A musical fusion of folk, rock and pop styles with a focus on harmony and story telling. Perfect for sharing a glass of wine in a hammock on a lazy afternoon.

12 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Pop, ROCK: Acoustic



Details:
Trusting Calliope
Before their voices ever joined in harmony...
Before they brain stormed music and lyrics in their living rooms...
Before they ever dreamed their dreams and made their plans...
Long before there was a Trusting Calliope, there was a little thing called fate.


Some years ago, to Gail and Larry in Southern California and Gayle and Jerry in Northern, daughters were born. Jill was the first of four children, and Susannah the second of four. Their parents raised children with love and laughter and taught them the importance of working for what you believe in and believing in your dreams... and always, there was music.

On opposite ends of the same state, Jill and Susannah lived the lives of little girls and shared the same dreams- never knowing that down the line their lives would cross and those dreams would take them on an amazing journey together. Jill and Susannah each joined the school choir as soon as they were old enough, and discovered a passion for singing that would shape their lives. Jill took up guitar and piano in the interest of writing and performing her own songs. She used her guitar to create, and it became a friend to help her get through times of loneliness. Susannah danced her way across the stages of her childhood, and developed an interest in creative writing. Her pen became her way to understand and express her feelings about life. Both dabbled in theater, both found a home on stage, and both daydreamed about some day.

Years went by and Jill married and started a family- moving multiple times around California through her husband's job. Susannah's family relocated to areas around the country during her childhood, and when she married she did
more of the same. Fast forward to nine years ago when by chance Jill, with her husband, two sons and a daughter, moved in next door to Susannah, with her husband and two sons to a small Northern California town. What started out as a friendship between neighbors based on "can I borrow a glass of wine?",turned into something that had them both believing in the powers of fate.

Initially, Jill and Susannah laughed because they are similar enough in appearance, mannerisms, and personality that they started getting mistaken for sisters- ironically with husbands who also resemble each other. They began a daily exercise regimen and talked their way through hours upon hours of walking and jogging through the foothills of their town- getting closer as they shared the stories of their lives. Both had married young, and liked the same music, clothing, and books. Eventually they had to prearrange their wardrobes when they went anywhere together so as not to show up wearing virtually the same thing.

When they realized their mutual passion for singing and performing, it was as if their friendship was meant to be. Deciding to explore their compatibility, they performed over the years for community theater groups and with various rock bands. Locally they became known for donating their time singing patriotic songs a cappella at Bay Area events. They brought out the best in each other's performances, and had a balance that encouraged them to take chances musically. If a song didn't work for one, the other would try it. Band mates over the years were always surprised by their ability to share the spotlight and want the best for each other without competitive tension. Growing together as artists they started to wonder what they could do with their own original project.

They wrote their first song together a couple of years ago and found themselves compatible in that area as well. They seemed to agree on which direction their lyrics should go, who should sing lead, where and how their harmonies should fit and which dynamics worked. Once they started, the creative wheels continued to spin, and haven't shown signs of stopping.

Life stories they shared with each other, along with imagination, became material for many of their songs. On many a morning Susannah would wake with lyrics in her head. When she wrote them down and walked next door she would find Jill already heading to her house with a cup of coffee and her guitar- a full song's melody waiting for lyrics... and they always seemed to fit. Susannah's experiences working with her high-functioning autistic son and Jill's son's entrance into the Navy during wartime brought emotions that were easier to cope with when they were put to music. "My Corner of the World" digs deeply into the
feelings of being different and misunderstood... of being lost and not knowing where or how to fit into the world but hoping someone will notice and care and extend a hand. "He's Coming Home" is a tale of war seen through the eyes of those left behind- the families who are also heroes. A proud and loving wife is anxiously waiting for her soldier husband to come home to her and their son... a story of hope and longing. Taken from very real feelings and, with
fictional twists, turned into songs and stories that they hope will mean understanding to someone out there going through similar experiences. Every day lives of friends and family- the trials, tribulations, and joys of daily life- all were up for interpretation and a melody line. Jill and Susannah spent many
hours with Jill's guitar and piano working on additional songs until they felt ready to take their dream to the next level.

The people they've chosen to share their journey with- the producer, the musicians, the graphic designer, the mastering technician and the photographer- just seemed to fit. Jill & Susannah became believers in what was "meant to be." Their name, "Trusting Calliope" resulted from one of their brainstorming exercise sessions. Calliope is the Greek muse of epic poetry and song, and they are trusting her to help them tell stories people can relate to and understand. They've decided to use their voices to raise awareness of, and funds for chosen charities in the hopes that they can make a difference. Their first CD of twelve originals, "Trespassing Through Timeâ, demonstrates a belief that songs can cross over genre and era and still tell a story worth hearing. At a time in their lives when many have given up on dreams, through the support of their loved ones, theirs is just beginning.... and all because of a little thing called fate.