About Victoria Storm
My songs are an introspective commentary on the classic themes of joy and struggle, loss and success, resentment and release. The songs are melodic with often lush chords underneath - this harkens back to my growing up with classical piano lessons and in choral ensembles. For certain, the songs are rife with heartfelt sentiments.
I perform with my band Kettlestrings, solo, and with my trio most often in the Chicagoland area, including songs from my last EP called “Hidden.” I hope you enjoy the singles - "Butterfly Wings", and "This Old House" - they are the first releases from my forthcoming EP. I'm excited for you to hear them!
If you are interested in my work in music therapy with Caring Concerts in memory care units, click the tab that says "Music Therapist" above for more information. That's a whole other story indeed.
Recordings and Performing
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Released Sept 24, 2021 - AMAZON Link
Thank you in advance for supporting my original music projects. There are links to these and other tunes available to you on all the streaming platforms for free of course. If you feel so compelled to help out additionally, you can purchase these singles on my homepage. Stay tuned as I ramp up for release of these as a part of my forthcoming CD with more music to come very soon!
Released Nov 17, 2021 - SPOTIFY Link
Be sure to subscribe to my email and blog updates - I will keep you posted about new releases, shows, and general ramblings from my musical life.
More to come about making the recordings and the incredible friends who have joined me on this journey!
Interested in having your own physical copy of Hidden? Now is the time to grab it! Watch the video and follow this link for your very own copy:
Kettlestrings
You'll find Kettlestrings playing in and around Oak Park, Illinois. Interpreters of new and old favorite tunes, you'll hear melancholy, joy, and humor with visits from the blues, folk, soul, and rock n' roll. Revivalists? Maybe - we just love to play what we love. Interested in our original tunes as well? You can find those on most streaming platforms and at our local shows.
We are available for your patio house concerts, parties, receptions, or other socially distanced and safe gatherings. We've enjoyed playing corporate cocktail parties at the Hilton, private birthday celebrations, block parties, and venues including Fitzgerald's, The Friendly Tap, The Outtaspace, and Amy's Winehouse in the near western Chicago burbs. The wedding reception for a dear friend, I think, has been my favorite private party yet.
Look to your favorite streaming platform (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, or others) for our new releases. "Smile" and "Time Moves Slow" are faves written by friend and keyboard player Ed Malone. "Phoenix" was penned by Victoria Storm and is available on all streaming platforms.
Interested in booking a private event?
Send us an email at KettlestringsMusic@gmail.com
Trio
My trio includes multi-instrumentalist and singer Katie Bender, who spends her time with The Herbal Remedies and other local ensembles. On bass and cello is Don Kovach, who spends his days (often five in one week) telling bad dad jokes to middle school orchestra students. I, of course, write, sing and play guitar. We play almost exclusively originals, unless a song or two just need to be heard because it feels right.
We enjoy playing smaller, more intimate settings where people want to listen to the tunes, where we can offer the time and space for some focused thinking and smiling. House concerts and shows at Jarvis Square Pottery in Chicago have been favorites. Call us for your neighborhood porch concert - we can play totally unplugged when needed.
Catch me at the Friendly Music Community where I walk the musical tight-rope of looping and improv, with guest musicians engaged in a little musical mayhem.
Storm Lab
Kate Bush re-release, "The Kick Inside"
OCTOBER 2020
New life has been breathed into "I Wanna Be Kate - The Songs of Kate Bush." Remastered and expanded from the1998 project, it now reaches beyond the original interpretations by Chicago-based musicians. Executive Producer, Thomas Dunning has made it now available on Bandcamp with a whole new set of international contributors. If you enjoy the music of Kate Bush, this is a must have. Listen to the whole collection - my cover of "The Kick Inside" is track 10, and savvy listeners may recognize the highest voice on track 17 as mine. It was a delight to be involved in 1998, and a delight to share it again. The full album is available for sale on Bandcamp; please support it with a purchase as it was an act of love in the making.
Nurses Vigil
MAY 2021
- Celebrating Nurses Week -
Join me in thanking the amazing nurses amongst us by sharing my new song "Nurses Vigil". Listen to my lyric video here. It was written in response to the stories I was honored to hold during the harrowing days of Covid 19, working with ICU nurses and offering deep listening as a peer support group leader. I thank them for their service; this song is a song of empathy and understanding to tell their story.
Blog, YouTube, and Recordings
Join in the conversation on my blog. Check out videos on my You Tube channel, and support my music making by purchasing my latest collection of songs. If you like streaming your music, then jump on over to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music or many others. Don't forget to plug your favorite tune of mine into your favorites playlist and share with friends.
New solo tunes and band tunes are also coming down the pike here. Subscribe and you'll be the first to know!
Songs of Healing podcast
In the works is my podcast dedicated to the most important song - songs of healing. Welcome to Season One!
I have in store for you a slew of fascinating special guests who have traversed the intersection of song and healing. Songwriters, music therapists, insightful listeners, and others - I am honored to hear and hold their stories.
If you have a story, a tool, a moment of transformation that you've experienced through music, I'd love to hear from you. Please let me know a little bit about your story or songs at VictoriaStormMusic@gmail.com.
Custom Songwriting
There is no better gift or way to celebrate an event or person than with a custom song. At VS Music Services you will receive not only a top notch, radio ready recording of your custom song, you will be involved in the process of creating the song from day one.
Make your memories and affections sing in a completely new way - it will thrill and elate your dearest friends, colleagues, and family members.
Packages include live performances, commemorative engraved plaques, music videos, and more. These are great for personal memories as well as corporate events and inspirational messages for any team.
Events
WEBINARS/SHOWS:
2023
March 31 - guest at Jenny Beinamann's Haiku Milieu show at The Golden Dagger
March 10 - Friendly Music Community, Berwyn IL special guest Kettlestrings
March 4 - Women in Music History festival at Friendly Music Community
Feb 18 - UT Women's Retreat - Sharing Show host
Feb 17 - Interview with Judith Pinkerton on MusicMedicineClub.com
Jan 28 - Compound Yellow - Oak Park
Jan 20 - Black Dog Vinyl Cafe - Plainfield
Jan 13 - Friendly Music Community, Berwyn IL, special guest Mark Dvorak
2022
Dec - 14 - Guest of Tim Menard's for "SOS - Sake of the Song" showcasing singer-songwriters in the round, Outtaspace Berwyn
Nov 18 - "Storm Lab" show at the Friendly Music Community, Berwyn IL with Richard Raskin
October 21&22 - Folk Alliance Region Midwest Conference Showcases
October - Tower Hill Camp, Sawyer MI, concert MC
Sept 22 - solo, Friendly Tap, "Storm Lab" show
Sept 17 - private Block Party with Kettlestrings
Sept 10 - Outtaspace with Kettlestrings
July 29 - Porchfest Oak Park - solo
July 24 - Unity Temple worship service, soloist
July 18 - Arden Courts Caring Concert, Northbrook
July 10 - Scoville Park Sunday Night Concert Series, Oak Park
June 23 - Thursday Night Out, Oak Park
April 22 - Outtaspace, Berwyn
March 18 - Lizard Lounge, Chicago, with Kettlestrings, hosted by Tim Menard
Feb 6 - Unity Temple worship service
Feb 5 - The Outtaspace, Berwyn, opening for Pipes
2021
Nov 20 - Jarvis Square Pottery, Chicago
Sept 26 - Private Memorial Service event
Sept 25 - Berwyn Brewfest, Kettlestrings Headlines
Sept 24 - Solo set opening for Chris Neville, The Outtaspace, Berwyn
Sept 8 - For the Sake of the Song -Hosted by Tim Menard at The Outtaspace, guest songwriters with Terry White and Peter Joly. 7pm
Aug 27 - Kettlestrings single release party, Outtaspace, Berwyn, opener Dave Kaye at 7:30pm
July 31 - Funeral, Private
July 19 - Private Celebration of Life
July 10 - Kettlestrings Private Party
June 10 - Kettlestrings Private Party
May 6 - Release party for "Nurse's Vigil" single
April 28 - Kettlestrings at The Outtaspace, Berwyn
April 6 - Kettlestrings at Cheney Mansion, Oak Park
March 27 - Improv with Dream Chicago
Feb 27 - Host/Performer for Variety Show on Zoom
2020
Dec 4 - Orland Park library series
Oct 16 - Berwyn Park District, Caring Concert
Sept 26 - Outdoor Block Party with Kettlestrings
Sept 16 - Music in the Garden - Logan Square, Chicago; Movie premier of "Vincent; the Punctual Vagrant" by Sarah Falkiner
April 21 – Wellness House, Hinsdale – Private webinar on music for wellness
April 22 – Blue Island Public Library – Private Webinar Caring Concert, 4 part series
April 24 – Songwriter’s Night at The Friendly Tap, Berwyn – rescheduled TBA
January 18 – Jarvis Square Pottery, Chicago. Acoustic trio with Don Kovach and Katie Bender.
LISTEN ONLINE ANYTIME:
August 11, 2021 - Genius Podcast - Diane Wilson interview about music and our potential. Spotify replay here.
May 17, 2020 - Mental Health Awareness Self-Care Party, Unity Temple, Facebook replay here.
April 10, 2020 – Oak Park Porchfest – Facebook replay here.
April 1, 2020 – The Echo Show with Maui Jones of Echo Theater Collective – Facebook replay here.
March 17, 2020 – Listen to The Chaplaincy Podcast – on the transformative nature of music therapy in hospice care.