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Award-winning singer-songwriter Beatie Wolfe, wrote, narrated and made the music for two Calm Sleep Stories. She recorded her latest Sleep Story on a boat!
Get to know Beatie and learn about her unique experience crafting a sleep story in the interview below.
What influenced you to become a singer-songwriter?
I started writing when I was 7. I was completely obsessed with storytelling and it felt like pure magic when I discovered that I could put my stories to music. I spent hours pouring over my mum’s record collection, reading them like musical books, and getting lost in the different worlds that came to life in each album. Music is a language that has always made sense to me.
Do you practice mindfulness?
Yes! It's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mum was a therapist, assertiveness trainer and ahead of the game when it came to healthy living. While growing up, I was introduced to mindfulness and other tools to support my wellbeing. So for every gig (starting from when I was a kid), I meditate beforehand. Before a talk, performance, or interview I always meditate, even if it’s only for a couple of minutes. I find it can make all the difference. Actually, I used the Calm app for the first time before a gig in San Francisco in 2012. It really helped me to relax and clear my head.
What inspired you to write this Sleep Story?
My bass player lives on a magical boat that once belonged to Jacques Cousteau. This 30-tonne concrete ship berthed in San Diego Bay is called the Just Love boat.
Whenever I spent time on the boat it felt like time just stopped, all the things I needed to do evaporated, and my imagination was set free. I was curious about the mysterious history of the boat and decided to share my imaginings in a Sleep Story.
The coolest part is that I ended up recording my Sleep Story, The Mysterious Sound of the Sea, on the boat. Sadly, the boat was too difficult to maintain and has since been sold, so my sleep story was the last thing recorded on it. Here's a little video I made to share some of my time on the Just Love boat. It was definitely a gift.
Why do you think Sleep Stories are resonating with so many people around the world?
Sleep Stories combine the magic of storytelling with something very comforting and soothing. I think we all want to spend more time being imaginative and playful. Sleep Stories allow you to feel like a kid again, while also providing a practical way to unwind and switch off.
Are you working on any new projects at the moment?
I’m excited to be curating a new festival for the LA Times around storytelling in music, film, art, and tech. I’m creating a pop-up version of my Raw Space experience (the world’s first live 360 AR stream) which will be featured at the festival and afterwards exhibited in the V&A Museum. I also did the first galactic broadcast using the Holmdel Horn (the same antenna that proved the Big Bang theory) to transmit my album into Space. A film about that extraordinary experience will be coming out soon.
If you're interested, you can learn more on my website.