Last Oxford CAROspace | Barefoot Bakery
My last Oxford #carospace.
When I first brainstormed up this project, it was mid November, 2015, and I was sitting in a cafe (Zappi’s) scribbling notes and dreaming all over the place.
The cafe was inspiration itself as I looked around and gathered thoughts about how to incorporate space, music, media, and story together.
I’m just lucky that I happened to be friends with the cafe manager, Dan, at the time and that he was all for big dreams and collaborations.
I went from walking down St. Michael’s Street with fragmented ideas, to sitting in a cafe corner brewing them over.
I went from drinking my coffee and notating my thoughts, to talking with Dan and sharing those thoughts out loud.
Then BAM. My ideas suddenly became coherent possibilities that instantly became realized dreams. Not only had I written my swirling concepts into a holistic project, but I had presented, been approved, and given a date for when the project could happen.
I walked in with not even an outline.
I walked out with a full essay of a dream.
Combining multiple mediums to express story.
Carospace connects stories and connects people. It builds community and encourages creativity while providing a way for me to present my music to the public. I recorded a music video every month in a different space in Oxford, writing an article about the song and about the space/owners of the space. This project spanned from December 2015 through July 2016, as I moved back to America that following August.
November, December, January…my project pushed into the new year and I found my routine of planning, preparing, and producing each month.
February, March, April…these were busy months where the project almost didn’t survive due to cancellations, lack of resources, and lack of help. But somehow, a video always got published by month’s end.
May, June, July…summer season of travel and moving. I knew I wanted to keep the project going until I left Oxford. Got my move out date of Aug 10 and decided July would be the closer to an 8 month project.
8 months. 8 videos. 8 teams.
8 spaces. 8 songs. 8 stories.
Collaborations with photographers, videographers, engineers, producers, shop owners, artisans, musicians.
Before I officially moved from Oxford, I knew that #carospace could be a real, ongoing project. I had learned enough of what to do and what not to do, what worked and what didn’t work, to keep the project core the same while changing context.
It didn’t have to stay in Oxford, although it would always be influenced by it.
So those 8 months are now deemed the Carospace “Oxford sessions” which will continue to live on my website and show where I started and where it all began.
I didn’t have fancy equipment or a professional team. I had borrowed camera and talented friends who graciously volunteered. But that’s what I like about those Oxford sessions. They are raw, real, and a testament to my learning experience there. They show growth but also genuineness. They show that we didn’t do it for money or recognition, but to create something and share in it together.
I know these videos will serve as reminders to me in years to come of why I create. Of why I love creating and collaborating. Of why I love writing and singing. Of why I love music.
Thanks to everyone who was a part of the Oxford sessions of #carospace. From working with me every week, to encouraging me to keep going. Thank you to everyone who read the stories and heard the songs I wrote. My goal is to share in my music, my creativity and projects, with you.
To more sessions of Carospace, wherever they may be!
