As my new album releases, some of you might be wondering what "ODM" is or means.  In short, it stands for Orchestral Dance Music.  But what is that?  Is it a collection of dances that form a suite, a la Bach or Handel? Not really, although I thought it would be fun to do a play on that with the track listing. So, Is it just EDM with string instruments? Not really, although a couple of the tracks definitely lean that direction….well then, what is it?

I have spent the last ten years looping my instruments on ever more complicated machines.  When I started looping, I didn't really like the idea of taking 5-plus minutes looping all of my instruments before even getting to vocals.  I also didn't like the idea of songs not being able to have choruses or bridges, due to the constraints of the live looping technology.  I feel like that's where a lot of loopers lose their audiences, and I wanted fully fleshed out songs anyway.  So I graduated up from the simple Boss-RC 30, to the RC-300…then to Ableton.  Where I found that I loved the idea of using their stock rhythm sounds.  It was a whole new world! But I quickly realized I had absolutely NO IDEA what I was doing.  When I put out a social media plea for someone to help teach me, a friend recommended me to Dave Tough from Belmont University. He recommended me to let him simply show me what he could maybe do with one of my songs as more of a backing track, to see if it was something I wanted to pursue. When I got that first track back, I realized I wanted to have about 30 more songs done immediately.

We began working together on the tracks for the live shows, and over time had a nice lengthy set put together…but I was finding that the full sound of the beats with all of the looping was really only a good fit for bigger shows and fests, and I simply wasn't using them enough.  I wanted to make an album.  So here we are! 

That is how it came about, which more or less gives you an idea of what it is…which is, exactly what it is.  And by that I mean that it's incredibly hard to put into a genre.  It's decidedly not EDM, as many of the songs don't follow that tempo and formula.  It's not neo-classical, because that's largely dedicated to instrumental compositions.  It's not really rock…you get the idea.  What it is is original: it's my original compositions, full of strings, with beats.  I found out just how genre-less it was when I asked Dave what kinds of beats he was using, and he said, “I really just put stuff together until it sounds good”.  

If I had to put it closest to something, it would be cinematic, 90s trip-hop, and even chill hip hop at times.  But I've given up trying to pin it down.  So it's its own new genre, ODM, and even if there's never another artist in the world who ever claims to be another “ODM artist", that's OK with me.  I'm not sure if I truly defined a genre, but until someone else comes along and uses the moniker, a Molly Healey original it will stay.  

One last thing: the beats will NEVER replace the band.  In fact, we're starting to use them along with the String Project shows to round out the sound.  Many of the sounds used in the ODM rhythm tracks are not able to be produced with a traditional drum kit or bass…that's what makes them so fun.  They're weird and cool and electronic.  But music will always be about connecting and playing with others, and my band will always be my favorite way to play my songs. 

Can't wait for you to hear the new tracks. 

Thanks for all the support, friends!

-Molly

Friends of the Earth! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend for Earth Day last week.  We did a thing! My partner and I and a crew of hard-working individuals put on a festival and raised money for our local environmental organizations!  We're going to be doing this every year, so I thought I'd talk about it for just a minute.  It's here in Springfield, at Jordan Valley Park, every year on the Saturday of (or after) Earth Day.  This year's fest was headlined by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils! We also had The Hillbenders, Opal Agafia, Sister Lucille, 83 Skidoo w/The Shandies, Mark Barger, Dance Monkey Dance, Alyssa Galvan, and Brandon and Annabelle Moore (🥰), with special performances throughout the day by Springfield Aerial Fitness.  BUT…at the last minute, we had to move inside due to a forecast high of only 53 with wind.  I was so nervous that it would ruin the fest, but…it DIDN'T. We grew! And I think everyone had a good time.  We had plants brought in, great production, no plastic, we composted all the food, live painting, storytelling, tons of booths and vendors talking about environmental causes, and we'll be announcing our funds raised soon (spoiler alert: we beat last year!) 

I just wanted to pop in and tell you thank you for your support of our baby, Earth Day Springfield.  We're already excited for next year! You can follow us on socials at https://www.facebook.com/EarthDayMusicFestivalSpringfield

or at our website, https://www.earthdayspringfieldmo.org/

Here are some photos! Love!

Molly

It's always a good feeling when the product you are about to put on sale arrives at your doorstep.  You knew it was on the way, you did your due diligence, but there's always the chance that evil pirates who are out to get ONLY YOU will somehow intercept the package and sell them black market for $100 apiece.  Because that's possible, right? Right.  Anyway, they're in!

Which begs the question...is there ANY future for CDs? I know that some of us like to have something physical in hand, with a cover, liner notes, etc...but it seems there are less and less of those folks these days, and the ones that DO want something physical, are actually going back to vinyl.  I actually remember back when I was really young and CDs first came out, everyone thought, "Wow! What an amazing, crystal-clear sound!  Why would we ever go back to cassettes or vinyl?" Isn't it interesting how now the CD has now become the punching bag because everyone wishes we could go back to the warmer sound? Poor, poor CD towers, collecting dust in storage sheds everywhere. 

Regardless...I did get some for those who still like the product, plenty, in fact, and...they're here in time! 😅

Also, maple-glazed doughnuts are THE BEST. Followed up very closely by the frosting filled ones with chocolate glaze.  NOT the pudding filled.  FROSTING filled. I haven't had one for probably 10 years, and I feel it's high time.  

And why DO we always feel like the time change is the first one we've ever gone through? You'd think we'd be better at expecting it and handling it than we are, haha.  I hate the impending darkness that feels like it's already on the way at 3pm, and I'm already excited for spring.

Hope everyone is having a great week, and I hope to see you next week at the release! 11.19.22 at The Cellar. Don't forget to pre-save on Spotify at the link on the top right, and that I have a VERY limited vinyl run that is available for pre-sale right now in the store! 

Cheers! 🎻Zzxsdz (that was from the cat who apparently had something to say)

Molly

I am getting tired and punchy from trying to do everything that is required of you when you are self-promoting/releasing an album AND trying to manage a nonprofit. Today I sent out a web order and accidentally mailed it to myself. 

That's really about it today.  

-Molly

The String Project had its first rehearsal in a couple of months last night at Danny's work shop.  We had photographer Scott Peterson come out to shoot some band photos.  He managed to catch a few during our rehearsal as well.  

This band is so much fun.  I consider myself so lucky to play with them.  Also, this is my first blog post, and I'm going to make it short and sweet.  But I hope to see some friends out at a show this weekend.  Friday, I'll be solo at the the Boone County History and Culture Center for the Storytellers concert series.  Saturday, the full band will be at the Wood's Dock Fest, a first year fest in Camdenton that I'm super excited about.  Sunday, you can catch us back in COMO for an afternoon set at Cooper's Landing.  I hope you enjoy yourselves no matter what you do! The weather looks to be beautiful. ❤️