Hello friends,
I’ve been on vocal rest for nearly a month now, for a vocal polyp, sometimes called a ‘singer’s node’. It’s an occupational hazard, and comes partly from over-use. I had to cancel or reschedule a few concerts, so it’s vexing, but not serious. My vocal doc is sure we can resolve this with rest and steroids.
My inner life has been strange during this time. The combination of steroids, which rev me up, and silence, which shuts me up, creates the emotional equivalent of a hurricane in a phone booth. I’ve gone a little crazy. But the craziness did lead to some interesting stuff. I wrote two series of tweets called Jane Austen at the Super Bowl, and Jane Austen at the Oscars, and a lot of people on Twitter joined in. You can read about the Austen-fever here and here.
I’ve also been obsessively watching and re-watching Masterpiece Theatre shows, particularly ‘Downton Abbey’, which is my new favorite thing ever. The clothes alone are enough to drive a woman mad.
I was nominated for a Grammy this year, for my album ‘The List’. I lost, which was a little disappointing, but it was really an honor to lose to Mavis Staples, a legendary artist and one I admire deeply. She had never won a Grammy, at the age of 71, so it was time for her.
Sony is releasing my ‘Essential’ 2-disc compilation in May, which is very exciting. It covers my entire career and every record I made from 1978 to 2009. Some people have said it makes them feel old to warrant a place in the ‘Essential’ series, but it makes me feel like I showed up for work for the last thirty years. And that’s a good feeling.
It’s been a long, cold winter here in New York City, but I’ve enjoyed it. I like winter to feel like winter, instead of Spring, and Spring to feel like Spring, instead of summer. Every season in it’s proper place, thank you.
I will begin recording a new album in the next few months. It will not be a follow-up to ‘The List’, as some might expect. It’s time to return to my songwriter self. I will revisit a List, Part Two in the future, I’m certain.
For now,
Love from Mrs. L
aka Rosanne Cash
