IWD - Phemie

My Heart is a Rogue

Livestream for March 8th: http://198.27.68.65:8112/stream

“I believe the world needs music now more than ever. We need it for hope, for escape, for healing, and to express emotions we can't even speak about.” - Phemie

In Phemie’s music, I hear an echo of both her individual struggles with heartache and the sobering times in which we live. In particular, I keep coming back to, “My Heart is a Rogue.” Its aching start is punctuated by deep base notes leading to the phrase, “This isn’t happening” sung over and over again as the inescapable descends on us all.

As we all know by now, this IS happening - as it has again and again throughout history when those without empathy and compassion seize power in individual relationships and on the global stage.

But Phemie’s music is not all darkness and despair, and she is not without hope. It’s a hope born of self-awareness and a determination to heal. “Music can take us to and help shine a light on even the darkest places in our lives,” she says, “and it’s not only possible to heal but okay to ask for help.”

Phemie’s love of music was jumpstarted by her father who would play his favorite music for her. “My Dad would play his vinyl records and I just loved sitting and listening to them. He would also play guitar and sing to me when I was little.” Her instrument of choice is the piano, which she started learning in 4th grade. “I loved the keyboard best of all,” she says, “but I did learn the guitar because it was what Dad played when he sang to us.”

Not surprisingly, Phemie composes at the piano as well, laying down a melody and then coming up with lyrics. “Sometimes, though, I’ll get lyrics in my head and just sit at the keyboard and start playing different ideas until I find one that fits the lyrics.”

Phemie was inspired musically by women from the 70s (Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, Fleetwood Mac, Pat Benatar) and the 80s (Blondie, Madonna, Joan Jett, and Kate Bush). “I had sooooooooooooo many amazing female role models,” she says. “Three of my favorites are Tori Amos, Sarah Mchlachlan, and Sally Ride, the first female astronaut in space because. I cannot imagine the stereotypes Sally Ride had to conquer and the bravery it took to prove that a woman can do ANYTHING.”

I just believe the world needs music now more than ever for hope, for escape, for healing and to express emotions we can't even speak about.

To hear more of Phemie’s music, visit: https://soundcloud.com/phemie-garfield

P.S. If you would like to make a donation to cover the costs of hosting the event and paying these amazing musicians, you can do so here: https://paypal.me/BraidedLives?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

Braided Lives is my project and Joanne is my given name :-)

If you are interested in being a sponsor of the event, with your name mentioned and logo displayed, please email me at JenaBall@CritterKin.com

Thank you!

Jenaia