We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lynnette Mackey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lynnette below.
Lynnette , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
In terms of both painting and making music, it comes down to the time I spend doing each with passion. If one does not make time for their craft, how will one ever grow? Feeling the drive to bring to life what I see and feel inside simply makes sense and more and more I do it with more gusto. With painting, I work solo. With music, I have had to be more visible in order to grow. There have definitely been solitary hours working on lyrics and figuring out cords, but it has been in the sharing and within the vulnerability of being okay with not being a “professional musician yet” that I have been able to grow more and grow more quickly. Part of my musical medicine has been the ability to grow comfortable with being seen. I am 43, a somewhat late start in music than most of my peers, but I am okay with that. I started wiggling, then crawling, then walking, some running, and now, I feel I am in a more graceful stride. Music is making more and more sense. Putting myself out there, is humbling and shows me how courageous I am and can be. I firmly believe in being able to catapult forward when one places trust in themselves and in the magic all around us when we live what beats stronly in our hearts. But passion and drive must be within this matrix first and foremost. The obstacles that stood in my way, where my own brain. The process of writing songs and letting people witness me grow has helped me heal past traumas surrounding the fear of being seen and has helped pave a way for what I want to have in the present and to manifest in the future. Music is helping me be more of myself.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Lynnette Mackey, I grew up in the forest of Northern Minnesota. I have always loved exploring the woods, watching the animals and getting to know the plant life. I have always created. Drawing, painting, singing, and creating delicious foods in the kitchen. I am a sensitive soul who likes looking behind the curtain of life. Taking note of things unseen and bringing them to life. I began my entrepreneurial career in holistic health/ nutrition and body/energy work, and yoga which still persist, but are now a wonderful means by which I am able to support my other artistic endeavors. It’s wonderful, because I simultaneously get to do all the things I love and which give me purpose amd an income. I feel as I develop more as a musician, it too, will begin weaving itself into a means of financial gain. Voice and music in general, are both extremely healing and can be easily woven into the other services I offer. I am also the mother to two beautiful children and am in an amazing partnership with an amazing partner who I also get to make music with. Balancing all of these things is challenging at times for sure, but also helps teach me prioritization and shows me how essential it is to carve out time for lived ones, creativity, self care, and time in nature; all things which ground me.
My band mates, which includes my boyfriend Jesse Dermody and my dear friend Angela Schweiberger and myself are currently recording an album set to be finished before fall. I recorded one other album in 2020 which I feel was beautifullly humbling and helped teach me basics of what it takes to make an album and musician. I call it my “high school diploma”. This next album I hope meets or exceeds a 2 year degree, possibly even a 4 year degree!
As far as painting goes, I am looking to exhibit in the next couple months. 2024 has been ripe with so much creative energy, I just need to just keep holding on while it streams through me!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I feel I am fueled by my curiosity in how muchI am able to be anchored in the ever unfolding present moment. I also live to feel and witness the passion and fire and heart from other artists. They inspire me to do the same. To follow that which burns in me. This fire is contagious. This wheel is healing to each person it touches. I feel this is what fuels me at the core. I see music and art as a means to heal and connect us as humans as well as with all that we live amongst.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
On Mon, Aug 5, 2024, 9:44 PM Lynnette Mackey
I had a false belief that I could not hold a note while singing. I believed it so much, that I intentionally failed the try outs for choir in muddle school. I was very shy as a child and lacked self confidence. I didn’t always like being seen and got very nervous in group settings. Yet, I always loved singing and did so in the woods and at home as much as possible, creating my own songs. Over the years, I began questioning where exactly those negative belief patterns stemmed from. By putting myself out there even when it made me sick from nervousness and self doubt, I saw that it was not as scary as I had believed. I also realized that no one will truly support me until I can truly support and validate myself enough to put myself out there. Over time, my will and passion and good friends helped me break many of these limiting cycles and faulty beliefs surrounding my voice and abilities to make music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://newearthkitchen.com
- Instagram: Wild Child Art
- Facebook: Lynnette Mackey & Apothecary Chocolates
- Youtube: Lynnette Mackey
Image Credits
All images are mine.