WOODSTOCK CHILD

THE AIRSTREAM IN NAVAJO NATION

WALTER PARKS: WOODSTOCK CHILD RECORDING SESSION

WRITING IN THE AIRSTREAM WITH THE FAMILY DOG - PENNY

RICHIE HAVEN'S FUNERAL

ORIGINAL WRITING NOTEBOOK FOR WOODSTOCK CHILD

ETHEL: WOODSTOCK CHILD RECORDING SESSION

Woodstock Child (2022)

"Woodstock Child" was my debut album! I wrote/recorded it between the ages of 13 and 15 while I was homeschooled and traveling cross country with my family in a 9x12 1964 Bambi Airstream. Once I'd finished writing and was ready to record – Covid happened (aaah). But instead of everything crashing to a hault, my Dad (who had lovingly agreed to be my producer) sought a new way to compile an album. From voice memos to home studio recordings, musicians sent us their parts individually for each song. Every time my Dad received a new recording file in his inbox, he would run up the stairs and say "Julia! It's Christmas!"

We put about 3/4 of this album together that way; sending out demos and receiving presents in return from all over the country.

Side Notes:

Woodstock Child is the first complete song I ever wrote.
After hearing the song Hiding Place, Sandy Hook Promise reached out for an interview to discuss student mental health.
Richie Havens recorded his last four albums at Kaleidoscope Sound and legend goes he would play with me as a baby in the control room (... I wish I had been a baby with a really good memory).
The release concert for this record was at The Bitter End! (Special shoutout to Patrick and Sandra from Switzerland ❤️)
I spent weeks writing out the lyrics and drawing/collaging custom pictures for each song on this record to frame because I was so proud and excited :)

Credits:

David Cook - Keyboards Jeff Scott - French Horn (8)

Dave Richards - Bass Peter Vitalone - Piano (2)

Mitch Stein - Guitars Avery Crafton - Ukelele (11)

Randy Crafton - Drums John Isley - Baritone Sax (1)

John Bailey - Trumpets (1,8) "ETHEL" - String Quartet (5)

Michael Carapella - Lead Guitar (1) Amy Crafton - Tenor Sax (1)

Ryan Cavanaugh - Banjo (3)

Ozzy Melendez - Trombone (1,8)

Scott E. Moore - Lap Steel (10)

Walter Parks - Ambient Guitar (2,4,7,10,12)

Mastered by Greg Calbi (Sterling Sound)

Introduction to Nothing

NOTHING

TED BAKER FROM THE VOCAL RECORDING BOOTH

DINNER PARTY!

AARON COMESS, DAVE RICHARDS, AND MITCH STEIN WAITING

FOR THE MAGIC BREW

THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS...

BERNARD PURDIE AND JULIA CRAFTON

RECORDING VOCALS AT MARIGNY STUDIOS IN NEW ORLEANS

SAM SCHUMANN!

RAY DILLARD AT MARIGNY STUDIOS

MOM (AMY CRAFTON) ♡

WALTER PARKS AND DAD (RANDY CRAFTON)

PENNY LANE THE STUDIO (AND FAMILY) DOG

Nothing (2023)

"You're different dear, you're really different and you're going to be around for a long time... That's what they call an old soul."

- Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

This album makes me tear up. I can't believe how quickly it came together but after making "Woodstock Child", I couldn't wait to go again knowing what results each step would yield. "Nothing" holds so many precious moments that I hope every person who listens to this record feels a part of.

A Love Note:

Ted Baker (the pianist for this album) passed away two weeks after we finished recording. He was recording his album at the same time, so during breaks we would sit in the lounge and talk about our projects. We discussed album artwork, album titles, feelings, and music. When he passed, I had the honor of revealing what he wanted his record to be called, "Evidence of Ted". He was one of my first heart breaks and there's something so beautiful about having his playing captured on both records forever. You're hearing his soul. Go listen to "Evidence of Ted" too.

Side Notes:

I wrote and recorded "Nothing" between the ages 15 and 17.
I painted the album cover.
Two of the songs on this album are cowrites which I had never done before.

I wrote the title track in almost one take with my phone on record as a stream of consciousness.
On "Shiny or New" you can hear Ted roll up the B3 and when he did that in the studio, I remember bouncing out of my chair to watch him through the control room window – he was magical.
I wrote "Mr. Johnson" about Robert Leroy Johnson down in Mississippi (the first of the 27 Club). On the record... prepare for the Purdie Shuffle!
"Little Dreamer" might be one of my favorite songs that I've written.
My mom (Amy Crafton) did the string arrangement for "Nothing" (reprise) ♡

So please give the full record a listen because all the stories are told much better on there than here...

As the Beatles say, "Nothings gonna change my world".

Credits:

Ted Baker - Piano

Mitch Stein - Guitar

Walter Parks - Additional Guitars (1,2,9)

Dave Richards - Bass

Dan Rieser - Drums (1,4,7,9,11)

Bernard Purdie - Drums (2,3,5,6,8)

Morgan Parker - Additional Percussion (2)

Sam Schumann - Guitar (10)

ETHEL - Strings (13)

Mastered by Greg Calbi (Sterling Sound)

SOCIETY'S CHILD 2.0

ETHEL:

(LEFT TO RIGHT) RALPH FARRIS, CORIN LEE, KIP JONES, DOROTHY LAWSON

COMPING VOCALS WITH DAD WHILE CAMPING

A NO FUN ZONE... CLEARLY...

PHYSICS HOMEWORK ABOVE...

"EVIDENCE" LYRICS BELOW

MOM AND JULIA ON THE MET STEPS

POST SHOW TWO

THE FACE OF A PERSON TRYING TO EDIT THE SOCIETY'S CHILD 2.0 VIDEO...

ALL OF THE CLIPS IN IT WERE SOURCED WITH THIS FACE (GO WATCH!!!)

Society's Child 2.0 (2024)

"Julia, you walk in beauty. It rings out in your music, your words, and the love that surrounds you. It is such a gift to know you, to call you my collaborator, and above all, my friend."

- Ralph Farris

(Co-Artistic Director and Viola, ETHEL)

Janis Ian wrote her first big hit “Society’s Child” when she was 14 years old. When I was 14, I wrote “Hiding Place” and was often asked if I knew who Janis Ian was. Now I can say “Yes, I absolutely do!" I delved into her discography of biting, brilliant social commentary. She would always go for the jugular of society’s biggest faults which is a type of storytelling I gravitated towards from the beginning as well.
I wrote the title track for this, my third record, in the midst of the world coping with the murder of George Floyd, the Covid Pandemic, and Trump’s administration. I knew that every generation had an “end of the world” phase but this felt so different (probably because it’s the first “the sky is falling” crisis I’ve been alive for) – but seeing my parents scared, my grandparent scared, and the media losing its mind… The world post Janis Ian’s “Society’s Child” looks like “Society’s Child 2.0”.
However, in contrast with life events, making this album with ETHEL was such a calm and wonderful experience. I wanted to take all the songs I’ve written about the world throughout my childhood and put them on one record– and the only more dramatic than french horns is a string quartet. ❤️
To start this album, I made demos for the songs at my keyboard in my bedroom and then sent them out to the string quartet, ETHEL, also known as Dorothy Lawson (cello), Ralph Farris (viola), Kip Jones (Violin), and Corin Lee (Violin) to arrange. The only songs that weren’t sent out were “Nothing” and “Fearless” because my mom (Amy Crafton) arranged them herself :)
After a summer of recording, in September of 2023, ETHEL and I performed the entirety of “Society’s Child 2.0” at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. For two nights only we played and laughed and sang amidst the sculptures.
To conclude, there are so many things I could say like I wrote “Royal Street” about a homeless man I saw in New Orleans sitting below the “Royal Street” sign– a painful irony. I could speak to “Beautiful Girl” which was rearranged from my second album and how it is traveling now as the starting point for my fourth project… writing a musical! But in true closing, I want to say that Evidence was written for Ted Baker and this album is dedicated to him.

I hope Janis Ian is able to hear this record one day.
Thank you for the music, everyone.

Credits:
Ralph Farris - Viola

Dorothy Lawson - Cello

Corin Lee - Violin

Kip Jones - Violin