Last week I was out in the woods #28

And I’m still not out of them yet.

With only ten days to go until album release, and a single release this Friday, it’s been one hell of a ride this year.  

Living semi-nomadically, doing normal things like eating healthily at the same time each day, going for morning runs, laying my hands on a favourite book has been quite a challenge. Finding good spots to privately pluck my guitar and record things has been especially hard — until last week, when I discovered my FIAT 500 fits a Gibson J45 width ways. And not just that, the acoustics are pretty fine too. With the top down and the birds singing, I was in my element singing and playing 'Oh Cassy Run’ in Felthorpe woods. Some of you might have seen it on my social media. Here’s another version on my YouTube channel if you missed it.

Oh boy, I love playing music outdoors. It's like I have a Hollywood Bowl on wheels. I even saw a muntjac grazing!  Mornings like those make my decision to live untethered while I prepare for album release not seem so crazy. (Going on my first American road trip gets the prize for that one….) 

Luck Be A Lady?

I’ve had moments over the last few months when I've felt I was looking over the abyss. The worry of not knowing where I’d be living each month was huge. Yet I carried on,  believing I’d somehow be OK. And besides, I had a mission to complete which was way more important than worrying about next month's digs.

I'm relieved and grateful to say, I've landed on my feet every time. Am I lucky? No, I don’t believe I’m any more lucky or special than anyone else. The only difference these days in how I live is that I trust the universe is fundamentally loving and kind, and that if I support all life in the same way, then life will support me. And also, that there’s some kind of invisible energy around us that we can't see, but it does pretty crazy wonderful things. Call it blind faith, naïveté, optimism, or just eyes wide open - it's a way of living that brought me a lot of magical stuff on the road in 2019, and ever since.

Album Launch Party

Last week I had more confirmation of all that good stuff.

I'd been trying to find the right venue to hold my album listening party in, but nobody had been returning my calls. I didn’t want to force it, so I let it be. Something would turn up. I'd just carry on as if it would happen.

On Thursday, late afternoon, I went to buy some birthday paper for my step-mother in Jarrold’s, Norwich. Desperate for a cup of tea afterwards, I found myself walking past a cafe with a bright pink cake in the window and stopped in my tracks - it looked beautiful.  I started walking again, then stopped - I'd never had a pink cake before. Something told me I needed to try it.

It didn’t disappoint. Homemade lemon torte with powdered freeze-dried raspberries on top….mmm. Paying the waitress afterwards, I happened to notice their mugs were identical to Waffle House mugs in America - an iconic roadside restaurant chain I often visited on the road. So I idly asked her if she’d ever been to one, and it just so happened she’d done a big American road trip too, 15 years earlier, as had the owners of Dick’s, who were part American. We talked routes and US Parks, and I left feeling good to know I’d found some kindred Californian dreamers in Norwich.

Next day I dropped my gift over to my step-mum’s, wrapped in this very unique Japanese blossom tissue paper I'd found in Jarrolds, along with a matching gift bag. I'd never seen it before. When I arrived, my sister was there - a lovely surprise. Even more surprising, she’d gone to Jarrolds and picked the exact same paper.

Afterwards, on the drive home, I mused on the universe’s sense of humour, thinking about my shopping trip and the cafe again.  And then it slapped me in the face. Dick’s! That’s where I should throw the launch party. I went straight there and they said yes. Not just yes, but they'd LOVE to, and could they create a signature cocktail for it?  I tell you - it’s a kind of magic. 

The lessons here? Perhaps that we're more connected than we think? What’s meant for you won’t pass you by? And never pass a cafe selling pink cake.

I would LOVE you to come share some pink cake with me (if they have any left), Pecan Pie which they’re baking especially, and a 'Sweet Decline’ cocktail at Dick's Cafe Bar, Norwich next Sunday 28th April. I'll have signed copies of the CDs and other fun booty, so if you're in England and near to Norwich, come down and join the party.

If you're the other side of the ocean, I’ll try to livestream…

Finally, don't forget 'Sweet Decline’ the single drops this Friday - Pre-Save/Pre-Order here: https://orcd.co/g9mbzkj. Also, you can still order the CD from my website shop here: https://hollylerski.com/shop

Thanks for reading this far. It's been a mammoth late Monday Substack for sure. Sending cosmic hugs with pink raspberries dust on…

Holly x