I feel like everyday here has been an unraveling of a deeper understanding of this tough, yet tender profession I have decided to pursue. This is one of those towns where, if you are out and about you WILL meet people who are pursuing the same thing as you (if you are pursuing music) or are a couple steps ahead of you. Example: Kelly, my roommate, and I were sitting on our front steps eating dinner last night and met a neighbor who is a song translator for people who speak a foreign language but want to write in English. How cool/random is that!?
One thing I have learned since I have been here is that- even though connections are flocking the town...getting anywhere in this industry does take some time. I know God has me here for a reason, so I am learning to trust right now and the clarity of why I am here is probably going to come later. And, that is okay.
Since it has been a week since I last wrote, I am going to bullet point what has been going on:
*I have played a couple songwriter's circles here in Nashville, which has introduced me to some amazing people I now have the opportunity to co-write with.
*I have begun volunteering for "Musicians On Call" which is an organization that allows musicians to play for patients in hospitals (children's, long-term, short term, etc.) Man. Singing in the hospitals is one of the most beautiful things and all it makes me think is- This is why God gave me a voice, so I could sing to the sick. We aren't allowed to talk about God or sing spiritual songs unless they request it- but God's presence has been loudly evident in those rooms more than once. If you are a musician or you want to volunteer as a guide, I HIGHLY encourage you to check out: http://www.musiciansoncall.org/
*As most occupations in life seem to be, it is not what you know, but who you know. Before I moved out here I contacted every contact I had in LA and asked if they knew anyone they would feel comfortable connecting me with in Nashville and this wonderful songwriter in LA by the name Kelly Fitzgerald, who I had the opportunity to write with a couple times, e-mailed back a LIST! Numbers and names and descriptions. I went through the list and called them all, and I ended up getting an interview of sorts with a plugging company named Sharp Objects. They liked my sound and appreciated the fact that I am not super-mainstream-country (though they recommended I listen and learn from the Top 20 charts, not a bad idea) and offered to set me up with co-writing sessions and if any great songs come out of those sessions, then they will pitch the songs to record labels and big name artists. They have been filling my schedule with co-writing sessions and I am loving it! I had my first session through this company yesterday and I got the opportunity to write with an older gentleman who has been writing for 2 or 3 decades...and he was SO much better than me. Even if nothing gets pitched, I know these sessions are going to teach me so much about the art of songwriting and I am a thankful girl.
*I also had the chance to meet up with Gavin DeGraw last week. My amazing roomie Kelly works for Grammy U which is a part of the Recording Academy, which is conveniently located across the street. He was coming in just to meet everyone at the Academy and play a couple songs and I got to just pop on over and talk to him and sit in this room of about 10 people and get our own private show. His voice is amazing. As in, the world stopped turning, please keep singing- amazing. His personality is crazy and goofy and hilarious and odd and captivating. It is so neat to get to meet all of these people I have listened to forever and realize they are just like me. I just keep thinking when I meet these famous artists- I could do this.
*Also, the one other thing I find to be note-worthy is I got the opportunity to volunteer for the flood relief here through the church I have been attending. I forget how bad it was because 1) I missed it 2) By the time i got here it was perfectly clean as if nothing happened. But, these people were hit HARD. As in, there was 7-8-9 feet of water sitting in their living rooms. There is neighborhood after neighborhood where people are no longer able to live in their houses because of the mold AND they didn't have flood insurance (because, why would they?) and they are having to essentially tear down and start anew, with super limited budgets. On Saturday morning at 7:30, about 75 people showed up and my smaller group of about 20 tore down and de-nailed 4 houses. It is incredible to see how everyone is pulling together in such a tough time.
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