Just a quick update to say…

Times are a changin’, folks.

I am now a Knoxvillian. It’s official. As of July 27th.

Although I wake up some mornings with a terrible ache of missing my family, i am happy. I’m finding out who I am, becoming my own person. Learning how to hear God in the midst of the busyness of life, love, music, job…bills..and learning how to master driving my stick-shift little baby car: the Green Machine. (pictures to follow)

An extension of the Carr family has branched out into the hills of Tennessee as a furthering of the never ending scheme to populate and cover the earth. Starting with Briana, first in Israel and now Fredericksburg, VA- soon to be back in Israel. Myself, in the far away land of Knoxville, TN and Lord knows where else. Michael, with his frequent trips around the country, and soon to be world, im sure. Jadon, recently returned from Springfield, Illinois in his endless endeavors to fellowship with nature by hunting and living off the land. My moving is just another piece of the puzzle being put into place…for world domination. No matter how far away we all disperse, my siblings and I will never lose that. Our legacy will carry on for generations to come, to be sure.

Anyway.

Crazy things are happening, like, i’m becoming more and more comfortable with myself.

My time is cut short, so, until next time…

andrea

P.s. Starting to work on the album soon!! more info coming

I know all of you have been wondering what has happened to me the last few days. Despair not. Fear not. I haven’t fallen off the face of the…blogging community. Or have i? Maybe i was never on the face of the blogging community. i’m ok with that…

Anywho. I’ll make this brief.

I’m currently in Harrisburg, at Life Center Studio with Sean Feucht laying down some background vocals and piano tracks for his new album…which is coming out in a few months.

…..

I was gonna go into detail about my latest adventure and adventures to come, but…i’ll be honest. ive completely lost all motivation. And my concentration just went out the window…and down the street…very far, far away from me. So, im giving up. I just don’t have it in me. I feel more than slightly crazy. It might have something to do with the massive coffee i just downed. Between the coffee jitters and being in a studio for the last three days straight– three and a half, pardon me, i have some pent up..something. And its clouding all reasoning and rational thinking. So. All you need to know are the basic facts. Mostly because that’s all I can stomach getting out right now.

Ive been in harrisburg since Monday. It iIs good. The album is far exceeding my expectations. You all are going to love it and buy it.

I’m flying to knoxville on the morrow. It will also be good. Nathan and Brit are getting MARRIED. I mean…that blows my mind. Anybody else?

I shall return to the beach haven of wilmington May 4th. I shall then commence planning and practicing for the Awaken the Dawn conference. Which you all should come to. You know…you all out there and are definitely reading this.

And that is all the information i’ll be disclosing at this time. Amen.

andrea

Live imperfectly, with great delight.
This observation made me laugh this morning as I sipped my tea…

Lets be serious, if a complete stranger were to walk up to you, look you meaningfully in the eyes and tell you, “live imperfectly…with great delight!” and maybe even add a, “my child!” or a, “my beloved!” at the end, you’d more than likely be thoroughly encouraged by this destined messenger giving you this new-found permission; galvanizing your otherwise remorseful spirit. You might even tear up. But…if you happened to notice this little proverb embellishing your tea cup or mug, you’d probably roll your eyes, writing it off as another unfortunate hallmark card. Kinda reminds you of something you’d find in grandma Ethel’s cupboard. A reject thrift store item…like, the uncool kind. The cheesiness might pain you a little bit. You might even get slightly nauseous.

But, with both of those thoughts in mind, i’ve decided to embrace and join grandma Ethel in the cheesiness and i now actually find it rather amusing. Real people are cheesy and bizarre. and its ok. Life is too short to be an over oppinionated tea drinker.

My attempts to enter into the blogging world have seemed to have failed…quite possibly miserably failed. My deepest apologies.

For all of you that have been waiting many sleepless nights by your computers, looking longingly into the vastness of the ethernet for an update on the album, rest your weary eyes! As a follow up from the last update from the studio, (which was very long ago…i know, i know)… The month of January flew by but we made lots of progress. All of the scratch recording is done as well as some final piano and drums. We were able to nail down most of the more difficult piano tracks- thank god! Those were weighing somewhat heavy on me due to my lack of confidence in that area and its nice to know we’ve conquered the more intricate songs. With January behind us, my brothers and I are back in Wilmington, living life and pursuing God. Between trying to keep up with the fast pace of a 9 member household, beginning to play small concerts at local venues, planning and starting a Prayer Furnace, loving family, and catching some sun as we take advantage of this large body of water we currently reside near, we’re re-grouping and planning when the best time will be to finish the project. June, perhaps? Not sure. Regardless, our hopes are still to release it this fall, so…be excited. Because i am!

Now that your hunger for Diamond, Stone, Fire and Gold updates has been filled, I’m gonna take a few moments to convey my latest aspirations to throw myself into the throngs of The Blogging Community. Yes, that’s right. I’m actually going to try and become one of them. Lord help the poor souls who sit at their computers, glossy eyed, beholding the words and thoughts of andrea marie, all the while trying to decipher, “just what is she talking about?” I will say, i’m a little wary of saying such lofty things as I dont want to make any promises that i cant keep in my epic blogging ambitions. So, in my precautionary attempts to not be overtaken by my current zeal, I won’t go so far as to say that i’ll pencil in time to blog every single day of my life, because…well, i won’t. Let’s be serious. We all know i won’t. What’s my deal? Its not that writing is so hard…right? its more the thought of actually sitting down, gathering my meager threads of fortitude, inspiration and thought and putting it in word form. Which…for a total right-brainer, like myself, who starts more things than they ever finish, has a short attention span and operates on moderate to high levels of what i like to call “creative ADD”, it could take…hours. Nearly a lifetime, even. But, im determined to overcome that looming mountain…and you all get to reap the benefits, and or repercussions of my determination. Mm. Don’t you feel privileged. Now, although i can’t make any promises as to the consistency of said blog, i can tell you there will be words…in some form or another, recording and sharing various moments and thoughts as they befall me. As they sometimes do.

So, with that being said, i’m off on another one of my grand schemes to find an outlet for expression. I’m glad you all can join me. Hmm…its odd directing comments towards the abyss of the unknown, mysterious and, quite possibly, make-believe people that will be/are reading this. I’ll leave you with these last words, not so much for you but, really, to encourage myself. This is not for the faint at heart, so…take your protein pills and strap your helmets on.

andrea marie

I wanted to share a little devotional I did in 2008 at the Springfield House Of Prayer. It’s a little raw and unproduced but I think you’ll enjoy it. Grab it on Bandcamp!

Here is the third video from the studio! We came up with this from some spontaneous interviews we did in the studio one day; I hope it gives you a little look into the “heart” of the album.

Here is another video to kick off week two in the studio! This video focuses on one specific song called “Seasons Grip”. Watch it and pass it around Go watch the first video here if you missed it.

OH! And enter your email address in the form to the right to sign up for my mailing list… that way I can let you know of upcoming events in the future.

As i sit here writing, drums are being tracked, (loudly, i might add) in the room next to me for one of our instrumental tracks, so please excuse my somewhat jumbled thoughts. The days have flown by but we’re making progress. We’d pretty much finished up the luminous chore of scratch tracking everything when we stumbled upon another handful of older songs that, we’ve all decided, HAVE to be on the record. So, tomorrow holds promise of yet more scratch recording! Woohoo!

One of the banks house roommates happens to be a woodworking mad-man and, to our great delight, decided he needed a project and built an absolutely GORGEOUS desk for the studio. We all cant help but take a few moments out of each day to sit and admire Spencer’s handiwork. I think i speak for everyone when i say its made it easier and more enjoyable to be in there for hours on end!

I realize more and more each day how this project is so much bigger than any of us. Not just on a practical level but also in the grand scheme of things. It goes beyond just tracking and recording sounds and melodies, it’s a journey of community living and relational differences being worked out…really learning how to love and serve one another.

Never in my life have I embarked on such a journey and im loving every second of it.

andrea

Here is a video update from the Banks House studio in Knoxville!
It’s been a packed first week with setup, scratch recording, and arrangements. Here is a peek into my world for the last week.