Kira Small: Blog

After our show the other night a woman came up to me and said, “I really needed that – thank you.” I am always so touched to hear something like that. It makes my heart happy. What’s really moving is that was the fourth gig in a row someone has said that very thing to me. I’m listening…
The song that’s really hitting people is “I Will Raise My Voice”. When I introduce that song I tell people that for as gregarious as I seem to be I still have to really summon the courage to speak when there’s something on my heart to say. Truth is I have to summon the courage to speak A LOT. I also say I know I’m not the only one that’s true for, but I’m finding out night after night just how many of you feel the same way. That’s a real gift to me because every night, singing that song is scary. I’m afraid it’s too long, too heavy, too preachy, too whiney, too self-indulgent, too much information… But [...]

So far I suck at blogging once a week. I kinda skipped a week and have felt failingly behind ever since…hmm…
Know what I’m really good at though? Stubbing my toe. I stubbed it so good yesterday I broke it. My poor little toe! It’s all purple and red and taped to the one next to it. I thought about posting a picture here but my friend Tracy advised against it, apparently from prior experience. Feel free to silently thank her now.
Whenever I’m experiencing a physical symptom I make it a point to inquire into the possible mental cause for that particular malady. Yes, body? What am I trying to tell me? A friend gave me a wonderful book many years ago called You Can Heal Your Life, written by Louise Hay. It’s been a consistent go-to resource for me when in need of self-reflection and inspiration. But the section I go to most is the one where she connects physical symptoms to probable mental causes. That’s some fascinating shit. For example – [...]

I just went to my 20th high school reunion. Well, more or less. It got rolled into the picnic for the classes of ’85-’95. I went to Milwaukee High School of the Arts and my graduating class was less than 100 people. All the classes cross-pollinated through our particular majors – art, music, theater and dance – so we weren’t as defined as classes as some other schools might have been. But the bulk of us there at the picnic were from the class of 1990 cuz it was our magic reunion year I guess. I had a ball. Most of us look exactly the same, with the possible exception of a few more pounds. I’d like to think our waistlines have expanded to account for our broadened horizons...and that we’ve earned the right to stretch out a bit.
 
As I'm sure is the case at most reunions, there was a constant contrapuntal round of “so what have you been up to?” ringing out. Some folks brought their kids, a few of those kids are almost as old as we [...]

It's a song I will sing forever and never grow tired of.
I'm not sure how old I was when I first heard Patsy Cline sing "I Fall To Pieces"...probably a teenager. I do know that it gave me that twinge in the gut feeling I always get when something really breaks my heart. And it's done that every time I've heard it - twice as bad when I sing it - since.
When I was 20 I spent a summer singing that song 3-4 times a day - dressed as Patsy Cline in a theme park show. Then I did it again the following summer. I probably sang it hundreds of times on that stage alone. But that wasn't enough. I probably sang it every Thursday in my weekly solo piano gig at Donn's Depot in Austin. I did that for 5 years. When I left I took the song me and have sung it at all kinds of gigs since. It's my Dad's favorite Patsy Cline song. It's perfectly-crafted. In it's brilliant conciseness...16 lines, 116 words - it puts words and music to that twinge. That pain you feel when someone has let you go but never lets you [...]

I really should blog more. I think what would be required is a promise so I HAVE to do it. I want to do it so I'm able to share all the magical little experiences we've been having lately. I post little snippets on twitter and facebook...that's easier to do in the moment...but these should happen too.
 
In the last few months I've released my CD Raise My Voice, got filmed/interviewed by CNN.com for a piece on house concerts, played a show in Austin honoring veterans, played 10 duo shows in 8 different states w/Bryan, taught at Berklee for a weekend, and snuck in a week-long vacation in the Smoky Mountains complete with river-tubing and an 8 hour hike up Mt. LaConte and back. Any one of those things I could have written a blog about. And I wish I had - cuz now it seems too overwhelming to do so, and too far back to remember teeny magical details. And that makes me sad. Silly reason to be sad, and I'll get over it, but I want to notice it now.
 
And all of this stuff happened since [...]