Ten minute tea with Afternoon Tea. Spend ten minutes with Afternoon Tea. In the time it takes to boil one kettle, and let one cup of tea steep, we will have your daily art + music fix covered. Take your afternoon tea break with our Afternoon Tea curators.
Today’s tea + soundtrack + visuals curated by Aline Deanna.
Vancouver’s Aline Deanna aims to capture the present moment with poeticism and humor all wrapped up in a bow of timeless country melodies. Half French-Canadian half doukhobor, and born in the small mountain town of Nelson, British Columbia. Inspired by the likes of Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch the spirit of old time country/western music rings loud in her singing and songwriting and is uplifted with a modern dose of americana. Her music is a tapestry of a nomadic upbringing that crossed paths with all walks of life.
On the single “Over The Edge,” Aline has this to say that “it’s a matter of perspective; either we can let the fact that we’re all just a small blip in the blink of an eye stress us out or we can be freed by this notion.” The song while dealing with heavy existential lingering questions is delivered in a comforting arrangement with Aline‘s beautiful country croon. I’m just a wrinkle in time, two feet and a worried mind.
Stream + share the thoughtful, introspective “Over The Edge” now:
Her upcoming record, A swimming situation, is an anecdotal collection of songs written over the last two years. The first single, “Over The Edge,” speaks to the collective uncertainty we all feel when faced with our inner critic and challenge to find our own perspective; unaffected by outside forces. Inspired by the polarization of her community during the COVID-19 pandemic, she attempts to offer a new outlook.
Dealing with overwhelm and burnout seems to be unavoidable these days, the following items I’ve chosen here are inspired by peace & stillness. These are just a few things that help me feel calm and at home when I need to friggin chilllll.
First a tune by John Reischman and The Fretless: Crescent Moon:
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of instrumental music. Finding anything that can bring you a moment of peace during these times is really important. For me intently listening to a piece of music is one way I’ve been able to quiet my mind, especially if I feel too overwhelmed to meditate. I’m really captivated with the notion of being able to tell an entire story without words and I think this tune is a powerful example of that. I love the mystery of this piece, I find it dark and enchanting and at the same time uplifting and groovy. It’s timeless and modern all at once, I find it to be somewhat of an enigma and it’s really great for driving to.
David Whyte’s poem “Everything is waiting for you“:
Your great mistake is to act the drama
as if you were alone. As if life
were a progressive and cunning crime
with no witness to the tiny hidden
transgressions. To feel abandoned is to deny
the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely,
even you, at times, have felt the grand array;
the swelling presence, and the chorus, crowding
out your solo voice. You must note
the way the soap dish enables you,
or the window latch grants you freedom.
Alertness is the hidden discipline of familiarity.
The stairs are your mentor of things
to come, the doors have always been there
to frighten you and invite you,
and the tiny speaker in the phone
is your dream-ladder to divinity.
Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into the
conversation. The kettle is singing
even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots
have left their arrogant aloofness and
seen the good in you at last. All the birds
and creatures of the world are unutterably
themselves. Everything is waiting for you.
I love David Whyte’s work and this poem in particular parallels a lot of the sentiments from my song Over The Edge. We put such an importance on ourselves and this one life that sometimes it becomes cumbersome and takes away from the experience and enjoyment we can find in all the little things. Obviously everyone’s interpretations of poetry are different. I also wanted to pair this with a photo of a beautiful rose I saw yesterday in my friends yard. His mother is 83 years old and a wonderful gardener. We were admiring the beauty of this perfect rose covered in some much needed raindrops and it just made my heart sing. Lately I’ve been feeling the weight of the buzyiness of my life and when I slow down and read a poem and enjoy some flowers it helps bring stillness and peace back into my mind and body.
Tulsi Sweet Rose tea:
Nothing is more calming than a cup of Tulsi sweet rose tea. The aroma just washes over me with invigorating serenity as soon as I open the bag. I don’t think it really matters what your beverage is, but brewing something yourself with the intention of it bringing you peace of mind and then taking just a moment to enjoy and listen to the moment is a simple remedy for a chaotic mind.
Tea + Me 