Member Since: 6/6/2005
Band Members: DREAMS:Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe"There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" Robert Francis KennedyI BELIEVE. Currently, I am working on not just songwriting, but creative writing, for a personal project and others, for radio, film and television. Trying to slow myself down a bit so I don't miss anything. For once, I am sitting back, observing life, being thankful to God for what I have, and watching the world turn while raising my kids and loving my family - they are growing so fast, and how I wish I could just slow the clock down. I am blessed to be working with some great new people, and having a blast as always mostly writing stuff on my own. Me and my keys have gotten to know each other much better these past few months. Its been a good thing. :)I am working on some songs that I am really proud of, crafting and recrafting, challenging myself to work as hard as I can lyrically, really, really kicking my own butt melodically, and surprising myself daily, believe me. I know I am on the right path, because it feels right, and other than the joy I take in my family and the Grace of God, nothing gives me more joy, more pleasure than writing songs, and singing...playing my piano in the wee hours by candlelight. Its magical....Joseph Campbell wrote: "If you follow your bliss, doors will open where you did not know they would exist."I have followed my bliss for five years now. I am humble, but I think its a pretty incredible feat for a woman to have gotten as far as I have in so little time, while working and raising three kids and trying to be a normal mom (whatever that is). One of my best friends recently told me I need to reach around and pat myself on the back more often....it wasn't and isn't easy. But the best fruit is often to be found out on a limb, and for some reason I have this strange reaction when I hear the words "No", or "You can't"...I say "Yes, I Can". And then I proceed to JUST DO IT.Still here, still dreaming, still believing...
Influences: First off, my hero and my daddy, Don Stegall and all the great music he played back in the day....the works of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton, Patsy Kline, Loretta Lynn, Alabama, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Emmy Lou Harris, Charlie Daniels, L Sknyrd, Jim Croce, John Denver, just to name a few. For me, musically, its always been a love affair with the works of James Taylor and Barry Manilow, the gorgeous harmonies of the BeeGees, The melodic and musical perfection of the Eagles, and all the great female melody makers and balladiers, Carol King, the absolutely mindblowing power ballads of Diane Warren, the wit of Mary Chapin Carpenter, the spiritual experience of Sara McClachlan. and passion of Diana Krall. As a teen, I loved to rock out and listen to great road trip music like Fleetwood Mac, Juice Newton, Sting, Heart, ACDC, Billy Idol, the GoGo's, the Bangles, The Eagles, pre-fabricated money making machine Madonna, ZZ Top, the Scorpions, Winger, Led Zep, Def Lep, Metallica, Guns & Roses, Aerosmith.... gosh...the list goes on. Today, its all about great songwriting. I pay a lot more attention to the songs these days and find myself still inspired by great melodies and uncontrived lyrics that just speak from the heart. My rules for myself? If you are going to write a ballad, it better be kick ass melodically and lyrically (something Dianne Warren would wish she had written, oh yeah baby!!!!); if it makes someone cry or want to make love...all the better. If you are going to write an uptempo, it better rock the house. Today's new country artists are continuing to constantly inspire...case in point, my friends, the beautiful DANIELLE PECK, AMANDA WILLIAMS, PAULA WINGER, JESSE SHEELY, ASHLEY THOMAS, CHRISTI BAUERLEE
Sounds Like: Me - but I am open to your opinions (PROVIDED YOU DON'T SAY "No" or "You Can't", of course. :-)
Record Label: Vision
Type of Label: None