It’s 2024 and I’m driving across the country alone.
I’m white-knuckling it through Texas.
This song begins to form.
Thanks to my creative partners @richjacques@jessebergometer and @nothinmyst for bringing it to life in ways I never would have imagined in that mid-Texas hotel.
Link in bio, best experienced on my Substack and YouTube but I cut it down for our attention spans and added words for our modern age.
I hope it finds you on your own desert drive tonight. 🏜️ 🌖
*With a little help from the always-there-for-me @aarontaylorwaldman and @bwilling .
An admissions director and music teacher whose inner critic was so ruthlessly effective, Whitney had *never finished a song*, despite wanting to for years.
Pages of ideas, shut down before they could come to life.
At our Ojai Songwriter’s Retreat this January, we took her through a gentle, clear, (and fun!) process that helped her finish her *first song ever.*
We loved working with her and watching her song come to life, and we’d love to do the same for you.
This Fall in Ojai 🍊🏞️
DM me for details.
As I’ve been putting new music into the world lately, I’ve been getting a lot of “hey, there you are. I missed you!” kind of feedback.
I know what you mean. For all the nonsense about how broken and snarky our online lives are, we actually do get a lot out of cheering each other on, watching each other do our Thing.
Rich and I wrote this song during some dark days when I was searching for meaning, but it took on a new life this January when we ran our first Ojai Songwriter’s Retreat. On the first night, I played it for the group and realized it was a bit of a theme song for the retreat itself.
We even shot this video on the property where the retreat is held.
By the time we got ready to release the song, it was clear that the song and the retreat had become intertwined.
So the song is out today and Rich and I are opening up our second Ojai Songwriter’s Retreat, May 28–31. ✍️🏡
The first retreat far exceeded everyone’s expectations, and people started asking for another almost immediately.
We still have a few spots available. DM me if you want to hear more.
@richjacques will be performing on March 23rd’s MONDAY MONDAY Canadian Artist showcase hosted by Jadea Kelly featuring 10 of our favorite songwriter and performers! We’re celebrating 13 Years of Monday Mondays! Join us for another great lineup of up and coming LA songwriters. It’s an evening all about discovering talent and the live music community.
Come check it out. 8pm. $5
Cosmic Ojai! Excited to return to the fabulous @ojaiundergroundexchange Friday, March 20th and share the night with my dear pal @richjacques . Too much good stuff! Ticket link in bio. Thanks for supporting Live Music. ✊❤️
🎼 The second of 19 experiences available at The Mega Gallery is also one on one, a song writing workshop with Rich Jacques @richjacques .
Three Private 1:1 Sessions are available.
Minimum Age: 14+
Date: Available January - February, 2026 with flexible scheduling.
Hours: 11 am - 4 pm
Location: This workshop will be held at a private residence/studio within the city limits of Ojai. Exact location will be revealed once workshop is scheduled.
Description:
With over 30 years of experience, Rich leads you through an inspiring and revealing process, helping you tap into what truly matters to you and shape it into a song.
About the Instructor:
Rich Jacques is a Grammy-winning producer and songwriter who brings a deep love for creativity and personal expression. Over his decades in music, he has collaborated with many artists—including Colin Hay (Men at Work), Lisa Loeb, Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Maya Rudolph, and Kina Grannis—and has licensed more than 350 songs for film and television.
For more information about One on One Song Writing Workshop please email Rich at: [email protected]
To buy this offering or for general Inquires about Ojai, The Experience visit themegagallery.com.
REFUND POLICY: Refunds are available upon request until January 11, 2026. After this date, ALL SALES ARE FINAL, unless the event is cancelled by the Provider or due to Force Majeure (e.g., extreme weather, fire, road closures), in which case a full refund will be issued.
Gallery Graphics by Louise Sandhaus @lulusandhaus
A simple, cozy cover of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas arrived early under my tree this year.
It’s a gentle duet with the inimitable Jade Hendrix , produced by Rich Jacques - and lucky for you it’s nothing like the very intense lounge version I’ve been subjecting my family to for years.
Listen now (and find out what that Sega Genesis is all about) - link in bio of course
It’s that time of year! 🦃 Many of us are gathering with friends and family this week, and “Gather Round” is the perfect song for your playlists, co-written with @reneestahl and @richjacques .
You can hear my duet with Renee on “Gather Round” by @reneeandfriends , available wherever you listen to music! Or watch the full video at the link in my bio and remember to suscribe on YouTube!
Video directed by @heatherseybolt
#thanksgivingmusic #familymusic #thanksgivingplaylist
Wrote this in Italy 🇮🇹 in 2018 with @lieuwe_lr and @goldkimono
It’s strange how a song reveals its meaning over time.
Now in 2025 it resonates even deeper than it did then.
This song speaks to the collapse of illusion and the quiet return of ancestral wisdom. It’s a letting go, a remembering, and a call back to the sacred ground that’s always been beneath our feet.
