Happy Beltane! Today we release our third album! You can purchase it from us right here on this website! Here’s what band members have to say on this exciting day.
Why now? Why release an album in 2019?
Crow Women began as a women’s Goddess Spirituality circle in 1992. Many of our members love to sing, and music became more and more important in our ceremonies. A few of us began to write original songs. In 2006 we recorded Crow Goddess, which contains twelve cover songs and a seven original pieces. It represents our first 14 years of musical magic.
Our second album, Crow Magic, was released six years later, in 2012. Its twenty-six tracks are all originals. Crow Magic was a lot of work and we weren’t sure we’d even want to make another album, ever. But, as Carole says, “crow sisters have been busy over the past few years creating new songs. We are very proud of them, and we wanted to present some of them to the pagan community. Plus, after a few years we forget (sort of like childbirth) the struggles of doing an album.” It’s true, when we make an album, it takes over our lives for a year.
But we had created all these song children, and it was getting crowded in our musical home. As Tara puts it, “the Crow Women didn’t make this album; it made us. The album had been growing and expanding within us to the point that it could no longer be contained. We had to release it into the world before we exploded.”
What is the album about?
We got together and made a list of all the new songs various women in the Crow Women had composed since 2012. There were thirty-seven songs on the list at that point, too many for one album, even for us. Laura remembers, “We decided to make the Wheel of the Year the theme for this album after realizing how many seasonal songs we had written among our group. Dance of Spring is the first song I have written, and my first contribution to the Crow Women. I was very excited when the seasonal theme was chosen, because my song would fit right in.”
We listed the eight pagan Sabbats, and noted what songs we had for each one. It came out surprisingly even. We just needed to come up with a few songs to fill out some Sabbats. (For example, Lammas is a sadly neglected holiday). Deb agreed to create a song about all eight Sabbats, and the opening song We Turn the Wheel was born.
What was the process like?
We love making up new songs, and the composition process is different for each of our six songwriters. Laura says, “Dance of Spring composed itself to me (in the shower) one day out of the blue. The melody and most of the words were there, although I did spend some time adding more verses and the descant.”
Alane, on the other hand, tends to be purposeful, “As I go about my life as a pagan priestess, I notice where the pagan repertoire has holes. Then, I set out to write a song to fill that hole. A Pagan Grace was like that. I pictured a family sitting down to a meal, and created a song that would be easy for kids and adults alike.”
We really enjoy working together to prepare the songs. Marilyn puts it well: “Crow choir rehearsal is a fun time! We are focused and organized, but as we learn and practice our parts, there’s so much laughter and sisterhood. While I love performing, the rehearsal time is special, and brings us closer together.”
Then come the thrills and chills of recording the album. “Organization is key,” says Alane, the Crow Women’s producer. “We get a group of songs ready, then spend 2 or 3 days recording that part of the album. When you pay for every minute, it’s important to spend the time efficiently. Even the best-laid plans can gang agley, though. Being flexible is essential, too.”
Seasons was the third album for many of us, but it was Laura’s first. She says, “This was my first time in a recording studio. It was a little intimidating at first, getting used to hearing myself through the headphones and singing directly into the microphone. I am learning how to be a performer, having always been fairly shy about doing things in front of people.” Even with the pressures of the studio, we still had a lot of fun.
As producer, Alane worked closely with our sound engineer, Doug Eagle. “I love the mixing process,” she says. “Shaping the recorded songs is very rewarding. Effects, panning and balancing take that raw recording and turn it into a professional album track. Fun!”
What is one of your favorite songs on this album, and why?
We all have favorite songs. Here’s how Tara puts it, “This album is full of ear worms. I can’t count the number of times I’ve fallen asleep or awoken with one of the songs frolicking through my brain. Bring the Rain and In Our Bones are particularly tenacious little creatures. As such, I think they will lend themselves well to fire circles and other sacred settings where you want a chant to catch hold and refuse to let go.”
Some songs are favorites for personal reasons. “The song Join Together has a special significance for me,” Rebekah says. “It was written by Deb for my partner’s and my handfasting ceremony. What a wonderful gift to be able to listen to the CD and fondly recall that day!”
Alane particularly likes Carole’s piece Warrior Woman. “We put this song in the Lughnassad-Lammas group. While we see Lammas as a harvest festival, Lughnassad is the holiday when pagans celebrate the great warrior Lugh with games of battle prowess. Our song celebrates women’s fierceness. Besides, I loved being able to ululate!” Another song in that section, At Lammas, is one of Shannon’s favorites. “This song makes me feel at home and at peace. It’s the kind of song I pictured being sung on a warm early afternoon, in a sunny wheat field, with flowers and bees, and kids.”
Melanie really likes the song Persephone. She says, “I like the song’s composition and the way it tells a story. It brings alive the myth and transforms Persephone into a person. With twenty-three tracks, it’s hard to pick one favorite. This album has so many great songs.”
How do you feel about making and releasing this album?
Well, percussionist Charlie feels enthusiastic! “Playing glockenspiel with the Crow Women, I feel joy, love and happiness! These are the musical performances I am proudest of in my life because these are sacred songs for our blessed pagan community.”
“Seasons is the realization of months of creative work and energy,” bubbles Marilyn. “It seems that our songwriting faculties became energized! Each of us writes with a distinctive voice, making the overall album very diverse and expressive. I love working with the other Crow Women and being amazed at how rich and varied these current songs have become!”
Donamarie agrees. “I am so impressed with how the creativity of the women in the nest has blossomed. It’s also really wonderful how each woman brings her own talent to the endeavor”. Donamarie lives in Wyoming, but traveled to Southern Colorado to record several songs. “Just being in the presence of the Crow Women and singing with them is a blessing. That there are those of us who travel such a distance to sing is a testament to how meaningful that is. I have to get a dose at least once a year!”
Melanie sums up the feelings of all of us: “I’m so excited. I think it’s our best album yet!”
Finally, what are your hopes and dreams in sharing this album with the pagan community?
It’s clear that offering up this album is seen as sacred work. “My hope for this album,” says Laura, “is that it will touch and move listeners both musically and spiritually. There are many lovely tracks for ritual use, both for groups and individuals. If a person listens to a song and is led into a spiritual place appropriate for the Sabbat they are celebrating, I feel that the song has served its purpose.
Deb concurs. “Through this album we are sharing music for the seasons and Sabbats throughout the year. We hope it will deepen the celebrations and add to the joys of community and solitary rites. It was a huge undertaking and we are so happy to offer it to you!”
What’s next? “Actually, we’ve already accumulated enough songs for a fourth album,” Carole says, “but it’s likely to be a while before that happens, like after Music of Gaia (our record label) has paid off the production costs of this one. These are not money-making ventures. They are a service to the community, and of course some ego gratification for ourselves. We hope you enjoy this musical Wheel of the Year.”
For more information about the Crow Women pagan choir, and access to all the blog posts by Alane and the other 9 crowsingers who have written for Pagan Song, you can visit the Crow Women author page here on Pagan Song.
Please subscribe to the Pagan Song blog, to receive our blog post each week. Don’t miss any of the musical magic!
Visit our homepage to see the full list of the musicians who write for the Pagan Song blog.
Pagan Song has a fan club on Patreon. Join for as little as $3 a month for exclusive features! Click for info.
Pingback: One Year of Pagan Song - Pagan Song: Music for Your Magic