This year I’ve had the opportunity to play in several new locations, one of which being Ireland. While there I was able to visit several beautiful and unique places. One of those places was Belfast Castle in Belfast. The castle used to be a private home and has now been converted into a space that is used for weddings and events. It’s situated high on a hill overlooking Belfast and the ocean. I was there to play the Belfast Nashville Songwriter Festival and during our free day is when I ventured out to the castle. It’s so inspiring to see historic places and imagine the lives of the people who lived there, it always get my writer wheels turning!
The Wardrobe Department
One thing I’ve found necessary when traveling so much is being active when I can be. That sometimes looks like walking and exploring a new city, trying a new class, or one of my favorite hobbies is yoga! I’ve been practicing yoga on and off for more than 10 years, and I’m such a fan of all the benefits, which are both mental and physical. I recently partnered with a great athletic wear company, LavaLoka, and I am loving the patterns they have as well as the high waistband! The colors update my normally black yoga pants to something more fun and interesting, I also love this particular pair because the roses are so beautiful! Check out more of LavaLoka here, and this is one of my favorite yoga studios in Nashville!
Let’s Talk Mexico
Just a few weeks ago I had the chance to go to Mexico for the first time to perform at a wedding. I’d never been to Mexico before, so I was excited to experience a place that I’d heard was so beautiful, and to escape the tails of winter that were lingering in Nashville. I had a fantastic time at the Westin Resort and Spa, and Mexico was a beautiful and green locale! With a busy schedule, I was only able to stay three days, but I’m looking forward to going back and visiting again!
Break Through
A recent experience made me realize that I’ve never talked about setbacks in a post before, and because that can be such a big part of the entertainment industry, it’s something I feel has to be addressed. We’ve all seen the videos of successful people receiving awards encouraging others to persevere and not to give up just because the going gets tough, but it’s a different experience entirely when you’re standing face to face with someone telling you, “sorry, your songs not good enough” or “we’ve decided to go in a different direction”, “you’re just not the right fit”, or some other variation of a let down. Some are more cruel than this, a la Simon Cowell, and some are more constructive, but it doesn’t get easier to hear. Sometimes it’s merely a project that doesn’t work out because the partnership isn’t a good fit. Other times it’s a crushing disappointment and makes you wonder how you can keep going…and then you realize it’s sheer will and a love for what you’re doing that is the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s the feeling of joy you get for pursuing your passion, for trying to make what you love a career, for every second you get to stand in your glory and feel that overwhelming feeling of “rightness” that you feel when you’re living your truth. So, after a setback here’s what you’ve got to do:
- Remind yourself that it’s just one opinion
- Take time to make yourself better, so that the next time you cross paths with that person you won’t care what they say because you’ve grown as an artist
- Remember that art is subjective and that no one has a final say
- There are a million other opportunities out there, this was just one of them
- Success is tasted by those who don’t give up, the only way to succeed is to not quit.
Ice Skating in Central Park
Every time I’ve seen a movie featuring New York City in the winter, there’s always ice skating. It always looks so dreamy and picture perfect, and like the kind of ice skating you always wanted to partake in. It’s either under the Rockefeller tree or in Central Park. So when we were going to New York in December this activity was at the top of my must-do list, just so I could say I’d done it! Let me tell you, it was as much fun as I’d imagined it would be.
New Year’s Eve
It’s been a big year for me! I started my blog, I started touring a lot more, I released two songs to radio, and there were ups and downs, and bridges to cross, it was a lot packed into one year, but all in all, it’s been a great year and so much fun. I loved playing shows in LA, Chicago, New York City, Vermont, Maine, and visiting so many new places as well! I’ve grown as a musician, I’ve learned so much professionally, personally, and through going to school at Belmont all the while. I love the people I get to work with, the music I get to create, the musicians I get to play with, it’s such a magical experience every time we step on stage. Here are some of my favorite pictures from this year, I’ve had such a great time sharing it with you!