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

"The Troubadours work through folk-based melodies, some sassy jazz vocal riffs, a touch of the blues, a hint of zydeco, all mixed into a cosmic cocktail of bliss and joy" Tim Roberts, Louisville Music News

"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

" "The harmonies of the Troubadours of Divine Bliss are smooth as Kentucky Bourbon and soft as Spanish Moss. Mix it up with the wild soul of Joplin in two truly sweet women. This duo defies labels. Let's just say they are a celebration of music and life. Pack your bags, because the Troubadours of Divine Bliss are going to take you to places you've never been before...and you're going to want to stay awhile."Carla Riggs – Media Max

Off the Cuff LIVE One
Release Date: 2005
This is Disc One of a Two-Disc LIVE set at The Winchester in Cleveland, Ohio. It was recorded LIVE in one show with some of our favorite musician friends on lead guitar, mandolin, violin, and banjo.

This album has great energy and showcases some of our audiences' favorite songs.

The album features master musicians perfectly enhancing each song on banjo, violin, electric guitar, mandolin, and lead guitar and, of course, the signature accordion, guitar, and heavenly harmonies.

MUSICIANS:
Aim Me Smiley:vocals, acoustic guitar
Renee Ananda: vocals, accordion
Randy Brewer: mandolin
Steph Dlugon: violin
Brian Henke: lead guitar
Bob Petrarca: banjo

1. Standin (6:59)

Songwriters: Uptighty

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This is a cover song from a now defunct Chicago funk band, Uptighty. We have remained deeply inspired by its message of coming down from the “mountain” of privilege to be the answer when there is “trouble down here below”. This song has never had a deeper meaning to us and others than in these current times.

2. Angel from Mongomery (5:19)

Songwriters: John Prine

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This is the first song we sang together years after having sung together in church. We sat on the front porch at Aim Me’s Mom’s cabin and learned “Angel from Montgomery” from the magnificent John Prine. It is has remained in our repertoire as a most requested and most respected song.

John Prine shared the meaning of Angel from Montgomery as…” a song about a middle-aged woman who feels older than she is… She lived in Montgomery, Alabama and she wanted to get out of there. She wanted to get out of her house and her marriage and everything. She just wanted an angel to come to take her away from all this. And her memory of this cowboy she had once – or whether she had him or not – it doesn’t matter now.”

3. H.H. Doolittle (4:26)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

When we left New Orleans after 3 years of being street performers in the French Quarter we went out to tour in the United States, Canada, and Europe fulltime on the road for 3 years. Toward the end of our grand adventure, we became weary being on the road. We were longing for a place to plant roots and grow things, including ourselves.

One of our favorite ways to be informed and entertained on the road was listening to NPR. The day we heard Mara Liasson sharing the inspiring story of H.H. Doolittle and his simplistic and idealistic life as a cherry farmer, we knew we needed to write a song that captured what we were longing for so deeply. After 3 years on the road, we were craving that same idealistic life of simplicity of living in nature and homesteading. We wanted to write a song about that while simultaneously tell the story of H.H. Doolittle’s inspiring existence.

4. Walk by your Side (5:15)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

We were housesitting outside of Boulder, Colorado for someone who had to do “time” for some unresolved, unpaid parking tickets.

He needed someone to watch over his cabin. This coincided with us being on the road fulltime and in need of rest so we gladly took the opportunity to rest and rejuvenate. We were thrilled when we found ourselves deep in the Rocky Mountains in a remote area caretaking a charming little cabin for a few weeks. It was nestled in the foothills in a pocket of peace with fields of wildflowers and a creek than passed right under the front porch. It was a very inspiring retreat for us.

We took this time to rest and recharge. We also spent a lot of time reflecting on what and who we were grateful for in our lives. We found ourselves writing “Walk by your Side” to honor those true-blue people in our lives who stick with us through thick and thin. It is also our vow to those people and each other to be that faithful and enduring presence.

5. Shake the Devil (6:55)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

The refrain in “Shake the Devil” is from the beginning of this scripture, “For the love of money is the root of all of evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

We intend the “devil” to mean a state of consciousness adverse to the divine good
Seeing and experiencing how the greed of all kinds has created sorrow for those who have been underserved and even for those who are selfish and serving their own needs, we felt inspired to write a song that highlighted these injustices and inequalities in humanity.

It is a call to shake loose from the immoral impulse of self-indulgence and selfishness and ask your self what you can do to be the change. The song asks, “What can we do? Do what we can! When you’re faced with a choice you’re either taking a stand or shaking the devil’s hand.

6. Superman (5:03)

Songwriters: Aim Me Smiley & Renee Anada

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This song goes out to all the good Dad’s out there. It’s been the song for many Father and Daughter dances at weddings.
It is an honoring of those fathers who rise to the role of fatherhood by being not only an honorable man but by earning the name Dad.

“Here’s a song for the unsung heroes. Men who don’t need fortune and fame to make them proud. He earns his respect with fairness and heart. His honor and integrity set him apart. He’s a king among men…”

Being a Daddy’s girl this song is a tribute to that “Superman” who earned the name Dad!

7. Do You Live What You Preach (4:37)

Songwriters: Ira and Charlie Louvin

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

Rolling Stone ranked the Louvin Brothers No. 4 on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time. Being a duo ourselves and because of our history in the church, we wanted to cover this song. It asks the all-important question, “Do you live what you preach – Do you preach what you live?” It calls out hypocrisy and suggests that your words and actions in this world should match.

8. Shiver Me Timbers (5:16)

Songwriters: Tom Waits

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

“Shiver Me Timbers” is a cover of one of our greatest influences, Tom Waits. We were listening to his album the “Heart of Saturday Night” (one of our favorites) just after a dear friend of ours had passed away. We were deeply touched by the way this song captures so visually and poetically a soul “sailing away.”

Aim Me’s family has a long legacy of working for the L&N Railroad so it has a special place in her heart. This song was written by American treasure Jean Ritchie.

9. Scarlet Carnival (4:09)

Songwriters: Renee Ananda & Aim Me Smiley

Publisher: Troubadours of Divine Bliss Music, BMI

This song was written when we first started making music in New Orleans. We became profoundly immersed by and intrigued by the culture of the Big Easy. With all of its history and mystery, we were constantly inspired by the characters and society that made is so rich in texture and experience.

After seeing vintage signs in the French Quarter that said, “Beware of pickpockets and loose women,” we researched and discovered that these signs were posted in the Red Light District in the 19th century. We explored the culture at that time and uncovered some savory characters that we feature in the song as well as some modern-day savory sorts that we introduce to you as well.

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