If I had to describe my music to an alien today I would say above all else that I am a folk songwriter and to me, folk at its core is all about the stories. Lyrics are everything. My guitar playing has a raw, incompleteness to it because I’m not the most precise player but the imperfections are what make it folk! My hope for my songs is that they will make you feel something. It could be some sort of memory or maybe a strong emotion, laugh, cry or even just smile and be present in the moment.
All of this would mean nothing to the alien because they probably don’t speak English…
One of my main influences for songwriting would be life itself. Seeing the ups and downs, the heartbreak and joys this world can throw at you. It can be a lot, but I use what I see and feel to hopefully make sense of it. Along with that, I write about the little things. That first sip of morning coffee with the one you love, that cuddle with your dog, that feeling of leaving, that feeling of pure loneliness and loss, that memory of their smiles that fades in your mind over time, that sunrise and that sunset...
When I close my eyes I see these memories and I know you see them too in your own life. Two different people are sharing two different memories from one song. That is what drives me to create music. Some of my songs come from loving places such as dealing with heartbreak or happy family memories and others from stranger and wilder places. I wrote a song about a sunset and personalised it as a massive war in the sky between the sun and the stars. Writing like this helps me think more creatively and ultimately helps me to live in the moment more...
Other passions that influence my music are travelling, people-watching and dreaming. Travelling near and far and trying to avoid tourist places, hitting up the backroads of Wyoming, sitting around a fire on an island off the coast of Maine, sleeping in a carpark in rural Tennessee. You see some wild stuff at 3am in a Walmart carpark!
We’re all told that the music industry is a ladder, climb it and punch down. Well, I couldn't disagree more! To me, the industry is a plateau, and to succeed and go higher we all must support one another, work together and encourage the success of all those who travel down this winding, wild musician road. As they say, high tides raise all ships. I have the pleasure and privilege to call some of the most talented musicians my friends. Working together takes our projects to the next level, because we lift each other up, surrounded by love.
