By D.A. Reed, WKTV Contributing Writer
May Erlewine — singer-songwriter, West Michigan native, and no stranger to Grand Rapids audiences and soundtracks — plans a creative twist for her Feb. 17 concert at St. Cecilia Music Center, when she will debut her new release, “Tiny Beautiful Things”.
And music will be only part of it.
“(Tiny Beautiful Things) is about exchange and all these different faces of love,” Erlewine told WKTV. “The record has songs about falling in love, songs about falling out of love, songs about loving your children, songs about loving those who have passed on, all of the many incarnations love finds in our lives. The sentiment is that love is always there.
“One of the ways I wanted to present this was by reading some letters throughout the concert and share these different incarnations of love and connection.”
Tickets for May Erlewine’s Feb. 17 Folk Series concert can be purchased online at scmc-online.org or by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224.
“We are excited to bring May Erlewine back to SCMC,” Cathy Holbrook, St. Cecilia Music Center executive/artistic Director, said in supplied material. “She appeared here many years ago when we first started our folk series. It’s exciting that May can highlight her new album with this show and that audience members will have the chance to purchase the new album that night.”
The artist’s music and life
Not only will the St. Cecilia audience be treated to new songs and the opportunity to purchase Erlewine’s new album, they will also be treated to a more personal aspect of the songwriter’s life.
Erlewine is a strong believer that sharing our connections with others throughout life can do much to enrich our lives. An avid letter writer, Erlewine plans to share snippets of her own correspondence with loved ones over the years to highlight this belief.
“Part of the reason I wanted to do this was to remind people how important it is for us to stay connected in a time where most of us are unable to be close to our loved ones,” Erlewine said. “We have all been through a lot of changes and had to sacrifice a lot through this difficult time. We are still very connected in community even though we haven’t been able to actively feel that connection.”
Erlewine urges people to reach out to their loved ones in both little and big ways.
Connection has always been a vital and powerful aspect of Erlewine’s life, even prompting a cross-country journey at age 16.
“I was really curious about seeing the country, seeing how different people lived,” she said. “And I think one of the main reasons I wanted to do that is that I love to hear people’s stories. Songs are basically stories, so I found a great way to share the ones I’ve collected.”
Collecting and listening to stories of people’s lives has always fascinated the songwriter and has been a catalyst for several of her songs.
“We are all living a similar human experience, but we all have these incredible unique things that have happened to us in our lives,” Erlewine said. “There is a lot of meaning and depth in sharing those things.”
Connecting to music young
Erlewine said she felt the power of music at the young age of 12, when she picked up a guitar for the first time.
“I was immediately inspired to write a song. When I did that, I had this ‘aha’ moment of ‘This is something I’m supposed to do. This is my way of expressing myself in the world.’ I just didn’t stop from that point on.”
Over the years, Erlewine has used her music as a platform for positive change, whether it be individual or as a community, environmental, or even regarding social justice. Her catalog of albums and collaborations gives voice to these themes. (Checkout a 2019 WKTV feature on her “Second Sight” release, and its social/political themes.)
“I had a revelation that music is part of a very long-standing tradition, much larger than just me and what I am feeling,” said Erlewine. “It encompassed something much bigger. I wanted to serve that.”
The passion listeners hear in Erlewine’s voice and songs comes from a deep-seated belief in the power of music to connect people no matter where they come from or what their beliefs are.
“Music has a lot of power in community to bring people together, to speak about issues that are happening around us. That folk tradition of being a voice for the people is something I really believe in and have embraced in my path of music.”
When asked about the fearlessness demonstrated in using her music to speak on social and political issues, Erlewine likened it more to strength.
“It’s always scary to be vulnerable,” Erlewine said. “It takes a lot of strength to go there.”
What helps Erlewine is focusing on what she feels is the “most honest thing to do.”
“I have a strong sense that if something feels like the right thing to do,” the songwriter said, “even if it’s scary or even if it puts me in harm’s way, if it’s the right thing to do…then I know that it is part of my path, and I trust that.”
Erlewine’s daughter also plays a large part in giving the songwriter the courage and strength to do what she feels is right.
“When I think about my daughter and her living in this world after I’m gone, I ask, what things can I do that will impact her future in a way that matters to me? That has definitely added some fuel to those moments where I might feel more shaky. This is not just for me, this is for future generations.”
For more informant about the artist, visit mayerlewine.com.
Health and COVID protocols and requirements for SCMC can be found at http://scmc-online.org/concerts-and-events/.
