Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hi there, that is a great question! I am from Montana (born and raised, as we say ;-). I bounced around the state during my formative years as my mom took me around the state for her schooling. I was born in (attended college in) Bozeman, MT (or Bozangeles as people call it). I have recently been splitting my time between Montana in the summer and somewhere warmer in the winter. My husband travels for work building power lines, and in 2017, I joined him, living in Long Beach, CA, and Mesa, AZ. I have loved music for as long as I can remember, starting around age 10 with Suzuki piano, then violin in middle school, and finally learning guitar around age 26. I initially sought out playing guitar and songwriting not to chase a career but rather to use the craft to work out emotions, a sort of journaling. The interest in my music and the ability to play music for money is a bonus!
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: When it comes to guitar playing, singing, and songwriting, I am self-taught. In high school, I had some vocal training in an all-girls choir. However, way before high school, I would train my voice by trying to hit all the notes while singing along with songs such as “Case of you” by Joni Mitchell. If one can follow along and stay in tune with this song, you can follow any song.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: My first musical influences included artists that my parents listened to, which included a mix of 80s music with a hint of country music. I remember jamming out to my Madonna tape in the backyard when I was young, singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” at the top of my lungs. During high school, I gravitated toward what is called “Prime Country” today, which includes artists such as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Strait, The Judds, Shania Twain, and more. This music got me through the challenging high school years. During my 20s, 30s, and now 40s, I appreciated songwriters such as Bonnie Raitt, Gillian Welch, Bon Iver, Neko Case, Darryl Scott, and the Judds. It is lovely to have a pretty voice; however, to write music AND have a beautiful voice is a win-win!
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Montana Can't You See’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes, I love this song and am pleased it is finally available for the masses! This song was written after my years in Long Beach, CA. I came home (to MT) and was inspired to write a love song for my home state. When you live in a city, there is a layer of smog that acts as your filter when looking at the mountains or skyline. The further one drives North, the more the filter shifts and changes. One can finally see the bluest blues and the greenest greens, and the Montana scenery appears so vibrant it almost hurts one’s eyes. I had never experienced the smog filter before; it made everything more beautiful.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: Truthfully, not anytime soon. With the effort, time, and resources this project required, I am going to sit back and work on promotion of “Long Road Ahead” for a few years.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: The key element in my music that I hope resonates with listeners is a relatable experience that brings us together and helps someone feel less alone. Sometimes, I think I am the only person who has experienced a particular feeling, but when I hear it in a song, I know I am not alone. This project covers many subjects, from love lost to work accidents and the changing seasons to longing for home (and more). I hope there is a song for everyone on Long Road Ahead! I would describe our sound as a homegrown Montana sound equal parts folk, Americana, and Country. Just like Montana weather, you cannot put us in a box, and we will surprise you every time.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Fun question! You know, I had very few expectations for this project other than to put out a record that I was incredibly proud of, that included a collection of songs that I hand-picked, and that included my closest musical friends. Being an independent artist with no financial backing has its pros, for nobody tells me what to include on the album, what to say, what not to say, etc. With this project, I could hire musical friends (sound engineers, mixing engineers, and mastering engineers) that I trust and admire, share a rough version of the song, and see what magic they came up with. I can say with my whole heart, I would not change anything on this project; it is perfect in my mind.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: When I am writing a song, it is in response to a feeling of my personal experience or someone else’s that touched my heart. I typically sit down with my guitar, a paper pad, and a voice memo feature on my phone. I strum through chords until the right ones fit the wording I came up with, and then I frantically write it down so it is not lost. If I have to, I refer to the voice memo that hopefully captured any details that slipped my mind. When I write a song, it is often completed in one sitting. I liken it to channeling, as I get a feeling, sit with it, work it out, and the final product is a song. With this album, due to delays in recording because of COVID-19, I was able to revisit the “finished songs,” adding a pre-chorus to one song and an ending to two other songs. The extra time allowed the songs to develop and mature in a way new to my writing process.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: I would say the most difficult thing I have had to endure in life is growing up in a household where there was both mental health issues and substance abuse issues. Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common story, but the insecure attachments that were formed since birth, have followed me around my whole life. Years of therapy have helped, but I still struggle today with self- esteem, self-doubt, and anxiety. Music has also helped me get through low times and dark days! Now as a substance abuse and mental health counselor, I combine my love of music and my past history of abuse to help other’s struggling with similar issues.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: The most proud moment in my life/music career was releasing this new album. I know this may seem like a given with the content of this interview and all, however it is true. I saved money for years, I planned, practiced, researched, pushed through, all to come out the other side feeling extremely proud, loved, and supported. This project has the bones of a great song with the meat and beauty of the most talented instrumentalists/vocalists in the country. I am willing to challenge anyone who thinks otherwise ;-).
