Special times call for special music - Lunenburg 2020

We found so many parts of ourselves as people and artists through exploring this program. We grew so immensely from this experience at LAMP. We were perhaps able to make some tiny impact, and continue on believing we can still strive to do more, do better.

This month in Lunenburg, the memories, the music, the friendships - I will all hold so close to my heart. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of working your hardest, the unique thrill of hiking up and down that hill twice a day, early at 6am to make breakfast and start rehearsing, late at night 10pm back to the Topmast hotel and never failing to be blown away by the milky way and incredible stars surrounding us … the countless times we tried going out to celebrate after each concert and instead had an even homier party at the Academy with our strange feast of instant noodles and burnt rice, the intense rehearsals and recording/listening sessions, the sight-reading and paper cranes folding session, the greetings with locals on the streets and every Thursday morning at the market, saying Thank You, Thank You for showing up, Thank You for listening.

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Tong WangComment
So what can we do?

We’re trying to understand. To keep searching for questions to ask, to be humble, hopeful, realistic, empathetic, aware.

We are here trying to bring light and hope in some tangible way.

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Tong WangComment
The truth is ...

The cynical part of me feels like this doesn’t make sense. To ask artists already losing work to keep supporting the arts. The critical part of me understands that donations, and even grants, is not a long-term, self-sustainable model. That’s why I want to keep learning, finding new ways and systems of creating opportunities for fellow artists.

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Tong WangComment
My heart is warmed by your sourdough bread song

How refreshing and touching it is … to hear just a song about sourdough bread. About the market day. About a farm barn, about the lakes of Ontario. About a sailor boy. How absolutely sweet and heartwarming and deep that is equally to just bring us closer to the simple joys and reflections and views on life. It doesn’t always have to be life and death and transcendent philosophical psychological abstract pondering.

I couldn’t stop smiling.
The magical sense of connection that was created, the intimacy of that contact and those lyrics and stories, being so up close to those facial expressions, the acoustics of the bass and guitar and violin resonating, the personal anecdotes, the comfy couch and pillows and fluffy blankets, the laughter and joy. The realness of everything being shared.
Much food for thought.

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Tong WangComment