My Band: Soil & Soul 2024 Recap
Being of service to the world through a creative career
I recently wrote an ‘artist bio’ for a grant application. I did not get this grant. But I felt like the content was interesting enough to share here, so here it is with some adaptations woven with some images and language from the latest Instagram post. I hope it inspires you to create more art. The world needs it.
Born in the Bronx as an 80s baby, when I was a little girl I wanted to be a famous stand up comedian. I grew daunted by the prospect of making people laugh though, and now the idea of fame seems oppressive. Comedy is an art form that I’m still studying and practicing, weaving it into professional endeavors like the Industrial Design Society of America’s conference that I just emceed, where on Day Two I came dressed up as Willy Wonka.
I got my undergraduate degree in Theater with a focus on Directing, but joined AmeriCorps shortly after graduation because I felt that instead of pursuing a creative career, it was more important to be of service to the world. I’m now realizing that was a false dichotomy. I’ve awoken to the possibility that I can both have a creative career, AND be of service to the world. This is what the song “Open Seams” is all about. That, and reclaiming my time.
I’ve spent the last 15 years in the nonprofit sector studying and working to build sustainable food systems. My professional expertise revolves around sustainable agriculture, food rescue, and food scrap recycling, aka compost. In fact I’m such a nerd about composting that I even wrote a Compost Jingle. Waste reduction has and will always inform my art, as I believe that waste is the smoking gun of injustice. To waste in a world where so many go without seems amoral. This theme is explored more in the song “Supply Chain”.
The reclamation and exploration of my artistry expanded into visual arts when in September of 2023 I had my first public art sculpture installed for Newburgh’s Terrain Biennial. A driftwood sculpture titled “A Few Screws Loose” was an homage to my grandfather who made his living as a sculptor, and my father who’s a practicing psychologist.
In July of this year I left my environmental nonprofit job to pursue my music and writing full-time. I have self-published over 25 posts for this here Substack, now called “Pellegrino’s Puzzles”, where I write about sustainability, economics, power/politics, gender, and many other topics.
There are over 60 songs uploaded to my youtube channel, with 47 of them being original songs. In November of 2023 I started my own band, Soil & Soul. We prioritize playing at Farmers Markets (ex: Newburgh, Beacon, Port Jervis, etc) and other community-based and eco-conscious events in the Hudson Valley. This is an intentional way to integrate my passion for building up local food systems. My art is very much inspired by the way the late, great Pete Seeger would use music to advance environmental and social justice causes. Soil & Soul is building on that legacy, and we’re just getting started. I also consider Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Rage Against the Machine, and Green Day to also be political music inspirations.
Can we collaborate on an event performance?
2025 is nearly here! We’ve already got 12 gigs booked for the new year ahead, and I would LOVE and appreciate any help you can lend with booking more 2025 performances. Our offering is eclectic & dynamic: I can perform solo, facilitate (acoustic) karaoke, host (live) music trivia, or the lineup can grow up to a 7 piece band depending on budget, venue, & scheduling.
Looking back at 2024 there are some big time highlights. So many collaborations with amazing, talented, kind, beautiful badasses, that I feel really lucky to have made music magic with this past year.
Since I started tracking public gigs in April of 2024, here’s Soil & Soul by the numbers:
Performed in 3 states: NY, RI, & MA
70 performances since April 20th
31 Farmers Markets performances
10 Sustainable Ag nonprofit events
6 Restaurant shows
6 Community events
6 bars/brewery performances
4 local farm events
2 Environmental Education center events: Hudson Highlands Nature Center, and 1 on a BOAT! The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
First 3 festivals for the band: Big Lawn Music Festival in Poughkeepsie, Corn Festival for the Beacon Sloop Club, and Poughkeepsie Farm Project Harvest Fest
First solo performance at a festival: Keepsake House's Writer's Room at the Meadowlark Festival at the Stone Ridge Orchard
1 public library: Newburgh Free Library
2 self-produced festivals: Grill & Groove at AOOA Farm in Goshen, and Newburgh Porchfest
Thank you everyone for all the support, truly. I feel so lucky to be chasing this dream right now. I’m thrilled to keep writing and making more music magic in 2025 and beyond! ~ 🎶🪄✨💖
I’d love to hear in the comments section if you have any Substack post ideas, song topic ideas, or ideas for events/venues to play where you think I or the band would be a good fit.
Peace, Joy, & Justice Blessings to you for the New Year!
Yours in Building Beloved Community,
Lisa Pellegrino