CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
OF RORY MICHELLE SULLIVAN'S
INTENTIONAL ARTISTIC PRACTICE
Welcome to a special page for browsing the last 10 years of my work!
There are so many people to thank and acknowledge along the way: collaborators, performers, team members, crowdfunders, friends, creative colleagues, family -- YOU. Know I am grateful for every single one of you. I use "I" in this narrative to keep it straightforward to read -- but please know there's a big "WE" for each project and for the journey overall. I invite you to dig further into each video/project to discover who's involved. There's a lot of wonderful people - including you - who are important and deserve to be recognized, too. THANK YOU.
So let's begin.
Here's a photo from Howl at the Moon Boston, where it all started, Jan. 13, 2013:
There are so many people to thank and acknowledge along the way: collaborators, performers, team members, crowdfunders, friends, creative colleagues, family -- YOU. Know I am grateful for every single one of you. I use "I" in this narrative to keep it straightforward to read -- but please know there's a big "WE" for each project and for the journey overall. I invite you to dig further into each video/project to discover who's involved. There's a lot of wonderful people - including you - who are important and deserve to be recognized, too. THANK YOU.
So let's begin.
Here's a photo from Howl at the Moon Boston, where it all started, Jan. 13, 2013:
Here's me performing three songs from Turtledove, my debut album, at Howl Boston (with YOU singing along!):
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They are from my first album, Turtledove (2013), about healing and growth and courage (and romantic relationships).
Listen below. You'll notice that I'm really leaning into the idea of iterating. I figured I'd do 6 albums in 6 years and get better with each one rather than wait 6 years to make one "perfect" album. You'll hear the production quality increase as the years (and albums) go on. (And I've made four so far, with the other two gestating still. Join my Patreon to come on that adventure.)
Even so, Turtledove has a special place in my heart. It's the words from some inner place telling me what I needed to hear. Ten years later, I'm only now integrating (and still learning the lessons). I hope they might resonate for you.
I have some home-burned discs with Turtledove branding for signing. If you'd like one, let me know!
Listen below. You'll notice that I'm really leaning into the idea of iterating. I figured I'd do 6 albums in 6 years and get better with each one rather than wait 6 years to make one "perfect" album. You'll hear the production quality increase as the years (and albums) go on. (And I've made four so far, with the other two gestating still. Join my Patreon to come on that adventure.)
Even so, Turtledove has a special place in my heart. It's the words from some inner place telling me what I needed to hear. Ten years later, I'm only now integrating (and still learning the lessons). I hope they might resonate for you.
I have some home-burned discs with Turtledove branding for signing. If you'd like one, let me know!
Next comes Inner Child (2014), an EP recorded with friends in Vienna, Austria. There are some bonus tracks when you download it on Bandcamp. There are also a whole bunch of songs that got left off to keep the project manageable financially. They've not yet been released. Maybe I'll dig them out and share them as part of the Patreon behind the scenes stuff. (Hint, hint.) We'll see!
Themes for Inner Child are similar to Turtledove, but either edgier, gentler, or sweeter:
Themes for Inner Child are similar to Turtledove, but either edgier, gentler, or sweeter:
We also made my first music video. :)
Wait - I found some of the ones that got left off!
Next is The God Album (2015), a bit cheekily named simply to differentiate it from the more singer-songwriter stuff. It's really a collection of songs in different musical styles (fun folk, funk, swing, and more) lifting up my signature messages of growth and connection, based on Jewish text I studied at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies while living in Jerusalem.
You can get a copy of this CD signed!
You can get a copy of this CD signed!
I got to play a few songs from The God Album at Limmud Chicago + MW, a conference focused on Jewish learning. I was the headlining performer and totally felt like a star - including getting help with videography. It was attended by so many sweet individuals.
There's also a music video for this album, filmed with friends in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. Videography by my awesome brother, Conor T. L. Sullivan (the T. L. stands for Totally Loving; or Tiny Lobster; whichever you prefer).
Other Jewish music stuff:
I've also been song leading - leading groups in communal singing - for the last 8 years. One of the most fun things to do is write music with groups. Here's a song written with the Jewish Learning Center (aka Hebrew School) kids at Beth El - New Jersey:
I've also been song leading - leading groups in communal singing - for the last 8 years. One of the most fun things to do is write music with groups. Here's a song written with the Jewish Learning Center (aka Hebrew School) kids at Beth El - New Jersey:
And, of course - my "new" Shehecheyanu call and response setting. I use quotes because, in the same way it takes 10 years to become an overnight success, it's also taken six and a half years to get this setting out into the world. I still have the notebook page from the day working at New Country Day Camp in Staten Island that I "captured" (or wrote, but let's go with wrote it down) this song.
I wanted to break down these long, complicated Hebrew words into something more accessible for our campers and counselors. Here's what came out. It's continuing to develop as an embodied practice with thanks to support from Mitsui Collective Kollel 2:
The Shehecheyanu prayer is all about gratitude for reaching a particularly special moment in time, whether once a year, or once in a lifetime.
This new setting plays with the breath to bring our attention to the present moment. It focuses on the intention of the blessing: what are the experiences and people that have brought us to this very moment? You are a part of that, including just by being here. I'm grateful for you.
She-he-khee-ya-nu - שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ - Who has given us life
v'ki-yi-ma-nu - וְקִיְּמָנוּ - and sustained us
vi-hi-gi-ya-nu - וְהִגִּיעָנוּ - and enabled us to reach
liz-man ha-zeh - לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה - this very moment.
I wanted to break down these long, complicated Hebrew words into something more accessible for our campers and counselors. Here's what came out. It's continuing to develop as an embodied practice with thanks to support from Mitsui Collective Kollel 2:
The Shehecheyanu prayer is all about gratitude for reaching a particularly special moment in time, whether once a year, or once in a lifetime.
This new setting plays with the breath to bring our attention to the present moment. It focuses on the intention of the blessing: what are the experiences and people that have brought us to this very moment? You are a part of that, including just by being here. I'm grateful for you.
She-he-khee-ya-nu - שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ - Who has given us life
v'ki-yi-ma-nu - וְקִיְּמָנוּ - and sustained us
vi-hi-gi-ya-nu - וְהִגִּיעָנוּ - and enabled us to reach
liz-man ha-zeh - לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה - this very moment.
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This is sort of Jewish? It's a niggun, a wordless melody (think "na na na" or "yai dai dai"). But with lyrics to help you learn it. At least that's what it is in my mind. I envision an animated music video of the raccoons in the lagoon. Maybe I'll make that someday.
You can hear the influence of the niggun in this song from Inner Child, perhaps a hint of my unfolding into Jewish music:
While we're at it, here's another video from that recording day. It was a really sweet moment where a man using the common space looked at me afterwards and said, "You know that's a hit, right?"
(Folky sing-along with more "Yai dai dais" follows after chanted text which is traditionally used to end Shabbat.)
(Folky sing-along with more "Yai dai dais" follows after chanted text which is traditionally used to end Shabbat.)
Even Rising in Love the Musical has some "yai dai dais!" Check out "I Don't Know How" to hear them.
Here's the concept album for the musical (released 2019; recorded 2018; written 2008-2018). Officially my fourth album, co-composed with Moira Lo Bianco. Performed with orchestra and mastered by a Grammy-nominated studio -- iterating works!
I have lots of footage from recording day - musicians recording in sections, singers in booths, actors and creative team interviews. Haven't used it yet. Something to share in the Patreon behind-the-scenes tier, perhaps?
Here's the concept album for the musical (released 2019; recorded 2018; written 2008-2018). Officially my fourth album, co-composed with Moira Lo Bianco. Performed with orchestra and mastered by a Grammy-nominated studio -- iterating works!
I have lots of footage from recording day - musicians recording in sections, singers in booths, actors and creative team interviews. Haven't used it yet. Something to share in the Patreon behind-the-scenes tier, perhaps?
I did learn from the whole getting footage thing. At our NYC Staged Reading with Emerging Artists Theatre's New Works Series (2019), I strategically captured footage (with lots of great help and collaboration) for a trailer (inspired by working with fellow artist (writer/musician/poet/Torah teacher) Alicia Jo Rabin and her Girls in Trouble curriculum trailer based on her indie/pop/folk song cycle about Biblical Women. I'm grateful for everyone I've learned from and with along the way).
Here are some songs not on the concept album, co-composed with Jonathan Shanes for the Staged Reading and sung by wonderful performers and humans:
That covers my major works (and then some). Here is some more singer-songwriter stuff not on any official albums, including the famous "This One Day" video (with cameo by Isaac Newton-Heisman the dog) written as a crowdfunding reward for Brian Califf.
And here are some of my favorite songs to play live, also written as crowdfunding reward songs.
And that's plenty for now.
Thank you SO MUCH for checking this out!
Did I mention there were lots of people that have made all of this happen?
Here's a note that lives on my music & video page, and belongs here as well:
Thank you to all of the Kickstarter Backers & GoFundMe Supporters who made The God Album possible as well as to everyone who contributed to presenting Rising in Love the Musical as a staged reading in NYC. Your support in bringing these projects to life is deeply appreciated.
I'm excited to add Patrons this list of incredible supporters as well.
Thank you to these awesome folks for Kicking off the Patreon and helping me create the next 10 years+ of work!
Danielle Selber
Delen Heisman
Rick Kitei
Irene Tenenbaum
Jerry Shinfeld
Alicia Jo Rabins
If you'd like to come on this adventure in a deeper way, and support me in continuing to make art, I invite you to join us on Patreon.
Thank you!
Here's a note that lives on my music & video page, and belongs here as well:
Thank you to all of the Kickstarter Backers & GoFundMe Supporters who made The God Album possible as well as to everyone who contributed to presenting Rising in Love the Musical as a staged reading in NYC. Your support in bringing these projects to life is deeply appreciated.
I'm excited to add Patrons this list of incredible supporters as well.
Thank you to these awesome folks for Kicking off the Patreon and helping me create the next 10 years+ of work!
Danielle Selber
Delen Heisman
Rick Kitei
Irene Tenenbaum
Jerry Shinfeld
Alicia Jo Rabins
If you'd like to come on this adventure in a deeper way, and support me in continuing to make art, I invite you to join us on Patreon.
Thank you!