LAWRENCE – As Domestic Violence Awareness Month approaches this fall, Boston artist Linda
Marks is using her music to raise spirits and support for abuse survivors across Massachusetts.
One Broadway Collaborative will welcome Marks and her Sanctuary project at a September 15
benefit show for the local nonprofits Casa Myrna and RESPOND Inc. Both organizations help
domestic abuse survivors secure refuge and a full recovery by providing free residential
programs, legal advocacy, and counseling, among other resources.

The September benefit is the latest phase in the rollout of Marks’ Sanctuary project, a
months-long effort that utilizes new music, live performances, and collaborations with nonprofits
to raise awareness about domestic violence’s far-reaching – yet often close-to-home – impact.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. with a performance from Americana and folk-pop artist Randie
O’Neil, followed by a stroll through Marks’ heartwarming and piano-driven catalog.

“Creating benefit events to accompany ‘Sanctuary’ is an important way of inviting members of
the community to join in the mission behind the song,” Marks says. “Both attending a show,
either in person or virtually, and contributing funds to support the nonprofits whose work directly
helps domestic abuse survivors and their families, is a very personal and local way to be part of
a global effort.”

Marks’ Sanctuary project began in June with a music video release for her song “Sanctuary,” an
uplifting embrace for those breaking free from a cycle of abuse. On August 23, Marks releases
the song’s global recording, which interweaves the talents of artists from around the world to
form a unifying message of tenderness. Layered together, the global version of “Sanctuary” is a
collage of empathy and encouragement, shaped by the creativity of musicians from Greece,
Israel, India, Germany, and the United States.

“I grew up in a household where domestic violence cast a dark shadow,” Marks shares. “My
mother told me to keep the shades down so the neighbors would not know what was going on.
As a child, I wanted to break the secrecy and find help. But I did not know where to turn.”
Reflecting on the experience decades later, the Sanctuary project is Marks’ tender response to
the issue, and a soaring endorsement of a world where abuse survivors do not feel confined to
the shadows.

The Sanctuary project rollout will continue this fall, with two events planned for Domestic
Violence Awareness Month in October: a live-streamed performance of “Sanctuary” on October
1 and a performance at the Fall Festival organized by REACH Beyond Domestic Violence on
October 5 in Waltham.

About Linda Marks

Linda Marks is a multi-award-winning Boston singer-songwriter, a healer at heart, and emotional
alchemist whose music gracefully uplifts the spirit and transforms sorrow into gold. Currently
preparing her 15th album, Marks is as prolific as she is mindful, using her music to touch upon
the current events and issues shaping our reality. Her past releases have been featured in The
Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, and NPR, among other outlets.
Throughout her decades-spanning discography, Marks’ elegant voice and piano always tug at
listeners’ heartstrings and inspire optimism. She released her 14th studio album A Recipe For
Hope in January of 2024, which debuted at No.18 on the Roots Music Report Alternative Folk
Chart. A Recipe For Hope also won the Clouzine International Music Award for “Best Folk
Album,” received a Bronze Medal for both Best Album and Best Folk Album in the Global Music
Awards, and produced two charting songs: “September Morn,” which appeared on the Cashbox
Top 100, and “Love Always Wins,” which reached No. 1 on the UK Hot 100. “Love Always Wins”
recently was named a Finalist in the Great American Song Contest and won the award for “Best
Collaboration” at the World Songwriter Awards. Marks is a Finalist in five categories for the 2024
ISSA Awards, and is nominated for a 2024 Josie Music Award as well. Her newest song, written
to heal the epidemic of antisemitism, was just selected as a semifinalist in the UK Songwriting
Competition.

Building community through music has been a lifelong pursuit for Marks, who has written songs
for numerous nonprofit organizations and community causes, such as Upstage Lung Cancer,
the Buddy Dog Humane Society, the Cotta Blue Project, and Light Up the Love. She’s also
collaborated with saxophonist Willie Sordillo and singer-songwriter Kemp Harris on Songs At
The Heart Of Our Times, performing timely music at benefit concerts for local non-profits. Most
recently, Marks is the curator of the “Sanctuary” project, tapping a global network of musicians
to craft a song that supports – and includes the words of – domestic violence survivors.
Marks is the co-founder of Women In Music Gathering, the leader of the International
Singer-Songwriter Association Boston/Northeast Chapter, and a Big Records artist. She also is
a member of the Recording Academy, the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, and Folk Alliance
International.

Randie O'Neil

Award winning songwriter Randie O'Neil's storytelling comes from a sincere place. Her work as an adolescent intervention specialist brings a real-world perspective to her lyrics. Drawing on her own life story of having to survive an abusive alcoholic environment as a child, she helps students navigate a complicated world. Through her songs, she conveys a message of understanding and courage to face problems that almost all of us experience at some point in our lives.

Smooth, endearing, with a little sass, award winning Americana/Folk-Pop artist Randie O'Neil puts her whole self into her writing and performances, using honest and witty lyrics about heartache and strength, paired with catchy melodies. With her roots-inspired sound, she has independently released multiple albums over the years. She will be following up from the widely acclaimed EP “I’m Not That Girl” and “Here I Stand” and “Full Moon Rising”with her much anticipated “Heart and Soul”. She is sure to keep you tapping along and singing at the top of her voice.

“Don’t Tell Mama,” is the first single from her up coming EP. This is an upbeat and lively Americana good time!! Sure to bring you back to your childhood, you can't help but to sing along and move to the music! Secrets, consequences and one wild ride! What didn’t you tell your Mama? Inspired by an actually counseling session, Randie realized we all have secrets we kept from our parents. This song is sure to put a smile on your face and release your inner wild child.

With the next single, Randie take a look at “The Dance” of romance that happens when people first meet. Step into the rhythm of 'The Dance Heart' – where every beat is a story, every lyric a step. Join the dance, feel the spark, and let your heart start its own romance. It's more than a song; it's a dance-floor confessional waiting for you.

Randie’s 3rd single “Olivia” isn't just a melody; it's a powerful narrative, echoing the struggles faced by many women in the face of domestic violence. Randie's lyrics and poignant delivery take us on Olivia's journey, a journey that resonates with courage, strength, and the unwavering spirit to break free.

Randie is sure to take you on a musical journey with her next release, “Heart and Soul” due out at the end of February 2024.

“Queen (of the Barstool Two-Step)” her critically acclaimed song, examined the nightlife that had changed during Covid19. Going to bars was not an option for people and what do you do with the loneliness. People go out to be with people and not feel so alone. Some people were brought together during this time and others found a distance between them. This song brought international attention winning 3 awards including video of the year from ISSA(International Singer-Songwriter Association) and has over 700,000 streams.