/// SHAKEY GRAVES /// SH + LS COLLAB

from sugarhigh + lovestoned collaboration >> here <<

shakey graves. that is the moniker of alejandro rose-garcia from austin, TX. he is a one man band + the complete package. his voice is smooth, soulful, raspy at times. boots, kicking drums, tambourine, guitar, smart lyrics, and a killer stage presence. he has something you can't teach. i've been watching his videos and listening to his music since i caught wind of him. i find myself thinking how wonderful it would be to drink whiskey with this guy and pick his brain. what makes this guy tick? what's his story? take a listen via bandcamp below and if you like what you hear, check him out on tour.




photo credit: bottom//roger ho//three/band instagram//tumblr

BEACH HOUSE "WISHES" >>> NEW VIDEO

new video for "wishes": directed by eric wareheim; starring ray wise (twin peaks), some eccentric dancing acrobats, and a giant white horse...i mean what could be more awesome than that!? 

THE NEW DEVENDRA >>> SH + LS POST

from my weekly post for sugarhigh + lovestoned. do yourself a favor and GO to their blog, website, and tumblr. the girls will give you a case of some serious inspiration. the cedra sessions contributes to their blog every thursday and you won't always find it here...so keep tabs. xo

see the original post with LOTS more images at >>>> http://sugarhighandlovestoned.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-cedra-sessions-devendra-banhart.html

>>>---------->

Devendra Banhart is known for his eccentricities. His music can be hard for some people to digest, including myself. But with his new album, Mala, set to be released on March 12th, Banhart has done himself sweet justice. This album is the perfect example of a man with endless talent showing restraint in the best possible way. He has reeled in his crazy just enough without sacrificing the stuff that makes him so incredible. This album is full of that signature warbling vocal that we have come to associate with Banhart, but it is just a little smoother and more tender this time around. One thing that he does so well on Mala is mix up his genres in a presentation that is delightfully pleasing to the palette of the listener. Just when you get comfortable with a sweet ballad, he adds in a tune overflowing with poppy beach style joy. Next a melody all in Spanish, so beautifully sung it's like a soft caress.

My favorite tracks: Fur Hildegard von Bingen || Mi Negrita || Won't You Come Home

xx

JAMES BLAKE: NEW SINGLE "RETROGRADE"

the baby-faced soul singer from england is back with a new single for his upcoming sophomore album, overgrown, due out on april 9th in the US. if the single, retrograde, is any indication of what the rest of the album has in store for us i am thrilled to hear it. this man was gifted with an insanely special voice. take a listen below. best to put on your headphones and turn it up just a bit...

RETROGRADE by james blake

WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE >>> SH + LS PLAYLIST

from the 'thursday' music post collaboration with sugarhigh + lovestoned. check out their blog every thursday for first look at posts from the cedra sessions that don't always make it to my blog. and stay a while exploring all the beautiful images and gorgeous fashions from the smokin' hot babes at SH + LS headquarters. swoon! see the full post with more images at 
>>> http://sugarhighandlovestoned.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcome-to-dollhouse.html

>>>---------------> xo

Patti Smith is performing right now in a music venue a few miles from my apartment. It's breaking my heart I'm not standing out in the crowd. The only upside to this is that it inspired this weeks post. Now I could go on and on about the great female voices of the past. Etta James, Nina Simone, Sandy Denny, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks...the list is endless. Voices that I grew up on. Sunday mornings were usually days for cleaning up the house. My mom would dig up something to blast over the stereo, the sun blazing through the windows to the south. I would dance around the house, a wooden spoon or paddle brush in my hand for a microphone, pouncing onto the cushions of my dad's armchair like a love struck Tom Cruise. Music is my haven of memories. And now I'm creating new ones. Full of new female vocals that make me swoon. Some are odd even. They might even make you feel uncomfortable. I love that feeling. When you aren't sure what to make of it. Some ladies on this list will come as no surprise. Old favorites from recent years. Some are new loves. While not a complete list, it is something to wet your palette, and have you coming back for more. Enjoy! xx Cedra

WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE

Sweet Dreams >> Angel Olsen

Appalachia >> Chelsea Wolfe

Silver Springs >> Lykke Li

Emmylou >> First Aid Kit

No Death >> Mirel Wagner

Stormy Weather >> Little Dragon

Bloodbuzz Ohio >> Julia Stone

Grown Unknown >> Lia Ices

Mother Protect >> Niki & the Dove

Silent Machine >> Cat Power

Bitter Branches >> PJ Harvey

Clementine >> Sarah Jaffe

Kiss >> Scout Niblett

Murder of Birds >> Jesca Hoop

Wolf >> First Aid Kit

One Day >> Sharon Van Etten

Juniper >> Y La Bamba

Tiniest Seed >> Angel Olsen

Place to Belong >> Little Dragon

welcome to the dollhouse from thecedrasessions on 8tracks Radio.

BREATHE OWL BREATHE: THE LISTENERS

i have been a fan of the michigan band, breathe owl breathe, for some time now. their music makes me smile. it's light and fun and  unique. so i suppose i'm not suprised that frontman, micah middaugh, is also a children's book author. his book, these train tracks, is a creation of such imagination and sweetness. i just had to post it. it comes with a 7" vinyl with accompanying tracks to the storyline. 

"we are not perfect. we are not normal. we are....EXCEPTIONAL!"

moments of the second track feature a child's innocent vocals singing the above exclamation. i just love it. 

these train tracks/the listener is the story of a mole and an ostrich, and the unique friendship that they share as they form a rock band, called "the listeners". it's canvas cover and blockprint illustration just add to it's charm. 

to order the book click >>HERE<<

and to listen to the tracks just click 'play' below

ARTIST TO WATCH: LIA ICES

i first heard of lia ices from my dearest friend, shaunna, while we sipped wine at a beautiful vineyard in sonoma, california. the air was chilled, but the sun hot, as we chatted under the large tree up on a hill. there is of course a connection between the two and this very vineyard appears in lia's video for the song "daphne" off her sophomore album grown unknown. 
while there is certainly no shortage of aspiring female singer/songwriters in the music scene these days, lia is something exceptional. her voice is so pure and perfect, yet different enough to separate herself from the pack. she doesn't rely on anything odd or peculiar with her vocals, just something extraordinarily smooth and melodic. she draws you in. makes you want to know and hear more. never disappointing, she is strong yet fragile. obviously others feel the same. she has been signed to jagjaguar records and on this latest album recorded with label-mate justin vernon of bon iver. 
lia is currently recording her new album. i can't wait to see what she has been working on. in the meantime, check out some of her stunning videos for grown unknown. i love the feel of love is won. a video shot completely on 8mm film by either lia herself or her boyfriend while they were in rome. it reminds me of all the beautiful little moments that we remember when we reflect on love. a moment in time that perhaps seemed insignificant at the time, but in the end is all we can remember. 
undoubtably, this won't be the last we see or hear from lia ices.

DAPHNE feat justin vernon >>>>


LOVE IS WON >>>>




photo credit: four/six: emiliano granado/// three/eleven: winona barton ballentine for foam magazine///eight/nine: shanna fisher; five: elisabeth vitale for pitchfork; two//creepingelm.com

||| PLANS ARE FOR BREAKING |||

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

>>----> John Lennon

it's friday. throw your plans out the window. just be. 

FOR THE LOVERS + THE LIES >>> SUGARHIGH + LOVESTONED

 from my thursday post for SUGARHIGH + LOVESTONED. check it out each and every week for music stuff you won't always find on my blog. See the ORIGINAL post with some fantastic photos >>>HERE<<< 

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

― Rumi

Valentine's Day isn't just for couples. It's a day to honor all kinds of love. The love we have for a man, a woman, our family, dearest of friends, the love we lost, the mistakes we made, and the better people we are for it all.

I recently had the opportunity to sift through a huge box of photos from my late grandmother's garage. I was drawn to the smell of the musty paper and the neatness of each small square tucked into corner tabs, glued to acid-free, black paper. The grainy photos of the past. Past love. I am so drawn to love of the past. A love I will never know. It's a love where chivalry was cherished, people connected with eye contact instead of text messages. It's a love that was scribbled onto paper instead of typed on these informal screens. I am drawn to it's richness, the fragility, and vulnerability. While I love so dearly the progress of today, sometimes I ache for the simpleness. So today I honor the love of the past, the present, and the future. I will take small solace in knowing that somewhere there is a child covering up a shoe box with tin foil. Then carefully cutting a slit on the top the size of a paper valentine with an attached candy heart. 

I decided to do two playlists for today, because I recognize that we are not all in relationships, and perhaps are not seeking or longing to be in one. And some of us might be hurting today. Some might feel a tingling to rebel. Maybe take a moment to listen, reflect, forgive yourself or others, and tell someone you love them. The power of those three words can never be underestimated.

♡ happy valentine's day from the cedra sessions ♡

SIDE A // FOR THE LOVERS

A Sunday Kind of Love -- Etta James

Can't Help Falling In Love -- Elvis Presley

Love is Won -- Lia Ices

Sea of Love -- Cat Power

For You -- Sharon Van Etten

Little Bit -- Lykke Li

Night & Day -- Moondoggies

If You Let Me Be Your Anchor -- Dawes

Harvest Moon -- Neil Young

At the Hop -- Devendra Banhart

Poison Cup -- M. Ward

How Can I Tell You -- Cat Stevens

SIDE A: for the lovers from thecedrasessions on 8tracks Radio.

SIDE B // FOR THE REBELS

Say That -- Toro y Moi

Something Good -- Alt J

It Ain't Me, Babe -- Bob Dylan

Save Yourself -- Sharon Van Etten

You Ain't Alone -- Alabama Shakes

Big Love -- Matthew E White

Heartbreaker -- Led Zepplin

Cheated Hearts -- Yeah Yeah Yeahs

No Love -- Little Dragon

Alone Together -- Beachwood Sparks

You Broke My Heart -- Lavender Diamond

SIDE B: for the rebels from thecedrasessions on 8tracks Radio.

INSTA-SHOT OF THE NIGHT: FATHER JOHN MISTY

||| N E P T U N E || T H E A T R E ||| january 29, 2013 |||

father.john.misty

the last song of the main set featured a gyrating, hip shaking, flailing j tillman (aka father john misty), commanding the stage while wrapping the microphone cord and stand around his neck and body. the stage lights flashed bright white in multiple angles and the band's sound became more vivid, cacophonous, and chaotic. i stood there with my mouth hanging open in a huge grin. what the fuck was i witnessing? it was bizarrely awesome!!! bravo FJM! BRAVO! fan for life. 

this pic was snapped by @livlemann and is the first of a new series for the cedra sessions. i'm snagging my favorite shot from shows that you all take and featuring it here. this one is a gem! nice work. if i'm not at the show with you, just add #cedrasessions to keep me in the loop!

>>>---BAND TO WATCH: ROSE WINDOWS--->

photo by: eleanor petry

rose windows, 
you are crazy talented. i'm seduced by rabia qazi's deep + smooth vocals. each instrument and note woven together with perfection. this local band gives me that feeling that i have stumbled upon something really big. damn you, seattle...you have done it again! 

tomorrow night they will be opening up for 'father john misty' at the neptune theatre and i will be elbowing my way to the front row. perhaps i'll have to stash a flask so i don't miss a beat.
a review to follow. and there will be instagram shots i'm sure.

|||if you aren't following on instagram yet, the username is @cedrasessions of course||| 

take a listen at their single "war time lovers"

SUGARHIGH + LOVESTONED every THURSDAY: CHELSEA WOLFE

the babes over at sugarhigh + lovestoned have asked me to be a weekly guest blogger for them. i am flattered beyond words of course and can't wait to see where this collaboration takes me. first up: CHELSEA WOLFE. my current musical obsession. to see the full post (including a listen at one of her albums) and future posts each thursday just click >>>HERE<<<



photo credit: four///spin.com; one/three/four/five/six///Alexander Iezzi & Jordan Robin for dosier journal