In this week's edition of New Music Tuesday, ASCAP singer/songwriter Sarah Fimm tells about her new Barn Sessions EP, which she released today exclusively as a limited edition USB drive.
I actually did not always plan to release the EP on a USB, but I knew that it needed to be a format that would allow me to share all the rich content created during the recording. The photos and videos captured during this time carried the same importance to me as the tracks, so I knew it had to be a multimedia package for all to enjoy.
The idea was to create a release filled with material (with emphasis on the music) as a testament to the musical history of Woodstock. We wanted to play live in a very real setting, and accomplish something new and different that combined music, history, and a deep love for the natural environment where it was created. It only made sense to me that this collection would be released on non-harmful materials; and thus, a wooden USB drive seemed to perfectly embody the natural, acoustic and harmonious environment in which the songs were recorded.
What most people do not realize about Woodstock is that the community of artists that live here is 100-plus years old. What happened in 1969 was an out growth of the original population, brought on by music mogul Albert Grossman. Albert came to Woodstock in 1967 before the festival ever happened. What he discovered here was an inspired and thriving colony of artists. At that time, Albert was one of the most powerful people in the music business, managing Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Peter, Paul and Mary, etc.
In Albert’s mind, he had an organic vision to create a gathering place for artists in the musical community to come together. Albert’s dream was to build a state of the art location for recording and performing live music, and with that, he created the legendary Bearsville Theater. This EP, and the series to follow, is a tribute to Albert’s story and philosophy; fostering an environment for independent musicians to come together and create music in our inspired natural surroundings.
A few of the 5000 small mirrors in Sarah Fimm's "Mirrors of Near Infinite Possibility" installation.
Photo by Heyrick Chasse.
Coinciding with the release, I created an art installation in the park surrounding the Bearsville, consisting of thousands of mirrors, meant to reflect light and pay homage to Woodstock area artists (both living and departed) who have made an impact, not only on me, but also on the local arts and culture. Also displayed during the installation were pieces of art – including poems, a hand-made sculpture, and original designs – collected through my InspireArt movement. Originally created as a global call to all artists, thinkers, talkers, dreamers and anyone who want to use their talents to fight for human rights, the community (mostly on Facebook) has become a much bigger thing than I ever expected. I even had InspireArtists from Oklahoma come all the way to New York to view the installation!
To learn more about my new EP, visit my website at www.sarahfimm.com. To learn more about InspireArt visit www.sarahfimm.com/inspireart.