What got you first interested in music?
The big ugly yellow piano in my basement when I was a little girl. My older sister and I were always pluckin' out songs and singing together. Our parents luckily signed us up for piano lessons and it took off from there. I remember recording music on my karaoke machine when I was six. I'd lay down a piano part and vocals, then would dub it over to side B and do harmonies. I started young and wanted to play everything imaginable, and just about did.You're originally from Louisville, KY. When and why did you make the move to Cincinnati?
I moved to Cincinnati after graduation from high school to go to college here. To be completely honest, I am not sure why I choose Cincinnati, it was time to pick a college and I was clueless. I threw about 6 college names in a hat and it said to come to Cincinnati, so I did. It wasn't then that I knew I wanted to be an actual artist. I knew I wanted to pursue music but wasn't sure how or which road to take. With time, struggles, college, and just really finding out who I am, my eyes have been opened to the road that I believe is my calling.You worked with Jeff Pence, of Blessid Union of Souls for a while. How did you get hooked up with Jeff?
When I first moved to Cincinnati I made a few demos and they were sent out to Pence from Blessid. After he agreed to work with me, we worked on song writing and worked in the studio. I would go over there for hours at a time to work on songwriting and music. It was a great learning experience. He taught me a lot about songwriting. I hadn't found my style yet so we wrote a lot of pop songs. I actually just listened to them the other day and it's almost opposite of what I am doing now, but it was still very helpful and I learned a lot.Your bio states you have played in London and Paris and even been on mission trips to Guatemala and Cuba. Out of all the traveling you have done what has been the most memorable place you have been?
I have been blessed and been able to go to many countries and was able to share music with the people in those countries. One of my favorite memories was going to an orphanage in Guatemala. They children flocked to me because I had a guitar. I was able to teach them songs in English and they would teach me the same song in Spanish. The smiles on their faces were priceless, especially when I taught them how to play the guitar. It's amazing what music can do to bring people together.
Believe it or not, one of the most memorable places I have been and continue to go when I get a chance to get away is Maytown, KY. It's a poverty stricken small town of 500 in Eastern, KY surrounded by beautiful mountains. I have worked there the past two summers leading worship for large groups that come in to work in the town. By work I mean building houses, laying a roof, or digging holes for the people who need it. Being away from my "regular" world gives me so much inspiration for songwriting. I have been able to met so many people and listen to their stories. I even wrote a song about a couple of people I ran into while walking the streets of that town, called "Streets of Maytown". Every time I am there I end up playing very frequently by request and have seen people cry when they listen to it, hopefully not because it's that bad of a song, but because it touches people and that's what it's all about.Who are some of your favorite non-country artists?
Eagles, Ryan Adams, KT Tunstall, Third Day, Nickel Creek, David Crowder, Jimi Hendrix, Bob MarleyHow important of a part is religion to what you do with music?
God has given us gifts of different talents so why not use them? It's very easy to loose track of what I am doing and sometimes ego's stand in the way, but I feel like when that happens I am always reminded that God has given me a gift and it's not about me, it's about using it to help other people out and that's how I want to use music.Do you consider yourself a Christian artist?
I am a Christian and I am an artist, so I guess I could be labeled as that. I don't feel it necessary to have that as my label. I look at being an artist like anything else. We don't label ourselves as Christian students or Christian workers for the most part. I have a few songs that could be classified as Christian, but I don't want to be in the Christian market of music because I sing about life and want to reach out to everyone of all religions and not just my own.You have a full length recording scheduled to be out in June. How is it coming along?
We have started tracking, it's all starting to come together. I am also moving to Nashville for the summer to work with different people, play out, and make some more recordings. I am excited to have this opportunity. It will be a lot of hard work but I am ready for it and can't wait!What advise would you give anyone trying to achieve music stardom?
Of course it's all about hard work, not quitting, facing a lot of rejection, persistence, perseverance, guts, and courage.
That is what I have been going through these last two years and it has been very difficult but I don't ever give up and will not. It's a very long and lonely road at times but as well as rewarding at other times. There are a lot of unknown hours that I put in that no one would even know about. The most important thing I have learned about myself lately is that I am not doing it to be a star, I am doing it because I love it! I don't even think about becoming a star. I just want to get better at what I do and write great songs. If stardom comes with that, even better!Any last words for your fans?
Thank you for believing in me and for all of your support. Stay tuned for new songs from Nashville and God bless!
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