News.
08.23.10 : Overcoming New York
I would love to be one of those people who’s all like, “I love New York, I love being in the City, it’s so easy to navigate, I love it.” But I’ll be honest: it stresses me the f*** out. Every time I come here, I have to start over in figuring it out. I hate trying to find my way around, and everyone who lives here thinks they’re soooo cooool because they know where they’re going and I don’t. Without fail, every time I first venture out on my own, after circling three or four blocks trying to go in the right direction to get where I’m going, covered in sweat, embarrassed that I’ve passed the same corner shop like five times, the three-year-old in me starts to throw a temper tantrum and all she wants to do is burst into tears and sit down on the sidewalk until her mom comes to rescue her.
But then, I eventually find my way, and calm down, and on the way back I remember exactly where I’m going and I don’t even have to consult Google Maps, and I can just enjoy listening to Death Cab For Cutie on my iPod and pretending I’m watching the best music video ever.
It’s all about facing and overcoming the things that intimidate you.
Love from New York,
Sarah
08.19.10 : From Punk Rock Summer Camp to America’s Camp
I’m in a car somewhere between New York and Massachusetts, with three camp counselors who are taking me to America’s Camp. I’m playing a show there tomorrow with Amy Kuney and hanging out with the kids this weekend. The camp started as a place for kids who lost family members in the 9-11 attacks nine years ago, and each year they invite a few musicians to come perform for the 400+ kids and counselors. I might also run a workshop for the kids to make their own G,NA shirts! I’m super excited even though I have no idea what to expect. I have a feeling it’s going to be a really incredible experience.
Warped Tour came to a halt before I even knew what had happened, and I haven’t had time to fully process the experience because I’ve been in constant motion since I left. I met some incredible people and bands on that tour that I will know and cherish for years, and I’m endlessly grateful to Kevin Lyman for giving me the opportunity to play and to run the EIY meetups all summer.
Adam and I are slowly pushing forward on the Fall tour dates, although it has been slow-going with my crazy schedule. We will start posting confirmed shows very soon!
If you ordered anything from the online store recently: I’m getting to those as quickly as I can. The shirts and hoodies will take me a bit because they’re in storage on the other side of the country from where I will be until late September. I need someone to run my online store! Who’s up for the job?
In semi-sad news: the handmade canvas sleeve version of “First LP” is officially SOLD OUT. It took less than a year, and who knows how many hours of cutting/sewing, but they have all found their way to their new homes.
But have no fear, because the new full color digipak version is now available online for just $10 (which includes shipping)! So get to ordering!
I’m gonna try to post a pic of what I’m seeing out the window right now…
Love,
Sarah
08.14.10 : Two more days…
Driving to the second-to-last Warped Tour show. It’s really hard to believe that it’s already time for me to re-pack my suitcases and buy plane tickets and think about re-entering the real world — or that I’ve been on this crazy tour for 51 days without losing my mind. This is definitely one of the most trying things I’ve done, and I know that once I stop to catch my breath it’s all going to hit me at once and I’m going to either get sick, write an album, or disappear into the woods. Or all of the above.
There are so many exciting things that have come out of my summer on the Warped Tour. I have barely been able to keep up with everything, but hopefully I’ll be able to catch myself (and everyone else) up soon. Between performing on the tour each day and running the EIY Meetups each day, I’ve been extremely inspired and I have tons of new ideas for the world of G,NA.
If you haven’t yet, go to the Press section and check out the things people have been saying about G,NA this summer!
And if you didn’t know, I’m working with my good friend to book a North American tour for the fall, and the tentative routing is up at earnityourself.com/gardeningnotarchitecture. I can’t wait to get back to all these cities (and more) to hang out with everyone I met this summer!
It’s been a very intense summer for me, personally, with extreme highs and extreme lows that will undoubtedly fuel the fire to write some new G,NA songs. I never thought I’d be back on this side of music, touring full time with no money, no security, no personal life, and no idea what might happen next. I definitely never thought that in just under two years, G,NA would be on the entire Warped Tour or that so many people would be invested in the project — a project I never intended to be anything more than a free downloadable EP on a website.
I can’t say I’ve ever been happier, or more personally satisfied with my life, than I am right now.
Thank you for being part of this
Love,
Sarah
08.01.10 : Shakopee, MN
Sundays are always exciting on the Warped Tour because it means brunch for lunch in catering! Eggs n’ cheese, biscuits n’ gravy, waffles, veggie sausage, hashbrowns, ice blended coffee… Mmm, mmm, mmm!
There was a grasshopper in my merch booth today, and I’m going to pretend that it’s some kind of good luck symbol. Seems like it should be. I took a picture of him before he hopped away to mosh in the Flatfoot 56 pit.
We’re making lists of movies to get for the two-day drive to Canada, coming up. My suggestions (because no one else has seen either of these movies yet *gasp*) were “Foot Fist Way” and “King of Kong.”
I play in an hour!
Sarah xoxo
07.31.10 : Chicago loves music, and I love the road!
Today has been amazing so far… tons of people heard about G,NA and came to watch the set; everyone is willing to stop and put on the headphones to listen to a song; and I’ve already met two people who books shows within three hours of Chicago, and they are going to help me on my Fall tour! I wish every scene was like this.
Speaking of tour, I’m getting really excited about the routing that Adam (UO Booking Agency) and I are putting together. And I’m blown away by the emails I’m getting from everyone, offering to help book, flyer, promote, and let me sleep on their floors. It’s so encouraging!
Ya know… I thought Warped might make me want to take six months off to rest and regain my sanity, and maybe settle down for the first time this year. But, when I think about working on booking a two-month tour, and then driving around North America in a little rental car during my favorite season, playing little shows and getting to hang out in all these cities for a night, my heart starts to flutter — like when someone you have a crush on walks into the room.
I guess I have a crush on touring…
Love,
Sarah
