Photograph by Jamie Ibey

News

March 27th, 2008

It seems I've fallen behind on my news updates. But that's because I'm busy learning how to compose on my computer, record in my own studio, and I'm still booking shows all over the west coast. Cities I'll be visiting are Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Rosa, Arcata, and Newport and Eugene in Oregon. Plus I'm performing at my regular spots in the San Francisco Bay Area. Many shows are listed so check out the Show Dates page to get the scoop. See you out there!

January 9th, 2008

Welcome to 2008! And what a beautiful year it is so far. I'm going back into a studio this Monday to record acoustic piano for the next album. Many shows are already lined up so check out the show dates. For those of you in the Mountain View area, the Red Rock show on January 18th was canceled due to the Venue's error. But don't fret. I've scheduled a performance in Redwood City on February 2nd.

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

December 3rd, 2007

For the Holidays I'm offering a special discount on my CDs at CDBaby. If you purchase more than one of either of my albums you will receive a 20% off discount. That's $8.76 per CD. This offer will be good through December 31st only. Enjoy!

November 14th, 2007

I'm leaving in a couple days to play in San Diego and Los Angeles. I've scheduled a new performance in L.A. to replace the one that was canceled. Please visit the Show Dates page for more information. See you out there!

November 6th, 2007

My show in Los Angeles has been canceled due to the venue's double booking. If you have a place or recommendation for where I could play in L.A. on short notice, please contact me. Thanks everybody!

October 31st, 2007

New shows have been scheduled in Los Angeles and San Diego. View my Show Dates for more information.

Also, here's a new live video of my band playing "Carousel". Enjoy!

October 10th, 2007

I just found out that yesterday, my song "Carousel", was #23 on the iTunes Folk Chart! I was right there next to Simon and Garfunkel, Meiko, and Patty Griffin. Cool Stuff. =)

I'm in the process of booking a little tour to Southern California in November. Please if you want me to come to your city you've got to let me know. I want to see you! Even if it's on the other side of the world from me, at least I'll know you're over there and waiting.

October 6th, 2007

If you sign up for my Music News during the month of October you could win a special gift. I'll be randomly choosing one person from the list to win a signed copy of "Kite", AND an Amy Obenski T-shirt! Only the winner will be contacted. To enter to win sign up here: Join Amy Obenski Music News!

September 28th, 2007

I have something pretty special to announce. My song, "Carousel", will be used during the next episode of Grey's Anatomy. Currently it's just about the biggest show on television and they'll be using over a minute of the song. This will be much higher exposure than previous uses of my songs on the MTV show, "Made". Tune in to hear it Thursday night, October 4th, at 9:00pm EST/PST on ABC.

September 24th, 2007

Have you ever created something so huge that it didn't seem like your doing? Last night my dream to have a benefit concert for the Redwoods finally came true. And it felt just like that, a dream. I was so excited to be there and to be surrounded by those people and the music, that I wasn't at all present to being the creator. What I felt was more like gratitude with a bit of pride. I was proud of our community and grateful to be a part of such a wonderful event. But when I think of the fact that it wouldn't have happened at all without me, that's the part my mind can't really grasp. And it actually makes me a little uncomfortable.

The thought of time passing from when you declare something will happen to when it does happen, is really just made up isn't it? I mean there is no passing of time, there's just one moment to the next, one could argue. But I suppose the art of being human is to connect those moments to each other so what we call, productivity, can occur.

(Am I getting too far out there now?)

So, it's definitely true that I was the creator, but what that usually insinuates, (at least to me), is that I did all the work. But really there were so many other factors, and other people involved that I became just an integrated part in the whole process. Perhaps it appears to be my creation, when on the other hand you could see it as a desire in the collective consciousness that was just brought to the forefront by yours truly.

(Ok, now I'm really getting out there.)

And maybe, just maybe I'm avoiding being responsible for all of this. But still, looking back to the spark of an idea and tracing it to the idea being realized brings me a chill. It is the ultimate creation: creating something from nothing. And it is the truest art form. I find it a little spooky.

September 5th, 2007

The time has come for me to finally explain what I've been up to lately. For years I've been trying to put together a benefit concert for the Redwoods, and it's finally happening! On September 23rd, in Santa Cruz, I'll be performing with local artists Ariel Thiermann and Diane Patterson to raise money for the Sempervirens Fund. The Sempervirens Fund is a non-profit organization that purchases redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains for preservation. The last piece of land they bought was purchased directly from a logger!

The development of the concert has resulted in a whole new organization I've started called "Take Back Your Forest". We will continue to host community events that result in the preservation of our local forest. One of the things I love the most about what we're doing is that all performers are local and all sponsors are local. And no one gets paid! All proceeds are donated to the cause.

We have our own beautiful website dedicated to our projects here. If you live in Santa Cruz, I hope you can make it to the show on September 23rd. If you don't live nearby, please take a moment to check out what we're doing and educate yourself about the non-profit organization we're currently benefiting. I hope by reading about us you'll be inspired to take a stand in your own community.

August 15th, 2007

Burning Man is fast approaching. Every day I struggle to do something productive other than prepare for this weeklong festival in the desert. I find myself daydreaming about people I might meet there or what comments I might get about my attire and my dressed up bike. I sit and picture the desert landscape crowded with colorful people and art, with the dusty air blowing into my face, eyes, and lungs, and the sun beating down on my forehead from an unbelievably blue sky.

And then I realize I have two whole weeks before any of that will happen so I better get cracking on the rest of my life. Oh, the anticipation! It's so difficult to stay present. And so here I am, now writing to you, attempting to merge the two worlds. Must it be such a struggle after all? Perhaps I can just express the excitement with everything I do until then.

If you'll be there please try to catch me singing in the desert bliss. Say "Hello" and we'll smile and be happy.

July 22nd, 2007

It's easy to keep running through life one day after the other and not fully appreciate how extraordinary my life is. I'm doing what I love, day after day, and eventually it becomes normal. And people say to me ", you're so lucky!" And I often am not present to it when they say that. It's funny how we always think doing the thing we love will fulfill us and make us happy, but we won't be happy unless we choose to be. It's not the action that is fulfilling us. It is ourselves.

I can strive to live my dreams but that is not the same as actually living that dream, and fully appreciating how much I love it from moment to moment. Right now I'm present to it and happy and part of me is instantly afraid that I won't be present to it tomorrow. But I guess that's just how moments keep "movin' on" and it's perfect just the way it is. I suppose I can just enjoy being present right now and not worry about if I'll be present tomorrow. Isn't that funny the way it folds back on itself? Humans are so funny.

July 16th, 2007

Last week I was sick as a dog. Lucky for me I've never become ill close enough to a performance to have it be impacted. This time it was questionable. I slept and slept and did everything I could and decided to go through with my performance in Mountain View last Saturday night. Everything was going pretty well until I began to cough. I had to end a song early and take a long break. The second set was short and on the verge of a lost voice. It is so very sad not to be able to sing fully. I guess I must take some more days off. Thanks to all of you who attended and listened with open hearts and minds as my straggly voice struggled for freedom. See you next time.

June 27th, 2007

The great spoken word artist, Saul Williams, said, "Another world is possible, and we pledge to make it real." This is my stand. Plain and simple. You could be asking, "What is this other world? What do you mean specifically?" But I think what's most special about his statement is the lack of an explanation. I think what he's referring to is the world we currently see as impossible. Whatever that is for you, consider it actually is possible and pledge to make it real.

For many of us that world looks like world peace, respect for the earth, no disease, no starvation, or perhaps it's one where you are happy and following your dreams. For me it is one where we are happy and free, full of acceptance of everything the way that it is, and containing respect for every being and thing around us. Whatever that world is for you, it is possible. I pledge to make it real. Who's with me?

June 21st, 2007

It's amazing the different responses I get when I tell people I placed 6th in the songwriter showcase. Here's a snapshot:

1) "You were robbed!"
2) "Congratulations!"
3) "If I were judging it would have gone differently."
4) "Any numbered place is recognition that can lead to success." (My Dad)
5) "Let's not talk about it."
6) "My purpose on this Planet is not to win a contest.... but the free studio time would have been nice." (Amy Obenski)

Thanks to all of you for your kind emails and for those of you who came to the Finals. I love the support! And I made some great contacts and learned a lot out of my participation.

June 15th, 2007

Favorite Songwriter Quotes of the Moment:

"I think one thing today and I think another thing tomorrow. I change during the course of a day. I wake and I'm one person, and when I go to sleep I know for certain I'm somebody else. I don't know who I am most of the time. It doesn't even matter to me." -Bob Dylan

"No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn." -Jim Morrison

"I could still go there but my mind would be too loud.
Sun on water, bright colors drowning me out." -Laura Veirs

"I want your flowers like babies want God's love
or maybe as sure as tomorrow will come." -Iron and Wine

June 13th, 2007

Yep! I've made it. Next week I'll be playing at the Songwriter Finals! The funny thing is that a few years ago I played in the same competition and I didn't even place in the preliminaries. So when I went this time I thought that it would just be for fun. I did not expect to get this far! It's all very exciting.

I really enjoy the atmosphere of playing to a room full of people who are listening to the song. Because they are really listening to the song itself, there is an empowerment given to the performer that I've never felt before. They want it so I give it! There is no holding back. The experience is like an exchanging of gifts. I love watching their faces as I interact with them and tell them a story. How lovely...
If you'd like to come show your support at the final contest, visit the Show Dates page for more information.

June 5th, 2007

You may notice that my performance schedule is slowing down. That's because I'm working on the beginning stages of my next album! Right now I'm taking the new songs I've written and arranging them with the band and other musicians. We're practicing everything a bit before trying to record it in the studio. I want to use a real piano this time so the studio work will be a bit more complex. If I end up winning some studio time from the Songwriter Competition then I will be able to use their piano! And that will help a great deal. But in the meantime I'm checking out my options and practicing. I'll let you know what happens!

May 25th, 2007

I had an absolutely extraordinary time on my southern California tour. I realized on the drive down that I spend a lot of time resisting what is my life. I've developed a sense of dread around doing performances and spending time away from home. I think it's just because it's scary! But once I saw that I'm just resisting my life, I let go of it and accepted it. Because this is the life I want to lead. After that I was free flowing: perfectly present interacting with people, and just being myself.

Out of this I had a lot of great feedback at my shows. Even when I didn't have many people at a performance like in Riverside and L.A., I had a wonderful time. In Riverside, a man whose name I think is Don, sat and listened to my whole performance all by himself. We talked between each song and he was very moved by the music. He told me he's writing a book called "The Colors of Wisdom". He said that my color is blue, which is "Be true to yourself, and execute". I found him oddly correct and his words very appropriate.

May 16th, 2007

This Friday I'll be cramming my little red car to the brim and driving down to southern California for some shows. I've been doing all the little things I need to do before I leave: Go through my mail, pay bills, pack clothes, re-string my guitar, clean my windshield, and the list goes on and on and on. I find the preparation for travel amusing. I can't help but think about the way time shifts. How in a few days I'll be out there on the road looking forward in time to when I'll be driving home. The trip I'm preparing for now will soon be ending in just a blink. And I'll be home unpacking my bags telling everyone about my travels, preparing for whatever it is I'm doing next with this little life that I call Amy's. "Keep on moving once again!"

May 2nd, 2007

My album,"Kite", has been given it's biggest review yet, by my favorite magazine, "Performing Songwriter". It's not a rave review but it's good, so please check it out here.

April 18th, 2007

I've slowly been finding my rhythm as a performing and recording songwriter. I used to think it was wrong to not practice for a week, or to stop performing and record for six months. I thought that all my activities must be balanced perfectly all the time. But I've come to a place where I've noticed that this job has an internal rhythm and flow that you must follow. Just like the music itself! I can crank out six new songs in a month and then spend six months wondering when the next will come. I can spend five days a week in the studio and then spend twenty days a month performing.

I have found that no place in the process is ever wrong. And the most important thing for me is to trust my instinct and go with the flow of creativity or lack thereof. And if I don't trust myself, well, that's ok too I suppose. Eventually I'll come to my senses.

Living this life is like living inside the music. There are moments of intensity, and moments of emptiness. There are good beats that make you move and there are personal inquiries that come to you gently. Moments of doubt are followed by a profound feeling of purpose. Music is only created in the presence of space and silence. All of which is necessary.

April 4th, 2007

My Southern California Tour is looking pretty solid. The cities include San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside. There are possibly more to come. Please visit the Show Dates page for more information. If you would like to work with me on promotions in any of these cities then please send me an email!

March 13th, 2007

If you have heard my latest CD, "Kite", I encourage you to visit iTunes and write a review of the album. It's fun and it will only take a few minutes. When you're done, send me an email and I'll give you a free MP3 of me playing the Grateful Dead song "Ramble on Rose". I look forward to hearing from you!

February 20th, 2007

If you decided to log on to watch our live show, you may have noticed that it wasn't on! I'm deeply sorry if you tried to watch and were left disappointed. I was disappointed myself. SCTV (University Television) is really working to get their act together, but in the meantime I got caught up in the mess.

My live show and interview will probably finally air this Wednesday, February 21st at 10pm. But it will even more likely be airing on Friday, February 23rd at 10pm. Unfortunately I can't guarantee at this point that it will air, but it should. To attempt to watch it online at these times please visit SCTV

Thanks so much for trying to check it out the first time. I hope it works now!

February 7th, 2007

The video of our live band show will be airing on University television. Everyone can watch it online! So please check out the show dates page for more information.

January 24th, 2007

Last week I got an email from Rex, in the UCSC film department, who wanted to record my show for campus television. I was very excited to have such an offer just as I was starting to wonder how to get a good free video made. So, there was a small film crew at the show and it was a really great experience over all. I find the hardest part of it to be the in person interview of me that Rex is trying to put together. I always find I could answer questions in about ten different ways depending on when you ask me.

I'll let you know how the video and recording turns out, and let you know when it will air. Stay tuned!

December 27th, 2006

The New Year is here and 2007 is starting to take shape. The songwriting is flowing strong, slowly paving the way for CD number three. The next year will be full of more songwriting, inspiration, and musical exploration. I can't wait to see what it turns into. I might even get to start recording again in 2007. I hope the year to come brings you pleasant surprises, inspiration, and love. Happy New Year!

December 13th, 2006

I've started a side project I'm very proud of and I'd really like for you to check out. I've started writing album reviews! In the world of independent music it is a struggle to find anyone to review your album. You might send out a hundred CDs to magazines and wind up with two reviews. So I decided to start writing my own for other independent (indie) artists, and I'm focusing on musical acts that are not just indie but "Ultra" indie.

The artists I select are not popular. They're either still developing a fan base or they are perfectly content playing their music on the weekends while they work a full time job. But the one thing they have in common is they are very talented musicians that I think people should hear. So please check out my site at Ultra Indie Album Reviews.

November 29th, 2006

For me, what to buy for holiday gifts is a big dilemma. I don't really want to give in to the whole consumer thing, but at the same time I do enjoy gift exchanges and so forth. So I've pondered what kind of gift I can give that will make me feel good about my consuming habits, and be something others will enjoy receiving.

The answer: Independent Music! Last year I bought several CDs from independent artists and gave them to people. I felt great about supporting the musicians and as a bonus most of the people ended up really liking the CD I gave them. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Until January 1st, both of my CDs will be 30% off if you buy two or more. The discount applies to each album seperately. So feel good about your purchase, give the gift of music, and support.... ME! To buy either CD go to CD Baby.

Have a wonderful December and exciting New Year!

November 16th, 2006

Five years ago a twenty three year old Amy said she was going to change her life and be a famous singer. She started learning guitar and writing songs. Then she started performing songs at open mics and tiny little coffee shops. She recorded her first album. Eventually the venues got a little bigger. Coverage in the local newspapers ensued and some people started to recognize her around town.

Sometime soon after releasing her second album, the work started to become tiring and Amy grew frustrated, resentful, and angry. You may ask how could she become such a way when things are going so well? Well, things hadn't exactly happened as quickly as she had hoped. Five years later she's found herself embarrassed and ashamed to admit she was not, in fact, famous. Sometimes only a couple people come to a performance, and touring is harder work than she thought it would be.

There are some of you out there who may have noticed me getting this way. And I'm sorry. It must be very sad to watch someone who was once inspired, become bitter and resigned. Some of you may not have noticed anything. And if that's true, then thanks for reading my story anyway!

But I want you all to know, that from now on I promise to be accepting of where I am, and open to new and unexpected opportunities to come my way. A sense of accomplishment comes over me when I say this. Because hey, I have come a long way haven't I? Thanks for all your support throughout the years! And please drop me a line when you can to say "Hi".