Could you share the story behind your latest song and what inspired its creation?
Combine a Sunday Afternoon, the sensibilities of the Everly Brothers and the reflection of love in a pair of blue eyes and you’ll have my song, “Blue Eyed Baby”
Aimed to be timeless and dreamy, “Blue Eyed Baby” dictates a simple request for companionship and connection, and invokes the listener into reminiscing a time when love didn’t seem so hard… no tricks, no games, just organic pursuit.
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
I write what I know, whether it’s my own love story or time of heartbreak. I’ll also put my pen to the stories of others, bringing them to life through my own lens. Any theme that’s hot and fresh is the one to write. I also try an honor exactly where I’m at because that moment will pass you by and you’ll lose the passion behind it if you don’t capture it while you can. Life will go on and more ideas will come, so I never have to fear not having inspiration.
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
My best asset is my authenticity and the rest follows. I’d be a fool to ignore methods of success, but ultimately, in a field where every opinion is subjective, if something I create is truly remarkable, it will find the right home. Serving my songs includes being as authentic as I can be and marrying them with an exercise of wisdom of the industry. At the end of the day, I want to be more proud of what I create, versus the result of working the right angle on commercial appeal because then I’m serving my instinct, not what the industry says people want to hear.
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
It’s expensive to be an independent artist and there are countless risks to where you put your money. There are too many resources to count for artists to get their music out and too many opportunities that return void. Knowing who to invest in takes time. Apart from that, personal limiting beliefs can end the story before it’s even told. It’s just as important to create as it is important to understand your fears and stumbling blocks.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
I have loved collaborating. You’re a fool to think you’re the brightest in the room because someone will always say something that gets you to think or summon the next great idea. When there are others present, you also get all of their experiences and brain. Two minds are better than one.
What role does technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
Social media was once described to me as a “free marketing tool” by an artist manager. She was right and I’d be a fool to not use the platforms that are free to me, no matter the learning curve and pitfalls and confusion that come with them. It also allows me to be surprised by my reach and who’s listening. It helps me see who my audience is and gives me a medium of mass engagement that I otherwise wouldn’t have.
Are there any particular artists or genres that have had a significant impact on your musical style?
I like to say that I’m a combination of Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Seger. I employ the country and storytelling sensibilities of Dolly, the soul and Holy Spirit bellowing of Aretha, and the anthem, raise your lighters of Bob.
Indie musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music?
I play live often and always try to connect with my audience off stage. That typically turns into dedicated fans who follow me on social media and keep in touch with me, pray for me, and share my music with their community.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
Any time I see someone shedding a tear at my shows or watch the crowd singing along, or hear a testimony of impact after the show, I’m back in that place of realizing the importance of stewarding my gifts. Those experiences take the focus off of me and show me that the glory always has to be reflected outwards, that I must be a mirror for any accolade that I receive and shine it back on heaven where that gift was conceived.
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
How I feel about streaming doesn’t matter. Hating it doesn’t make it go away, loving it doesn’t make it do more for me. I simply have to adopt it and its evolving nature into my process because that’s how it has to be as long as I’m recording and releasing music. It’s the same as social media… If I wasn’t trying to promote my brand, then I wouldn’t be using it and I’d live off the grid, but that’s not reality. Having any ill feeling for either only puts me at a disadvantage and disrupts my productivity.