies of the disc at the Nov shows, it's now available on Cd Baby, and I so look forward to sharing it with you.

I came home from a fun run through Los Angeles (thank you Cinema Bar & Java w/Javelyn) & San Diego to preview a song at Chez Mana's inaugural art & music soiree at The Fremont Hills Country Club. The event was a great success, featuring music by Larry Vuckovich, Mike Hallesey, Akira Tana, Sana Craig and Kay Kostopoulos. Kay also recited poetry about jazz, while Larry shared stories from his personal experiences with jazz greats. Dinner, the paintings of Nilou Farzeneh and sculpture by Fabienne Bismuth rounded out a pretty lovely show. I'm looking forward to playing at Chez Mana's Art in Context November 7.

In the meantime, I'm pulling together a variety of recordings I've started in the year and recorded a brand new song with my band "Off Sides" for a new EP I just might have ready by then. Projects are us!

I've a lot of gigs coming up in September but if you like intimate, art salons, please save this date, November 7, 2010, when I'll be playing the inaugural Art in Context event @ Chez Mana at 3pm. For further information contact mana@chezmana.com

Lots on deck this month. Tonight I'll be at The Rockit Room (406 Clement in SF) playing an acoustic set. Come say hello and listen at 8pm. We'll be playing downstairs before the Salsa gets going upstairs! And mark your calendars for August 28 @ the Eat Real Fest

I've had some last minute additions to the July calendar including this coming Saturday's performance on KALX LIVE 90.7FM. I'll be going on around 9pm for a 45 minute set followed by an interview. Tune in! KALX RADIO 90.7 FM July 24, 2010 9:00pm

Meanwhile, reviews continue to come in for "It's All Up to You" the latest compares it to Izzy Stradlin. What do you think: From ZME Music: "As opposed to some of Crooks’ more obvious peers - the likes of Sheryl Crowe, and perhaps a tired Alanis Morissette - what [Izzy] Stradlin’s record shares with It’s All Up To You is an easy, summer road-trip, I’ve-listened-to-a-lot-of-Rolling-Stones-and-I’m-not-afraid-to-show-it kind of vibe...."

Best Buy has started selling musical instruments and has a nice program giving indie artists a turn on their instore stages. I played a set at the Best Buy in Chelsea last week to a fittingly cosmopolitan crowd as well as some NYC friends. While in NY, I also had fortune to check out some other musical pals who were playing in the Big Apple, caught up with two of my favorite SF-NYC transplants, poet Karen Hildebrand and composer Peter Whitehead, then headed to Philly for some yoga rebooting. While I was reacquainting myself with Urdhva Dhanurasana, Consequence of Sound was reviewing my EP: "It’s All Up To You separates itself from the mainstream country pack and moves in a whole variety of unexpected directions..." to read more, go to Consequence of Sound.

I had a great time playing the past two weekends @the Songwriter's Unplugged series @ Yoshi's SF & a Drew Pearce produced house concert Sausalito. The location of the latter took the cake.Thank yous to our hosts, audience & my band mates: yes life is good. Nusi Decker took some shots of our swell mansion venue.

I'm psyched to open for the amazing ambeR Rubarth, Sunday, June 6. She's just back from Europe and the setting couldn't be better for an afternoon show.The show is happening, to quote host Drew Pearce, "at the outrageously beautiful and stately home of Cindi and Todd Osborn in Sausalito."

The doors open at 4 pm. Music starts around 4:15 pm. Advance reservations are $10 via Paypal donation on the Pearce Creative Events page.  It's $15 day of show/ at the door. We hope you can join us.  It will be special.

Space is limited and advance reservations are highly recommended. For more details, RSVP to pearcecreative@gmail.com.

 Lilith Fair , the pioneering women-led music festival that Sara Mclachlan founded in the 1990s, is back! And they're giving locals a chance to take a turn on the Lilith Stage at each stop. Of course I'd love to play and I can't do it without your vote. I appreciate if you my chances by voting at Ourstage between now and May 21. Here's how: 1. Sign up at http://Ourstage.com with a Fan account 2. Go to http://www.ourstage.com/profile/deborahcrooks/and CLICK THE "FAN" TAB 3. Click the Green Tab that says "MAKE THIS MY FAVORITE ARTIST" 4. Click the "JUDGE" TAB on Top 5. On the right select "LILITH FAIR CONTEST" 6. Choose "LILITH FAIR : San Francisco/Los Angeles/San Diego 7. Listen to at least 15 seconds of each song. Choose your favorite. Continue until you reach "FALLING - DEBORAH CROOKS" Choose it as your favorite "BY FAR" and put it at the TOP of the list. Many thanks!

The new tunes have been starting to get some rotation. Thank you KC Radio, GoGirls Music Radio and Radio Crystal Blue for showing some love to "It's All Up to You." You can also buy the new disc at Cd Baby

I'm excited to celebrate the completion of my EP "It's All Up to You" at The Red Devil lounge on April 11. I'm happy, too, to be sharing the bill with two of my favorite Bay Area bands, Grace Woods and Festizio. Come!  Tickets $7 pre-show/$10 day of show. Doors open 8pm

Old friends, new friends, many miles, crazy road sitings, snow (!), roadside 'salad bar,' and now, Las Vegas. Jury is out on what 14 days on the road have done to my brain! If you're in California, please come find out:

Friday, March 26th, 2010

The Quarter Note

I'm appearing several times during SXSW, including a Great Idea Tour stop at lululemon Austin on W. 6th St. (3/18, 1-3pm) , a panel at the SXSW Convention (3/19 @ 12:30pm) and the GoGirls Invasion of SXSW @Austin Java Parkway (3/19@4:30). Say hey if you're @sxsw!

• Check the Great Idea Tour website (www.thegreatideatour.com) and Facebook page as we're en route from CA to TX & back. Yahoo!