PREVIEW: truesongs 2024 by caffe lena
11/16 at Spa Little Theater, Saratoga Springs
“It's the combination of, taking what a lot of us are used to seeing as a social problem or a legislative matter, putting a human face on it and then actually taking you into the emotional heart of it through the power of music.”
As the gray November air begins chilling our bones and perhaps even dampening our spirits, you may be seeking a source of inspiration or light to keep your mind and heart grounded. Well, look no further than Caffe Lena’s fifth annual TrueSongs event, happening this Saturday at Spa Little Theater.
The night features six of Lena’s renowned songwriters – Ellis Paul, Carolyn Shapiro, Hayley Reardon, Joe Jencks, Mark Erelli, and Judy Kass – who have called on their skills to put an incredible story to music. Each songwriter has been paired with a Saratoga County community member who has overcome a significant life challenge with the help of a local nonprofit, also to be spotlighted at the event.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Sarah Craig, Caffe Lena’s Executive Director, about this year’s event and the work that went into it. Not only are songwriters and community members paired together, but a storytelling coach is also added to each team to transform their community member into a storyteller.
Regarding that process, Sarah told me, “when you think about it, these people are talking about some of the events that are the biggest things they’ve been through in life. Sometimes, it’s stretched over many years and has culminated in some crisis which is why they've reached out to a nonprofit for help. It can be overwhelming. People who have never told that story before might not know where to end and, most times, where to start. [The storytelling coaches] listen carefully, sometimes for hours, and help them whittle it down to ten minutes.”
On Saturday night, after each storytelling session, the songwriter will share the original music they have created for this individual. While there is a clear connection between songwriting and storytelling, TrueSongs goes much deeper than just a genre or format.
“When you take [that story], you turn it into poetry. You set it to melody, and you really bring it alive for people in a different way. And that's really what this is all about,” explains Sarah. “It's true stories and it's songs: true songs. And, it's the combination of taking what a lot of us, I think, are used to seeing as a social problem or a legislative matter or something like that, putting a human face on it and then actually taking you into the emotional heart of it through the power of music.”
Perhaps the most genuine aspect of this event is how organically the whole thing began. A different program, Caffe Lena On The Road, brought headlining musicians who played at Caffe Lena around the Capital Region to places that may not normally see live music: nursing homes, soup kitchens, afterschool programs, treatment groups.
“We began to see the incredible depth and breadth of work being done by nonprofits and how the impact they have on our community is often kind of invisible because it's people who are marginalized that they're serving,” Sarah tells me. “What we saw was that there's a story to be told there: despite the division in the world that we hear so much about, when push comes to shove, people are there for each other in crisis. We wanted to make that visible to the wider world.”
Whether you’re looking for the music, the stories, or to learn more about our local nonprofits, TrueSongs is bound to fill your cup with kindness, connections, gratitude, and hope. Truly, what more can you ask for from your Saturday night?
For tickets to this year’s TrueSongs event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/truesongs-2024-lyrics-of-life-at-spa-little-theatre-tickets-1005261733907
This year’s stories include:
A mother’s journey from Brazil to America to support her family, supported by Tri-County Literacy Center.
A daughter’s experience caring for her mother with Alzheimer's, with the support of the Alzheimer's Association of Northeastern NY.
A couple’s determination to remain in their home after one became wheelchair-bound, aided by Rebuilding Together Saratoga County.
A military veteran’s recovery from life-threatening PTSD, facilitated by Alliance 180.
A teen mother’s path to achieving her dream of becoming a nurse, supported by WAIT House.
A refugee from El Salvador who now empowers others through Capital District Latinos.
