Everyone warned me! When you put yourself out there in a big way, especially online, you will get haters. I have been hit on and had people say jerky things but have not experienced any real hate online....until today.  I knew this day would come and was worried about it because I am sensitive and have a history of people pleasing/wanting people to like me etc. However, I was bullied in school so I am no stranger to hate so I think this has helped me around unpacking this first negative online experience. 

To be honest, I have also been holding back my true self in some ways and not embracing the real me but I have been doing a lot of inner work the last year or so and am learning that I am not responsible for other people's feelings and when people are triggered and hateful when you are being yourself and living your true life, it says more about them than it does about you.  I have also been more open with my opinions and feelings about things instead of worrying about what other people think!  You see, I grew up believing that I had to be a "nice" girl and to not rock the boat or say things that might upset people and have learned to censor myself. I have been a "careful good girl" with others for most of my life, quietly rebelling behind the scenes and doing my own thing and getting my feelings out thru journaling or music. 

This does not mean that I endorse being unkind or mean.  It just means that if I have an opinion on something, I am more likely to be out there with it.  If I disagree with someone, I will state my opinion. I will still be respectful if people don't agree with me.  I am also going to have 0 tolerence for people that are bullying or attacking me online or in person.  I can still have love in my heart for them as I am a strong proponent of the expression "Those that are hardest to love, need it the most."  However, this does not mean that I will not stand my ground and I will block people who are disrespectful towards me.  I can block, but I can block with love and hope that they will resolve and heal from whatever issues are going on in their life that would  make them spew so much hate. I choose not to take it personally and I will go on living my life, creating my music and living my truth! 

Its been awhile since I have written.  I always have good intentions of keeping up with this blog but get caught up in the whirlwind that we call life!

Lots going on this fall!  I released "I'll Remember You" a couple of weeks ago in memory of my dog, Jasmine who I lost on February 14th this past year.  To have a listen go here  This song will be on my full album release which will come out next year!

It has been a long road with getting this album together and I have had some delays due to some health and logistic challenges but am finally on the right track.(knock on wood....lol) I am working with a fantastic producer named Phil Henry who is also an extremely talented songwriter.  I wanted to finish my album with Kristina Stykos in the offgrid studio in Chelsea, VT but was finding the commute to be too far and the roads to that studio are really a tough drive in the winter and mud season. I really enjoyed our work together but needed a studio closer to my home base.  My connection with Phil came as a gift in the spring.  He is 25 minutes away from my house!  "I'll Remember You" was recorded there over the summer and we have laid down the tracks to one other song and I am sending him a rough sketch of the next one this week-end.  

Did some live shows this summer/fall, performed at the town hall in Brandon, VT and played a pub/tavern in Rutland, VT and a Masquerade Gala for a local college that supports scholarships for low income students.  

My facebook group "Innies Who Love Music and Stories" is growing and it has been wonderful to connect with people from all over the world!  If you are an introvert or an empath and want to connect with like minded people then this could be your new home!  To learn more go here.

I have started a new You Tube show called "Nature Sings" where  I am singing acapella music out in nature.  I love Vermont and being out in the elements(hiking and camping) and I love singing so I thought...why not combine two things I enjoy and make a show out of it?  I have always loved how acapella voices sound out in nature or in the echoey halls of a chapel or cathedral.  I choose nature because we live in such a gorgeous state and it is easy to access. The quiet hush of peacefullness with birds chirping or sounds of water or rain is like medicine for the soul. I recorded the first 2 episodes when I was out camping in Goshen,Vermont this summer. The shows are only 2 to 5 minutes so it fits perfectly for people who are busy but want to stay connected with nature and music!  i would like to have guests on the show with me in future episodes!  I also plan on doing some Christmas songs during the holiday season! To check it out go here

If you would like to join my Kindred community and receive updates in your inbox plus a care package of 4 songs from me go to vermontmadesongs.net  

Thank you for your ongoing support as I continue on my musical journey!  Sending love from my little corner of the world here in Vermont. 

Peace

Melissa D

Hey there! 
Holy Moly....Its been a long winter here in Vermont.  We still have snow on the ground and it is April. The river behind our house is gushing with excitement from the melting snow. 

We have seen some glimmers of hope with the warm spring sun that has been breaking thru the clouds reminding us that there will be flowers and green grass soon.  The trees have been shedding their winter fur coats as the sun hits them. 

This winter was a tough one for me and my husband. Most of you who follow me on social media and are in my Kindred know that I am an avid animal lover and that the animals that I adopt are a HUGE part of my life. 

We had to say goodbye to our sweet dog Jasmine on Valentines day.  She was sick with cancer.  She was my soulmate dog and we had a strong connection which made it super hard to say goodbye to her.  I believe that her sweet spirit is still with me and that she has now become my guardian angel.  I don't think that you can have such a strong connection with an animal/person and that it just all ends when they transition into the afterlife. 

I have started writing a song for her and I have put all my other projects on hold for the moment so that I can finish it and get in the studio and record it and release it as a single. I will keep you posted on the developments. 

Looking forward to health and healing and Spring flowers soon! Sending love from my little corner of the world in Vermont. 

Peace, 

Melissa D

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season. We just got our first big snow here in Vermont yesterday and it is snowing outside my window as I write this.  

As you might already know, Vermont is known for making heavenly maple syrup.  As a holiday treat I wanted to share my favorite maple pie recipe.  

This has become a tradition in my house.  I plan on making it this afternoon for a holiday party.  

It's called "Dog Team Maple Oatmeal Pie" named after an amazing local restaurant that unfortunately is no longer in business but was locally famous for their desserts.  

Ingredients - 3 eggs, 2 tbsp. butter(mmmmm, butter..lol) 2/3 cup of oatmeal, 2/3 cup of coconut, 1/2 cup of crushed walnuts, 1 tsp Vanilla, 2 cups of Maple syrup(this is what makes it magic! :-)  1 prepared pie shell 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Beat the eggs and butter together, Add in and combine the rest of the ingredients and stir well.  Put mixture in the pie shell and bake for 45 - 60 minutes.  

If you would like some music to go with your pie click here and pick up a copy(physical or digital) of my Christmas album.  It is 20% off until December 24th. Type in "pie" during checkout as your discount code.   

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  

Peace and Love, 
Melissa D

Hey there! 
I have not written in a while and feel like a total slacker!  

We had some spring like weather about a week ago that was epic!  People were wandering in the streets and drinking in the unusual warm February sunshine.  However, this week-end the weather made a big shift and it is super cold! We are all finding ourselves tucked up into our houses again making tea and watching movies.  

I have been doing some songwriting!  I wrote a song the other day called 911!  The melody just came to me when I was washing the endless stack of dishes that were piling up in my sink. ;-)   The song is all about having a love emergency!  I plan on putting this song on my album! 

Speaking of albums, I have found a producer that will be a perfect fit for my debut solo album!!! I did a mini road trip up to Chelsea, Vermont earlier this week and met with Kristina Styykos. Her specialty is acoustic music! Along with producing, She is also a fantastic songwriter/artist. The best way to describe her sound would be what Melissa Etheridge would sound like if she did folk music. Kristina has a grittiness and genuineness that just pulls you in. Check out her music here

Her studio is off the grid and is on top of a mountain and it has some of the most breathtaking views! I am going to try and take some good pictures of the views when I go back and post them for you on facebook and Instagram!  I felt totally at home there! She also has two really sweet cats! One of them is a calico cat that kept seeking out my affection. :-)   Recording will begin this spring! I had originally wanted to do the recording over the winter but have had some setbacks between getting a nasty bout of the flu and dealing with life's usual conundrums that come up!  I feel that everything happens for a reason and I might have not made the amazing connection with Kristina if I had rushed and pushed myself into recording sooner! 

How has your winter been going?  Would love to hear from you!  Feel free to catch up with me on facebook. 

If you haven't already,  you can sign up for my kindred for free by clicking here where I will be e-mailing exclusive updates just for you plus a free download.  

Peace
Melissa D
 

I have noticed so much tension in the air lately with the pending election here in the United States and the media frenzy that has accompanied it. It appears to be bringing things to a heightened level.  Everyone seems angry and on edge lately.  I was in the grocery store last week and I heard someone one aisle over having a meltdown and crying and saying "I just can't take it anymore!" and then later in that same week, I was at a clothing store looking for a winter jacket and I heard someone at the front of the store yelling 'its not ok!! no!! Its not ok!"   I have been praying for peace and healing for those two people I heard in those stores and also for peace and healing for our country and the world right now.  

I must admit that I am hibernating a bit this weekend.  As an introvert that is how I often deal with life when things get tense.  I need that time alone to re-charge and reflect. I am in a creative mode right now and have been writing songs!  I plan on releasing an album within the next year. I am shooting for Spring 2017.  Some of the songs will be ones I have had kicking around for years now and that I never recorded and others will be brand new ones I am in process of writing.  I have been talking with several producers, one is in California and two in Vermont and will soon be making some big decisions about next steps.  It has been a lifelong dream for me to release a solo album and stuff is finally starting to come together!! 

The other big news is that I just started a youtube channel.  It's called Vermont Made Songs.  Feel free to check it out at Vermont Made Songs   Because it is so brand new, I don't have any subscribers yet so if you could help me out by subscribing and sharing, that would be awesome!  One of my videos is a live performance of me playing an unreleased song called "Little Girl."  It is a song that I wrote in the 2000's and I plan on having it on the album next year!  I have two videos on there right now and plan on adding another one within the next week. 

I want you to know that I appreciate you and your support and am so glad to have you on this journey with me.  
Peace
Melissa D

 

I am thrilled to share with you that my new single Love of My Life is now officially released and available at my online store vermontmadesongs.com, and thru CD Baby.  Itunes and amazon will also be carrying it within the next week.   I would like to acknowledge Mandy Davis, a local Vermont artist for doing an amazing job on the cover art!  I have dedicated this single to Alan Moorhouse, the love of my life! Every day I am grateful for the love that we share!
Peace
Melissa D

Welcome to my brand new website!  I am so excited for the opportunity to share my journey with you on my new blog. I will try my best to keep up on it!  I am about to release a new single called "love of my life."  It is a song I wrote for my husband for our wedding day on June 30th 2016.  I totally surprised him with it! It was so hard to keep it a secret from him because he is my best friend and I tell him everything! I wrote the song in January and went into the studio in April and started laying down the tracks at Lion Tone studios in Middlebury, VT with Clint Bierman who is an amazing producer and multi instrumentalist.   As I type this blog, the cover art is being made!  I can't wait to share it with you!  Stay tuned! :-) 
Peace,
Melissa D