Thank you for having me back. I think there are two that stand our for me and have been especially meaningful. The song and music video for, “Stronger” will always hold a very special place for me. If you look up the video and watch it, you’ll know why right away. More recently though, there has been another project that has been super meaningful for me in a different way.

I really struggled to find myself as an artist. It’s an ongoing process but I think I was afraid to even begin to trust myself to find my own voice, my own sound…to figure out who I am as an artist. I would begin creating something but then would just go with someone else’s decisions when it came to production, artwork or changes. I finally decided I was ready to trust myself with the whole process with a song that, fittingly, is called, “My Way”.

I wrote the first verse and chorus for this song back in 2018 and finally finished it (and changed melody) with Chris Sligh and Holly Salazar in January of 2021. I worked with Joshua Gleave for production. Josh really worked with me to understand and produce it according to my vision. This was huge for me.

The song isn’t about taking a stance or even doing things the way I want to. But the title is timely for the new path I chose. I actually chose to have this song produced twice. The first version didn’t feel like me. And I knew it was time to stop doing things just because someone else thought it was the right way. Or because they didn’t believe in my voice or vision. I made sure every step of this project fit as closely to my vision as I could.

I also chose the location and look for the music video. I’ve heavily relied on the videographer or stylist for these things in the past. And they’ve done excellent work. But I had ideas I wanted to explore this time.

I worked with Chrissy Yoder for hair and makeup. Justin Mayotte was my videographer and working with him and Chrissy on set was great. I gave the whole process my best and I trusted my creative intuition.

Whether it’s a big success or 10 people like it, this is a win for me. You don’t learn if you don’t even give your own voice and creativity a chance. I’m excited to get to share “My Way” and thankful for each person who worked to make my vision a reality. The song will be coming out February 10th. I hope you’ll check it out!

Sure! I started singing in a band in 2013 in Kansas. I relocated to Nashville in 2015 and became a full time musician in 2016. I learned so much but also experienced some real burnout and exhaustion. I haven’t had a team really for most of this and have been the sole force driving my music career. It’s a lot to do alone and it’s a taxing job to perform as many hours as I was every week.

In 2020, I was forced to make some adjustments. For the time being, I have chosen to work remotely and continue my music in the evenings and weekends with occasional time off for events that don’t fit those hours. It’s given me a little more stability and cut back on stress and vocal strain.

Sometime, making your art pay all the bills isn’t the right move. I would love for it to get to a point that it does pay my bills without the financial and physical strain it was putting on me before. I can exercise a little patience and still pursue what I love in a way that is healthier for me and my creativity for now.

I didn’t have a plan or method for a long time. I just showed up on social media. I think that’s the biggest factor to growing an audience. Show up. Now, I have a little different view of social media and I do have more of a method. I have to admit, I am honestly not a huge fan of social media and how it is used for the most part. But, I do think it can serve a good purpose.

The main things for me now are not to get “sucked in” by what everyone else is saying and doing or putting my self-worth in social media’s hands. I try to show up on my terms. In ways and with frequency that feels healthy and authentic to me. I think it’s important to be authentic and choose what feels right to you to share. Do that with some measure of consistency and I think people respond. People still appreciate genuine.

I guess my advice for someone starting their social media would be, figure out what is going to work well for you in terms of a couple types of content (live stream, video, jokes, advice, original music, covers… what have you) and frequency. Then do your best to be consistent. And don’t overthink it! That will kill your desire or ability to keep showing up.

You can even plan a certain day you create multiple pieces of content and then have them set aside, ready to post. Then give yourself a break. Step away from it. Come back to it later. Don’t live in social media. Your mental health and creativity will thank you for the break.