Hardened and Tempered

“Hardened and Tempered gently conjure wanderlust in the wide-open western spaces of cowboy mythology” — NPR

“Phillips and Davidson balance each other perfectly in their harmonies and playing.” — No Depression

“insightful folk-pop songs” — Austin American-Statesman

“lush harmonies where hidden twang-drops of pedal steel peek out amongst personal and poetic stories told in vivid detail” — The Alternate Root Magazine

Excellence in Communications Award

December 12, 2020  /  Kristin Davidson

2020 University Excellence in Communications Award

“Songs for the Soul: A Call and Response During COVID-19 for Graduating Nurses” wins a 2020 Excellence in Communications Award from The University of Texas at Austin.

“Songs for the Soul: A Call and Response During COVID-19 for Graduating Nurses” is a musical presentation made for the [University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing] Virtual Commencement Ceremony. The beautifully moving song [Who Else But You, written by Kristin Davidson and Carolyn Phillips] celebrates UT School of Nursing students and faculty while acknowledging the uncertainty of our current reality and identifying the strength students will carry forward into their careers.”

In March 2020, Songs for the Soul coordinated with the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing to implement the program, which began with two assumptions: first, that the graduating nursing students may feel very unsettled without having the typical closure ceremonies with their professors, classmates, and school work, and second, that there were additional fears or concerns about starting their first job during a pandemic and health crisis. Online interviews with graduating nursing students captured the “call” of the students, who expressed their emotions and concerns related to starting their nursing careers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the “response” from their faculty and other experienced nurses across the country who could share reflection and words of wisdom. After the interviews, Kristin Davidson and Carolyn Phillips discussed the main themes from the interviews, which could be included in the song. The aim was to create a song that celebrates UT School of Nursing students and faculty, acknowledges the uncertainty of our current reality, and identifies the strength students will carry forward into their careers. The hope was that the song could foster community, connection, and, possibly, closure for the students and faculty. The song, “Who Else But You,” was included in the School of Nursing’s online commencement ceremony in May 2020. Listen below:

Copyright 2021 Hardened and Tempered. All rights reserved.