Ah, me. Where to begin? I am a singer/songwriter, a composer of songs about love and life, written from a mature point of view, primarily mature by nature of the number of my winters. I draw from all the music I've ever heard and held inside my heart. How do I stick that in a box and put a label on it? Someone said that Americana is the genre of every type of music that doesn't fit anywhere else, so I guess that's my label (I understand that having one helps people quickly draw a bead on where my music lies in the spectrum but that doesn't mean I like it).
I feel like I'm "lost in the middle ages" because people look at me and see a gal who is on her way down the other side of the hill, and I see myself standing on top of that hill planting a victory flag. I see the world as my oyster, and marketing people see the world, particularly the world of entertainment, as a domain belonging to artists whose sexuality is wrapped in dewy youthfulness, not people who are sporting wrinkles and the beginnings of those blasted age spots. These folks seem to think, "You haven't made it to stardom by now, shouldn't you just stay home and play for your family? After all, you're old, and the world isn't interested in hearing the kinds of songs you're writing." Gotta tell you, People, I am NOT the kind of person who can be content to write a batch of songs just to sit on them, and I'm happy to say that there are a ton of excellent, talented artists who feel the same. We're all out there, doing our thing the best we can, some of us more noticed than other, but all of us pursuing our bliss.
Why would I want to hide my light under a bushel just because I'm over thirty years old?? Why would you?? Why should you?!! What if you're a late bloomer, and all your best efforts are still in front of you? People, we need to keep following whatever dreams we have, whatever our passions are, to the best of our abilities for as long as we can, no matter how unfamiliar this middle-age landscape is. Who knows when we're really through shinin' our little lights? Maybe part of the answer to coping with the unfamiliar is to shine the light brighter than ever. Sure, it gets tougher the older we get, but haven't you heard? Old age ain't for sissies.
I'll leave you with this quote from Brenda Ueland, who left a legacy of inspiration to people of all ilk and age:
"This is what I learned: that everybody is talented, original and has something important to say."
I feel like I'm "lost in the middle ages" because people look at me and see a gal who is on her way down the other side of the hill, and I see myself standing on top of that hill planting a victory flag. I see the world as my oyster, and marketing people see the world, particularly the world of entertainment, as a domain belonging to artists whose sexuality is wrapped in dewy youthfulness, not people who are sporting wrinkles and the beginnings of those blasted age spots. These folks seem to think, "You haven't made it to stardom by now, shouldn't you just stay home and play for your family? After all, you're old, and the world isn't interested in hearing the kinds of songs you're writing." Gotta tell you, People, I am NOT the kind of person who can be content to write a batch of songs just to sit on them, and I'm happy to say that there are a ton of excellent, talented artists who feel the same. We're all out there, doing our thing the best we can, some of us more noticed than other, but all of us pursuing our bliss.
Why would I want to hide my light under a bushel just because I'm over thirty years old?? Why would you?? Why should you?!! What if you're a late bloomer, and all your best efforts are still in front of you? People, we need to keep following whatever dreams we have, whatever our passions are, to the best of our abilities for as long as we can, no matter how unfamiliar this middle-age landscape is. Who knows when we're really through shinin' our little lights? Maybe part of the answer to coping with the unfamiliar is to shine the light brighter than ever. Sure, it gets tougher the older we get, but haven't you heard? Old age ain't for sissies.
I'll leave you with this quote from Brenda Ueland, who left a legacy of inspiration to people of all ilk and age:
"This is what I learned: that everybody is talented, original and has something important to say."
