December Livestream: Presenting Miss Ayla Huguenot

“Songstresses” : Ayla & Me

Saturday, December 19 @ 6pm

HOW WE CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA

Today Ayla and I rehearsed our songs in Tompkins Square Park. This was pretty special for me because have watched Ayla grow up, writing songs and just developing into an amazing young young lady. She is a born-and-bred East Village teenager who went to my son's school, our beloved East Village Community School, and now attends the Professional Performing Arts School. Ayla is also the daughter of another woman who I love and admire and who is a precious friend, Cresta Kruger, whose photograph is on the cover page of my website! (www.BarbaraMartinez.com)

Ayla reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger, and yet she is really very different. One thing I never dared to do (seriously at least) until very recently was to write my own songs. Ayla's been doing it since she was 3 years old! And it's artists like her who have encouraged me to give it a try. I feel I have a long way to go before finding my own style and "voice", but it is so very satisfying to give this a try. I am thrilled to be able to share our songs with you. I think you will really enjoy them, and also our conversations about the creative process.

Honestly, I also thought it would be lovely to do this with Ayla so that she could have a place to shine, of course, but also so that she could help me get over my own nerves about sharing my own creations. As some of you already know, when Covid hit and we were cooped up at home, one of the things that I started doing was writing songs. They all came out in English (to my surprise) and really have nothing to do with flamenco (also to my surprise!)

Learn more about the incredible singer/songwriter that is Ayla Huguenot.

*This concert series is free for Patreon members, but available to all for a donation or a shoutout*

Livestreaming VS. Freezing Outdoors!!

Yep, so I’m definitely learning new things every day in this new Covid Era. I’m learning how to deal with freezing cold temperatures doing outdoors gigs, and trying to find a way to do them indoors as the Winter settles in. One way might be with livestream concerts. (If anybody has some tips in this area, please email me!!) This way you and I can both be warm and cozy in the comfort of our homes and still share special moments like the one we had last night at Terraza 7.

It was Halloween and I think it’s the first time I’ve even performed in a Halloween costume. Maybe that’s because my son is kind of old now for trick-or-treating, so I don’t mind working!

All I know is that I kept dancing whenever possible because it was the only way to stay warm!!

But I had a great night with the guys: Adrian Alvarado, Edward Perez and Jeremy Smith. Those guys are so damn talented! And I just love Freddy Castiblanco and Terraza 7, they have been such a pillar for working jazz musicians in NYC and I also love their support in the community and representation.

Anyway, so in the spirit of keeping the music performances going in a way that works for everybody, an old friend and I are hosting a home concert. “A Haircut & A Concert with Espîritu Gitano” on Sunday, November 15 from 6-7pm. It will be open to anyone and everyone, but it will be made available for free to my Patreon fans and for a suggested donation of $10 for all others.

By the way, Patreon is a way to join your favorite creator's community and pay them for making the stuff you love. I’m learning more about this whole system these days. I’m going to give it a try and see if it works for us. Right now I have my memberships set at $5/month and, as of today, I have my first 4 Patreon fans! (And they already know they are the crème de la crème in my book! Literally)

My plan is to give him a long overdue haircut while I let him grace you with his anecdotes from around the world, taking little breaks for us to sing and play for you in duet. We have written many songs together over the years, and we love putting our spin on songs from Spain, Brazil, Argentina and anywhere else where music has reached her velvety paw. Join us! This should be lots of fun!

You can find some videos of Espíritu and me here:
www.youtube.com/barbaritamaria

I’m super happy to be offering this livestream concert! And I hope I can get some rhythm rolling and offer something comparable at least once a month with the various different musician friends that I have made in my lifetime :)

(Oh and you can always access a livestream of any concert on my Patreon Page!)