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Grenadine & Kerosene

by Carolyn Shulman

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Vanessa Peters
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Vanessa Peters Love the vocals and the whole feel of "Broken Wing." Sweetly melancholic and uplifting in equal measure. Favorite track: Broken Wing.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Comes in a beautifully designed, 6-panel digipak with liner notes and album credits.

    Includes a digital pre-order of Grenadine & Kerosene. You will receive one digital track instantly, upon purchase! (Digital tracks available via streaming on the Bandcamp app, and also available as a high quality download in mp3, FLAC, WAV, and more). You will also receive the complete album digitally the moment it's released.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Grenadine & Kerosene via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days

      $15 USD or more 

     

  • T-Shirt/Shirt + Digital Album

    Made in honor of the 1 year anniversary of the release of Carolyn's debut album, Grenadine & Kerosene, this is a super soft, unisex, Bella + Canvas t-shirt. It features a small graphic on the front left corner and a larger guitar design on the back of the shirt.

    Fabric is 52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester.

    Available in heather cardinal or dark grey heather colors.

    Bonus: You will receive a free download of Carolyn's album "Grenadine & Kerosene" with purchase of this shirt!

    Thanks to Annie Harmon of Harmony Design, LLC for designing these beautiful shirts (as well as Carolyn's album art)!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Grenadine & Kerosene via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days

      $25 USD or more 

     

1.
Grenadine & Kerosene © 2021 Carolyn Shulman You’re desert sun, and I’m exhausted from the heat My throat gets dry; my head spins too much to think You found me here, with my friends for a drink But this thirst survives, and you are not what you seem You are grenadine Mixed with kerosene You are restless sleep spiked with caffeine dreams When you’re on my mind You’re like that glass of wine I should decline Before my heart spills out of me So I’ll go home, where I’ve got everything I need And tell myself to clear my head and breathe I’m not alone, this is a transient thing These thoughts don’t mean my heart is broken or weak You are grenadine Mixed with kerosene You are restless sleep spiked with caffeine dreams When you’re on my mind You’re like that glass of wine I should decline Before my heart spills out of me Is my heart half empty, or half full? My blood keeps pooling in the shape of you A stain where you once stood I need a cure Some elixir for this thirst You are grenadine Mixed with kerosene You are restless sleep spiked with caffeine dreams When you’re on my mind You’re like that glass of wine I should decline Before my heart spills out of me Oh, you are grenadine Mixed with kerosene You are restless sleep spiked with caffeine dreams When you’re on my mind You’re like that glass of wine I should decline Before my heart spills out of me Before my heart spills out of me Oh, oh, hey Oh, oh, hey
2.
Double Stars 03:29
Double Stars © 2021 Carolyn Shulman We are matched together, double stars Pulsing parallel lights in the dark Out in space it’s not so hard to see With you right next to me Where I wanna be Set your worries down, my weary one Cool your burning core until the dawn And if your gravity’s too much to hold Let me be your sun ‘til the morning comes And as we spin through space and time On elliptical orbit lines Our love’s the constant force that guides Our courses through the sky Steady now so we don’t burn too fast I need this light to last For another day When my axis feels a little bent When my energy is all but spent When my wobble throws me off my track Veering towards the unknown black Your pull can guide me back And as we spin through space and time On elliptical orbit lines Our love’s the constant force that guides Our courses through the sky Steady now so we don’t burn too fast I need this light to last On our own, the light we shed’s too dim And the cold could do us in Other stars may beckon, burning bright Seeming warmer on dark nights But our system’s working out so far And by chance or fate or physics, here we are We are matched together, double stars Circling ‘round inside each other’s arms Rising, setting, lighting up the dark It started with a spark, and a dream inside our hearts And as we spin through space and time On elliptical orbit lines Our love’s the constant force that guides Our courses through the sky Steady now so we don’t burn too fast I need this light to last For another day
3.
Time to Let It Go © 2021 Carolyn Shulman So many years, you’ve been a friend of mine So many years of reading ‘tween the lines Was it always hard? I can’t recall I check the rearview mirror, but the glass is fogged Maybe it’s time to let it go Maybe it’s time to let it go, oh People change, and people grow Take diverging paths, or a rocky road They say a window opens when a door has closed What if our door is stuck, the hinges rusty & slow? Maybe it’s time to let it go Maybe it’s time to let it go, oh You can wield your words to heal or hurt So you throw a barb, plant a few grenades in the dirt Well you hit your mark, I hope it felt real good You called it friendly fire, said I misunderstood Maybe it’s time to let it go Maybe it’s time to let it go I think it’s time to let this go I think it’s time to let you go, oh
4.
Matter of Time © 2021 Carolyn Shulman Where'd that old feeling go? Did it drown in a bottle of wine? Did we work so long, try so hard We straightened every crooked line Let's get lost, take a wrong turn Screwing up's the best way to learn We'll never get anywhere but bitter and burned 'Til we cross that line It's just a matter of time Well, sometimes the days go by Like a matchbox starting to burn Driving ‘round town, runs me into the ground Peace and quiet is something you earn Let's get lost, take a wrong turn Screwing up's the best way to learn We'll never get anywhere but bitter and burned ‘Til we cross that line It's just a matter of time Well I know you work all day, And you must be so damn tired But you know I love the way I can count on you to break out a smile Let's get lost, take a wrong turn Screwing up's the best way to learn We'll never get anywhere but bitter and burned ‘Til we cross that line It's just a matter of time We’ll never get anywhere but bitter and burned ‘Til we cross that line It’s just a matter of time Where’d that old feeling go? Let’s open up a bottle of wine.
5.
Broken Wing 03:44
Broken Wing © 2021 Carolyn Shulman I’ve been stuck in this place for days on end Feeling sorry for myself and wondering when Like a bird, I will fly, spread my wings in the wind But I, I never saw a bird fly with a broken wing Well, I can lie in my bed, covers pulled to my chin Or I can hide in my head as my racing thoughts spin Or I can open up the door, step outside, and begin Cause I can’t watch another day go by with my broken wing Sometimes we’ve gotta slow down While our broken places heal We pray for miracles but miss that ones That take time to reveal So I’ll take time with myself, and I will walk before I run The journey’s slow, and sometimes lonely, but I am not the only one And every time I turn around, I can see just how far I’ve come ‘Til I’m flying past the memory of a broken wing Now as I fly into the world that I missed on the mend I can sail, and I can soar, against the blue that never ends And I know there’ll be moments I’ll take it all for granted again But I’m better for the days I waited with a broken wing ‘Cause I, I never saw a bird fly with a broken wing Watch me as I fly
6.
Across the Borderline © 2021 Carolyn Shulman You woke up early, before the sun rose You packed some water and some worn out clothes You got your girls up, whispered “it’s time to go” Took one last look before the door closed You don’t know what lies ahead, only what you leave behind And you’re searching for salvation ‘cross the border line Every footstep is a prayer, you beg safe passage ‘till you’re there You hope God will give you refuge ‘cross the border line The desert miles are long; your muscles ache Your belly’s empty; how much more can you take? The sun keeps beating down; your girls are crying now The water’s low and time is running out You don’t know what lies ahead Only what you left behind And you’re yearning for salvation ‘cross the borderline Every footstep is a prayer You beg safe passage till you’re there And you can rest inside that refuge ‘cross the borderline What could you do when the one who said he’d care for you Sold out your trust for a quick fix and a buck or two He led the wolves right to your door You were not safe there anymore, no When you arrived, you thought God heard your prayers Until a guard barked, “You go here, those girls go there” Before you knew what had gone wrong He had ripped them from your arms And now they’re frightened and alone somewhere You don’t know what lies ahead Only what you left behind Now you’re yearning for your children ‘cross the borderline Every phone call is a prayer You beg them hold on ‘til you’re there You ask God to reunite you Oh you thought God would give you refuge God please grant them strength and refuge Oh God forgive us for these sins across the borderline
7.
Hallowed Light ©️ 2021 Carolyn Shulman The morning light through the blinds Hits your eyes just right And the shadows haunting our night can’t Survive in this hallowed light Before the day runs ahead Let’s hold this moment tight Breathe the air in and let it Fill us up with life And you know my demons And the fears in my chest Time and again you find the place where My best self lives And your love is right on time It’s fusing my broken lines They say that a fracture is stronger In the place where it’s healed with time The morning light through the blinds Hits your eyes just right And the shadows haunting our night can’t Survive in this hallowed light
8.
The Other Side © 2021 Carolyn Shulman Wish I could stop my mind Running on overdrive Wipe my memory clean And start again, start again You’d get the best of me Maybe that’s all there’d be No need to seek advice No thinkin’ twice; no thinkin’ twice But that’s not the world we live in There’s no boat to paradise So I guess I’ll just try swimming 'Til I reach the other side The other side This life won’t lead itself Stuffed in a box on a shelf Collecting dust and killing time Waiting for some sign, some sign And that’s just the world we live in There’s no boat to paradise So I know I must try swimming 'Til I reach the other side This time is all we have And our days are flying fast But I’m paralyzed upon the same old path And all these choices feel the same So I cannot find my way And my broken compass cannot lead me back Wish I could sail through the years To some future bright and clear No rocks upon that shore Find what I’m looking for But that’s not the world we live in There’s no boat to paradise So I’ve got to keep on swimming 'Til I reach the other side The other side ’Til I reach the other side The other side
9.
Sun In the Rain © 2021 Carolyn Shulman I don’t wanna live Under this dark cloud Waiting for the sky to open up Waiting for the bottom to drop out So I’ll search for some blue sky And I’ll search for the sun when the rain’s falling down Sometimes the fog obscures my sight But still I press on Cautiously watching the road in my headlights Clutching the wheel ‘til I make it home alright But I’ll search for some blue sky And I’ll search for the sun when the rain’s falling down Like a candle that flickers but stays lit Like a firefly that’s windblown but won’t quit When my chest aches, my soul dark with its weight I can look for the sun I don’t wanna live Under this dark cloud Waiting for the sky to open up Waiting for the bottom to drop out But I see my blue sky And I see the sun when the rain’s falling down Falling down Falling down
10.
I Don’t Miss You © 2021 Carolyn Shulman Well, you know sometimes I wish I’d never met you Wish I had not surrendered to your smile And most days I regret how long I let you Crawl beneath my skin and squeeze your fingers around my brain Until you drove me right insane there for awhile. But I don’t miss you, not one bit When I see you, I will spit into your eye And say hello, then I’ll wave goodbye and go. Do you recall that night you came to my place Looking for a quick and guiltless time We had some fun, and when you left the next day You left your hat, and it sat in my closet for eight months And when I wore it once, you yelled until I cried But I don’t miss you, not one bit When I see you, I will spit into your eye And say hello, then I’ll wave goodbye and go. Naomi Judd said love can build a bridge But I think it is time that our bridge burn Sometimes it still makes me sad, a smidge To think about you, but when I do I stop and think about you as a pebble in my shoe That was a minor annoyance in my day, But I shook it out, and got on my way, And I was okay, I’ll be okay, I’m okay ‘Cuz I don’t miss you, not one bit When I see you, I’ll just spit into your eye And say hello, then I’ll wave goodbye and go I will wave goodbye and go I will wave goodbye and go
11.
Deepest Blue 04:48
The Deepest Blue © 2021 Carolyn Shulman These moments of solitude are keeping me alive They let me think of you Reminding me that I survived The deepest blue And in this silence, one melody rings true It reminds me of a song I knew And it sings me to sleep like your lullabies When you cradled me inside The deepest blue Well, I know you see the same sky I do And it brings me peace to know I loved you And our twilight is melting into The deepest blue So I can sleep now with the memory of you Tucked safely in my dreams And I don’t have to cry, for the first time I know why Our love has grown into The deepest blue These moments of solitude are keeping me alive They let me think of you and smile Reminding me to hold onto The deepest blue

about

Carolyn Shulman's debut release, Grenadine & Kerosene, is the realization of a lifelong dream to record a full-length album of original songs. Produced by John McVey of Cinder Sound Studios in Longmont, Colorado, this collection of songs spans a wide variety of sounds and influences, ranging from rocking Americana to sweet, folky love songs and quiet, introspective pieces that offer the listener a window into intimate moments.

McVey and Shulman brought in a full band of seasoned musicians for this project. Among them were guitarist Michael O’Connor, drummer Christian Teele, Kramer Kelling and Chris Engleman on bass, Eric Moon on keys, fiddler Natalie Rae Padilla, Glenn Taylor on pedal steel, and Greg Schochet on mandolin. Background vocalists included fellow Colorado-based folk singer-songwriters Edie Carey, Megan Burtt, Jen Hitt, Jen Morrison, and McVey.

The album’s highlights include the title track’s classic folk-rock sounds, followed by “Double Stars,” a sweet love song using a binary star system as a relationship metaphor; a contemplative piece about changing relationships called “Let It Go,” featuring Edie Carey’s rich, emotive harmonies; a guitar-centric folk-rocker called “Matter of Time;” the powerful “Across the Borderline,” which tells the heartbreaking story of a refugee traversing the desert with her children; “I Don’t Miss You,” a raucous country send-off to an ex; and a song about physical and spiritual healing called “Broken Wing,” representing a gospel-inspired musical nod to Shulman’s southern roots.

Grenadine & Kerosene was released on May 21, 2021 to positive reviews and landed on the Folk Radio Charts within ten days of its release. The following month, the album reached #22 on the Folk Radio Charts, and Carolyn ranked among the top 30 artists played on folk radio for June 2021. 

The album is, as its title suggests, a mixture of refined sweetness and raw emotion, packing a punch that is powerful and satisfying.

credits

released May 21, 2021

MUSICIANS:
Carolyn Shulman - Vocals, acoustic guitar
Michael O’Connor - Electric & acoustic guitar
Christian Teele - Drums
Kramer Kelling - Electric bass
Chris Engleman - Upright & electric bass
Eric Moon - Keys, Accordion
Glenn Taylor - Pedal steel guitar
Natalie Rae Padilla - Fiddle
Greg Schochet - Mandolin
John McVey - Baritone guitar, additional electric and acoustic guitars, percussion, banjo

BACKING VOCALISTS:
Megan Burtt
Edie Carey
Jen Hitt
John McVey
Jen Morrison

Produced, engineered, & mixed by John McVey at Cinder Sound Studio in Longmont, Colorado www.cindersoundstudio.com

Mastered by Anna Frick at Air Show in Boulder, Colorado.

Artwork and Graphic Design by Annie Harmon at www.harmonyd.com

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Carolyn Shulman Denver, Colorado

Folk & Americana singer-songwriter. Guitar nerd. Whiskey enthusiast. Mom. Volunteer. Activist. Believer that music can change lives. Used to practice law; now I'm chasing a dream.

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