Review Text
Born in Montgomery, AL and raised in Augusta, GA - I graduated from the University of Georgia before moving to Atlanta and beginning my musical career as a performer. After a successful year playing solo, I expanded my act and performed with bands for the next five years, garnering a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Atlanta Society of Entertainers along the way. My musical career was put on hold in order to begin raising a family as well as to focus on my other creative endeavor, painting. After relocating to the shadow of Lookout Mountain in the northwest corner of Georgia, I soon found my passion for music rekindled with a burning desire to resume writing and performing. I was very flattered when told that I had 'the heart and soul of a true storyteller'. While my songs are normally well grounded in the folk music tradition of relating personal experiences, common occurrences, and newsworthy events; they also have contemporary and unique elements that allow them to freely flow in, out, around, and through many different genres. While knowing them to be a necessary evil, I would much rather ignore those neat and tidy little boxes meant to contain specific musical styles in favor of the cross-contamination of genres we now define with terms such as Americana, Folk/Rock, Country Blues, etc. I recently (with tongue firmly in cheek) coined a new term to describe my own particular musical style at this moment in time - Bluefolkacana. It's only been within the past few years that I've begun to understand how much of a distraction 'genre labels' can be to the true appreciation of music. When you like something, it doesn't matter what type of label has been stuck upon it by others. I'm saddened to think of all the great songs people may have missed hearing simply because they were labeled with a genre that was different from what the listener normally enjoyed. I know this to be true because I myself have been guilty of 'genre prejudice'. Maybe every musician should invent new 'micro-genres' of their very own 'to fit the music they create rather than trying to create music that will hopefully fit' within the commercially viable confines of the established genres. Wouldn't it be grand if music could actually transcend the labels and either stand or fall on it's own merit ? I have always felt compelled to acknowledge the influences of other varied songwriters and performers (both past and present) upon what I believe to be my ever evolving musical style. Every songwriter/musician reaps the fruit of fields previously plowed by their predecessors and adds a little more flavor of their own to the musical stew left simmering for those who follow. Hopefully I've been able to add something that others find tasty. I write songs and like to perform them for folks whenever I get the chance. Youthful dreams of stardom faded away long ago and contentment these days comes from having my music being well received from listeners on the Internet as well as live audiences at the various festivals, house concerts, clubs, and songwriter events where I've performed. Of late, the best validation of my musical talents and abilities has come from hearing positive, post-performance remarks such as 'her performances draw people in, touch their hearts, and leave them wanting to hear more.' What more could a singer/songwriter ever want ?
