Troubadours of Divine Bliss - Every Heartbeat
  • 12 Still Here (04:29)
  • 01 Make Something Beautiful (05:03)
  • 09 La La Song (04:57)
  • 05 Falling Slowly (04:42)
  • 04 Fly With Me (04:53)
  • 03 Every Heartbeat (05:24)
  • 02 I Sing of a Love (04:04)
  • 06 Paradoxes (05:16)
  • 07 Sacred Earth (02:32)
  • 08 Dream to Wake (05:08)
  • 10 Our Story (06:20)
  • 11 You'll Be With Me (05:53)
Biography
CONTACT INFO:
Troubadours of Divine Bliss
Aim Me Smiley and Renee Ananda
troubadoursofdivinebliss@gmail.com
502 608-1587

Click here to go to Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music Page

"Music that could melt a stone statue." BBC Radio Liverpool

Voted "Best Folk Band" by Offbeat Magazine in New Orleans, LA, and Leo Weekly in Louisville, KY

Voted "Best Singer-Songwriter" by Louisville Music Awards

"Here at WRUW-FM we’ve been lovin’ those Troubadours for a long time—having Aim Me and Renee on as LIVE in-studio guests and spinning their awesome catalog of CDs" -James E. Guyette WRUW, Cleveland

"Louisville mainstays Aim Me and Renee of The Troubadours of Divine Bliss have been making music together for 25 years! They’ve garnered a lot of support over that time with their positive messages of hope and love in their songs. (On) their new album called Every Heartbeat they have shared a fantastic, new, uplifting song called “Still Here”. The video and song are so great!!! Really love it."- Laura Shine, WFPK, Louisville

"Every Heartbeat made me cry...I can honestly say I have never heard such a finely crafted artistic offering. It is absolutely spectacular. You have outdone yourself." K Smitas, SHS

"...touches the depths of the human heart' -Soulstream Radio


EVERY HEARTBEAT
Release Date: May, 10, 2020

Recorded Live in 5 days in February 2020 at legendary Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, NC, Every Heartbeat is our 8th album.

This recording has an incredible sound created by Grammy-nominated engineer Jason Richmond (The Avett Brothers, Rising Appalachia) and an authentic, warm LIVE vibe.

The album features master musicians perfectly enhancing each song on cello, violin, piano, electric guitar, bass, and drums and, of course, the signature accordion, guitar, and heavenly harmonies.

These songs were cultivated throughout a couple of years during a time of many transitions all around us. With the exceptional quality of production, the phenomenal compilation of songs, and the LIVE feel in the music, Every Heartbeat stands as the best recording of our career.

Produced, Mixed & Engineered by Jason Richmond (Grammy-nominated)
Recorded at Echo Mountain Studio, Ashville, NC, February 2020
Mastered by Kim Rosen (Grammy-nominated)
Photograhy by: Donnie Rex

MUSICIANS:
Aim Me Smiley:vocals, acoustic guitar
Renee Ananda: vocals, accordion
Drayton Aldridge: violin
Randy Brewer: bass, electric guitar
Steph Dlugon: violin
Franklin Keel: cello
Richard Shulman: piano
Matt Williams: violin
Jyn Yates: drums, percussion

ORDER OF SONGS ON EVERY HEARTBEAT:

1. Make Something Beautiful (5:03)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

"Make Something Beautiful" is an anthem and a call to action for every man, woman, boy, and girl to rise as their highest selves, fulfill the greatest purpose of their lives, and make something beautiful in their time here on this planet.

This song affirms the greatest strengths of the listener and encourages them to "Be wise. Be true. Be good. Be fierce. Be free. Free your dream and your destiny. All women, all men, all girls, all boys be love!"

This song is an invitation to the listener to be the change that they want to see in the world and encourages them to know their worth.



2. I Sing of a Love (4:04)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Sitting on the front porch of our cabin in the Hoosier National Forest in Southern Indiana, the chorus came while playing and giving thanks for this exquisite life.

We were feeling and singing about our favorite topic- Love- specifically, a universal Love that resides within the center of the heart.

"I Sing of a Love" is a recognition and giving thanks for this journey and our constant, faithful companion- Love.


3. Every Heartbeat (5:24)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI


"Every Heartbeat" is the title track of this album. Renee and I have been friends since we were girls then fell in love in our 20's and became Troubadours of Divine Bliss. It has been such an epic love story and journey as best friends, sweethearts, and creative partners.

We have been proposing to each other since we met and 10 years ago we said the lines of the chorus to each other and married on our land. Just last year, the perfect music and the verses came.

"Every Heartbeat" has already become a very popular Wedding Song and been performed in several different countries. The cello and violin on this recording will sweep you off your feet. We recorded this LIVE while singing to each other, tears streaming down our cheeks. This is a celebration of our union.


4. Fly with Me (4:53)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This was a commissioned song from a wife to her husband. They are high school sweethearts and life-adventurers together. He built a plane and she went up in it, as a testament to her trust and their true love.

They fly all over Southern California having romantic expeditions "soaring above the clouds, where their hearts have earned their wings." Anne sent us their story, her feelings, some favorite memories, and from this inspiration, we wrote "Fly with Me.

In writing this song, we sought to create musically the sensation of silent elevation. Her husband, the muse, is a drummer so we added a rhythmic element with the cello and percussion to honor him. We created a feeling of soaring in the chorus to represent a secret and sacred atmosphere that only they share.


5. Falling Slowly (4:42)

Songwriters: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

Publisher: WB Music Corp.

We fell in love with this song and performed it out a few times. Many folks asked that we please record a cover of "Falling Slowly." We love the raw beauty and emotion of this song. It lends itself to such sweet harmonies as well. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová have written a rich, complex song that is wonderful to sing and share.


6. Paradoxes (5:16)

Songwriter: Nick Payne

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Our dear friend and fellow singer-songwriter in Louisville, KY, Nick Payne, played this song for us several years ago. "Paradoxes" broke our hearts open as such an insightful song about a relationship ending. It amazed how us how he captured the heartbreak of knowing someone so intimately and then never knowing them at all.

We slightly adjusted his musical arrangement and started playing this out at performances. It resonates with people and they requested that we put it on our next recording. This was recorded LIVE, in the first take. It was our first time singing this song with pianist, Richard Shulman. We enjoyed the dynamics of working with Richard to capture the raw intimacy of this song.


7. Sacred Earth (2:32)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley
Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

We have lived on 64 acres of forest for 18 years. It has become steeped in our very being- and we in it. We have committed to protecting this Sacred Earth by donating it to a Land Trust.

It is nearly impossible to express how living immersed in the woods has healed, taught, renewed, inspired, uplifted, balanced, thrilled, and connected us with true loving, harmonious Spirit around and within.

This song was written while walking through the woods and feeling such infinite gratitude for all of the soul medicine that the Earth graciously, selflessly provides. As we walked, we sang and the woods sang with us.


8. Dream to Wake (5:08)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley
Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This song was really started 25 years ago when Aim Me wrote the first verse for Renee when she was driving away from her old life to begin a new one. The song has drawn from stories throughout the years about the moment something must end for a new beginning to emerge.

Fear must be released to trust, a search for the treasure, a cocooning for a transformative birth, a submersion into subconscious wishes to create a living aspiration come true.

We wanted to pay tribute to our friends who overcome their addictions, who left abusive relationships, lost their jobs, and found their calling and drove away from the familiar to embrace the unknown. The chrysalis becomes a butterfly.


9. La La Song (4:57)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Quote from L.R.Knost

This is a tavern-style, sing-a-long with a message that we're all gonna make it and a reminder to embrace the simple beauty life.

It was written, perhaps, for ourselves more than anyone else. During these past few years of daily chaos, division, and many threats looming, we wanted to have a song that helped us remember to settle into the moment. We have tried to highlight the simple, true inspirations of daily living in the "La La Song."

Our friend, who is a doctor in New Orleans, shared this quote from L.R.Knost and we knew it had to be included-
"Don't be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break, all things can be mended, not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in the darkness for your light."

We try to balance reality and truth with magic and hope. It has always been our mission to incite courage of the heart and revolution of the spirit. Our wheelhouse where we whirl like dervishes comes in writing uplifting, encouraging songs.


10. Our Story (6:20)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

"Our Story," tells of a timeless love story between the same couple at two seasons in their lives. Their story was shared with us and inspired us to honor it in song.

They shared a young romance during college. After graduation, life took them in two different directions, but their hearts have remained as one. They each hold a part of the story "Our story was torn in two. One part was given to me, and the other to you but no time, no absence can take my heart from you, because I know you hold me, as I hold you."


11. You'll Be with Me

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

After experiencing the loss of a loved one and trying to navigate the journey of grief, we found solace in writing a song that reminds us that there is evidence of her everywhere and in everything. "In everything, I feel a trace of your life, of your light, of your love."

"You'll be with Me" means that she is still with and within us. This song is a reminder to look for the signs and traces that remain when we feel have lost someone.


12. Still Here

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

When we wrote this song, we had friends surviving cancer, the death of loved ones, drug addiction, depression, and the weight of this world. We thought about how many times we have watched people fall only to find out they can stand and withstand it all if they just don't give up.

We have seen them rise, after getting knocked down by
life, and find themselves mightier, more powerful, and more resilient than ever
before.

This song is about showing what you're made of and
shouting from the depths of your soul that you are a survivor and you are
"Still Here!"



TROUBADOURS OF DIVINE BLISS BIOGRAPHY
Troubadours of Divine Bliss, Renee Ananda, and Aim Me Smiley have been best friends since their teens when they met at a holy-roller church outside of Louisville, KY. Despite Aim Me's dad kicking Renee's dad- the pastor- out of the church, the girls remained friends and over a decade later, fell in love. They dreamed of traveling the world making music together-singing songs about following your heart, freeing your dreams, and finding your bliss. So they moved to New Orleans armed with an accordion, a guitar, and harmonies "smooth as KY Bourbon" and became street performers calling themselves Troubadours of Divine Bliss.

Since then, they have spent two decades touring full time all over America, Canada, Scandinavia, and Europe. Their style has broken the shackles of genre and their nine recordings attest to that.

The one running thread through their music is the remarkable harmonies and uplifting message.

The troubadours are musicians, ministers, activists, writers, life coaches, retreat leaders, homesteaders, and founders of Mighty Kindness. They live in southern Indiana in the Hoosier National Forest and tour internationally year-round sharing their songs of love.

Bliss appeared: FIMU Intl Music Fest France, Blissfest MI, Troubadour London, Alaska Women's Fest, Living Room NYC, BBC Radio, WKSU Cabin Fever Fest, El Principal Spain, Mojo Copenhagen, Southern Womyn Fest FL, RiverRoots Festival, Murat Theatre, Eddie's Attic




15
  • Members:
    Aim Me Smiley & Renee Ananda
  • Sounds Like:
    Simon & Garfunkel, Indigo Girls, Rising Appalachia, MaMuse, First Aid Kit, Patty Griffin, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile, Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine, Ani DiFranco
  • Influences:
    Bonnie Raitt, Michael Franti, Brandi Carlile, India Arie, Glen Hansard,
  • AirPlay Direct Member Since:
    07/01/20
  • Profile Last Updated:
    08/14/23 14:59:45

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