
Carrie Newcomer
Singer, Songwriter and Author. She has produced 16 solo CDs and has received numerous awards for her music and related charitable activities
Carrie Newcomer’s songwriting has impressed the likes of Billboard, USA Today, and Rolling Stone, which wrote that she “asks all the right questions.” Newcomer speaks and teaches about creativity, vocation, activism, and spirituality at colleges, conventions and retreats. She has shared the stage with performers like Alison Krauss and writers like Parker J. Palmer, Jill…
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Full Bio
Carrie Newcomer’s songwriting has impressed the likes of Billboard, USA Today, and Rolling Stone, which wrote that she “asks all the right questions.” Newcomer speaks and teaches about creativity, vocation, activism, and spirituality at colleges, conventions and retreats. She has shared the stage with performers like Alison Krauss and writers like Parker J. Palmer, Jill Bolte Taylor, Philip Gulley, Scott Russell Sanders, Rabbi Sandy Sasso and Barbara Kingsolver. Newcomer has written two collections of essays and poetry as companion pieces to recent albums: A Permeable Life: Poems and Essays, and The Beautiful Not Yet: Essays, Poems and Lyrics. In 2016, Goshen College awarded her with an honorary degree of Bachelor’s of Music in Social Change during a ceremony in which she delivered the college’s commencement speech. Newcomer lives in Indiana.
The Beautiful Not Yet
Singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer invites listeners to “pause the perpetual motion” of their lives with her new album, The Beautiful Not Yet (September 16, 2016). “Life is always lived between then and soon, right here and now, in the beautiful not yet,” Newcomer says. On the album and in a companion book of poems and essays, she explores how we might live more present, engaged lives, even in the face of division, uncertainty, or heartbreak.
Dubbed a “prairie mystic” by the Boston Globe, Newcomer is acclaimed for her “deep, rich alto and penchant for exquisite melodies,” both on gorgeous display on the new record. So is the deeply spiritual view of the world that grows out of her contemplative Quaker faith. “I’ve always been more intrigued by good questions than easy answers,” she says. “Questions like, what sustains and connects us? Where do we find help in hard times? When I stop and pull back the layers of distraction, what is at the very heart of my life?”
Newcomer considers herself a spiritual progressive, and is a prominent voice for interfaith dialogue and social justice. Her thoughtful approach to spirituality has led to appearances on programs such as public radio’s On Being with Krista Tippet and PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. Her work is influenced by collaborations with authors and theologians such as Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Scott Russell Sanders, Barbara Kingsolver, and Jill Bolte Taylor.
Many of the songs on The Beautiful Not Yet were created in conversation with the esteemed writer, teacher, and activist Parker J. Palmer as part of their spoken word/music collaboration, What We Need Is Here: Hope, Hard Times and the Human. Songs such as “Sanctuary,” “Three Feet or So,” and “You Can Do This Hard Thing” exemplify the themes of their collaboration, exploring how hope is sustained and activated by community. In “Lean in Toward the Light,” Newcomer envisions a different kind of hope, one that’s resolute and grounded. “When we live in heartbreaking times, hope is risky business. Hope is not wishful or positive thinking. It is tender and gritty and ultimately faithful We choose to get up in the morning and try again, in our own way, to make the world a little kinder place, and then the next day we get up and do it again.”
“The things that have always saved us personally and as a community are still here to save us: compassion, kindness, empathy, generosity, a sense of humor, decency, faithfulness and good parenting are all still here,” Newcomer says. “Yes, the things that have always tripped us up—greed, racism, tribalism, unchecked commercialism, and violence—are also still here, and so we contend with these things as well. But too often we look ‘out there’ for solutions, when what we really need is right here, within us and between us.”
These themes come to life in the joyous, earthy songs on The Beautiful Not Yet. Newcomer joined forces with producer and banjo virtuoso Jayme Stone (Lomax Project) to create an album of elegantly layered chamber/roots arrangements featuring a multi-generational group of musicians. Newcomer describes creating the album with this group as “unpretentious alchemy.”
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
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