On the DIY “Millennials Are Going Gray” EP – out July 19th

It’s been quite a year since I released Secrets I Told to a Sound Hole last March. I’ve been performing more than ever and finally made it to the Nick Alexander Stage at Lost Evenings, a big dream for me (at least for the past few years since the festival began, haha)!

I haven’t been as focused on writing and recording except in short bursts (as usual), most notably the period surrounding Frank Turner’s amazing songwriting camp last August, one of the best times of my entire life (so far). But I did end up with about 14 new songs in total, and 7 that I actually wanted to release.

Feedback has been mixed, but I like to think that this new batch of songs is musically and lyrically more interesting than what I’ve done before. I was going to wait to release until I had a larger batch of songs that I really loved, but I’ve been playing them out for so long and people keep asking when they’ll be on Spotify, so I thought I might as well get them out there sooner rather than later.

I did spend a few months agonizing over the best way to use my limited resources (classic DIY artist dilemma) – is it worth spending a chunk of cash on professional production, even if it means I might not then be able to afford to tour over the next year like I wanted to? Touring is important, but professionally recorded songs are also much more likely to win over fans and achieve something than ones that aren’t, so there would be a definite trade-off.

In the end I decided to do it myself. That would also let me take my time to get the best performance possible, which doesn’t always come easy for me. I’m still not sure I made the right decision (next time, I might work with a fellow amateur just to have an unbiased second pair of ears that I don’t have to go broke for). But part of following a dream is being decisive, committing to a course of action and then sticking to it, so that’s what I’m doing. And the good news is there will be many more batches of songs for me to throw money at if I choose to.

I learned a lot about myself and production from this recording, like I always do. I didn’t achieve perfection in the performance or production, but as in all things, I had to strike a balance between perfectionism and knowing when I’d achieved my best, not actually being a perfect person. I don’t want to bias other people’s listening by pointing out the specific flaws I can hear even after thinking I’d fixed them all. All I’ll say is that I hope I did an adequate job to allow everything I’m trying to express in these songs to shine through, and that’s all that matters right now.

I’ve got plans for this EP, including a track by track blog guide about the music and lyrics, and a Facebook Live listening party (Sat 7/20 at 12 pm ET) and virtual release show (Sun 7/21 at 2 pm ET) – if you know me, you know how much fun I have with Facebook Live! I also have a plan for finishing up a second batch of songs, which will be released in a second digital EP in November, and then I will combine the two EPs into a single physical release and maybe some cool merch to go along with it.

Finally, I’m hoping to tour the US East Coast in November (on my way to the Flogging Molly Cruise) and the UK/Western Europe in May (on my way to Lost Evenings Berlin). I’m still collecting contacts for those, so if you might have a sofa for me to crash on or a platform for me to perform (which could include your house), please fill out this form!

I’m so looking forward to the next year or so and I’m so grateful to everyone who’s been following my journey and supporting me along the way. Thank you and I hope to see you soon!

7 Female Singer-Songwriters You Should Check Out (+ a longer playlist)

March is Women’s History Month, International Women’s Day has just passed, and people are talking more about gender inequality in music.

This particular blog isn’t to discuss inequality and discrimination, but to be the change I want to see in the world. When it comes down to it, women will be better represented in music when we all support and promote them more often. And we female musicians in particular need to collaborate to create new opportunities rather than compete for what may very well be token spots.

So this is a list of 7 female singer-songwriters I’ve come across in my travels or browsing who have impressed me with their music and/or achievements.

I’ve also made a longer Spotify playlist including the women from this list who are on Spotify, some others they have suggested or mentioned, and some other female or non-binary singer-songwriters I like. I have embedded that at the bottom of this list for handy listening.

All of this is entirely subjective based on my experiences, exposure, and tastes, and in no way meant to be definitive. So if you’re reading or listening and thinking of who would be on your list, please make one! Send it my way and I would be happy to share.

I’m not including myself below since this is my website after all, and I’m plastered all over it. But if you stumbled on this blog without knowing who I am, please do check out my music, and if you like it, follow me on social media and come see me live if you’re near where I’m playing.

In order to be as fair as possible, this list is ordered by Facebook fans from least to most. I haven’t made any qualitative judgments.

#1: Katie MF


Current home base: London, UK

Describe your music in one sentence: classic folk narratives set against a rowdy and fun backdrop – contagious punch-the-air folk/punk.

Something unique about you: I nearly died in a car accident last year when an 8 inch, 1 kg piece of metal smashed through my windscreen at 80mph on the motorway… OK I say I nearly died – I was totally unharmed, but it came this close to decapitating me. Obviously I wrote a song about it – Lucky Motherfucker (yet to be recorded).

Which women in history (in music or otherwise) do you most admire and why? Tina Turner. After everything she went through at the hands of Ike, then battling the racist, sexist and ageist music industry and still being one of the most successful artists of all time – incredible.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? Listen to it! Preferably on Spotify or Bandcamp. And if you like it, tell people about it – word of mouth helps us beat the algorithms and the endless damn hashtags.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? Writing-wise: listen broadly (lots of different genres), read a tonne of books, write stuff down somewhere as soon as it occurs to you – even if you’re just drifting off to sleep. Don’t force it! Performing: every single gig you play will be worthwhile in some form, even if there are only two people there, so give it everything and keep going.

LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | Bandcamp | Official site

#2: Lucy Bernardez

Current home base: Southampton, UK

Describe your music in one sentence: I don’t identify with a particular genre, but if I had to, I would say my music best identifies with folk/singer-songwriter and a hint of pop, with soothing melodies and chilling lyrics.

Something unique about you: Probably not that unique, but I started seriously writing songs and playing shows when I was around 14-15. I am now 18 and I’ve got some exciting news for this year that I’ll be announcing soon.

Which women in history (in music or otherwise) do you most admire and why? Lisa Mitchell has always been a huge inspiration for me, she has a beautiful and unique voice and she cares very much about the environment which comes across a lot in her music, which I greatly admire and also try to achieve that in my music.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? I’d say, if you like my music, spread the word. Tell other people to come to my shows, bring them along or merely tell them to listen to my music, which is easily accessible on all major platforms via my website.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? I would say don’t give up even if you doubt yourself or are made to doubt yourself. If you think you’ve got something to share with the world, keep on practising and your confidence will build. I would never tell someone they should stop expressing themselves through music, even if by most people’s standards they aren’t very ‘good’. There are loads of different aspects to being a musician, whether it’s writing good poetry, being an engaging performer, having a beautiful voice or talent for songwriting, if you keep practising you’ll invite more and more ears to listen to you.

LINKS: Official site | YouTube | Bandcamp | iTunes | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify

#3: Chloe Glover

Current home base: Manchester, UK

Describe your music in one sentence: A blend of punk and folk music, combined with a raw lyrical honesty.

Which women in history (in music or otherwise) do you most admire and why? As a fierce feminist I’ve always admired Emmeline Pankhurst, ever since learning about her in school when I was younger. The votes for women motto ‘Deeds not words’ has always struck a chord with me. I love that she pissed a lot of people off- as someone who can be a bit of a pushover, I often think about the strength and bravery of Emmeline Pankhurst and everything that she endured in the name of feminism and equal rights. She was an utter legend.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? Like my Facebook page! It helps enormously with getting booked for shows and you’ll be the first to hear about the release of my new EP or exciting gigs in your area!

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? Try to write or play music every singe day. The more confident you become, the easier it is to share your music with the world, and that is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

LINKS: Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

#4: Natalie Farrell

Current home base: Asbury Park, NJ

Describe your music in one sentence: Expressive contralto vocals with an eclectic mix of musical genres, including soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, and rock.

Which women in history (in music or otherwise) do you most admire and why? Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Hayley Williams. They present themselves as powerhouse songstresses that perform with emotion and feeling which really connects with me as a listener. That inspired me to give my audience the same connection.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? To connect and relate to the music. My biggest factor when creating my music is to inspire the listener to learn more about themselves and relate it to their own life.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Sometimes musicians can be hard on themselves and it may feel uncomfortable letting people listen to the raw emotions you put on paper. But at the end of the day, you will change someone’s life with your music and it all starts with showing the world what you’re made of.

LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify

#5: Dori Cameron

Current home base: Boston, MA

Describe your music in one sentence: Dori Cameron and the Invisible Monsters is a four-piece rock band with punk undertones from Boston, MA. Members: Dori Cameron (vocals, guitar), Tom Majkut (bass), Jesse Buday (guitar), and Benjamin Buday (drums)

Something unique about you: I never thought I’d be able to be the front woman and guitarist of a band. I was talking to Dave King (Flogging Molly) a few years back about wanting to be part of a band, and he said to me, “Dori… start your own band.” That chat really resonated with me, since I adore Flogging Molly, and Dave King is a huge musical influence on me. I admire his honest lyrics and ability to bring so many different types of people together with his music. I’m so glad I learned how to play the guitar and started a band… it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I’ve hit the jackpot with my band mates Tom, Jesse, and Ben – they also perform as the Boston band “Look Sharp” and I’m very thankful for them. They bring such energy and depth to each song. They fucking rule!

Which women in history (in music or otherwise) do you most admire and why? Sister Rosetta Tharpe (the Mother of Rock and Roll!), Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, Grace Slick, and Liss Victory. I look up to these women so much and admire their tenacity, dedication, and conviction. Liss Victory personally encouraged me to purchase my first guitar and gave me that extra encouragement I needed to really embrace the dream of becoming a musician. She is so inspirational, and I love her music. These amazing women have paved the way for musicians like me, and I’m thankful.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? Spread the word about Dori Cameron and the Invisible Monsters! And come out to see us perform… seeing friends at shows is the best thing about being a musician!

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? Keep going!! Keep going, no matter what happens. Music can become your anchor in a world full of uncertainty.

LINKS: Official site | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

#6: Kim Boyko

Current home base: Metuchen, NJ

Describe your music in one sentence: I am a self-reflective singer/songwriter who creates confessional acoustic pop songs.

Something unique about you: I’m a nerdy science teacher. I bring my guitar into class on Fridays and my students write science songs with me to show me what they’ve learned.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? I’m not performing right now because I’m a month away from giving birth to my first child, but people can subscribe to my YouTube channel!

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? My advice to someone just starting would be to keep writing and performing no matter what, and stay out of your own way. We are all our own worst critics, and it’s incredibly easy to compare yourself to others & get discouraged. Don’t do that. Just write. Even if you think it sucks, just write.

LINKS: Official site | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Bandcamp

#7: Reina Williams

Current home base: Elizabeth, NJ

Describe your music in one sentence: Soul medicine.

Something unique about you: To spite everyone over the years telling me I need to stick to one genre, I refuse to. If I make the music I like, then that’s all that matters. Being open to that diversity afforded me the opportunity as a producer to create music that has been placed in over 200 TV shows and commercials. Do what you want.

Which women in history (in music or otherwise) do you most admire and why? Currently it’s Nina Simone. She gave zero fucks about what people thought of her. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind in her songs and she was an amazing pianist.

What is the single most important action people can take to support your music right now? Share my videos and music with your friends.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started with writing and performing music? Be kind to yourself.

LINKS: Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Official site

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: Female/Non-Binary Singer-Songwriters

Thoughts on My Journey to the NA Stage and Frank Turner’s Impact on My Music Career

Getting booked for the Nick Alexander Stage at Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings this year is a big step for me in a journey that Frank has been a direct and indirect part of from the very beginning. It’s also been a while since I’ve written, so I thought I would tell the whole, entire story thus far for anyone who might be interested. I don’t know, I think it makes for a pretty good story.

(Before I get into it, I want to mention that the Nick Alexander Stage is named after a man who was killed in the terrorist attack at the Bataclan in Paris in 2015. Some of his loved ones started a trust in his name, which gives grants to help get music equipment to disadvantaged people. Check them out.)

The absolute beginning of the story, which not a lot of people know (if anybody does), is that the very first time I heard Frank’s music (“Photosynthesis” over the PA between sets at a local show) it really bothered me. I sort of took it as a personal affront when he implied that everyone can and should follow their dreams, because I genuinely felt certain that I couldn’t. Music has always been my only consistent passion, but at the time, I believed the people who told me it was a pipe dream. Only extremely lucky people got to devote their lives to music (like this guy on the PA, talking down to me as I saw it), and there had been no signs that I should be one of them. Not a single person in my life ever told me anything different when I discussed it with them. I heard “Photosynthesis” just as I was properly entering adulthood and in the process of resigning myself to the thing that he was telling me not to resign myself to. It was an inconvenient message and I didn’t like that, but part of me was also obviously intrigued by it.

It took me about six months before I finally caved and started listening to his music, and he quickly won me over. By early 2013 he had become my favorite songwriter by a landslide, and I was slowly resolving my cognitive dissonance by taking his lyrics to heart, pushing myself every day to be bolder and truer to myself.

Selfie I took at a guitar meet-up in Central Park in 2013 or ’14.

I was thrilled when I found out that he read and responded to emails from fans — I certainly wasn’t one to communicate with people I looked up to in person! One of the first emails I ever sent him told about a day when his lyrics had inspired me to go to a big guitar meet-up in Central Park despite my shyness, and that it had ended up being one of the best days I’d had in a very long time. He wrote back something like, “What a lovely email to receive. Hope you’re doing just awesome today!” and it pretty much made my year. At the time, I kind of thought that was the height of positive interaction I would ever have with him.

I moved very slowly with music at first. I had absolutely no confidence in my abilities, much less any presumption that it would be remotely possible for me to make a career of it, and I still struggled with stage fright and plenty of other anxiety issues. I finished a total of like six songs in a couple of years and would only go to an open mic or jam every month or two, with my nerves typically making them an extremely unpleasant experience.

Fast forward to the first Flogging Molly Cruise in 2015, where Frank played the impromptu solo set that finally broke something in me. At the end of one of Beans on Toast’s bar shows, Frank went up to the mic and said, “I’m doing a set for Love Hope Strength in the atrium right after this; follow me!” The entire, pretty much full population of the bar followed him in a big stampede. The ship lurched violently in the direction we were rushing in, twice. Even just in this journey from the bar to the atrium, before he had sung a word, the excitement was palpable. It seemed like nothing in the world was more important to anyone in that crowd at that moment than getting to that impromptu show and being as close as possible to the action.

He stood at the front of the crowd, announced that he’d be taking requests from people who signed up as bone marrow donors, and he started playing. There’s something about this kind of set that I find so much more emotionally satisfying than a regular polished set. There was no amplification of any kind and he was getting drunker by the minute. But everybody knew all the words, so it didn’t matter if he messed up a line or if we couldn’t hear him in the back. He was still there singing with us, the person who wrote these songs that have changed our lives. Nearly every line he sang was probably tattooed on someone’s body somewhere in the crowd. Everyone probably had a story about how one song or another had changed them, helped them make an important decision, inspired them, or been there for them at a dark time. I looked around and every single person was wearing the same look of pure joy, to the point where it almost would have weirded me out if I wasn’t also a part of it.

For the first time in a moment like this, I was struck by more than just my own immediate happiness and inspiration. I thought about how profound these moments were in the grand scheme of things, the way that music can bring strangers together so easily, the way that a stranger who created something you love can have a very real and far-reaching impact on your life without even knowing it. I thought about how Frank must feel up there every night, and I became consumed by a desire to feel it for myself. I remember it as one of those light-shining-down moments where I thought, this is what I want to do with my life. This is all I want to do with my life.

This was in March, and I had already made it one of my New Year’s resolutions that year, definitely influenced by Frank, to “devote myself to music.” I didn’t know exactly what that meant in January. Something like write more songs, work more on my guitar technique, and play more open mics, I suppose. I had been reading songwriting and music business books, one of which assured me I would write 50 terrible songs before I wrote a great one. As I sang along to Frank’s songs that night with everyone else, an idea was forming in my mind.

Frank and me on the first Flogging Molly Cruise. Actually a good representation of his drunken graciousness and my nervousness.

I fought my nerves and went up to him after most others had left. I felt compelled to tell him how he’d inspired me to take music more seriously that year even though I wasn’t sure if I was good enough. He was pretty well drunk by then, but fought through it to talk to every last person with surprising patience and lucidity. He was absolutely lovely and told me that his first few years of songs were terrible, that if he could do it anyone could, that he was sure I was better than I thought, and he even bent his knees when I told him I was intimidated by his height (which was really a very strange thing to say, bless him).

I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have inspired me throughout my life, and not everyone is like this, at all. And while I don’t want to cede too much power to other people over the trajectory of my life, it’s hard to overestimate the impact these little responses can have, even though they might mean very little to the person giving them. If you get blown off or treated as inferior, especially if you already struggle with low self-esteem, it sucks and it makes you think twice about whether it’s even worth continuing to try. When someone is responsive and encouraging, especially if they are the person you look up to more than anyone else, it can sometimes be the one little boost you needed to take your next big risk or maybe just to get through one more day of thankless hard work.

As soon as I got home from the cruise, I made a post to let my friends and family know I was going to be writing and sharing one song every week for a year and to invite them to follow along by email. I knew that if I wanted to get to where Frank was, the absolute first thing I had to do was learn to write great songs, and I had no time to waste.

The “throwaway song of the week” project, as I lovingly named it, was the perfect crash course not only directly in songwriting, but also in what it means emotionally to be creative. I actually took a summer hiatus largely because I felt like I would never be good enough and trying was pointless. But at the end of the day, the personal pull to express myself through music was just way too strong for me to ignore. And by the time I was done I really did feel like a songwriter. I didn’t know if the songs were any good, if more than a handful of people would ever care about them, or if I could ever make money from them, but I knew that I was certainly very capable of writing songs and so I was a songwriter.

Me with my guitar at the beginning of the second Flogging Molly Cruise.

Near the end of this project was the second Flogging Molly Cruise, and Frank was on the bill again. I knew from the first year that it wasn’t uncommon for attendees to bring their instruments on board and casually jam with friends around the ship, and I guess I sort of took that to a new level. I wrote a few cruise theme songs that expressed all the positive experiences of the first cruise; put a sign on my guitar that said, “Free songs – ask me for my catalog” (a catalog of every song I knew how to play); and wandered around the ship pretty much treating it like a job (which I have also done every year since).

I can’t emphasize enough what a bold step this was for me the first time. I was still performing primarily at the open mic level, and I still got pretty nervous. I knew there was a fairly decent chance that Frank — my number one inspiration — would hear me playing at some point, and that thought terrified (but also obviously excited) me. But I wanted to be as bold as possible and take full advantage of every opportunity that came my way (even if that meant inventing opportunities). And I thought, if the scariest thing does happen and Frank hears me sing a song, that would mean I have nothing left to be afraid of!

Well, the cruise singing went better than I ever could have imagined. I’d posted the cruise songs online beforehand, so right from the start I had people coming up to tell me how much they’d enjoyed them. I got song requests everywhere I went and played for many lovely groups, pairs, and sometimes even individual people. I played a couple of songs for Beans on Toast at one point and became the unofficial opening act for Will Varley’s cabin shows. Sure, I had trouble making eye contact with my audiences, but I was doing it — I was performing for people, making them happy, and connecting with them, just like I’d dreamed of doing only one year before!

Singing a Beatles song for my now good friend Pauline while Frank Turner was technically behind me but I pretended that he wasn’t.

By the last full day, in all of my singing I hadn’t run into Frank even once. I thought it was just as well because it would probably overwhelm me and things were going so great. But that afternoon, while hawking free songs on the private island, I found myself singing a Beatles song in a cabana where he happened to be hanging out. The woman who requested the song was conveniently facing in Frank’s direction, so I was able to sing the entire song with my back to him and wander off again without once acknowledging his existence… but still, he had been there! I had done the scariest thing possible, or so I thought.

That night, there was an almost exact repeat of the previous year’s Love Hope Strength atrium set, except that Frank had decided to play his full album England Keep My Bones rather than requests. It was late and we would be shuffled off the ship early the next morning, so I was already beginning to mentally consolidate my experiences. Still buzzing not only from performing in front of Frank that afternoon but also from Skinny Lister’s amazing set which had just finished, I wasn’t really looking for this atrium show to make my weekend any better than it had already been.

But then serendipitously, halfway through the set, Frank broke a string and Rob (of Love Hope Strength) began asking frantically, “Does anybody have a guitar?” I didn’t have mine on me; it was under my bed in my cabin two stories down. After a few moments of no one else stepping up, I asked Rob if I should go and get it. He said yes, so I ran like I’d never run before and brought it back in record time. I honestly just really didn’t want the show to end prematurely; I didn’t expect anything in return. But after I had handed over the guitar, Frank asked me if I wanted to play a song.

What he was offering was actually scarier than the scariest thing. Not only would he be there listening right next to me, but the crowd was also much bigger and more attentive than any crowd I’d ever played to before, by a huge factor. Still, because of my resolution to be brave no matter what, I didn’t think about it, I just nodded.

I love that this was the exact same setting as the photo where I met him 12 months earlier.

I played my cruise song, “This Ain’t Your Mama’s Bahamas Cruise,” and it just felt surreal. I avoided looking at Frank as much as I could, but the crowd was loving it. They were singing along on the refrain and they all just looked really happy. In fact, they looked pretty much as happy as they had when Frank was playing. Afterwards, he actually let me stand next to him for the rest of the set and sing his last five songs with him, which felt like a dream come true.

When I got home, several friends had posted photos and videos of my moment, so I got to see Frank’s real-time reaction to the song, laughing at my stupid jokes and actually singing along on the last line!! I couldn’t get over the fact that, unpolished as I was, here was a successful person whose work I admired, and for a brief moment in time I was the one entertaining him with my song. And all it took was just writing one amusing song and getting up there and singing it. It made me think that maybe achieving what I wanted didn’t have to be so complicated after all, and maybe I could actually do it.

2016 had a lot of great momentum that ultimately fizzled out, but lack of immediate results never fazed me. I kept at it, writing songs, sharing them as widely as I could online, and performing wherever I could.

Every time I had a new batch of songs I would send them to Frank and put myself forward for any opportunities. One of his best traits is that, even as great as his network is now, he’s still very open to checking out fans’ music. He chooses all his own openers, and even when he’s not prepared to offer an opportunity like that, he will often signal boost on social media. So I would send him my demos knowing they might not be that impressive yet. But because he was always present, listening, encouraging, and being kind about it (which, again, is so rare), instead of getting discouraged I got more determined. I wanted him to see me get better and better and ultimately become great.

Headlining the fan meet-up at Frank Turner’s inaugural Lost Evenings festival in London.

When 2017 rolled around, Frank was planning his first Lost Evenings festival in London and I was getting bolder and doing more with music all the time. I politely reached out to tell him I would be attending the festival, plotting a little DIY tour of England around it, and would love any kind of performing opportunity if he could help. After some time, I found out that he had set me up as “headliner” of a sort of official fan showcase gig. It was billed on the programs and website as a fan meet-up “featuring live sets from Amanda Riley and friends.” Not only did this get more people interested in me, but it also felt good to see my name there. It seemed like Frank had gone out of his way to provide a platform for me, and I greatly appreciated it.

By the time I got home from England, I knew that the next big step for me was to release a proper album. So I wrote some new songs, did an inordinate amount of research, and just did the thing, with a little (but not much) help on the creative and publicity aspects. It didn’t lead to achieving all my dreams in one shot, but I think that first album will always be one of my proudest achievements.

I sent Frank the album and he received it graciously, but he couldn’t fit me in anywhere for Lost Evenings II last year. So I ended up getting in touch with someone who had set up a giant Airbnb rental for dozens of Lost Evenings attendees, and we co-organized our own unofficial fan meet-up and showcase there. We had five artists and lots of fans, we sang originals and had some Frank Turner singalongs, and it was awesome! In this way I will have participated in all three Lost Evenings festivals so far, even if not always officially, and I’m sure I will continue to make that happen.

Secrets I Told to a Sound Hole came out in March of last year, so by summertime I was just starting to get back into serious songwriting. In a stroke of perfect timing, that also happened to be when Frank was leading a Music Masters songwriting camp in upstate New York, a few hours’ drive from me.

I tried to go into the camp with no hard expectations. I reminded myself that they couldn’t possibly all happen, but there were many different positive experiences I might have: making a lot of like-minded friends, winning over new fans, jamming or singing with Frank and the Sleeping Souls, getting some of my own personal questions answered, and learning from them as part of the activities. Well, actually, every one of those things did happen, and more! It was yet another transformative experience and I’m so lucky to have had so many of them.

Fresh with inspiration and insight from there, I’ve spent most of my time since then developing what I think is much better material for my next album, which I’m hoping to be able to release by this summer.

And now, a few weeks ago, I officially found out I was invited to play the Nick Alexander Stage. This is the second most official place you can play at Lost Evenings, so I am moving on up! Frank Turner fans (myself included) are always so supportive and excited to check out new music, so I’ve already gotten some new listeners following the announcement. I can’t wait to perform there and to check out some new music myself.

It’s been an intense but enjoyable journey to get to this point. I don’t know if this opportunity will lead to anything bigger on its own. But I’m sure as hell going to do everything in my power to maximize it. And as ever, I’m going to keep looking for new opportunities both in the obvious places and in the places where other people might not think to look.

Frank Turner not knowing what he would do either, at Campfire Punkrock (Music Masters Camp).

Frank taught me to be this way, by example and by encouragement. It’s not that I’m giving him credit for my achievements or even for my courage and determination. Yes, obviously, all of it was inside of me somewhere, and if I didn’t push myself it never would have come out. But at the beginning of this story, I honestly believed that going after what I wanted full force was the wrong thing to do and wouldn’t lead to positive outcomes. I felt like I was stuck, unless something in my life could credibly contradict that. And that something ended up being Frank’s lyrics, the way he lives his life and goes about his career, and his encouragement of me when he didn’t even know me at all. There is a reason I got a “WWFTD?” tattoo (okay, that was somewhat impulsive, but it’s been two years and I haven’t regretted it yet).

And look at me now! Despite ongoing confidence and anxiety issues, people are constantly telling me that I inspire them by the way I live my life. And I don’t really ever get stage fright anymore.

Maybe someone or something else would have eventually coaxed me down the same path if Frank hadn’t. But I personally find it unsettling to think about where I might be now if I had accepted my initial impression about “Photosynthesis,” or if Frank had been dismissive rather than encouraging me each time I took a new risk. So regardless of what happens from here, I will always see him as having helped to give me my start in more than one way.