Hi! You’re tuned to the Momz Rock the House Show, and I am your host Janeane. On this week’s show, Trish Lester is in the house. She went from a corporate career to a music career that led her to landing one of her songs on NPR's Car Talk Show and others getting airplay in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Bio of Trish Trish Lester is an award-winning local singer/songwriter from Santa Clarita, California, whose heartwarming pop/folk style and truly original songs leave listeners laughing, crying and humming along. The title track from her CD, PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE, was picked up for STAIRWAY TO HEAPDOM, a National Public Radio compilation album produced in 2009 by the “Car Talk” show (www.CarTalk.com) and is now playing across the nation on NPR. Her tribute to troops and veterans, “Thank a Soldier,” is shared on a half-dozen patriotic Websites, and several of her other songs are receiving airplay in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Trish also sings with a trio, “Women on the Move,” a group that draws on generations of womanly whimsy and wisdom to musically explore the challenges of life. You can find Trish on the Web at www.TrishLester.com. ” - Janeane Bernstein

— Momz Rock the House radio show

Touching hearts with harmony Music: Women on the Move Trio will appear Saturday at OutWest By Michelle Sathe, Assistant Features Editor It starts with a few guitar chords, then the percussion moves in and is iced with layer upon layer of gorgeous harmony, as Joan Enguita, Trish Lester and Linda Geleris, also known as Women on the Move Trio, launch into the folksy tune "Walk a Mile." "We might not be the same, but we're not so different you and I, we only have this moment, to see eye to eye," Enguita sang in her clear, warm voice as Geleris strummed her mandolin and Lester kept the beat with a tambourine. Seeing eye-to-eye is just one of the band's messages. With songs ranging from tributes to American soldiers to ending domestic violence to taking a moment to reconnect with friends, the trio is making their mark in the music world with increased exposure on the internet and concert tours that have taken them as far as Portland, Oregon. The Women on the Move Trio will play at downtown Newhall's OutWest retail store 7 p.m. Saturday. "Trish came here during one of our Art Walk events and handed me a CD. I listened and it was fantastic," said OutWest owner Bobbi Bell. "Then I saw them at (U.S. Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon's, R-Santa Clarita) Women's Conference and I was amazed. The audience wept and laughed. Their music really touches hearts." Formed in 2007 after appearing on the Enguita-produced Women on the Move compilation CD "Beautiful" - which featured 15 female singer-songwriters performing their own music - the trio performs their own songs, with a few Joni Mitchell classics mixed in. "We're all individual artists who have been playing solo shows for years, but once we got acquainted and became available to work together, we realized we really liked the sound," said Lester. "It's so nice to have back-ups. I hate to perform alone anymore," Enguita said. All of the Women on the Move Trio discovered a passion for song as children, but followed very different paths to reach their musical destiny. Geleris called herself a songwriter at heart who started at 14 or 15 years old, but who didn't delve fully into her talent until after the birth of her third child, who is now 15. "I decided then to take the gifts that were given me and move forward with music, whatever that looked like," Geleris said. The Glendora resident started by pouring her feelings into song lyrics and arrangements, followed by networking with other musicians to learn the ins and outs of getting her work heard. During her first networking mission, she made friendships that ultimately led to her original song "Call Me Crazy" being featured in the 1997 Columbia Tri-Star film "Implicated." Since then, Geleris, a former high school teacher, has released two CDs, including her latest "If I Only Had a Minute," as well as founded a songwriters networking website called SongNet.com. Lester described herself as a mostly self-taught musician who started playing the piano at age 4. As a teenager she studied folk guitar from Bud Dashiell, half of the 1960s folk duo Bud & Travis, and at 22, began her performing career in front of hundreds of soldiers as part of a trio that played in Korea during her stint in the United States Army. Once she returned to civilian life, Lester's path changed course. "My mom told me, ‘Don't be a starving artist.' So I got a series of regular jobs, got married, and had kids," Lester said. "But the music was always with me." So much so that she gave up a three-decade career in public relations after several relatives died in the course of a year. "I was financially and emotionally drained. I thought, ‘Who am I?' I felt like God had put me here to be a musician," Lester said. She began collecting song lyrics, then learning the arrangements. Soon enough, Lester was writing original songs and put out her first CD "Plymouth Belvedere" in 2007. The title track was picked up for a National Public Radio "Car Talk" compilation album in 2009. Enguita grew up as a self-described military brat who first picked up a guitar when her family was stationed in Madrid, Spain. She settled on a 1-acre property in Lancaster in 1983 and worked as a Social Security employee until taking an early retirement in 2003, which allowed her to focus full-time on her music career. Songs from Enguita's 2005 "Two Suitcases" CD have aired nationally and in Europe, and she won a $2,500 prize in the "Music from Home" competition by Ritter Ranch. Enguita also created her own label, Red Coyote Records, and was the producer on the "Beautiful" CD, which has been an Editor's Pick at the independent music website CDBaby.com for more than two years. Women on the Move Trio is working on their debut CD, scheduled for release in late 2010 or early 2011. Works by each individual artist are available for purchase online through iTunes or ReverbNation.com, and their CDs are carried at retail locations like OutWest. It may not be the traditional method for musical stardom, i.e., a manager, a label and a recording contract, but that's just fine with these artists. "The way the business works today is absolutely in our favor. We have control of our work and can pick the cream of the crop of all our songs to showcase," Enguita said. Meanwhile, they are cutting their chops on the road, with performances as varied as McKeon's first Women's Conference held at the College of the Canyons campus on Feb. 13. The event had an audience in the hundreds. They also played to a battered women's shelter in Oregon in March. The band is committed to helping victims of domestic violence, inspired by the plight of Enguita's sister, who fled an abusive relationship with her two children. Enguita's "Heading to the Shore" was written in her honor. "We want to bring awareness to women that they can have a better life," she said. "I'm really proud of my sister, that she improved not just her own life, but the life of her kids." All three women play guitar in the band and take turns on percussion. Geleris recently learned the mandolin and the dulcimer, the latter in honor of Joni Mitchell, and has been viewing the artist playing the instrument on YouTube for direction. "I watched Mitchell's hands, how she does her tuning on each song. It's really enabled me to improve," Geleris said. For some shows, they break out a big African drum, or djembe. "They're always something rhythmic going on," Lester said. "Yeah, we're really good at shaking," Geleris said with a laugh. Women on the Move Trio, 7 p.m. Saturday, $15 suggested donation, refreshments provided, OutWest, 24265 Main St., Newhall. (661) 255-7087. For more information on the band visit www.WomenontheMoveTrio.com or become a fan on www.ReverbNation.com/WomenontheMove.” - Michelle Sathe

The Signal -- Lifestyle Section

The lyrics to Trish Lester’s song, How Do We Go On?, are so poignant today. Has your life has been turned upside down by the external storms of nature or the economy? Have internal battles with health or spirit worn you out? Then this song has been written for you. The first time I heard it I wept, for it spoke to the very nature of our personal life. Yet, through all the tragedy she reminds us to "keep weavin' our hope into the dawn.” Like all great artists, Trish Lester gets to your heart quickly and will move you from tears to laughter and back again. Trish popped into OutWest during one of our street's Art Walks and introduced herself. A local singer/songwriter, right here in our backyard, I was embarrassed to say I wasn't familiar with her music. She dropped off her CD ["PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE"], we chatted for a few minutes, and she departed. What she left behind is pure magic. Each track on this CD is a gem. Stories that will make you weep, like I'm Drifting and Your Special Gift and ones that will make you chortle and chuckle like It's Just a Cookie, the title track Plymouth Belvedere and my personal favorite, The Christmas Letter. Others will make you think - consider her powerful Thank a Soldier, The World Changed Forever, and How Do We Go On?” - “Purveyor of Music”

OutWest Marketing

That's Trish on the cover (with guitar), with Linda Geleris holding the djembe (drum) and Joan Enguita wearing red. Together they are now singing as a trio -- "Women on the Move. Trish Lester on the Move – This Chick Rocks By Martha Michael One Newhall-based musician is going places, and never ceases to bring others with her. Whether it’s providing music at important events, such as patriotic ceremonies, or giving free concerts and raising money to supply the needs of countless others, Trish Lester is making it happen – and this month we can all take part. An Elite Member of GoGirlsMusic, Lester and several other musicians are inviting the public to a benefit concert on Friday, October 16 at Antioch Art Connection, at 24422 Chestnut Street in Newhall. Admission is free, and guests will hear family-friendly Americana, folk, country, pop and blues numbers from each of the Southland artists, from 7-10 p.m. Though the concert is not religious, Centre Pointe Church offered the use of its facility for the evening. The first 30 people in the door will receive a free compilation CD full of high-energy music from the GoGirlsMusic members. GoGirls is the “oldest and largest online community of indie women musicians from ALL music genres,” according to the website, www.gogirlsmusic.com. Each year the nationwide charitable organization chooses which cause its dozen or so GoGirlsMusicFest concerts will support. This year it is maternity homes. Lester chose two in the Northern L.A. area: Sarah’s House in Simi Valley (www.Sarahshouse-online.org) and Angels Way in Canoga Park (www.angelswayhome.net). These organizations provide shelter, guidance and encouragement to homeless, single expectant mothers. While there is no admission fee, concert-goers are encouraged to bring items needed by the young women at these homes, such as disposable diapers, personal care items, baby clothes, etc. Local businesses that wish to donate products or services for on-site opportunity drawings should contact Trish Lester, who is coordinating the event. They can call her at (661) 254-1242 or visit her website, www.TrishLester.com. By Women & for Women As October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Lester and the other two members of her musical group, “Women on the Move,” will perform songs from their CD, “Beautiful,” at a benefit event held at College of the Canyons in Valencia on Wednesday, October 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the “Honor Grove.” There is no admission fee to the event, and parking at COC costs $1 for visitors. Other featured events include the Clothesline Project (www.clotheslineproject.org), a visual display that bears witness to violence against women, and the “EveryBODY is Beautiful” fashion show, as well as guest speakers. Donations of cosmetics and other personal care products, old cell phones, toys and linens will be accepted. Women on the Move is a trio with members Trish Lester, Joan Enguita of Lancaster and Linda Geleris of Glendora, all strong songwriters and soloists. Electronic press kits for the group are available at www.sonicbids. com. More group details and song clips are available on www.RedCoyoteRecords.com. The group is planning a U.S. West Coast tour in March of 2010. Featured as an editor’s pick on CDBaby.com for more than a year, the group’s CD can be purchased on www.CDBaby.com. The CD “contains mostly messages of love and support. A couple of the songs actually speak to the issue of domestic violence. But most are love and life and hope,” Lester says, and adds with a chuckle, “and chocolate.” Her Personal Story Trish Lester, who sings and plays guitar, grew up in the Los Angeles area, picking out songs on the piano as young as four. But her path to performance was long and winding. After earning a degree in sociology from UCLA, Lester went to work in special services for the U.S. Army in South Korea. There she performed for and with the soldiers, the works of Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan and John Denver, to name a few who inspired her. “That was a really meaningful time,” says Lester. “We flew all over South Korea to sing.” There she met her husband Larry, who flew helicopters, and they later moved to the Central Coast, where the couple was involved with the Pacific Performing Arts. When they moved to Long Beach, Trish took a job at the YWCA as program director, and later began working in public relations, eventually opening her own business. Trish and Larry reared their kids in Newhall. Megan, who now lives in Huntington Beach, and Ryan, of Valencia, both went to Hart High School. As if a shout out to the early days with the Army, Trish’s best known song is “Thank a Soldier,” which she says plays on five websites. One of them is www.dearamericanhero.com, and it can be heard on Youtube.com. It wasn’t until Trish experienced the deaths of three family members in a short period of time that she picked up her guitar again and seriously pursued her music. “I started taking songwriting classes, meeting producers…and I put out my first CD in 2007,” she explains. While “Beautiful” is a compilation album by and for women, “Plymouth Belvedere” is Trish’s debut CD. The title song was chosen to be featured on a National Public Radio (NPR) CD due out this month, called “Irreverent Car Songs.” It is an extension of NPR’s “Car Talk” radio show with “Click and Clack.” While Trish’s inspiration for “Plymouth Belvedere” came from a Foster Farms chicken commercial, most of her songs have deeper meanings. Another song that Trish says is playing worldwide is “It’s Just a Cookie,” which she says refers to people’s need to step back from intense reactions and relax about things that are not as important as they seem. “Some are purposefully written, like I may start by writing a letter to a friend, just to get the feelings out,” she explains. “Mostly it comes from life experience, life wisdom that I feel the need to share.” ###  ” - Martha Michael

Santa Clarita Living magazine

Trish Lester's album, Plymouth Belvedere, is a delightful collection of mostly original Americana, country, and folk songs. Her lyrics are thoughtful and true-to-life, and she has a great sense of musicianship. "The Words Keep Coming Through" is a charming folk tune that looks back at a past love. "Plymouth Belvedere" will have you dancing. It is a whimsical, country song about a beat up old car. On "How Do We Go On," a song about picking up the pieces after life-changing situations, Trish is uplifting and hopeful. The humorous, "Waitin' for an Easy Way Out" is bluesy and rockin' with a get-down-and-boogie piano line. On the lovely ballad, "I'm Drifting," Ms. Lester shows us her impeccable talent for writing gorgeous melodies. "It's Just a Cookie" is a cute, Americana tune that is guaranteed to have you singing along, and the loving, heartfelt, "Your Special Gift," is a song about her brother. "Smith & Wesson" is a clever song about gun rights. Trish covers two songs on the album, "Yosemite" and "The Water is Wide."  Both are beautifully and richly arranged. "Thank a Soldier" and "The World Changed Forever," which is about 9/11, will both bring a tear to your eye and leave you feeling patriotic. The CD ends with "The Christmas Letter," a funny song about the family news one reads in a Christmas letter. Overall, very solid album!” - Mary Lemanski, Editor

LooseyLucy's Headquarters (Independent Music & Arts E-Zine)

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National Public Radio

WOMEN on the MOVE (WoM) -- the acoustic power trio of singer/songwriters Joan Enguita, Linda Geleris and Trish Lester -- beautifully illustrated the axiom "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." Each is both a strong songwriter and solo performer, but as Linda, Joan and Trish each took the spotlight in turn, the others provided back-up and harmony vocals that blended solo artist into mini-chorale. Their vocal enhancements ranged from doo-wop accents to string-like smoothness, and when the trio united to sing as one voice in three-part harmony, the effect was magical; three distinct voices merged into one angelic blend. Add the variety of three individual songwriters whose mutual respect was evident, and the result was two sets of great entertainment.” - Sabrina and Craig

Acoustic L.A. -- Live! WEBLOG

(regarding Trish's song, "It's Just a Cookie") “Listening to this song I had to rush to the kitchen and find a cookie. OK, truth is I found two.... This song should be a commercial for a cookie company - very unique, very good and a lovely voice to listen to.”” - Rhon Scheuerman

— RhonBob Promotions, Kodak, TN

When you bring several genres together in a seamless blend, it can only mean one thing…that you’re driving a Plymouth Belvedere? Not exactly, but…it does mean that one fine collection of tunes can be found on Singer/Songwriter Trish Lester’s 2007 release titled Plymouth Belvedere! Trish definitely has her own unique and easygoing perspective on life, and shares it with her audience in a way that is a little bit country, a little bit folk and very much present day Americana that speaks from a place of love and experience! Opening the album, we are warmed up with an acoustic number that gives a nod to the very important role that music itself plays in our world, and perfectly depicts just how strongly it can take hold if you let it! Also, we are introduced to the real star of this album, her Plymouth Belvedere that Trish just can’t seem to get rid of, no matter how it may "affect her image!" This unique blend of humor and music has been a sincere joy to discover, and we recommend taking a listen for yourself! Trish does slow it down a little bit on “How Do We Go On?” and offers a harmonic(a) accompaniment to the real-life situations including struggle and perseverance, which are illustrated in lines such as We start again every day / Never giving up, though we may lose our way. On a little less serious vibe, Trish shares a bluesy rock/country number called “Waitin’ for an Easy Way Out,” which is upbeat, easygoing and true for many people in this world. You’ve heard the spiel about ‘it’s always your decision to make your life what you want’ or ‘go to school, get a job, have 2.5 kids and a minivan,’ but this song is somewhat the anti-thesis to those prefab social expectations, and gives hope to those who are just sitting around waiting for good things to come! As we float along through Plymouth Belvedere, Trish shares an amazingly intimate and gentle acoustic song titled, “I’m Drifting,” which reminisces of love gone by and welcomes the past into our present with open arms and an enlightened point of view. Trish’s slide guitar and angelic finger picking take this song to a level that is partly cinematic and wholly sweet & sincere! Each song on Plymouth Belvedere is definitely worth mentioning in review, but we’d like to point out just one more that is a welcome departure from the traditional Holiday numbers that we are bombarded with each and every year, and this song is the last on the album, titled “The Christmas Letter.” Thank you for the bonus song and we can’t wait to hear more! “Heartfelt American Folk music that speaks to your soul in a common tongue” -- Brian Ball, Music Editor / Director of Music & Talent” - Brian Ball, Music Editor/Director of Music and Talent

www.WomensRadio.com

Monday night at the Palmdale Playhouse (December 8, 20008) was beyond expectations. Stellar performance, knockout songs, sung with such unique voices and great harmonies. Trish Lester and her equally talented counterparts from “Women on the Move” -- Joan Enguita, Tracy Newman, Linda Geleris and Karen Hart -- blew away the audience! These ladies have been raising funds for domestic violence shelters ever since their compilation CD, “Beautiful” (www.RedCoyoteRecords.com) was released last July. But their Christmas show -- what a special treat. No matter how many times I’ve listened to Trish Lester’s phenomenal, handcrafted music, I love her work more and more. It was a special treat to hear her seasonal number, "The Christmas Letter." I could not stop laughing throughout the entire, tongue-in cheek song, especially with the other four ladies camping it up on stage. Lester and the group spread so much joy and happiness at the Palmdale Playhouse -- I wished they could have gone on for hours instead of just a 45-minute set. No one in the audience wanted the gals to get off stage after their spell-binding performance!” - Adina Joy

— Fan Base