Sometimes writing is hard.  Not necessarily the act itself, but more so the idea that maybe no one really cares all that much about what you have to say.  I’ve been at a bit of standstill lately when it comes to feeling inspired to really share with you guys. I’ve been working on some projects quietly, for myself, for the time being.  I’ve been writing as an act of therapy to get through some things, and as discipline, to learn some things, and to grow.  But, truth be told, I miss it, the sharing part…and I miss you, the few of my loyal readers out there.

Do you ever get to those spots in life in which you just don’t feel like you are inspiring, or all that influential to anyone?  Or maybe that you are seen, but, only from afar, through a window.  People stop, they stare in briefly, but, then they just continue their shopping, with no real desire to look at you any closer.  I pass no judgement here, I’m quite the window shopper myself, often staring from afar.  Upon analyzing myself further, I questioned why am I a window shopper? Pretending we’re talking about material things rather than people for a moment, most times when I window shop, there’s a few possibilities as to why I don’t look closer, or try it on, or ‘get to know it’ if you will.  The first reason being the obvious, I probably can’t afford it.  Followed by, it probably wouldn’t look good on me, or what would other people think if I wore it?  With those thoughts in mind, let’s go back to people.  I think I can relate, right?  Let’s look.

“I can’t afford it.”

Obviously we aren’t talking about the Benjamins here, but i think we can all relate to having those moments of meeting people and thinking, “they are out of my league.”  We don’t approach people because we don’t think that our company would be of any interest to them.  Flip it around, people looking through the glass may think the same about us.  I’m an example kind of person, so to put things into perspective, here’s a little story; In college, my major goal was just to get in, get out, and move to Nashville.  I had big dreams, and big plans.  I didn’t realize the way that this mindset was affecting the perception of those around me.  Of people that I wanted to be my friends.  It wasn’t until years later, when one of the friends I had made through college, but, had only gotten to know better afterwards, told me something, that i really understood.  She said, “Everyone always just thought you were snobby, or wanted to keep to yourself, we thought you just wanted to do your own thing.”  The past is the past, but, it does haunt me a bit now to realize all the missed opportunities that we’re probably there.  But, on both ends, we were all just window shopping.  Neither party wanting to fully approach because we thought the other wasn’t approachable.  I’m glad to be getting to reconnect with some of these people years later, with a more confident mindset, and getting to know them better.  Sometimes it’s fun just to try on the fur, even when you think you can’t afford it.

“It probably wouldn’t look good on me, what would other people think?”

We’ll stick with the fur here, because it’s a pretty good analogy.  I’ve always been terrified to wear fur, for the two things mentioned above. What if people think you’re trying too hard?  What if they don’t think it seems like your style?  It’s kind of the same thing with people.  There’s no better example here than the dating pool when you’re 30 years old. When you hit this age, and your ultimate goal is marriage, there comes a time when you have to stop window shopping.  You try on the fur, and the leather, and the wool, and so on. And people start saying, “that doesn’t seem like your type,” or “since when is red your color, i thought you liked black?”  And you don’t know if you should be shopping at the Goodwill or Bloomingdales, and all of a sudden you just don’t want to shop at all. But, you know you have to, because, well…you really need a “coat.”   It’s at this point that you step back and you have to block everyone else out, because, it’s not your friends, or your sisters, or your parents that are going to be wearing the coat.  You don’t stop at the window, because you have to go inside and get to know things a little better, to realize if you think they’ll keep you warm through the winter. That’s hard sometimes because we treasure the opinions of our loved ones, but, we also have to remember what makes us happy, because, at the end of the day, they’ll love us either way.

So you see, if we stand outside the window, we just never really know.  And what we have to remember, is that if we try the coat on, and we don’t like it, no one says we have to keep it or wear it everyday.  But, if we never try it on, or make ourselves available, we might miss out on the comfort and the warmth.  And that gives me chills.

Until next time…

 

 

When your Pastor and Madea are preaching the same word, girl, you know you gotta listen.

 

Saturday morning one of my dear friends tagged me in this video of Madea’s relationship advice.  I’ve definitely been going through lots of “leaves” lately, lots of people that I’ve come to realize real quickly were only meant for a short season.  This message hit home with me.  Even more incredible, on Sunday morning, my Pastor quoted this exact same thing.  I know this was a true word that I really needed to hear.  Not only to hear, but to receive.

“Easier said than done.”

Those are the words that  come to mind when I first hear things like this. But, really, it should be that easy.  When we hear it and we receive it, that’s where it should both start and stop.

START moving on.  Receiving the word.  Calling up your “roots” people.

STOP looking back.  Sending those messages. Making those calls.  Leaves and branches can serve a great purpose.  They can be pretty and strong for awhile, but, when the time comes for them to blow away, you have to let them.

Let them go.

 

“Listen, I put everybody that comes into my life in the category of a tree. Some people, are like leaves on a tree: the wind blow, they’re over here. They’re unstable. The wind blow, they over there. The weather changes, they wither up and die they’re gone. And that’s alright. That’s some people; most people in the world are like that, they’re just there to take from the tree. That’s all they do, take from the tree and give shade now and again. That’s all they can do. But don’t get mad at people like that, that’s who they are, they’ll never be anything but a leaf. That’s what they were put on this earth to be a leaf. Some people, are like a branch on that tree. You gotta be careful with them branches too, because they’ll fool you. They’ll get there and make you think they’re a good friend and that they’re strong, but the minute you step out there on them? They’ll break and leave you high and dry. But if you find you two or three people in your life that are like the roots at the bottom of that tree? You are truly blessed cause them the kind of people that ain’t going NO WHERE. They ain’t worried about being seen, don’t nobody have to know that they know you, they ain’t got to know what they’re doing for you, but if those roots weren’t there that tree couldn’t live. You understand? A tree can have a hundred million branches, but only a few roots down at the bottom to make sure it gets everything it needs. I’m telling you honey, when you get you some roots, hold on to them. The rest of em? Just let them go. Let folks go.” -Madea/Tyler Perry

 

So often in this world, we get so lost in trying to fill our tree with branches and leaves that we only end up stepping on the roots.  Paying no mind to the thing that holds us together. We envy the branch with ten thousand leaves.  We start looking at that one branch with all the leaves that we forget to really stand back and stare at our own tree, to see that our few thick branches are far more important than those ten thousand leaves.   It’s just the society we live in.  But, we must start opening our eyes, stop taking count, and start paying attention.  To the important things.  To the unseen.  To the blessings.

Life is hard sometimes.  But, lucky for us, we have the strongest root of all.  I think you might know Him.

Until next time..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m going into this entry blind.  I don’t know where I want to go with it, or what I want to say.  I just know I need an escape, and writing has always been it.

The older you get, the harder relationships get.  In general, in any sort.  Friendships, families, romantic types.  It’s harder to find them, and it’s harder to keep them.  People get busy with the hustle and bustle of the world.  Busy with jobs.  Some can’t prioritize, some don’t want to.  Feelings start to get in the way, feelings get hurt, and in a world of technology, things aren’t ever discussed as they should be.  Face to face. Instead words get lost in text message form, everything feels like an attack. Things escalate, and things end, and no one ever even knows what happened.  We don’t have time for a quick lunch, or a cup of coffee, but, we have time to update our social media, and check it daily.  The likes we can get overcome the relationships we lose in the process. Our paychecks are more important than the people we go to bed with every night.

I’m re-reading (again) a book by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, titled Love & Respect.  It’s a constant go to in a complicated communication world.

“It goes back to that we send each other messages in “code” based on gender, even if we don’t intend to. What I say is not what you hear, and what you think you heard is not what I meant at all.”

And that, my friends, can be the death of relationships if we don’t choose to fix it.  Unfortunately, many of us don’t, because avoidance is easier than conflict.  We’d rather choke on our own pride than allow it to get all the way down, swallow it, and have the conversation.  Have the argument. Find the compromise.

I’ve had a recent conflict that is much comparable to this.  I’m not going to lie, or pretend that I handled it well.  I haven’t.  I’ve made myself sick. I’ve went a full day without eating. Had to take a day off work.  I’ve allowed the devil to fill my spirit with defeat in the form of depression.  It’ll hurt some people to read that sentence and know that I am sharing it with all of you.  But, guess what, I can’t be embarrassed.  I also can’t keep it a secret.  “Happy Holly” can’t be happy all the time.  But, she can choose to give her worries to God, because that is what I have promised to do. What I have stood in front of my church and my God and promised to do.  And right away, I was disobedient.  I lost another night of sleep over it.  I took things into my own hands, and they only ended uglier.  Only allowed more of an attack.  I was listening to my fickle feelings rather than to the Holy Spirit.

A story Dr. Eggerichs shared reminded me much of how this scenario went…

“I knew Sarah loved me and her outburst was caused by her desire to help me.  She wanted me to appreciate her concern and understand that she was only doing it out of love, but the bottom line was I felt disrespected, attacked, and defensive…”

Have ya’ll seen about this Crazy Cycle he talks about it?  It’s a pretty impressive thing.

Broken down in simple form, we, as women, need love…where men, need respect.  Each without the other is a setup for failure.  Unfortunately, sometimes we start the crazy cycle spinning so fast, before we even know we are on it, and we end up thrown on the ground; each so hurt, that we don’t really care at all what the other wants anymore.

You know what’s even worse?  When one party still does care.  Especially when the party is you.  Everyone says, “cut your losses, you’ve been through it before” and with time, you probably will.  But, it makes it really hard to be a woman who just needs to be loved in return.

“When the wife sees the spirit of her husband deflate, or he gets angry and won’t talk, his behavior seems childish to her.  But, if a thousand men with blue sunglasses and blue hearing aids were watching and listening, they would say, ‘I know why that guy shut down on her. Good grief! Look at the way she’s talking to him. Unbelievable! Get that witch a broom!”

“Men hear criticism as contempt; women feel silence as hostility.”

That cuts like a knife.  In observing many of the women in my life with the men they love, I can’t imagine a more accurate statement.  The silence of the men causes the women to become even more infuriated with the situation, to the point that they start yelling, frantically, to the point that they don’t even really know why they are yelling, or the person they have become in that moment.  When they talk to you about it, the common response is, “he doesn’t even act like he loves me, he just sits there, says and does nothing, acts like it never happened.”   Crazy Cycle.

And that’s the thing with us women too, we need each other when we’re hurting.  Our man does something, you better believe we’re calling up our girlfriends.  You also better believe that girlfriends are going to have our back…and yours, only yours is going to have a knife in it.  Because, sometimes, we’re crazy, but, it’s all out of love, there that word is again.  Men don’t get that.  “You told your friends?”  They get mad.  There’s pride again. They ball up, hush up, keep to themselves.   We’re just different animals, men and women.  You just have to decide if we’re worth sharing the lions den with.  If it’s worth learning to love and to respect.  Some animals aren’t capable and would rather be alone.  There’s nothing more you can do for them, but to pray.  Let God take care of it.

At the end of the day, I can be nothing other than what I am.  A strong woman of God.  A woman who cares a little too much sometimes.  Who loves a little too loud, and a little too hard.  But also a woman who is never going to apologize for sharing her words.  For seeing the best in people.  For finding the sparkle of your diamond, even when you are covered in dirt.  Even when others are not good, I vow to always be.

Until next time.

 

 

 

“Our God a firm foundation, our rock, the only solid ground.  As nations rise and fall, kingdoms once strong now shaken.  But we trust forever in Your name, the name of Jesus.“

The world is ugly, ya’ll.  And today is just a severe reminder of how the enemy attacks.  My heart is hurting, breaking for all of those who lost their lives, lost their loved ones, and those who are still injured, and still fighting.  Those who know me well know that music is my thing.  It’s my escape from the cruelty of the world.  It’s the connection to so many of my friends.  It’s the healing to hurt and heartbreak, and the companion to so many memories, and so much happiness and joy.  And, let me be the first to tell you, I will not let the senselessness of some cruel individual take that from me.

In fact, that person deserves zero more mention, attention, or recognition.

It hurts, bad.  The fact that there is no possible explanation, there’s not understanding for the hurt that we are going through today, as music lovers, as fans, and friends…communities, as a country.

But, here are the things I know, the things I choose to hear, and choose to see in the midst of turmoil.

I choose to see God.  To see the goodness of all of those who are coming together to help heal all of those that are hurting.  The goodness of everyone on their knees, hitting the ground, and praying hard for complete strangers.  Those rushing to the Red Cross and donating blood, the need of so many victims. Those strangers that in the shock of the actual act happening, grabbed hold of people they didn’t even know to try and help them to safety, to try and reconnect them with their families, to level the distress and complete terror they were suffering through.  The law enforcement risking their lives to try and stop this horrific act.  God gave us all a choice, and in this I choose to  see the good.

I choose to hold my loved ones a little tighter.  To make sure they know at any given second that I’m here for them.  To say I miss you, I need you, and I love you when those words hold true. 

I choose to be a voice.  To not be afraid to say, “You know what we need more of? JESUS.” because it might offend someone, or because people might not want to read this article anymore.  My friends might decide that’s not the answer they are looking for. Guess what, people?  That’s the answer we need.

I choose to not let anything like this instill fear.  I choose to explain the same to people I’ve had conversations with today who don’t want to go to concerts they’ve had planned because “this could happen.”   I choose to continue to be an advocate for music, and the healing it can bring in these moments too. Now is when we need it more than ever, don’t give up on the passion for it, people, please.

Let us pray, let us love, let us gather, let us grow as a nation. 

Choose to see the good.  Choose to be the good. 

Choose to trust the name of Jesus.

 

Until next time…

 

 

 

 

“Be yourself unapologetically. Eat a cheeseburger, drink too much, be loud, and speak your mind. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are and how to act.”

It seems that words like that are few and far between, in a world where being accepted seems to outweigh being yourself. But, for Hailey Whitters, these are the best words of advice to those out there wanting to chase their dreams.

Hailey Whitters — maybe you’ve heard the name, if not, I bet you’ve unknowingly heard some of her hits on country radio; Little Big Town’s “Happy People” being the most recent.  Not only is the song itself special to Whitters, but, coining it with co-writer Lori McKenna adds even more spark.

“She is such an inspiration to me as a writer.  To see her work with such humility and honesty for her craft was something I’ll take with me forever.”

It’s not just big time songwriters like McKenna and Matraca Berg that Hailey credits as her inspiration, however, as she notes that her mom was pretty influential throughout her life.  “My mom took me on a trip to Nashville when I was 15 and I instantly fell in love with the city, I knew I had to move there; she always encouraged me to chase my dreams and never look back.”

And although Whitters says there wasn’t necessarily a defining moment that led her down this musical journey, that trip to Nashville poured extra passion into her love for country music; the live music, and honkytonks on Broadway were like the yellow brick road leading to her career path.

And that road has lead her to some pretty cool opportunities, including a tour with Martina McBride.

“Growing up having heard her voice on the radio, that was a pretty surreal moment for me. I set side stage every night after my set and watched her show. I learned a lot about how to captivate an audience. She has so much class and has been able to endure several generations of changing genre without losing her musical integrity and fan base.  That was pretty eye-opening to me.”

And you can quote me in saying that Hailey Whitters is well on her way to gaining that dedicated fan base and household name just like Martina.

She is currently in the process of working on some new music, hoping for a release later this year, or early 2018.  In the meantime, you can check out her current record..

You can also catch her out on the road this fall with some Midwestern tour dates.

My Oklahoma crowd — don’t miss out on joining me in catching Hailey as she opens up for Cadillac Three at the historic Cains Ballroom on September 7th.

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Be sure to keep up with Hailey Whitters by clicking and following below…

Facebook – Hailey Whitters

Twitter – @haileywhitters

Hailey Whitters Offical Website

Until next time…

 

“When the stars line up and you catch a good break, people think you’re lucky, but you know it’s grace…”‘

It seems as though I unintentionally took a nearly month long hiatus from this blog.  I can’t say it’s for lack of I not having anything to say, because I’m learning more daily that I seem to always have something to say.  I’m actually quite pleased with that conclusion, as I think back to being the girl in grade school who only moved her mouth in school programs as to appear to be singing, when really, she was too shy to even make a peep, let alone share a song or an opinion.

There’s been quite a lot that has gone on since I’ve last shared anything with you guys.  I became an Aunt again.  Hello best thing in the world.   There is nothing more precious than pure, innocent life; especially in such cruel times.  Within that same breath, I also got the biggest scare of my life when a midnight call landed my family and I in the hospital with my grandparents,  who had been in a terrible car wreck.  Had the truck hit them any further up, I’m not sure I’d be sharing the happy news of both their recoveries.  “They were lucky,” I get in the habit of telling everyone.   No.  They were saved by grace, the unmerited favor of God.  I think we forget that all too often, “just my luck,” “that’s how my luck goes.”  No.  Instead shouldn’t we be saying in such situations, “I know I am highly favored by God, that His plan is for me to prosper and not to die.”  We talked about this in service this morning.  That sentence should be like a breath of air we breathe daily.  And when situations occur in which we feel like the devil has attacked, it should be a natural flow that falls from our tongue.   Grace.

I’ve been thinking a lot about timing.  That feeling you get of falling behind.  Of failure.  Of giving up, or losing hope.  Grace is here too.  The free, unmerited favor of God.  If we don’t have it yet, that’s because He knows we aren’t ready.  Never early.  Never late.  I’ve experienced lately some real life proof of meeting people at the wrong time.  I’ve learned that me today couldn’t be that person I am without me a few years ago suffering great heartbreak.

I guess the biggest lesson of grace is learning to love yourself for who you are in the moment, because the cards you are dealt within each season are the favor that has been assigned.  If we can’t learn to accept that feast, then chances are we’re missing grace in action, and we’ll probably be quite miserable or unsatisfied; we’ll be hungry, because we’re forgetting eat the food that is already in front us while on the hunt for the big fish.

Be aware.  Be satisfied.  Be thankful.  Be always expecting.  Be present.  Be a blessing.

Until next time..

 

 

 

 

 

pres·sure

the use of persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make someone do something.

Do you ever feel that?  Pressure?  Pressure to give up, or to quit.  Pressure to run away when the bills are piling up. Pressure to be a better mother when the kids are crying, and the laundry is dirty, and you haven’t seen the bottom of your sink in weeks. Pressure to not take the job promotion because someone told you that you don’t have the qualifications to do it, or because you ‘ve put in less years than the person beside you in your cubicle.

Well, friends, I heard a message poured so high today that it just kept running over the top of my cup, and as it was pouring, there were drops of extra sugar in the form of amens and glories; so, before you put the lid on top of that cup and close in your blessings, listen to this good news I have for you…

When you feel like you CAN’T do it, hold your head high, because that is right where you are supposed to be.  Because you’re right, you can’t, not by yourself.

Pastor E set us straight today with a leg kick and a hand raise, and this reminder:

“He will always tell you to do something you can’t do, so that He can empower you to do it!”

In those moments, rather than being overcome by the pressure that is of this world, we must step up and be overcome and completely filled with the Word, with the Holy Spirit, with the knowledge that all that “pressure” really represents is the idea that with Him, you are an overcomer.

Instead of being overtaken by it, now is the time to allow Him to empower you.  So you grab those babies up, and you nurture them, and teach them, even when you feel too tired to do it. You take that position, or promotion, not because you think you can do better than someone else, but because He called you to do it.

Those words, “He called you to do it” are the erasers of all pressure, of all fear, of all second guessing.  Those words are the outline of your future.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Break the chains today, my friends.

 

 

A Big Welcome Home, All-Nighter, Garth Fest…

I woke up Friday morning in an anxious state.  Ready to get the work day started. Ready to get to closing time. Ready to load up in the car and hit the highway to Oklahoma City.  Ready to welcome Garth and Trisha back home.

The show was set to start at 10:30 pm.

“10:30?” we all joked.  We’re too old for that.  Laughing because we knew that Garth live is basically like the equivalent of a double shot espresso.  We’d be fine. We’d be wired.

10:30 came, and there we stood, outside, in line.  Why?  Because Mr. Brooks doesn’t let his fans down, and had scheduled 4 shows in 24 hours, so the first show was running behind.  So there we were, hot and sweaty messes, and a little cranky at times, I’ll admit.  We finally arrived to our seats around midnight. “Please hold tight as we get the last 3,000 people into arena, thank you for your patience, the show will start momentarily.”

12:18 – the lights dimmed.  Screams, squeels, and cries arose as the man himself dramatically rose from underneath the stage…

“I get this feeling that I can’t explain, every time I see your face or  hear your name, I just go crazy…” 

 

 

 

And CRAZY we all went.

Suddenly no one remembered that it was now well past midnight.  Together we all united, no longer strangers, but a big family, overwhelmed to finally be reunited, sharing our love of the music, forgetting our troubles, and trying to keep the crazy aunt types from falling from the 300 sections with two pina coladas in hand.

“I’m just like you all, I pay money for tickets to concerts, and I come for the old stuff!” he said, with that famous grin, hands held high, and a look of pure joy!

He hit us hard with the old stuff, “Rodeo,” “Two of a Kind, Workin on a Full house,” “Papa Loved Mama,” “Aint Goin Down til the Sun Comes Up.”  The list goes on and on.  This is the time that the man is a maniac!  Running around, jumping on the drum dome, spraying water everywhere!  The energy was through the roof!

But, as he, himself mentions, he isn’t quite as young as he used to be, so he slowed things down a bit.  This is when some of my personal favorites made their appearances. “The River,” and “Unanswered Prayers.”

“There’s bound to be rough waters, and I know that I’ll take some falls, but with the good Lord as my captain, I can make it through them all…”

Gets me every time.

But quite possibly one of the loudest roars of the night came as the all star band started playing “In Anothers Eyes,” and Miss Yearwood made her way to the stage! There is no comparison for the connection these two share up there.

Trisha dazzled us with some of her favorites, “American Girl,” featuring some fun behind the scenes footage from her tv show, as well as “X’s and O’s,” “Wrong Side of Memphis,” and “How Do I Live.”

With the clock nearing close to 2am, Garth took the stage over once again, and came back with some big crowd favorites, “Shameless,” and “Callin Baton Rouge,” (another one of my favorites, something about that song gets my blood flowing, and I just can’t deny a little hillbilly stompin!)

And then came one of the most incredible parts of the evening.  Garth spotted a sign reading, “My Husband plays music because of you” in the crowd, and being the genuine, kick ass person that he is, he pulled that young man up on the stage.  I can’t imagine the nerves rolling through his veins as he played one of Garth’s guitars and sang in front of thousands.  After doing a little rendition of “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” Garth then asked the if it’d be too awful much trouble to take that guitar home and play it.  “I love you so much”  the shocked fan mouthed.

Tears people, big ole crocodile tears.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  And that end was drawing near.

A few more songs were played, and requests taken, and as 3:00 inched closer, Garth knew the show must end.  But, he wasn’t leaving us with out a bang…

The crowd went wild, more awake now than ever, as he played “Standing Outside the Fire.”

And just like that, the show was done.  The energy was that which I cannot describe.

When I was 6 years old, I experienced live music for the first time at this mans concert, I still remember the jumping, the fire, the “real rain,” during “Thunder Rolls” and a crazy man flying over me as he sang.  He didn’t disappoint me then.  And he sure as hell doesn’t disappoint me now, 24 years later.

He is not only the Entertainer of the Year, he is the Entertainer of a Lifetime.

I got home Saturday morning at 6:15…slept for a few hours…and then loaded up and did it all over again.

A little crazy?  Maybe.  But it’s nice.

#ShewhoDaresProject

“I am an artist – so I will always need to create – but I need so much more. I want to be a solid woman with a family and a community who sometimes does music – not the other way around.” –

Lindsay Brandt

Lindsay Brandt comes by that attitude naturally, crediting her mother for teaching her that women don’t just have to be one thing.  “She’s strong and resilient and warm and forgiving and flawed.” She gushes. “The house was usually a mess, the kitchen was tiny, and we didn’t really have “nice” things – but man, everyone felt welcome. And we all had so much fun. *That* is powerful. And that’s just who my mom is.”

Though Brandt grew up in a big family, the youngest of three redheaded children, she is the only one to have left her home in Evansville, Indiana to pursue a dream of music, one that’s she’s not quite sure why or where it began. “I do remember the first time wanted to sing for an audience – my 1^st grade talent show with Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You.”  I can still see myself in the mirror of the cafeteria bathroom, putting on my red satin dress and feeling sick to my stomach with nerves.”

One thing Lindsay does recall, however, is her desire to start songwriting. “I discovered Hanson, I saw them writing their own songs and playing their own instruments and I thought, ‘that’s so cool. If these normal Midwestern kids can do it, so can I.’” (I think this alone makes us soul sisters!) 

“Plus I worshipped my older sister and had this fantasy that we would be the girl version of them. Like a Spice Girls/Hanson hybrid – truly, 7-year-old Lindsay wanted nothing more.”

It wasn’t until age 17 that Brandt really starting stepping in the direction of pursuing music professionally. “My senior year of high school, I’d leave class early and mom would drive me to Nashville for a voice lesson every week. Then a year later I moved to Nashville to attend Belmont. Nine years and three albums later – here I am.” 

And that leads us to that newest record…

 

 

“Delta- a concept I learned through Brené Brown. She says, ‘the difference between what we make up about our experiences and the truth we discover through process of rumbling is where the meaning and wisdom of the experience live. The delta holds our key learnings – we just have to be able to walk into our stories and rumble.’ I kept coming back to that idea and thinking, ‘This is what these songs mean to me,’ so that’s where I officially began.”

In listening to this album, I felt a deep and personal connection with Lindsay.  Every bit of it seemed so true and so honest, like a diary she was tired of keeping to herself.  It’s hard to imagine sharing such personal things with the world, but, she says it all just started to flow, a memoir of what the last five years have been for her.

“I became a Nanny and it’s just completely broken my heart wide open.  Being vulnerable does not come easily to me. I’m much better at bulldozing my way through life. These kids have been the best little teachers. Up until that point I’d convinced myself that I wanted to be a commercial artist.  Once I took a step back and realized how incompatible that dream is with who I actually am as a person, the dream changed.”

Coming to that realization led Brandt to writing a song only when she really had something to say. 

“I started baking more often. I took up photography. I wrote a blog. I volunteered at a women’s treatment center. I gave up social media for a season. I gave up wearing makeup for a season. I sort of stopped caring about putting my time and energy into things that weren’t a true expression of myself. All of this to say – the songs flowed out of this change. The album itself flowed out of this change.”

I’d say that natural flow and change turned into something pretty strong and powerful. My personal favorite tune on the record is “Too Much Woman,” which Lindsay states is her favorite to play for others. “It’s the good advice women need to hear sometimes. I’ve found that a lot of us have this awful fear of being ‘too much’ for anyone to handle. This song takes the power back in that statement, and it just feels right!” (Preach sister!) 

Her personal favorite?  “Loose Ends.” 

“It holds some of my toughest lessons. No matter how evolved or enlightened I become, I know I’ll have to keep relearning them over and over again. This song will be my reminder to let go, Lord knows I’ll need it.”

But, at the end of the day, Lindsay Brandt just hopes for one thing…

“That my words will mean something to listeners – that they’ll feel understood or inspired or that they’ll feel anything at all.”

And in that, has she not only dared to succeed, but she has achieved.  I am continually inspired by her work, and the positive vibes she sends, continually reminding us to embrace who we are!  

If Lindsay were to create a playlist of songs by females that inspired her, who would top the list? Although picking only 3 was a near impossible task for her, here they are… 

 

Until next time, go grab your copy of Delta, and join me in keeping up with and supporting Lindsay here..

http://www.lindsaybrandt.com/