Karla Adolphe

Contending for Beauty has become a central idea in my early in 2016 musings.  I am grateful for folks like you who engage with me to ask good questions about life, spirituality, art and creativity.

I was able to make the latest video because of a growing number of supporters, like yourselves, who have begun to commission works through patronage.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can become a part of the patronage movement please visit my Subscription Page!  Monthly Patronage begins at just $10/month and includes a host of goodies, (all my solo catalogue free, ticket and merchandise discounts, personal notes and encouragements from me, Patron-only events and more).

As a special thank you I'd like to offer you two free colouring pages designed by Betony Coons.  These colouring pages are a part of a new  personal creativity book/journal I am working on which I hope to release this spring.  

Email me to receive your colouring pages - [email protected]

Again THANK YOU for all your wonderful support!

K

Happy New Years Day!

I hope this note finds you relaxing, warm mug in hand, slippers on and surrounded by your favourite people.  Welcome to 2016 and thanks for taking a moment to be with me :)

I love New Years, do you?  It is that first day of school feeling, the fresh start, clean slate and that grand horizon which inspires me greatly.  Over the past 4 years I have stumbled into a tradition of going for a prayer walk and meditating on a new word for the upcoming year.  I love this practice and treasure the word as a guidepost for the coming months.  

Truthfully, sometimes I am a bit intimidated, worried or scared of the word, too often I feel at a loss on how this word will manifest in my journey but that is why it is magical, these words can not be manipulated or controlled into a destiny, they are simply a reminder and a prophetic note in the symphony of my days.

I would highly encourage you to meditate on a word for your year!!

This years word has already got me thinking, but in a weird way, its got me looking backwards.  My word for 2016 is ..........

Storyline

All day yesterday I wanted to embrace full blown optimism and let it catapult me into 2016 with fervour and excitement!  I wanted to think about the 50 things I'd love to change about myself and implement them this morning!  

I wanted to untether from 2015, and even separate myself from the last 3 years entirely, and let go of last years word (Beautify) that is nagging me, taunting me with incompleteness.

Problem is I can't discard the things that are already at work in me crafting a good and beautiful story.  2015 has not felt beautiful at all, I am a mess, a deconstructed, fragile becoming beautiful mess.  I am  working out the masterpiece that I am becoming and so are you!!!!

So, as we work out our messes and masterpieces my encouragement is to allow that work to cross the threshold of today into tomorrow and trust this work.  Trust the good work in you that continues and don't abandon it!  These days accumulated becomes the Storyline.

All Your Glory (Lyric Video)

Filmed in celebration of the hopeful longing of Advent filmed by Jonathan Monkman ([email protected]) in Turner Valley, AB. 

Song recorded at Melodious Design Studios with Heath West, from the album 

Lingering now available everywhere: Karla's Website: karlaadolphe.bandcamp.com/album/lingering

Hi friends!!!!  I am so excited to share my new merchandise with you (buy here) !!!  I have partnered with my lovely friend Betony Coons to create some colouring pages that go alongside 2 new tunes from the Live at The Space EP!  

These are $5 for the pair and are so fun to relax with!!

Trouble Won’t Go

Magnolia

I am also slowly rolling out the Favourite Lines Line, thank you for contributing your favourite lines!  You can now get these Lyric Mugs, I hope you enjoy them!

The choices are:

“growing gardens out of my wounds” - flying low

“one more encore, one more dance” - autumn parade

More to come in the new year!  Order today to ensure you get these before Christmas!

THANK YOU for all the encouragement and support!!!!  I am pleased to announce that Live at The Space EP is now available both in digital & physical formats!!  

Order your album today!

Special thanks to my family and friends for helping with the project and its release! Also thanks to my awesome band members and Heath West for capturing a great experience in a great space!

Also thanks to those of you who have reviewed the album and shared it with your community, I appreciate it so very much!

In the next few months look for shows in Alberta with the band and a new music video or two!

K

Hey friends!!!!  I am so excited to announce you can now Pre-Order my new Live EP - Karla Adolphe Live at The Space and receive the track Trouble Won’t Go today!

The album will be available both digitally and in physical cd form on Nov 17, so pre-order today and get ahead of the line :)

Many thanks for the support!

Pre Order Here

You can also receive a FREE download of the album by signing up for my Review Team!

I have amazing news!  I am working on a new album called Magnolia, set for release in March 2016!!!!  I am working with some amazing people, let me introduce you!

Aaron Strumpel is producing the album both at his home studio and here in Alberta in partnership with Heath West at Melodious Design out of Red Deer!  We will be working with numerous musicians and artists from all over North America, I can't wait to tell you more about them soon!

Songs are already being worked on but we have an early sneak peak of the tune Home, recorded this summer and now entered in the ATB All Albertan Song Contest!

LISTEN TO HOME

More info on the album coming soon!  Happy Listening!

There is so much victory for our little family in this picture!  This is Hudson's new work station for homeschooling, it is also the first room in our house to be done, like 100% done and functioning, after 2 yrs that is a HUGE victory for us!  

Many of you might wonder what on earth we are doing, why we aren't as available as we like to be, or if we are just too busy.....in a way yes we are, but trust me we are busy creating a home.  We are aware that this project can take us away from peaceful, quality time together, but that is exactly what we are working toward within our four walls, a place of peace and quality.  Firstly for our kids, secondly for our friends!

Thank you for being patient and prayerful towards us.  We will emerge from this season soon I hope.

Hey friends!!!!! I am now booking lessons for songwriting and voice!

Classes are offered on Wed Nights starting Sept 9 in High River, Skype lessons are arranged according to your schedule and I can even travel to teach a workshop in your town!

I would LOVE to have you as a student! 

Email or msg me for more info!

[email protected]

Hi friends! I am excited to announce the next round of High River songwriting lessons which will be starting in the fall! I will be teaching both Songwriting (level 1 + 2) and Voice Lessons (individuals + ensembles).

Songwriting Level 1 - $125 Wed 6-8pm Sept 9-30 and Nov 25-Dec 16

Songwriting Level 2 - $125 Wed 8-10pm Sept 9-30 and Nov 25-Dec 16

Voice Lessons Monday evenings in Sept and Dec

Can I just say what an absolute joy it is to teach these creative endeavours here in my beautiful home town! I am so grateful for the students who have joined me so far and I look forward to meeting more creatives in the region!

I am also continuing to offer songwriting and voice lessons via Skype thru the summer!

Finally, in the fall, as I set out on more touring in Western Canada, I will offer workshops in cities where I am playing shows!

Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] to learn more or sign up!

SONGWRITING LESSONS WRAP-UP

I had such a great time with my students during my first songwriting class, it was a total blast and honour to walk through some of the basics of songwriting with them!  All three completed a song from scratch with excellent results, here is a little video of Wayne Corner singing The Watchmen.

If you would like to sign up for the next High River lesson track starting May 6 then just email me!! [email protected]

If you would like to book Skype lessons or bring me in to teach a 4 hour class in your town email me!! [email protected]

Hey friends!  I have been so overwhelmed and excited wight he response to online vocal and songwriting lessons, THANK YOU!!!  Here is a little price list of the breakdown for lessons, feel free to share!

Friends!  I am so excited to announce a new season of music engagement with me; vocal and songwriting workshops!!!

I have loved facilitating workshops throughout the years in both vocal performance and songwriting and thought it might be time to offer more opportunities to be creative together!  You can participate in a few ways!

1. Southern AB - Local Workshops for Groups

For those of you living in/near High River I am now offering a 4 week songwriting course on Wednesday nights from Feb 11-March 18 at Art n Soul Gallery (120 6th ave SW).  

I will also be offering a monthly Drop-In Songwriting/Song Sharing session on the following dates:

Monday March 16 Monday April 20 Monday May 18 Monday June 15

I am also open to traveling as far as 2hrs away to do either the 4 week or a one day-4hour workshop for communities/groups of friends who might like to learn more about songwriting with me!

Email me to learn more about pricing or to chat more about hosting a class!!

2. Private Lessons - Local or via Skype

For those of you who might be interested in songwriting or vocal coaching 1-on-1 with me I would love to talk with you about teaching you either here in High River, Calgary (and area) or via Skype! 

Lessons for vocal coaching are 30 min and songwriting are 60 min.

Email me to learn more about pricing and scheduling!

* * * Youth and Adult Vocal Performance Workshops coming in May! * * *

OH MY GOSH!  I had a total blast playing at TOP Festival in Medicine Hat on Jan 31, I only wish i had more time to enjoy all it had to offer!  

Tongue On The Post Festival runs the last week of January every year, with Cafe Concerts throughout the city during the week, a Singer / Songwriter Night  and all day festivities at the historic Medalta Potteries.

I enjoyed playing both the Yuill Gallery Stage with Jordan Bissonnette from Winnipeg, the crowd was energetic and welcoming; I even reverse heckled (heckling from stage) a handsome lumberjack named Cory :)

Here is a photo taken by High Riverite Cathy Bennington of me and fellow musician Annie De Groot playing inside a HUGE kiln! Yes people, it was amazing, I was both excited and overwhelmed by playing inside one of the large kilns used to make world famous Medalta pottery!  Once I got my bearings inside the space, I loved how the cavernous room afforded us some very interesting natural reverb, wow was it moody!

Overall, this festival is one of my top 5 festival experiences to date, the volunteers were so knowledgable and friendly and obvious music lovers, the Directors, Rob and Shannon were welcoming and so kind and the music was stellar!  I WILL return, you should join me next year!

Jan 28........you are a special date, the calendar stops for you, time takes a longer breath for you, the morning mercies are even a little kinder for you.  

Four years ago I witnessed profound beauty, heard the ripping sounds of fierce parent hearts forced to let go after only 12 years together, the day Hadley gracefully slipped past the thin veil and into another realm.  Four years ago today, around this very moment, I expected fear but saw beauty, tasted anguish and felt the breath of God.

Two years later, this very same day, the day my second child was expected to be born.  The day I felt so much jealousy for kindred babies arriving in late January, the bitterness of winter without new life.  That too has eased but I still remember and still wonder about many babies whose faces have not felt the warmth of the sun.

And what of this pain that tempts me to bury myself beside the bones and the skin?  I resist you.

Beauty is a jealous as the grave, it wants to live in bold colours and sounds, it wants to promote the remembering, it wants life!

So today I honour those of you who let me into the grief, pain, shame, hopelessness and heartache.  Especially for the McHughs, who invited me to sing to Hadley as she entered heaven, I am forever grateful and humbled, your courage and generosity has birthed life and fearlessness!  

To the brokenhearted/depressed/lonely/grieving/shattered

I see what you lost so that we could gain

Today I am reminded and re-dedicate Honeycomb Tombs to all of you who shared your grief stories, entrusted to me in hope, so that together we could create the album and share those songs with fellow kin on the brokenhearted pathway.  Thank you.

Hi friends!  I am so excited to offer you two chances to hear/see me perform today for FREE!!!

Trans Canada West Concert Series on CKUA

Listen on CKUA tonight at 8:00pm MST for my concert/interview with Grant Stovel from CKUA for the Trans-Canada West Concert Series!  I am so excited about this concert, Grant asked me great questions and I really enjoyed playing in CKUA Studio A!

FREE SHOW at Myer Horowitz Theatre in Edmonton!

Join me tonight for the U of A singer/songwriter showcase with these artists!  Evan Westfal, Carrie Day, Craig Cardiff and Ken Stead!

Free tickets if you email me the name of you and your guests by 5:00pm!  

Many thx!

Hi friends!

Here is a list of upcoming shows for January! I am honoured to be opening up some of Craig's shows this month and really looking forward to playing at the TOP Festival!!

Many thanks for your continued support and I look forward to seeing your faces this month!

I am also booking house concerts, workshops and venue shows for 2015, email me to chat [email protected]!

Thursday Jan 15 - U of A, Edmonton, AB  Noon - SUB Stage Free for U of A Students (Private Event)

Thursday Jan 15 - CKUA, Edmonton, AB Trans-Canada West live taping

Friday Jan 16 - U of A, Edmonton, AB 7:00pm - Myer Horowtiz Theatre $10/FREE for U of A Students

Monday Jan 19 - U of L, Lethbridge, AB * opening for Craig Cardiff 8:00pm - The Zoo

Wednesday Jan 21 - Mount Royal College, Calgary, AB *opening for Craig Cardiff 8:00pm - The HUB $10/FREE for Mount Royal Students

Friday Jan 23 - Calgary House Concert, Calgary, AB * opening for Craig Cardiff

Sunday Jan 25 - Ironwood Stage + Grill, Calgary, AB *opening for Craig Cardiff EARLY SHOW  2:00pm - $20 in advance 403-269-5581 For reservations

Sunday Jan 25 - Ironwood Stage + Grill, Calgary, AB *opening for Craig Cardiff LATE SHOW 7:00pm - $20 in advance 403-269-5581 For reservations

Saturday Jan 31 - Tongue and Post Festival, Medicine Hat, AB Kiln Workshops 12:00-1:15pm + 1:30-3:00pm visit www.topfest.ca