We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rebecca Folsom. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rebecca below.
Rebecca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
I chose this question because it made me feel so relieved and happy to focus on this. What a great question. My answer is a short story that happens over and over again. Working as a touring musician there are so many hats to wear going in so many different directions. Sometimes the work, the road, and the “to do” list can be unrelenting. When someone pauses and takes the time to tell me how the music has helped them or gotten them through something it eases any feeling of effort. The same goes for when someone reaches out to help me do a task I am learning and they know well. Again a lightening of any burden. When someone softens and forgives a mishap or a mistake, all of these add up and make the journey of being an artist lighter and I carry on with a lighter step and a smile.
Rebecca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I got into being an artist out of pure passion. It is always what I have wanted to do and I feel so lucky that I took this fork in the road in my life. I am a nationally touring singer-songwriter, a published poet, a fine artist in oil painting, and a creativity coach. I facilitate Vocal workshops that assist people and groups to know their authentic voice and share it with the world.
Because I sang effortlessly as a young woman, but experienced life circumstances that shut my voice down for many years, and then I triumphantly reclaimed my voice I love not only freely singing out professionally, but I love helping others reclaim their full empowered “voice” in the world.
I’m not afraid to face many of the shadowy part of life, and I have a fairly relentless positivity that we can change and create satisfying lives and our positive new dream of the world that we envision. I help people move towards these dreams. And I write many songs that address the shadows, that bring hope, and that uplift with inspiring anthems.
I’ve release 13 albums. I’m a published poet, and I’ve offered hundreds of Vocal Freedom Workshops. Currently with my new Sanctuary project and album I am partnering with nonprofits that help under voiced marginalized people and offering them “Open Your Voice” workshops. Since I have been facilitating for over 30 years I have many techniques to help people move through limitation and anxiety and open to more creativity and aliveness. I write with maginalized people and create songs, I write with nonprofit organizations and create anthems that intimately relay their message. I work with Grammy (R) winning producers and engineers and together we created the full Sanctuary album.
I had no idea how the world would respond to these songs. We release earlier this year and went to #1 on the national Folk Radio charts and have been receiving glowing reviews. The album is deep, hopeful, and sonically beautiful.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks pivoted my creative life. It covers many things, and the part that really helped me as an artist and as a businesswoman is the concept of spending more and more time in one’s zone of genius. Learning to identify all areas of tasks and projects that fall into the different categories of incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius. Then making changes to get into my Zone of Genius and out of the other 3 categories. Brilliant, practical, efficient, upscaling, and utterly delightful!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
As a live performing musician & public facilitator, and helping others to put themselves out there, every time we courageously offer forth our intimate and authentic expression is an act of resilience. I coach myself and others on how to ride the waves of standing ovation success and nobody is listening challenges. One weekend I played the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater to thousands of people and the next day I played at a Starbucks with no one listening. I learned a lot about remaining agile and steady, and playing the same vibrant show no matter what is happening and who is listening.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rebeccafolsom.com
Image Credits
MaryLynn Gillespe