HuDost

The Levitt ReVerb did a nice long article on HuDost. You can read the full article HERE.

We are so excited to tell you that WE HAVE DONE IT!! Because of your amazing support and contributions we have crossed the line and raised over 100% in our campaign to create our new album 'of Water + Mercy'! And, yes, we are currently in a state of shock and freak-out-style-gratitude!! 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of this journey with us. You have given us the ability to create our music/art and share it with you and others. I don't know how to express how fortunate we feel to have that opportunity and hope that our work fulfills all of your expectations and speaks to the place in you from which it comes in us. You are a truly amazing community and each of you is part of the creation of our music.

We are less than a week from the end of the campaign! Here is a video from Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay & Blood:Water) who has been helping us with co-production and co-writing, and a blog about The Story of my own Discovery. 

As you all know, we are deep in the process of creating this album and have almost reached the end of the campaign. We are now at 79% of our goal with ONE WEEK LEFT!!! We will only receive everything that has been contributed if we meet our goal…so please help us reach it! 

I want to share something really personal with you. As many of you know, Jemal Wade and I are KY Congressional District Reps for ONE (a non-profit organization working to end extreme poverty). We received an email just a few days ago from our friend Scoggins (who manages all of the Reps in the South East US) thanking us for being in the role of reps for three years. It was a powerful reminder for me. Doing the volunteer advocacy work that we do with the support of people in our community and seeing over and over the actual change that it creates is a huge part of what keeps me inspired as a musician, artist, and person. Before committing to this work, I had actually become really confused, cynical, and frustrated. I think we all find different ways of being of service to others and I know that many of you are deeply devoted to that work through different causes and means, but at the time I had not yet found my means. I felt exhausted by the continuous banter that I was encountering in people and on social media that seemed to be polarizing all issues and not fostering any type of positive dialogue or literal change. I was sick of hearing ideology without compassionate action and in my own self, while I felt that our music was a tool of inner healing for people, I knew that I needed to do something more hands on. I did not realize the power of that turning point for me. 

One would probably guess that we met Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay through our music work but it was actually through our work with ONE that we connected with Dan. I’m about to sound like a dolt, but I had never heard of Jars of Clay (sorry Dan). After meeting him, we worked backwards through their catalog and became instant fans, gobbling up all their amazing song-writing, production, and melodies. Every year in February we go to DC for a ONE conference to learn about what is currently underway and do lobbying work where we have meetings with all the congressmen and senators in order to propose the next steps that will aide people living in extreme poverty. In the first year that we did lobbying, we’d had an incredibly long, exhausting, but fulfilling day of meetings with all of the KY congressmen and senators. At the end of the day, we had a dinner with all of the other ONE reps and leaders for which ONE had brought on board a few speakers who are deep in this work. Dan was one of them. When Dan stepped up to the platform he quietly, simply, and genuinely spoke about the work we are doing and the reminder of the power of collective voices on behalf of those who do not have the ability, and sometimes even the rights, to be heard. His speech left me in tears and I, of course, asked, “who the heck is that guy?” It was only in the following days and weeks that I discovered his music and was moved again but through a different means. 

It has been since that time that we’ve discovered each other’s political, social, and musical voices and have had the privilege to work together in various capacities. Dan is one of the founders and primary voices for Blood:Water. Blood:Water equips African organizations as they work to address the water and HIV/AIDS crises in their communities. A portion of the proceeds from our album campaign will be going to Blood:Water. Above is a video that Jemal put together that shares more about the album, Dan’s role, and Blood:Water. And, on a side note, Since that time, with an amazing team of other ONE volunteers and the voices of communities, we have also been able to pass a number of bills that have allotted foreign aide to bringing sustainable electricity to Africa, providing equal opportunity for education to girls and young women in places of extreme poverty, and creating positive economic trade. You can learn more about this HERE (and about how to be involved). 

I think one of the things that I didn’t fully understand before delving into all of this work is that it is through aiding to empower others that I would find my own empowerment. By being involved, I feel more inspired, innocent, and hopeful than I had in a long, long time. I give gratitude to all of you who empower through your own means and work in the ways you are guided, and to those of you who are discovering what that means for you in your life. While I am blabbering about this work, there are many of you who give in ways that do not receive acknowledgement and there are many of you doing humble good in the world. Thank you. 

We are also very thankful for the generosity and empowerment to and for our music that has already come through the campaign. If you have not yet had an opportunity to do so and would like to be part of the fruition of this project I encourage you to give HERE. These last 7 days are important ones in reaching our goal! 

Thank you so much, 

Moksha 

PS If you would like to see more videos featuring other musicians who are involved with the album, check them out here: https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/hudost/updates

As many of you know, we are a little over a week into our 61-day fundraising campaign for our new album. I’ve included more info about it below, but want to share a little bit from the personal front. 

Sometimes as an artist I feel fragmented and unclear on the direction that I am taking. We are not talking about overall life direction or ideals, but rather the step by step process. I can’t tell you how often I feel like I am processing too much information, have too many areas of inspiration and pull of attention, have confusion over my own identity as a mother, performer, creator, activist, and seeker. Such a huge part of life and of creating art and songs is trusting in the process of unknowing. It is so uncomfortable, vulnerable, and risky. The best music and art that I have ever made is when I take risks….because if the space of unknowing is given the heed it deserves and one surrenders to trust, there will be lots of blunders, but also moments of magic. In the creation of this album, we have pushed ourselves to take risks…as a result, there are lots of songs/blunders that will NOT be on the album…but what IS on the album is the evidence of several risks that resulted in magic. Pure magic. 

We are talking about taking risks without attachment. No preciousness allowed (not that it doesn’t come later). What it demands is openness and the willingness to release one’s own identity, claims, aims, daily details, and fears. Sounds familiar? That’s what I thought…this is not just the creative process…this is the life process. It is in the moments that we can return to un-presuming openness that our true selves make way for beauty. Some of my favorite people- you know, the ones that you love without fear but who still know how to roast you when you need it- are people who know this place; they are people who take risks by allowing themselves to step into the unknown. 

Through the process of this creation I have also taken a stance that is new for me…I have always been someone who pushes myself hard and wants an obvious goal. With this, instead of focusing totally on the goal, I have asked myself if I am taking joy in the process itself. As a result, I am loving the process. Ironically, the goal keeps becoming more clear and the bar is higher than ever. It is by stepping out of our own way that the road seems to open. 

Right now we are still in the final creation phase with the album. We are also heading out on tour. We are also doing this campaign… Talk about a juggling of identities! Doing this campaign to raise the funds for the album also feels like stepping into the vulnerable unknown. It is an ego shaking act of trust. A few years ago we went through this and were blown away by the kindness and support we were given. It was very humbling and empowering. We are in the same place now. We ask that you step into the unknown with us…we are asking you for an act of trust. We can’t wait to share the album with you and have you be part of the magic. 

As a reminder, this is a fundraising campaign for our long-awaited new album of all original material. This album is being mixed by multi-Grammy and CMA winner Vance Powell. He’s a top tier producer/mixer who’s worked with artists such as Jack White (White Stripes), Chris Stapleton, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy, Beyonce, Beck, Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge, and a slew of others. And, to add to this excitement, Dan Haseltine from the Grammy winning band Jars of Clay has been on board to help with production!) All of the info is here: 

https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/hudost 

Twelve years ago we took a big leap and began touring and creating music as HuDost on a full time basis. At the time it felt like a wild and vulnerable thing to do. We have come a long way and have had an incredible journey, and every now and then it still feels just as brave and crazy as when we first started. Now is one of those times. We invite you to take this next step with us. 

We have just launched the fundraising campaign for our long-awaited new album of all original material. This album is being mixed by multi-Grammy and CMA winner Vance Powell. He’s a top tier producer/mixer who’s worked with artists such as Jack White (White Stripes), Chris Stapleton, Pearl Jam, Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy, Beyonce, Beck, Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge, Kings of Leon and a slew of others. And, to add to this excitement, Dan Haseltine from the Grammy winning band Jars of Clay has been on board to help with production! Not only that, in addition to some of our team of wonderful musicians, all of the band members of Jars of Clay are musically involved and we have written a very new song with Dan that will be on the album. The sound of the album already feels like a major stepping stone for us and we have pushed ourselves as songwriters, collaborators, and, well heck, LOVE-creators! 

Here is the link for the campaign: 

www.pledgemusic.com/hudost 

We are asking for your contribution to help make this record a reality! The funding will help in paying the musicians & engineers as well as mixing, mastering, artwork, printing CDs & Vinyl, video production for a few songs as well as marketing & PR! 

We ask you to be the underwriters for our future; allowing us to give this album everything it deserves and opening new opportunities for us as performers. 

We have super-fun pre-orders and exclusives and hope that you will check them out! 

We will be giving a portion of the total campaign proceeds to Blood:Water. This is a non-profit that was founded by Dan Haseltine and Jars of Clay. Blood:Water equips African Organizations as they work to address the water and HIV/AIDS crises in their communities. More information is available here: https://www.bloodwater.org 

We are beyond excited about the songs, how they sound, and the musicians on board! The songs are about positive conscious action in the world, the brutal beauty of being human, being a family and the losses and triumphs that come with life. 

We feel a lot of love for this collection of tunes. It includes some of our long time favorite original HuDost songs that we have not yet released that many of you have been asking for for a long time and some very new songs you’ve never heard. 

Please watch the video for more info! 

www.pledgemusic.com/hudost