Biography

Radio contact: Jana Mougin
jana@darkshadowrecording.com

JUBILEE - album release date: May 17, 2024

Jubilee was commissioned by the FreshGrass Foundation and originally debuted at the FreshGrass Bentonville, AR, festival in 2023.

Recorded Sept. 20 & 21, 2023, at Studio 9, North Adams, MA
Produced by Stephen Mougin
Engineered by Dave Sinko
Mixed by Stephen Mougin at Dark Shadow Recording, Goodlettsville, TN Mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO
Arranged by The Becky Buller Band
Cover Art by Nicholas “NDTank” Tankersley / NDTank.com Photography by Shayna Cooley
Graphic Design by GF Designs

Special thanks to the FreshGrass Foundation for commissioning the Jubilee song cycle, as well as providing us studio space and lodging on location at Mass MoCA, North Adams, MA. FreshGrassFoundation.org

Personnel:
Becky Buller: vocals, fiddle, cello banjo
Jacob Groopman: vocals, guitar
Daniel Hardin: vocals, bass
Wes Lee: mandolin
Ned Luberecki: banjo Aoife O’Donovan: vocals
Aoife O’Donovan appears courtesy of Yep Roc Records.

Becky plays a circa 1800 Steiner model fiddle (“Leopold” aka “The Old Man”); an Edwin Hermann bow; and a Gold Tone cello banjo.
Management & Booking: Katie Kirchner Katie K Wrangles katie@beckybuller.com
(616) 843-7188
Tour schedule, videos, lyrics & more at: BeckyBuller.com
1. Prelude
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP
2. Kismet
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
3. Woman
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
4. Interlude
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP
5. Jubilee
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP
6. Spiral
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

7. Alone
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
8. Descent
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
9. Whale
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
10. Postlude
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP

Thanks so much for giving Jubilee a spin! This album is a song cycle, meant to be listened to as sequenced and in its entirety. I invite you along on this musical journey in hopes my story is as life-giving for you to hear as it is for me to share.
In 2020 and 2021, I tasted of what it means to be “burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that I despaired even of life.”
This fruit fell from a tree that took root in my head and heart long ago. I’ve danced the dichotomy of being an extreme introvert and ardent people pleaser my entire life. The amount of effort required to be everything I think everyone expects me to be is absolutely exhausting. I struggle daily with my self-worth, which is ridiculous; I am so richly blessed in so many ways!
As a kid, songwriting became my escape from and mechanism for processing a world I couldn’t control or understand. As an adult, it became the center of my livelihood. But with each new season came new responsibilities...employee, wife, mother, recording artist, band leader.... Too often, songwriting is the last thing I allow myself time for; in doing so, I cut off my therapy and much of my air supply.
I entered 2020 riding a tsunami, getting to perform in places and with folks above and beyond anything I’d ever imagined possible. We were even invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry! I felt so unworthy to be there, but did the best I could to tamp those lies and fears down deep inside, remain grateful, hold on, and enjoy. It was during this time I connected with Aoife to write “Jubilee”; the idea of needing a bit of a rest resonated with both of us.
When I started my own band in 2015, I sought out ongoing counseling because I knew the stress would be too much for me; I highly recommend it for anyone! But it just wasn’t enough when the world shut down.
There were so many decisions to be made and absolutely no right answers; my team and I were at the mercy of the pandemic like everyone else. I had a new album coming out we couldn’t promote or sell in the usual ways. All gigs were canceled except two: I vividly remember the nightmares that kept me awake for a couple months about cancelling the first one...my band was in quarantine; who else would risk infection to help me out? I should never have gone to the second gig... Thank goodness the Opry debut was postponed.

I had become as brittle and transparent as glass. When another financial pebble was lobbed at me, I shattered into a million pieces. I literally felt something in my brain pop. I couldn’t function, make complete sentences, or even sign my own name correctly. I couldn’t see any way out of that valley of shadows.
If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone at anytime, y’all. How did I get in that place? My body gave out on me; the injury intangible. I am not ashamed to tell you that medication is
part of my treatment plan. The difference it made was staggering.
My faith in Christ? “I do believe; help my unbelief!” The Bible underpins my life, but my faith in myself ALWAYS gets in the way, this time with dangerous consequences.
Looking back, I can clearly see how God was before, behind, and with me all the way, often carrying me. He provided me: a kind husband who has struggled with depression and anxiety for 30 years and knew exactly where to take me for help; a physician who is also a musician; caring Christian counselors; pastors, church family, family, close friends, and colleagues who didn’t give up on me; time away from the public eye to heal.
God even saw fit to prompt me to film our last show and made a way for us to finish recording a new album before shutdown; this content sustained my business through that time. The album ended up being nominated for an award; the song “The Barber’s Fiddle” won 2020 IBMA Collaborative Recording Of The Year! I was honored to be the covergirl on the first issue of the legendary Bluegrass Unlimited magazine to be published by the Bluegrass Hall Of Fame And Museum as well as the first artist filmed for the museum’s new TV show, My Bluegrass Story. My band and I were even invited to take part in the sixth and final season of David Holt’s State Of The Music on PBS.
I’m mortified that even while walking on a sea of such abundance, I couldn’t keep my eyes on God, sinking almost to the point of drowning in despair. (There I go trusting my own effort again...) But that’s how I know I need Him. Why an infinitely perfect God would desire to work through a broken vessel like me is completely beyond my understanding. I’m so glad He does, though.
About the time my doctor and I settled on the right medication for me, the Opry called back! Being invited to share my music from that hallowed stage was a huge validation of everything I had been professionally pursuing, something I never thought within my reach. That experience was a significant milestone along my road to healing. Our debut was even filmed for Circle All Access TV. (No pressure!) When you watch the video, you’ll hear me say, “I’ve come through so much to be here...” Now you know what I meant by that.
In late 2022, the FreshGrass Foundation contacted me about my band performing at both their festivals the following year. They also generously commissioned me to write a piece of music to debut at the spring event. The song “Jubilee,” which had already lain dormant for a few years, became the seed from which this song cycle blossomed. Again, God provided me a golden opportunity to do what I love most.

I have no idea what battle you’re fighting nor what you believe, but that doesn’t keep me from praying for you right now and going forward. I pray you would know how loved you are, how important you are to the people who love you, and the One who created you.
I pray you would reach out for help. Here are a few resources: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US only)
Text HOME to 741741 Crisis Text Line (US only)
Befrienders Worldwide
befrienders.org
Open Counseling blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/
Strength To Stand Counseling stscounseling.org
American Association Of Christian Counselors AACC.net


- With much love from your fellow traveler, Becky

----------------------------
ALONE - second single from the up-coming album "Jubilee"
Release date: April 5, 2024

Recorded it live at Studio 9 in North Adams, MA.
Produced and mixed by Stephen Mougin
Engineered by Dave Sinko
Release date: April 5, 2024
Label: Dark Shadow Recording
Songwriter: Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI

"As the pandemic shutdown persisted, I was careening toward a mental health crisis. Instead of viewing it all as a much needed break, I could only see a black hole intent on devouring me. I had a new album coming out with no gigs to promote it…no band to play any gigs anyway. Although I had a great team around me and an extremely supportive husband, they couldn’t help because there were no right answers. When one more financial pebble was thrown at me, I shattered into a million pieces. “Alone” is my attempt to distill off this poison.” - Becky Buller

Musicians:
Becky Buller - lead vocal, fiddle
Jacob Groopman - guitar
Daniel Hardin - upright bass
Ned Luberecki -banjo
Wes Lee - mandolin

"Just prior to the 2020 shutdown, Aoife O'Donovan and I collaborated to create this air of wistful longing for mental and emotional rest. "Jubilee" fell into the dark dearth of the pandemic years, lying dormant until the FreshGrass Foundation commissioned me to write a performance piece for debut at their 2023 Bentonville, AR, festival. This song is the seed that blossomed into an entire song cycle of the same name, which chronicles my lifelong struggle with acute depression and anxiety, a struggle that reached its crescendo during COVID. No matter what
you're facing right now, I pray this music carries you toward a place of peace.” - Becky Buller

Recorded it live at Studio 9 in North Adams, MA.
Produced and mixed by Stephen Mougin
Engineered by Dave Sinko
Release date: February 23, 2024
Label: Dark Shadow Recording
Songwriters:
Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
Aoife O’Donovan, Cosmic Seed Music, ASCAP


Musicians: Becky Buller Band with Aoife O’Donovan - vocal

Becky Buller - lead vocal, fiddle
Jacob Groopman - guitar
Daniel Hardin - upright bass
Ned Luberecki -banjo
Wes Lee - mandolin