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."- Laura Shine, WFPK, Louisville


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


Awakening to Love
Release Date: 2012

A fan favorite, 'Awakening to Love' was summoned as an offering to the human spirit. It's rich and sweeping sound holds both inspiring anthems and modern hymns. Showcasing the infamous ethereal harmonies of the troubadours, 'Awakening to Love' also features accordion, guitar, violin, mandolin, piano, and world instrumentation. "A masterpiece"," "this CD has changed my life...thank you", "Beautiful....a visionary treasure from the heart! "
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"Awakening to Love" is a great album. Well recorded, beautiful lyrics, lovely harmonies. Songs that sound good enough to become absolute classics of the genre." David Norton, 'Radio Radio'

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


MUSICIANS:
Aim Me Smiley:vocals, acoustic guitar
Karena Ahkmatova: cello
Renee Ananda: vocals, accordion, piano
Randy Brewer: mandolin
Steph Dlugon: violin
Doris Dupe: drums, percussion
Big Mac: bass


ORDER OF SONGS ON AWAKENING TO LOVE:

1. Awakening to Love(6:34)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

On the front porch one fall afternoon, our instruments on and our hearts open to what song wanted to come through. We had been praying, calling in peace and hearts open to holding more love. We talked about how it has to start within ourselves first- loving ourselves. Then it needs to move into our families, workplace, and communities- a true compassionate love. And then, if it spread even farther, across borders, around the world, we could have peace and infinite bliss.

2. Free Life(6:04)

Songwriters: Dan Wilson

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Free Life
This song by Dan Wilson was introduced to us by our friend Angie who said we should cover it. We completely fell in love with it and have been playing it ever since.

3. The Ones (5:51)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

We are active politically, socially, and on behalf of the environment in every way, we can be. Music is a way to convey and buoy a message. There have always been songs written for the political climate of their times. This is one gospel accordion to us. We are the ones we’ve waiting for. This song has been used as a rallying cry for the environment, voting rights, social justice, and women’s movements.

4.It is Well(5:14)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This is a deeply personal song. It came quickly as a "healing balm" when I, Renee, needed it most. I was still healing after the end of an unhealthy relationship. I wanted to be free. I found in making the proclamation that "It is Well" I felt the peace and healing I was seeking. I put energy into what I wanted more of in my life and surrendered what needed to be let go of so that I could hold more wellness. This is a healing anthem for anyone ready to be well in their mind, heart, and spirit.

5. Invite the Light (6:29)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

As a lover of funk, soul, and blues, Aim Me was feeling this music while jamming on the electric guitar. Calling in more light, an infusion of bliss, because of being depleted by the weight of the world. This is a soul roll call, roll call to remember to recharge and ignite by inviting the Light of Love to shine through.

6. Life is Sweet (6:17)

Songwriters: Maria McKee

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

What a great song, written by Maria McKee. We had never heard of her until our friend Laurie (who designed the album art) put this song on a mix CD for us. It is so akin to our spirits- love the inspiring message in here. When we cover a song, we try to honor the original version then add our own voice to it.

7. Serenade for Seraphim (5:35)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Sleeping in our car in Canada and invited to stay inside a mansion, stopped from street performing and invited to play a house party in France, unable to pay our bills and a blessing comes, an injury, and then comes the nurse. Wow, we have so many Angels in our lives- we all do. We cannot name them but we can sing of their gifts of salvation in our lives. All around us, Angels, reaching out to help others up. May we all become Angels for each other and give thanks for the wings that lifted our hearts when we needed it most.

8. The Greening (6:08)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Living so immersed in Nature, when the beginnings of Spring come, you feel every inch of the rebirth as if it were happening within your own soul. Everywhere green, the color of the heart source and surely God’s favorite color. Spring, that tender growth and resurrection! To be alive …all alive! This song awakens the mud of our marrow to join with the dust of the Earth

9. Deep Song (7:33)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

The lyrics to ‘Deep Song’ are from celebrated, Wild Woman UK poet, Vik Bennett. We met Vik because the word ‘troubadour’ entered her dreams. So at 3 am, she googled the word where she discovered these kindred sisters. She wrote and invited us to come to England and play at their artist collective salon in William Wordsworth’s old estate in Cumbria. We set about booking our first British Bliss Invasion Tour and several months later we were there performing with the inspirational Common People. Vik’s poem is a summoning to the Divine Feminine which has been a siren call for us since our beginning. The Sacred has been solely masculine or in service of the masculine, which has always felt deeply lacking of the Whole of Spirit. To wise, wild women who carry ancient healing …this is for all of you.

10. Divining Utopia (5:51)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This started as a soundcheck song. The chorus came spontaneously to Aim Me during a soundcheck on a Sunday night at our open stage Church on the Rocks in Louisville, Kentucky. The vibe of CoTR was exactly that- “I believe there’s a better way for you and me to be together in this life. I believe there’s a better way for you and me to spend the rest of our time together in this life.” A brief few hours once a week where everyone was welcome to share their vision, as long as it doesn’t hurt another, to create a community where everyone is valued and has something to share. Why can’t we create Heaven on Earth? Why not create a society that respects and truly values all life? I believe we can.

11. Holy Now (5:58)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

One of the best songs ever written by the modern mystic and bard Peter Mayer. This song is such a pure, inclusive prayer that nearly everyone resonates with the message. We are so grateful this song is in our lives and it's one of our favorite and most requested covers.

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