The Birthday Project 


One of my grad school professors once told me that creative people rarely finish their projects. In 2021, I set out to write and perform 12 original birthday songs and deliver them to friends on or before their DOB.

This track (for Justin) features my talented friend and neighbor, Yohei Shikano, playing bass and significantly supporting my guitar stylings with his own. It was recorded at his place in Mount Washington on July 3rd, just as the birds were singing their evening songs and early fireworks started to pop through the canyon.

On December 4, 2021, I finished The Birthday Project and performed all 12 songs at an intimate gathering for birthday honorees and other close friends.

This project brought me outside of my typical diary style of writing and allowed me to think about another person, who they are, what our relationship is, what it means to have your birthday in April or October or December, how it feels to share a birthday, and the marking of time as the pandemic marches on.

The birthday deadlines also pushed me to learn and improve my skills on different instruments. I had never written anything on guitar or ukulele before I felt the dates looming and needed fresh ideas.

It was a great experiment overall. Happy Birthday, everyone! - Liz

Here’s the video I made for Jake in June:



January: “Abracadabra” - for Joe Napolitano (1/1)
February: “Birthday Buddies” - for Brian and Bridget, who share a birthday (2/7)
March: “Something Out of Nothing” - for Chris (3/30)
April: “Someday” for Pete (4/2)
May: “See You In Palm Springs” for Jon (5/20)
June: “Jacob’s Lullabye” - for Jake (6/21)
July: “Magic Curtain” - for Justin (7/5)
August: “Who Knew There Was A Lioness?” - for Jane (8/6)
September: “Back Seat” for Aaron (9/2)
October: “Roses” for Piper and Maya (born 10/4/21 and 10/6/21)
November: “The Old Routines” for Danielle (10/22 -- belated) 
December: “Holding the Lights” - for Lindsay (12/27)

I released a surprise single in July 2020, recorded and engineered by, and featuring my friend and neighbor, Yohei.



Here’s the video I made for Aaron in September:



Hoping to record ‘em all and release in 2023. Currently crowd-sourcing images of people blowing out birthday candles. Reach out if you’re reading this and have some to share.
© 2023 Liz Pappademas


LIZ PAPPADEMAS


ABOUT

Liz Pappademas is an American singer songwriter, pianist, and educator.

Born in a New York City Checker taxicab and raised in San Francisco, Liz graduated from Berklee College of Music where she won the SESAC Award for songwriting and a John Lennon Songwriting Contest scholarship.

Touring both solo and as a member of various bands, Liz began her professional career in Austin, Texas with her trio Hurts to Purr. She has performed mulitple times at South by Southwest and been featured on local radio and NPR’s All Songs Considered. Her latest outfit, Bloody Nose, performs in and around Los Angeles.

Known for poetic lyrics with affecting melodies, Liz is influenced by songwriters and film composers who share her interest in telling stories: Randy Newman, Ennio Morricone, Tom Waits, Aimee Mann, Joni Mitchell, and others.

In 2012, Liz returned to school to study special education at Cal State Northridge. Her master’s thesis explored parallels between academic homework and music practice and the inherent challenges in both for students with learning challenges. She became K-12 Director of Learning Services at Sequoyah School in Pasadena in 2022.