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The band makes life-affirming music that singer Kalmia Traver created over the past few years, filled with the triumph of being cancer free.
The band makes life-affirming music that singer Kalmia Traver created over the past few years, filled with the triumph of being cancer free.
Kalmia Traver is the front-woman, co-band leader, and saxophonist for the art-pop-dance band Rubblebucket. She has an equally dynamic solo project called Kalbells which performs with an all female band. She is an avid nature lover having spent her childhood in the woods of Vermont. And most importantly, she's a cancer survivor. I met up with Kal backstage at the House of Blues in Boston at which Rubblebucket was headlining the annual world music festival CRASHfest. (They absolutely crushed it, by the way.) We found a spot in the wings and watched a killer performance by Flor De Toloache, then found a cozy corner backstage, and chatted about finding peace inside relationships, the powerful spirit of an all female band, Kal and her mom's revolutionary love experiment, the lessons of trees, breaking up a romantic relationship with your bandmate and remaining a band, experiencing infinity in love, and also randomly discovered that Kal went to high school with my cousin. Small world! Oh, and she answered Five Questions. Meet Kal.
This episode's guest is Kalmia Traver- singer, saxophone player, songwriter, band leader and completely inspiring individual Kalmia Traver from the bands Rubblebucket and Kalbells. We cover a lot of territory in this episode from her transformation as a sax player in the horn section to front woman of an successful touring band. Her battle with cancer and the amazing story of touring while undergoing treatment and what helped her get through that time to her current state of living cancer free. We talk about how that experience affected her diet and the discipline to maintain that level of nutrition on the road. We also get into how mindfulness and meditation was a crucial factor in her survival and ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Kalmia's story is an inspiration to all of us who face tough challenges in our lives and how to look those straight in the face and beat them back. Her ability to thrive in the toughest of moments is incredible. In this conversation: -Transformation from section sax player to frontwoman -‘Cancer Tour’- How that reality shaped her growth as a performer and transcended to a mindfulness practice -Inspiration sources- Tara Brach Podcast, Power of Now- Eckhart Tolle, Kelly Brogan Melding eastern and Western healing techniques -Touring with Cancer and the affect on diet and nutrition. Whole foods, organic, No sugar, No meat, minimal grains/seeds must be sprouted, sour dough bread, goat milk but no dairy, greens and veggies, lots of fats, fermented foods -Salad Backpack!! And touring with a Nutribullet -Playing shows and performing while fighting cancer causes a shift in perspective and elevated the connection with fans -Sowing the seeds of self love and working to eliminate insecurities -"The best career is the one that combines your greatest strengths with fulfilling what the world needs the most" -Breaking through exhaustion and physical ’barriers’ on tour -Rising above our perceived capabilities -The healing process of creativity and Kalmia's goal of not only healing herself but others through music Please take a moment to rate and review the podcast in iTunes and visit www.tourganic.com for more info on this episode and living healthy on the road Tourganic Podcast Theme song 'The Path' written by David Bailis and this episode's musical interludes by Kalbells
This episode's guest is Kalmia Traver- singer, saxophone player, songwriter, band leader and completely inspiring individual Kalmia Traver from the bands Rubblebucket and Kalbells. We cover a lot of territory in this episode from her transformation as a sax player in the horn section to front woman of an successful touring band. Her battle with cancer and the amazing story of touring while undergoing treatment and what helped her get through that time to her current state of living cancer free. We talk about how that experience affected her diet and the discipline to maintain that level of nutrition on the road. We also get into how mindfulness and meditation was a crucial factor in her survival and ability to thrive in the face of adversity. Kalmia's story is an inspiration to all of us who face tough challenges in our lives and how to look those straight in the face and beat them back. Her ability to thrive in the toughest of moments is incredible. In this conversation: -Transformation from section sax player to frontwoman -‘Cancer Tour’- How that reality shaped her growth as a performer and transcended to a mindfulness practice -Inspiration sources- Tara Brach Podcast, Power of Now- Eckhart Tolle, Kelly Brogan Melding eastern and Western healing techniques -Touring with Cancer and the affect on diet and nutrition. Whole foods, organic, No sugar, No meat, minimal grains/seeds must be sprouted, sour dough bread, goat milk but no dairy, greens and veggies, lots of fats, fermented foods -Salad Backpack!! And touring with a Nutribullet -Playing shows and performing while fighting cancer causes a shift in perspective and elevated the connection with fans -Sowing the seeds of self love and working to eliminate insecurities -"The best career is the one that combines your greatest strengths with fulfilling what the world needs the most" -Breaking through exhaustion and physical ’barriers’ on tour -Rising above our perceived capabilities -The healing process of creativity and Kalmia's goal of not only healing herself but others through music Please take a moment to rate and review the podcast in iTunes and visit www.tourganic.com for more info on this episode and living healthy on the road Tourganic Podcast Theme song 'The Path' written by David Bailis and this episode's musical interludes by Kalbells
Hailing from the North East Kingdom of Vermont, Kalmia Traver (Rubblebucket, Kalbells) has spent the last ten years touring relentlessly and co-leading the highly acclaimed Brooklyn based electro-indie-dance-pop band Rubblebucket. In a relatively short span Rubblebucket have put out ten LP's/EP's, worked with Grammy Award winning producers (John Congelton), and have been featured on late night TV (Jimmy Kimmel). Kalmia is a powerhouse on the alto and bari sax, has a highly unique and skillful singing voice, and her exuberance and energy as a performer is unparalleled. In addition Kalmia has just released her first full length record "Ten Flowers" under her new solo project moniker Kalbells and it has already received the attention of NPR Music and many other reputable publications. As a contemporary artist in NYC, Kalmia Traver has collaborated with the likes of QuestLove, Tuneyards, Marco Benevento, Angelique Kidjo, The Arcade Fire and many others. Kalmia's life took a difficult turn in 2013 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and subsequently fought and eventually won a long battle and is now fully cancer free! I also have had a long time friendship and personal relationship with Kalmia as we met in 2002 as music students at The University of Vermont and have been in contact ever since. In this episode we get deep and talk about Kalmia's life and spirit post cancer, how her solo project came about, how to stay positively engaged in a troubling world, shaping energy fields (I told you it got deep) and much more!! Please Enjoy! Kalbells Official Website Rubblebucket Official Website