Now available at Hopelevy.Bandcamp.com, on all streaming platforms and VINYL & CD at the following Los Angeles record stores: Freakbeat, Record Surplus, Record Safari, SuperVinyly, Gimme Gimee, Arroyo, Sibylline & Canterbury Records Inc and more stores coming!
First Album Review - by Eric Lindbom, Freelance journalist August 25, 2025
“For the past few years, Connie Converse has experienced more than a moment. The singular songwriter never achieved fame or even cult recognition during her probable life time. She disappeared in August of 1974 leaving Ann Arbor Michigan in her VW bug for a new life in a location TBD and was never heard from again.
Since she spent formulative years in New York City during the Greenwich Village scene that inspired Bob Dylan, some call her among the first female folk artists. To these ears, she was a pioneering free spirit, ala Joni Mitchell, and wasn’t singing about the exploited working class. Instead, Converse spun wistful tales, often with a fanciful poetic bent. In an ideal world, she would have enjoyed her late won influence, like Detroit’s Rodriguez did by a South African fan base who thought he was dead. Alas, if Converse is still lucid and with us she just turned 101 earlier this month.
Just on time comes HOPE LEVY SINGS CONNIE CONVERSE! (out now on CD and vinyl; check ConnieConverUniverse.com) from Hope Levy, a talented, amusing songbird in her own right. Levy has a long career as voice over actor (SHREK, BOSS BABY, AVATAR and as the dying deer in GET OUT!) so she’s a gifted interpreter. Since most of Converse’s surviving recordings are living room demos on guitar, Levy takes a similar minimal approach playing along in intentionally instrumentally unadorned versions that let Converse’s lyrics and Levy’s supple voice shine through.
With 16 tracks, the record is a bountiful sampling of the Converse catalog that displays her story telling strengths while Levy mainlines her cutting whimsy, damaged take on romance and allegiance to supposedly wanton women. Check this lyric from “Roving Woman” -- “a lady never should habituate saloons/and that is where I find myself on many afternoons/but just when I begin to blow away the foam/someone tips his hat to me and takes me home.”
Levy brings a jaunty brogue to “Johnny’s Brother” a story about a woman sexually doubling dealing with her lover and his sib. There is wide-eyed wonder to her approach on “Man in the Sky” about a literally star struck woman who wants to marry a constellation and “Father Neptune” about another besotted with a sailor and competing against the sea. The record ends with a nifty pop closer – an original Levy sang and recorded as a 7-year-old that prescribed a wrinkle cure in the pre-Botox era.
Levy has toured her one-woman tribute to wowed crowds on the east and west coast. It’s a gift her Converse collection is now etched in these warm, emotive takes”.
CONCERT SERIES AT PACIFIC RESIDENT THEATRE - SEP. 7TH, 2025 7PM!
“The Connie Converse Universe” a live Americana show about the first female folk singer-songwriter and her choice to disappear…or did she? Songs written by Converse and other folk stars as well and performed acoustically by Hope Levy. This show was awarded the 2024 “Outstanding Musical” at the San Diego Fringe Festival!
WHEN: Sunday, September 7th at 7pm
WHERE: Pacific Resident Theatre located at 703 Venice, CA 90291
TIX ON SALE NOW https://pacificresidenttheatre.org/summer-concert-series/ $25.00 Hope to catch you there!
"Hope Levy gives voice to a forgotten genius with tenderness, humor, and soul."- LA Hidden Gems
"Hope Levy is an extraordinary performer whose singing can syncopate the heartbeats of an entire audience to any tempo she chooses." - TheTvolution.com
"Hope Levy makes you fall in love with Connie Converse." - TK Mornings, 106.9 The Eagle
"Hope Levy is an absolutely radiant performer-funny, tender, and heartbreaking all at once. A true talent."- Broadway Star, Jason Graae
“Honeybee” single NOW AVAILABLE off my upcoming “Hope Levy Sings Connie Converse!” album (entire album dropping August 3 (yes on Connie Converse’s 101st birthday!) and coming to vinyl soon after!) You can support this song on my bandcamp site https://hopelevy.bandcamp.com/track/honeybee-single & on Spotify as well! Thank you to Sloane Morrison for my wonderful images she shot for the album cover & singles & to John Goss for all artwork designs!
I was given a lovely interview and also played a live in studio version of “Talkin’ Like You” (Two Tall Mountains")
I had a wonderful show at the Agua Caliente Casino’s “Cascade Lounge”
Loved getting to meet TK of “TK Mornings” on The EAGLE in Palm Springs. He played one of my songs and gave me a lovely interview too!
PALM SPRINGS SHOW JUNE 25th 2025! Palm Springs at the Agua Caliente Casino’s “Cascade Lounge” on Wed. June 25th at 7pm! tix link https://linktr.ee/hopelevy
AND/or go to my “SHOW” link under THE CONNIE CONVERSE UNIVERSE.
The first single release from HOPE LEVY SINGS CONNIE CONVERSE! with songs written by Elizabeth “Connie” Eaton Converse now available at hopelevy.bandcamp.com/ and streaming on my Spotify as well! Full album coming AUGUST 2025!
I had a blast performing at LAWTF March 29th!
When I’m not performing “Connie Converse Universe” shows I sing with Kjehl Johansen’s band THE CIRCLONS! The band is Kjehl Johnansen, Kristi Callan, John Talley Jones, Hunter Crowley, John Roswell, Steve Andrews & me!
I had fun at the live streamily.com event MAY 2 at 3pm PT with my fellow Resident Evil VO gang! Signing autographs online LIVE as well!
It was an honor to record the amazing songs of Connie Converse and I hope she will be happy with the results wherever she may be…songs coming out on all platforms TBA this summer!
I had a blast being a special guest with The Shenanigans show in Palm Springs March 20th!
Was truly honored to celebrate Connie Converse’s 100th birthday with shows August 2-3, 2024 at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles & up in Ojai, CA at the Ojai Underground!
photo by Todd Everett
Farm Folk Alliance SHOWCASE - Chicago
PAST SHOWS 2024 can be found below and/or https://linktr.ee/hopelevy
WARREN, RI: Thursday. Nov. 7th 9pm at the Galactic Theater in Warren, Rhode Island! Great bar! Great Vibe! Just show up! Doors open at 7pm. 21+
NY, NY - Don’t Tell Mama - Oct. 21 at 7:00pm & Oct. 28th at 9:30pm 343 West 46th St., NYC 10036
Such a thrill singing at Don’t Tell Mama in NYC!
CHICAGO, IL - Thurs. Oct 24th, Midnight “On The Tracks” Showcase AND Sat. Oct 26th at 11pm for the “First Timers Showcase”
PORTLAND, OR - September 26th Taborspace Connie Converse would have approved of this cozy historic venue!!!
I
This live music presentation showcased the true story of folk legend Connie Converse as brought to life by singer Hope Levy, with opening act Erin Lehn (Portland’s own!) singing her quirky pop/folk tunes! This show was at the Taborspace in Portland on Sep. 26th at 7pm 2024 and already can’t wait to come back next September!!!!
LOS ANGELES & OJAI, CA - THE CONNIE CONVERSE UNIVERSE 100th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION SHOWS AUG. 2 at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles & AUG. 3, at Ojai Underground Exchange in Ojai, CA. were smash hits! It was an honor celebrating Connie Converse wherever she may be…
HOLLYWOOD, CA Dan Ruth LAHIDDENGEMS.org reviews The Connie Converse Universe from JUNE 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival https://www.lahiddengems.com/post/hope-levy-brings-connie-converse-back-to-life-at-the-actors-company
San Diego, CA - May 2024 - Fringe Festival
“The Connie Converse Universe” was the winner of numerous awards including “Outstanding Musical” at the 2024 San Diego International Fringe Festival!
