Q&A with Elizabeth Kemler - co-producer Songs for a Cause

I want you to get to know Elizabeth a bit - she is an incredible activist, artist and human being!

Elizabeth Kemler

1) Why are you a singer-songwriter?

It feels somehow necessary. I've explored many modes of creative expression over the years, including theater and comedy (writing & performing), and enjoyed them both immensely, but there is something about music that nourishes me more deeply, and in a more sustainable way. I must admit that songwriting for me is a fairly labor-intensive process, due in part I think, to my lack of formal musical training, but I enjoy the puzzle-like quality of trying to find just the right words and melody to capture whatever message and essence I'm striving for. 

2) What are your major musical/creative influences? 

I am going to be wholly unoriginal here and say that I am flat out in love--madly, crazily so--with Bruce. I also have much love for Neil Young, Tom Petty, Chrissie Hynde, Gillian Welch (and David Rawlings of course), and the wildly brilliant Chris Whitley. 

3) What social causes move you?

Far too many to count, but at the forefront of them would be anything involving child welfare. Seeing children suffer from hunger, neglect, or any kind of abuse just kills me. 

Elizabeth and her guitar (and hat!)

4) Tell me about a few of your favorite songs you've written.

A lot of my songs explore what you might call the 'darker' aspects of the human experience and in truth, it feels good to have a safe and constructive place to do that; that said, my two  favorite songs (You Are Mine & A New Dream) are about the sweetest thing in my life, my 4 year old son Benjamin. The former is not a complex song; sparse, direct lyrics and simple chords, but somehow it just hits the spot when I sing it; the latter is a tad more musically interesting and is lyrically a bit more obscure but still has that same satisfying quality. 

5) If you weren't a singer-songwriter, what would you be? 

Well, during the daylight hours, I am fortunate to have work I greatly enjoy, creating social-emotional and job readiness curricula--primarily for underserved young adults. You can check out one of my programs at: thinkbuildlivesuccess.com

Songs for a Cause - Benefit Show in Katonah NY for Hour Children June 28th

Hope Sings is co-producing its first music event in Westchester County NY on Sunday, June 28th at 5pm at the Katonah Library. 

"Songs for a Cause" benefits Hour Children, which helps incarcerated women rebuild their lives and families. They work locally with the Bedford Hills and Taconic Correctional Facilities. 

We are co-producing with the wonderful singer-songwriter and musical activist Elizabeth Kemler.

Hope Sings founder Beth Blatt, Ms. Kemler, and indie roots-rocker Jake Klar will be featured.

$15 includes wine/cheese reception - and the chance to do good for a wonderful organization. 

Please join us and support established and emerging local talent and women creating better lives!

Daily Ditty - from my show Smotherhood: Bad Mother

Shall I start sharing from my show, Smotherhood?

BAD MOTHER

BAD MOTHER

BET YOU WISH YOU HAD ANOTHER

NOT THIS BAD MOTHER

 

A GOOD MOTHER

IS CONSISTENT.

SHE SETS LIMITS

AND REMEMBERS THEM

THE NEXT DAY.

 

A GOOD MOTHER

IS INSISTENT

EVEN WHEN HER CHILD’S

RESISTANT.

ALWAYS KNOWS THE RIGHT THING

TO SAY.

 

SHE IS NEVER TOO NICE, THEN TOO MEAN

SHE’S ALWAYS PERFECTLY, PLEASANTLY IN-BETWEEN

AND SHE’S NOT ME

 

BAD MOTHER

BAD MOTHER

I AM SUCH A SAD MOTHER

CAUSE I’M SUCH A BAD MOTHER

 

A GOOD MOTHER

KNOWS WHEN HER CHILD IS LYING

KNOWS WHEN HER KID

IS TRYING

CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAZY

AND DUMB

 

SHE WOULD NEVER LET HER CHILD TALK SASS

OR ADMIT THAT SHE SMOKED GRASS -

JUST ONCE.

Ok maybe twice.

 

SHE LISTENS QUIETLY.

DOESN’T PREACH, “WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,“

DOESN’T SCREECH OR FLY INTO A RAGE

YEAH SHE’S NOT ME

 

BAD MOTHER

BAD MOTHER

“PLEASE DON’T BE MAD, MOTHER”

Sorry – I’M A BAD MOTHER

 

LIKE A BAD DOG –

BAD DOG!

STOP CHEWING UP YOUR LITTLE TOY

STOP SCREWING UP YOUR LITTLE BOY

IF I COULD I WOULD, BUT I CAN’T

(a hiccup of a heartbreak…then it kicks back in)

SO HERE’S MY RANT

 

BAD MOTHER

BAD MOTHER –

(MOM pulls the band back to a vamp as SHE speaks.)

 

What’s a bad mother to do,

When she’s a bad mother, through and through?

She could bemoan it

Or she could own it

Which is what this bad mother is gonna do –

(Band kicks in again.)

 

BAD MOTHER

BAD MOTHER

NOT A GLAD MOTHER

BAD MOTHER

Daily Ditty #58 - Blizzard, Schmizzard

A Mickey Mouse snowstorm. Thanks to Erika Amato for the title inspiration.

Blizzard, Schmizzard

So said Eddie Izzard

Blizzard, Schmizzard

So said NYC

Missed my night out

Cause they feared a white out

Gosh oh gee oh –

What emergency?

 

Mr. De B. – he is now my subway clown

Bet that he’s sad he shut the subway down.

 

Blizzard, Schmizzard

Fire that Weather Wizard

Blizzard, Schmizzard

How embarrassing

Daily Ditty #49 - Full House (Sleepover) - or Floodlight of Love

A Sunday morning reflection.

FULL HOUSE (SLEEPOVER)

To have a homeful of teenage boys

Giggling and guffawing

Is one of those motherly joys

I have never known.


What do they talk about?

Nothing my son will tell me.

I am content tonight to walk about

Inconspicuously, bringing more food.


In the morning, I find they have left the lights on

And dirty Kleenex everywhere.

And I’m pretty sure my son didn’t brush his teeth.

But it’s a full house and I don’t care.


They say you should shine a light

On the aspects you want to see more of.

A boy who trusts we won’t embarrass him,

Trusts we won’t pry and poke,

Won’t try to understand every joke.

A boy who likes to come home

And bring his friends home, too.

On this I shine

A floodlight of love.