Southern My Way

It's no secret that I love to cook. My cookbooks & 3 ring binders (stuffed full of beloved recipes) are prized possessions. Whole Foods is my favorite place to shop...seriously. So, when I saw Gena Knox's newest cookbook, "Southern My Way" on my last grocery run, I had to have it! Just as soon as I picked it up, I noticed the price, $35! As I flipped through all the beautiful pages, I convinced myself to look online & see if it was any cheaper. 


Much to my delight, I came home to a little surprise last weekend...

Almost Famous

Check out the article, "Almost Famous," in Julep Magazine's summer issue & watch the behind-the-scenes video from the music video shoot! 

www.juleponline.com

Hello, Darlin'

Hello, Darlin'...

It's been an incredible couple weeks! We spent Memorial Day weekend shooting my music video & I'm still in a dream state! It was an unbelievable experience & I can't wait to share the video with you! It'll be ready by the end of the month, but in the meantime, you can check out exclusive behind-the-scenes content in Julep Magazine (don't worry, I'll share the link when it's out)!

Oh, and if you don't already subscribe to Julep, you'll want to! The first 500 readers get a free download of my single, "Money, Money, Money."

My new website will be launching soon as well as my Crazy Dream EP! Did you know July is National Ice Cream Month (thank you President Regan!)? Lot's of fun things in store to celebrate the album release...


xoxoxo,


Melissa 

Julep Magazine: A Cover Story

I'm beyond overjoyed to announce that I'm Julep Magazines "covergirl" for the summer issue! Get the inside scoop here - http://juleponline.com/behind-the-scenes-summer-issue-cover-shoot.aspx - and be sure to subscribe! 

Melissa poses for photographer, Glen Rose, at the Julep Magazine cover shoot. Photo credit: Rebecca Wilson

   

Bon Appétit

Right now (as in 8:01 pm on Saturday night) I'm drinking an Argentinean Malbec in a mason jar, I've got an Asparagus Ricotta Pizza in the oven & my feet are soaking in an aromatic concoction of bath salts. I've spent the last 2 days cooking & I'm pretty sure I'll need the foot massage fairy to visit me in the night or I'll never be able to get out of bed tomorrow. Why does this matter? It doesn't. Other than the fact that I wanted to introduce a new feature on my blog & figured I could be more clever than just simply announcing a new feature on my blog. So, there's going to be a new feature on my blog about cooking.


I love to cook. My Nanna was an incredible chef & she lived across the street. My Momma has made some of the most memorable meals in my life... like decadent browned butter mashed potatoes from a Thanksgiving dinner gone awry. Yep, they were a complete mistake but absolutely delicious. I really got into cooking my last year of college. It became a full-on obsession when I moved to Nashville. I spent all of my money (literally) on cookbooks & elaborate ingredients; testing out recipes on my new friends & discovering cuisines from around the world. Yes, I'm self-taught. Like anything, cooking just takes practice. 


To supplement the little money I made in the music industry, I started my own in-home "chef" business for families in Nashville. Meals In Heels - that's right. I made dinner for some great people. Most recently I've been cooking at an incredible organic restaurant outside of the city. Pretty much everything is sourced locally & you can find me there on a Friday or Saturday making ice cream, or roasting turkeys or concocting sheep cheese & strawberry balsamic salads - because we just got fresh sheep cheese & strawberries from the farm.  


Like music, food is a creative outlet for me. I love coming up with new things to eat. I rarely ever make the same meal twice. Sure, I've got my favorite tried & true recipes but I love to try new things. So, long story short, my new blog feature will be all about food. Great recipes, tips, or just me gushing on an incredible meal I had. If you don't cook, you can. As Julia would say, "Bon Appétit!"

Get the Single 4/15

My first single, "Money, Money, Money" will hit iTunes & Amazon mp3 on payday - Friday 4/15! I'm so excited to share my new music with you! 

3 More Days!

For the past month, I've been enlisting the help of fans, friends & family through Kickstarter to shoot my 1st music video. The month has flown by & we've got 3 more days to reach the goal of $6,500! We're close, but not quite there yet... 


I'm abundantly blessed by the outpouring of support I've received. I'm humbled. I'm grateful. I'm blown away.


If you can rub a few pennies together (100 to be exact), I'd LOVE your support. Every single dollar makes a HUGE difference. I'm a believer in "death by a thousand cuts" - $1, $5, $15 increments really add up! I'd also LOVE to send you digital downloads of my new music just for pledging. Check out the great "backer rewards" below and please Pledge Here by March 31st! 

PLEDGE $5 OR MORE

Pre-released digital download of the single, "Money, Money, Money" just for pledging!

 2 BACKERS

PLEDGE $15 OR MORE

Digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream, once it's released + pre-released digital download of the single, "Money, Money, Money!"

 7 BACKERS

PLEDGE $25 OR MORE

Pre-released digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream!

 8 BACKERS

PLEDGE $50 OR MORE

Pre-released digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream + 3 bonus tracks (not available to the public)!

 8 BACKERS

PLEDGE $75 OR MORE

Unlock a special section of Melissa's website & watch the music video before it's released + get access to behind-the-scenes clips from the making of the EP & the music video! You'll also get the pre-released digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream + 3 bonus tracks (not available to the public)!

 0 BACKERS

PLEDGE $100 OR MORE

Personalized & autographed CD + DVD of the music video & behind-the-scenes footage! You can unlock a special section of Melissa's website & watch the music video before it's released + get access to behind-the-scenes clips from the making of the EP & the music video! You'll also get the pre-released digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream + 3 bonus tracks (not available to the public)!

 6 BACKERS

PLEDGE $250 OR MORE

LIMITED REWARD     7 of 10 remaining

You & a guest are invited to an exclusive VIP party at a gorgeous estate outside of Nashville!* The night will be filled with great food & drinks, an acoustic concert by Melissa & the premiere of the music video! You can unlock a special section of Melissa's website & watch the music video before it's released (after the premiere party) + get access to behind-the-scenes clips from the making of the EP & the music video! You'll receive a personalized & autographed CD + DVD of the music video & the pre-released digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream + 3 bonus tracks (not available to the public)! *Travel and/or transportation is not included.

 3 BACKERS

PLEDGE $500 OR MORE

LIMITED REWARD     1 of 5 remaining

Star in the music video!* We'll create a character just for you! Make your film debut + you'll get a customized "deleted scenes" segment featuring you & Melissa. Hey, it's not everyday you get to be in a music video! You & a guest are also invited to an exclusive VIP party at a gorgeous estate outside of Nashville!* The night will be filled with great food & drinks, an acoustic concert by Melissa & the premiere of the music video! You can unlock a special section of Melissa's website & watch the music video before it's released (after the premiere party) + get access to behind-the-scenes clips from the making of the EP & the music video! You'll receive a personalized & autographed CD + DVD of the music video & the pre-released digital download of Melissa's EP, Crazy Dream with 3 bonus tracks (not available to the public)! *Travel and/or transportation is not included.

 4 BACKERS

    
Pretty Please & Thank You... with a cherry on top :)

Money, Money, Money: The Music Video for Cube Dwellers

You can learn more about my music video at Kickstarter. I hope you'll consider supporting this project! In exchange for donations, the backer rewards are cool - pre-released digital download of my EP, passes to a VIP premiere party, you can even star in the video! Every dollar helps! 


I can't wait to share my new music with each of you!

Beautiful Girl

It’s always been interesting to me how situations or topics have a way of weaving themselves through life. Call it serendipity or even fate but I believe there is reason why these reoccurring themes evolve into a thread that binds our story together. A good friend, songwriter and teacher, Kris Bergsnes, gave me an unforgettable analogy once. He was comparing the notion of “practice makes perfect” to art of crafting a song. He said that life happens and as songwriters, we write about it – but sometimes in the moment of the emotion, no matter how passionate we feel about the topic, the song doesn’t manifest into the masterpiece we’d envisioned. So, we move on and keep writing. The idea becomes buried in the recesses of our mind. Weeks, months, even years can go by and eventually, if its significant, the idea and the emotion surrounding it surfaces. Practice makes perfect because when the time is right, when our perspective has shifted just enough, we take that idea or the line or the concept and turn into something greater.

A few months ago, my sister called to tell me that a close family friend had been hospitalized. We headed to Vanderbilt that evening and much to our surprise learned that our friend hadn’t eaten for almost 3 weeks. She’d been anorexic for most of her teenage years and we never knew it. She told us how angry she was that her life had been displaced because of her eating disorder – how it had controlled her and ruined her “best years.” She’d bounced from hospital to treatment facility to private school to home school and just when she thought life was finally “normal” again, she relapsed. She laid in that hospital bed, hooked to a feeding tube, unable to change her situation.

My heart broke. I climbed into her story – replaying the things we’d talked about, trying to figure out why or how this could happen to such a sweet, kind-hearted and beautiful girl. I think most women can relate to the pressures we internalize about our bodies, image, and self-esteem. In one way or another, we never quite feel pretty enough or thin enough or perfect enough to just accept the way we’ve been created and be happy.

Being skinny had always been an inconvenience for me – an open wound that became easily irritated by a snide remark or someone trying to give me a compliment in a backward kind of way. I didn’t weigh 100 lbs until I was a senior in high school and had been accused of being anorexic or bulimic since the 1^st grade. In Jr. High, my mom would pick me up for lunch so I didn’t have to deal with the taunting. She’d take me to Dairy Queen and I’d order malted milkshakes in a futile attempt to bulk-up. It didn’t work. To add insult to injury, I was so small and my legs were so long that the only two options for pants were Wranglers (the kind without pockets) and the homemade kind.

It’s all quite comical in retrospect but I spent too much of my adolescence crying and wishing I could gain weight or be beautiful like the other girls. I didn’t comprehend the devastating affects of an actual eating disorder until much later in life. As bad as I thought having a high metabolism was, I was far too naïve to understand what the pressure to be thin had caused women around the world (and some of the dearest women in my life) to do to their bodies.

When I moved to Nashville, the church I was attending had a special section of pews for a group of girls from Mercy Ministries. I took an interest in the non-profit and read the founders memoir, Echoes of Mercy. The book detailed the lives of several young women who’d endured years of sexual abuse or drug addiction or an eating disorder and often times, all the above. However, each of the women overcame their darkest realities. Through faith, they came to believe there was a purpose for their lives and that they were beautiful. I was deeply moved by their stories – for the first time, I could grasp the emotional complexity and severity of an eating disorder. It broke my heart. So, I wrote about it. The song never materialized but the sentiment never left me.

My friend was transferred from Vanderbilt to a treatment facility specializing in eating disorders. A few days before she left, I was writing with JP Williams and told him her story. My perspective had shifted just enough to take the idea – a thread that had been woven through my life – and with JP’s help, turn it into something greater. We wrote this for Elise and for all of the beautiful girls in the world. 

New Bio (Minus the Brag)

My entire life I’ve hated to talk about myself – you know, the shameless promotion kind of conversations – “I do this and I’ve done that and you might recognize me from…” gag. It’s safe to admit that I’ve pretty much despised every bio I’ve ever had because of the general concept – pack as much self-exploiting content that screams ME, ME, ME, into the fewest amount of paragraphs possible. This isn’t that kind of story.


I like chronology & organized thoughts, so I put together a Get To Know Me in 5 Bullet Points or Less introduction (adapted from a previous feature on this blog):

1. My name is Melissa. Hi. I’m an artist (the musical kind), songwriter, cowgirl hippie, Martha Stewart wanna be, Wyoming native (hopefully the cowgirl hippie part makes sense now), self-proclaimed gourmet chef (only when I follow the recipe), gardener, fashionista, bookworm & I find most children, dogs and costume parties irresistible.
2. I live in Nashville. I create music I love – it’s my job.
3. My family is amazing & they introduced me to practically every type of music (expect for the “inappropriate” kinds) growing up. More on that later. Yes, I’m foreshadowing.
4. I spent my summers as a teenager traveling around the western fair & rodeo circuit performing. I had the privilege of opening for several incredible artists & bands that I admire. They shaped me, stretched me & inspired me to do what I do. Even more, I love genuine, honest, hardworking people & if you’re not sure they still exist, go to a county fair. They’re there.
5. I’ve recently recorded an EP. It’s been over 3 years in the making. I’ve had the awesome privilege of working with Chad Carlson (home boy’s got skillz) & we’ve created something REALLY exciting & different & completely me!

At a young age, I knew I wanted to be a singer & live in Nashville when I grew up. Coming from Wyoming, the thought of sharing a zip code with Garth Brooks & signing my first record deal while wearing a diamond studded belt-buckle the size of a license plate was really exciting. Fast-forward a decade; I’m in Nashville and interning for a big-time producers publishing company. But all that glitters is not gold. I was living out Paula Coles' song, “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone.” It was complete hypocrisy. I was 99% more “country” than anyone getting a record deal but because my voice sounds more like melted butter than trailer tin, I kept hearing, “you’re stuff is really pop” or “if you’re from Wyoming, why don’t have an accent?” News flash: Only people from the South have Southern accents. The rest of em' are fakin' it. What a concept, y'all.


As confused and frustrated that the “not country enough” notion made me, it also pushed me out of my comfort zone. Just because I’d been playing and writing country music for the last 7 years didn’t necessarily mean it was what defined me. I grew up singing in church which parlayed into voice lessons and jazz music and national competitions and rodeo gigs. The more I thought about it, just because I was from the ol’ west didn’t mean I was destined to sound like it. I had such a rich upbringing of incredible music – everything from the Glenn Miller Orchestra to Nat King Cole, ZZ Top to Chris LeDoux, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Queen and the list goes on.


I hated the notion of being locked up in a musical box. It’s been liberating to not care if I fit into the “radio” mold, sound like what’s popular right now, or if my lyrics are too sophisticated for the audience. In my post-dream haze, Nashville has blossomed into an incredible, stylistically open & creative incubator. I’d never of met the co-writers, musicians and friends that have helped shaped my music anywhere else. So, I’ll let you decide what stylistic box to put me in. In the meantime, I’ll keep writing, playing out & doing my thing.

Vote for your favorite picture!

I'm guilty of assuming that everyone in the world is on facebook. In case you didn't know, I've got a facebook fan page & my day to day updates, pictures & videos live there. Almost a week ago, I posted 5 pictures from my latest photo shoot. I asked all of my fans to vote for best image by "liking" their favorite picture. The winning shot will be used to promote my first single off the EP!


If this is news to you, I want your help too! If you're on facebook & we're not friends, please change that! You can find me at www.facebook.com/themelissafuller. Click "like" to become a fan of my page and then check out the photo gallery or just go to this link to vote:


Vote now by "liking" your favorite image!


If you're not on facebook, that's okay too. Go to the link above & look through the pictures. Pick your favorite & leave a comment (describing the picture) here. Or, ask a friend that's already on facebook to vote for you! I'll be announcing the winning picture after the holidays! Thanks for your help & Merry Christmas!

Just for fun - one of the many B-roll shots from the photo shoot!

Decisions Decisions

Have you ever had a really tough decision to make? Each day, you stumble upon a conflicting conclusion. As the opinions pile in, you feel like a pinball machine – like that metal ball bouncing off the obstacles. I’ve felt like that lately. Between picking out pictures from the photo shoot to taking the 6 incredible songs on my EP and choosing a single, I'm going crazy! We’re less than a month away from releasing the first single and shooting a music video. Selecting 1 song is like choosing a favorite flavor of ice cream & having to eat it for the rest of my life. Not to mention the fact that so much is riding on this decision…like my future, the forward projection of my career, if I’ll “make it” as an artist. Okay, I’ll admit, I’m a bit dramatic. 

I had a completely surreal & once in a lifetime experience a few years ago. I was with a dear friend, Billy Joe Shaver, taking him from appointment to appointment while he was in Nashville promoting his latest record “Everybody’s Brother.” Billy wanted to stop by Cowboy Jack Clement's studio and catch up. When we arrived at the studio, Cowboy was nowhere to be found but through the speakers in his office we heard what sounded like a duet with Johnny Cash. We stood there in silence, just listening. I was completely blown away & wishing I had some internal device to record the moment. A few minutes went by & Cowboy Jack appeared. “Do you remember this, Billy?” Billy did. Long story short, Cowboy had unearthed a reel of forgotten recordings that were tucked away in a closet. They were from a session that Billy and Johnny worked on together years ago. We stood there, song after song, and I felt magically transported back to the 1960’s as we listened to the tracks for the first time since they'd been created. As if that wasn’t cool enough, what struck me most was what Cowboy said next. “I remember recording these & thinking they weren’t good enough.”

It's not that I'm doubting my project - I know it's good enough, it's incredible & I'm in love with it! I just wish I could fast-forward 40 or 50 years and look back at this moment with more clarity. Isn’t it ironic that two of the most brilliant musicians in the world and their producer can dismiss some of their greatest work in the heat of a decision; under the pressure of taking their careers to the next level? I hope they release those recording some day soon. I also hope I can get to a point where I feel undeniably confident about my choice – no regrets. In the grand scheme of me, this is probably just a molehill disguised as a mountain. It could be worse, right? I could accidentally bury the EP in a closet & forget about it. Just kidding! I can guarantee that’s not going to happen!

CMT Crossroads – Me & Natalie Cole

I was daydreaming when a major revelation hit me today. If I’m ever invited to be on CMT Crossroads, I would be honored to share the stage with Natalie Cole. We could do “Unforgettable” as a duet, share lines from “Pink Cadillac” and get into a scatting war on “Paper Moon.” Why was I was I thinking about this? Well…2 main reasons. My iPod needed a serious musical facelift. I started going through my cabinet of CD’s only to realize that I’d never put most them into iTunes. I came across my favorite Natalie Cole record of all time, “Unforgettable with Love.” It was literally too worn out to copy into iTunes. I’m sure you can guess what I grew up listening to.

Plus, I was fortunate enough to be in the audience for the taping of Martina McBride & Train’s episode of Crossroads last Saturday (airing November 20) as well as Joss Stone & LeAnn Rimes episode. It’s truly a brilliant show. Occasionally the guest artist sings the begeebees out of the host artists material – not going to name names – but that’s enjoyable too!

I’ve got a few friends at CMT. Hopefully they’re reading this. Yep, put Natalie up on the top shelf, she’s all mine! It's a crazy dream. I know.

Love Confusion (Part 2)

If you read my last post (Love Confusion - Part 1) then you know about this techno music conundrum I’ve been in for the last 2+ years. Obviously, I had to get an attorney & it all boils down to 4 major issues:

1. They took my picture off of myspace & marketed the song using my name and likeness. Without my permission, of course.
2. I was paid to sing a demo & never signed any documentation to authorize the use or release of my voice commercially. I never got royalties from sales or any further compensation. 
3. I’m just going to put it out there: “Like a virgin knows, I take off my clothes.” Sick. The words could not be more distasteful & I was laughing while recording the demo. Damaging to my reputation? I think so.
4. I contributed to the lyric & melodic structure of the song. Thus, I’m a co-writer. Not that I care to take credit for my creative input, but it is what it is.

Here’s where it really gets fun: Thanks to the lack of intellectual property protection or any protection of the creative arts for that matter, my only legitimate legal claim had to fall under “Name & Likeness.” The DJ & his record label Ctrl-Ced my picture and used my name & likeness to sell the song. We filed a lawsuit last February & basically nothing substantial has happened. The DJ filed a motion to dismiss my claim. A judge overruled his motion. That’s it. You’d think that we’d be able to go after this crook with vengeance but now it’s just a waiting game. As to how long I’ll be waiting…who knows.

In the meantime, people around the world can still download "Love Confusion" & twirl their glow sticks around in clubs to its infectious melody. There’s a part of me that can only hope it will eventually help my career – international exposure, crossover audience, etc. At this point, that’s probably a stretch. My attorney tells me to “be patient,” cases like this “just take time.” I’ll be sure to update on the progress of the legal proceedings…but it might be awhile.

Moral of the story: Be careful who you work with & don’t count on the legal system to make it all better!

Love Confusion (Part 1)

When you’re an unemployed, female musician in Nashville, you take on odd jobs. Like house sitting, babysitting, grocery shopping & cooking dinner for busy, wealthy people. You also sing demo’s – songs in which other people have written but cannot or do not sing themselves. It’s great, easy money; anywhere from seventy-five to a couple hundred bucks for less than an hour of work. Beats changing a diaper any day. When you sing a demo, it’s a simple arrangement. Show up, sing the song, get your money, leave. There’s no contract or licensing & you’re basically just helping someone “pitch” their music to publishers, other artists, record labels, etc. 

Two years ago (around this same time of year) I had a #1 song on the dance charts in the UK, Japan, Australia & the United States but didn’t even know it. Fast forward to February of the following year. I’m at home, it’s late, I’m probably drinking a nice glass of red wine. I’m also bored. I google myself (because that’s what you do when you’re bored). I proceed to search for myself in YouTube. I find this:

Watch here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqjLl0wZac8

I begin watching it. That’s my voice. That’s not me. This video has had thousands upon thousands of plays. WTF!? I laugh – it’s a pretty ridiculous video. I get confused. I start a google firestorm & throughout the course of the next several days (with the help of multiple people on multiple computers), we find an astonishing amount of webpage’s in an astonishing amount of languages to download the song. My name, my picture & my voice plastered all over the place. Then I come across this:

The song was #7 on a 2008 “best of” list? What does that even mean - downloads, airplay, sales? At this point, I reached out to the original DJ I sang the demo for (not Danny Coggin). Through a series of phone calls & emails, I eventually talked to Danny. He said a lot of crazy things – “the song was #1 on the charts,” “I’ve made over $150,000,” “I’m traveling all over the world,” “the song made me famous,” blah, blah, blah. Still quite confused by the whole thing, I continued to search the web for anything & everything I could find on the song. Eventually, I found a feature on DJ Danny Coggin, a.k.a. Rising Star. The interview clarified several key issues for me, like the fact that I had a #1 song in 4 countries:

“Two of his most successful releases being, True Feelings & Love Confusion where both of these tracks ran up the dance music charts in several countries including the UK, Europe, United States and Australia with Love Confusion hitting number one in all of these Countries on 2nd September 2008 where it remained for several weeks, over and above some of the worlds best known artists such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten, Solarstone, Aly and Fila, and Chicane just to name a few. He has also done several hardcore remixes for some well known artists such Cascada, Liz Kay, Lady GaGa, Jordin Sparks, and Styles & Breeze.”

Yep, it’s true, I'm #1 recording artist in a genre (Trance - Happy Hardcore) that I didn’t even know existed. How hardcore is that? Okay, bad pun.

To be continued…it gets better.

Love Easy - Melissa Fuller

The Mole & the Music

Lately, I’ve been like a mole. Not like the one next to Cindy Crawford’s lip and definitely not like the spy/informant. More like the little mole that’s really busy digging tunnels underground. Expect I’m not burrowing; I’m creating music. So, I guess that’s a bad analogy.

Anyway, my amazing mole tunnel is about to hit the surface. We’ve been recording for the past 3 weeks and are getting closer and closer to having something to share! Tonight, I’m playing several of the new songs at a Writers Round with a few friends in Nashville. If you’re in the area, check it out! If not, I might just be “a dear” (as people in the South say) & post video from tonight’s show. Either way, get ready. I’m about to bust out!

Musical Love Child + Twitter

A couple days ago I released this highly personal information to the entire twitterverse:

I really wanted to make an elaborate family tree – yes, it’s that complicated – but for the sake of not leaving my tweeps hanging in a state of wonder, I gave up on that idea. I also realize this may be jumping the gun on our blogger/reader relationship. If you know me, skip to number 5. If you don’t know me, start here:

1. My name is Melissa. Hi. I’m an artist (the musical kind), songwriter, cowgirl hippie, Martha Stewart wanna be, Wyoming native (hopefully the cowgirl hippie part makes sense now), self-proclaimed gourmet chef, gardener, fashionista, bookworm & lover of many great people & God.
2. I live in Nashville. I create music I love – it’s my job.
3. My parents are amazing & they introduced me to practically every type of music (expect for the “inappropriate” kinds) growing up. More on that later. Yes, I’m foreshadowing an upcoming post.
4. I spent my summers as a teenager traveling around the western fair & rodeo circuit performing. I had the privilege of opening for several incredible country artists & bands that I admire. They shaped me, stretched me & inspired me to do what I do. Even more, I love genuine, honest, hardworking people & if you’re not sure they still exist, go to a county fair. They’re there.
5. This week I am recording an EP. It’s been over 3 years in the making. I have the awesome privilege of working with Chad Carlson (my home boy’s got skillz, a.k.a. Grammy’s) & we are creating something REALLY exciting & different & me. You’re gonna love it!

Okay, now that’s out of the way, onto the baby making. Everyone keeps asking, “what’s your style?” Well… until you can hear it for yourself, I hope this will suffice:

If Nat King Cole & Shania Twain had a love child, it’d be me. Stay focused, it get’s more complicated, we’re a big family. Sara Barellis is my half sister, Chris LeDoux is my uncle (father in-law works too – those LeDoux boys are good lookin’), Sheryl Crow is my godmother, Billy Joe Shaver is my Grandpa’s brother, The Cardigans are second cousins, & I’d like to be Justin Bieber’s mother. #@*!, did I just type that? Too late.

You’re turn. Please humor me. I’d love to know who else you hear in my hypothetical family… I’ll will totally photoshop a family tree too! And baby Bieber was a joke. Seriously.

Blabbing for the Sake of Blogging (or Not)

So… this is it, my first intentional blog post. Intentional is the key word. About a year ago, I started a blog (after months of hearing “you should have a blog”) & published the entry after a generous pour of Cabernet. It was very artsy & quite horrible. I learned 2 important lessons that night. First, don’t drink and type. Second, don’t have a blog if you don’t have anything to say.

Lucky for you (yes, you 3 people that have persistently hounded me about joining the blog sphere), I finally know what I want to write/post/share and wont be blabbing for the sake of blogging! Unlucky for you (yep, same 3 people), you’ll just have to wait for my next entry. Ha!

Troubadour

For me, art is not as much about what the creator brings to the audience, but rather what the audience brings to the creation. I began expressing my craft through music, poetry & as an artist on stage at a young age. Those experiences moved inside me to develop a love for creating music. It's my desire for these thoughts to be an extension of crafting songs. We have beautiful and sometimes tragic, messy lives that we're living while experiencing a song...or reading a post. We bring our unique & individual situations to the art & it becomes a piece of the story. Your contribution is just as important as mine, so I’ll be here to listen.