I have just graduated with an undergrad degree in Sustainability at Edgewood College in Madison this past spring. Since graduating I have decided to fully focus on my passions with songwriting and music performance. I am embarking on a four-month music tour across the United States. My music tour is unique because I have little planned for gigs and accommodations. Instead, I am using my skills as a street performer to share my music with communities with the hope that my music will make connections with people and places.

I am very mobile and even have my own cot I can easily use instead of a couch. By helping me on this music tour you are also helping me grow as an artist, for that I am very grateful. Please be apart of my story!

Check out my music/website at toslandmusic.com or facebook.com/toslandmusic.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

I would like to use Couch Surfing for times when I have no other contact in an area I would like to visit. I have traveled much of the world and have always been humbled by the hospitability and kindness of people. This is my first time really exploring the U.S. and I hope to find the same connection in my own country.

Intereses

Music - as this is what my journey is all about right now.
Learning about sustainability - in particular, agricultural and urban planning
Cooking - I have worked in a couple kitchens and was a Sous Chef for about a year

• writing
• performing arts
• education
• cooking
• music
• live music
• surfing
• teaching
• tourism

Música, películas y libros

This is such a hard question... here is a list of from my 'recently played' on itunes that I like:

Michael Kiwanuka
Miles Davis
Angus & Julia Stone
Paolo Nutini
Nhako Bear & Medicine For The People
Bon Iver
Hozier
Milky Chance
Vance Joy
Frank Ocean
Bill Evans
Jay Hawkins
John Martyn
Alison Kraus
AHHH THERE'S SO MUCH MORE!

Algo increíble que he hecho

Decided to do this music tour... which could fail miserably, but it won't!

Enseña, aprende, comparte

I believe it is a misunderstanding that living in a more sustainable world we would necessarily mean we have to give up comforts making sustainability feel like more of a sacrifice than a way of positive growth. I can see that a lot of people are put off by the idea of sustainability – maybe they are even threatened by it when they start to think that they might have to give up their precious comforts and conveniences. How might we be viewing sustainability negatively - the fears and guilt that come with it – but also, how might we begin to guide ourselves into a more positive way of thinking about it?

To answer this question, let me refer to a leader of sustainability, author, Frances Moore Lappé. Lappé has come up with a concept she calls “thought traps” – or ways of thinking that present sustainability as in some ways hopeless and requiring sacrifice and even engendering guilt – but then showing us how these can be reworked into what she calls “thought leaps”. These are ways of reframing an important view in a way that makes them sound promising and even positive. I’ll have to illustrate this technique to show you what I mean here.

It’s well known that there is a lot of consumerism about. And it is tempting to say something negative like consumerism is killing the planet. I can think of many times when I’ve guilt tripped my family and friends by reminding them of this issue in this negative way. So, let’s pause here and consider what’s just been claimed. I used the phrase “killing the planet”. This is pretty extreme and negative. We’re being accused of killing the planet. Great. And I kind of believe that we are. But, what use is this if my reminder or admonition is likely to be received with resentment at worse and, because they want to remain my friends (thankfully), indifference at best? We are in a thought trap.

Lappé’s thought leap here is based on the requirement that we don’t confuse symptom with cause. As she says, “’Consumerism’ is largely a symptom of forces denying us choice”. We think consumerism gives us choices – I can buy this or that – but they are really restricted choices in that they are automatically associated with promising us luxury, comfort and enjoyment but actually prevent us from considering a more natural source of luxury, comfort and enjoyment. Namely, living life in harmony with the laws of nature. In other words, we can get our luxury, not just by purchasing more stuff, but by living in a more appreciative way with the gifts of nature. Luxury is a good thing to pursue after all – but it turns out not to be a Lexus. Now this message sounds a lot more positive and reassuring – though, of course, it does require some re-education. We have to learn what it means to live in harmony with the laws of nature.

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

For hosting me I can give you a copy of my debut album 'Tosland'! Also, a live musical performance :)

...I was also a professional chef and alway up for cooking a meal.

Países que he visitado

Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales

Países en los que he vivido

England, Morocco, Viet Nam