The International Treasures
Check out this Minnesota-based duo sharing one of their songs at a treasured private music venue.
The International Treasures, with Matthew French. Photos by Eli Gardiner, 2023.
Eli recently met up with Ted Hajnasiewicz and Doyle Turner of The International Treasures at the site of the Rieder Homestead Concerts, a private listening room concert series in Delano, MN curated by our friend David Dennison. Guest Matthew French joined The International Treasures on the porch overlooking the stage and grounds as they shared his song, “Leave a Little Love.”
About the song, “Leave A Little Love”
Doyle: As members of the Singer/Songwriter Songwriting Challenge, we get the privilege of hearing new Matthew French songs on the regular. Matt wrote this song in the summer of ’22, and Ted immediately asked Matt about recording it. The International Treasures began to play it out, and listeners would just sing along. Imagine the sweetness of a bar room full of people singing this song back to us.
The sweetest of the sweet here is that on more than one occasion, Matt’s been in the crowd as this singalong has happened with his beautiful song, and I cannot imagine how that feels; to watch something you’ve created move out into the world and come right back to you. That’s the kind of song that Matthew French writes.
Ted: I’m a lover of songs. Especially songs written by my friends. I am blessed beyond blessed to know so many amazing songwriters—Matthew French being one of them.
This song was written for the prompt word “spread.” I skipped that prompt in protest—I loathe that word.
But Matt brought this to life, from that prompt. And Oh! I fell in love! I immediately asked Matt if we could borrow it. It has that message we all need to hear, and share.
It is the perfect sing-along song. I’ve sung this now in almost every sort of setting, with every audience singing along with smiles on faces and hearts three sizes bigger. Doyle is right—this is what Matt does… So we’ll do our best to leave a little love wherever WE go.
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December 29, 2023
Eli Gardiner is a songwriter, photojournalist, and video creator. You can catch him playing shows all over the Midwest with his band or as a solo performer, and he also captures video and photography for local musicians and nonprofits. His passion is Storytelling through music and pictures.
