Gentleness -- and grace. Vanessa and husband Jason Lively (who plays bass and charango in her band) recently returned from South America, where they traveled about doing good. While in Ecuador they ran into Englishman Stefan Pope, who invited them to England (somewhere along the way, Vanessa had written the beginnings of many of these songs while at Kerrville Folk Festival) -- where they recorded more of this album. Yes, there is an earlier album floating about as well -- much of which she recorded while in Ecuador. Then they came back home to Texas, hooked up with Sick and finished the recording. Released it a few weeks back.

Vanessa hails from San Antonio, is bilingual and bicultural -- and beautiful inside and out. Her concerts are a spiritual experience -- built upon a philosophy espoused in "The Only Day There Is" -- "Looking out the window today / All I see is loads of grey / And I think of yesterday But then again I know that I should be / A little bit of better company / 'Cause there's people right beside me. So I'll look today as the only day there is / 'Cause there's no other way to go through life than this / And I'll be right here in the moment (so) I don't miss / A single thing waiting / Waiting like a kiss."

In the title cut, Vanessa encourages us to "Hold her hand, hold his hand / Reach out and really take a stand / Breath on in to begin / One foot forward is how you start steppin' in / Quiet lies, pass them by / Open hearts, minds to opportunity." The final cut, "Alleluia," is truly an anthem to living for others -- "We're gonna rise above and open up our eyes / We're gonna rise up singing and change each others lives / 'Cause when we reach out and take another's hand / We'll raise our voice together as we walk across this land / And we'll be singing."

And you know what? Start hanging out with people like Jason and Vanessa Lively and you too will be raising your voice in song, letting your own life be transformed as you participate just as vitally in changing the lives of those around you. And, oh by the way, the music is beautiful!

Flanfire -- Bringing LIFE to Austin music. www.flanfire.blogspot.com