Investing in a Future Free From Poverty with Whole Planet Foundation

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Austin, Texas, as the artist ambassador for Quantum Collective’s Southwest Invasion. This is one of the coolest events that takes place during South by Southwest, and it’s located on the plaza at the Whole Foods off Lamar & 6th. The event was free to the public and was benefitting Whole Planet Foundation, who’s mission is very close to my heart.

Day 1, 2, & 3 on the red carpet.

I had performed at this event several years ago when it was first starting, and love the people involved. As I was getting ready to release “Faint of Heart,” I had a vision for this song. I believe its honesty and vulnerability has the opportunity to resonate with entrepreneurs like me. I shared this vision with Liz Leahy of Section 101, and she connected me to Whole Planet Foundation. As soon as I heard about their mission to invest in a future free from poverty by granting microcredit to entrepreneurs around the world in 71 countries, I knew it was the perfect fit. 87% of the entrepreneurs they help are women, and they have already given out over 69 million dollars. Each year during the month of March they hold a “Power her Potential” campaign, where they set a goal to raise money for the cause. This year, it is 3.25 million dollars, and at the time of the event they had already raised over 2 million. I saw this as an opportunity to give back through the music I create to other dream chasers, and I decided to give 50% of the profits from this song to Whole Planet Foundation during this campaign. 

Along with this, I acted as the artist ambassador for the Southwest Invasion event, and had the chance to share the Whole Planet vision with all the attendees and performers. I also got to brag on the amazing sponsors like Schwinn Bikes, Life is Good, Califia, RX Bar, Beyond Meat, Beansfield Bean Chips, White Claw, Hi Sign Brewery, Dog Fish Head, Health-Ade Kombucha, Riptide Music, and QSC, for their support of this mission during the event.

I truly believe there is so much power in helping others achieve their dreams and I’m so grateful for the people along the way who have helped me to achieve mine. I met so many amazing artists who generously donated their talents to the event in support of other entrepreneurs. It was inspiring and oh so fun.

One huge take away for me is that the average microcredit loan is $182. $182 can drastically change someone’s life and teach them the principles of running a successful business. Whole Foods covers the overhead costs for Whole Planet Foundation, which means 100% of the donations given go straight to these loans. The rate at which these loans are paid back to Whole Planet Foundation is 97%. That is AMAZING! That money is then reinvested into another loan for someone else, and potentially a larger loan for that company.

Chasing a dream is challenging, there are days that we want to quit so bad it hurts to breathe. However, I believe we reap what we sow, and I pray you will do what you’re able to sow into this amazing foundation.

Grand Piano Tour Fitness Edition Part 1

Hello from the road! Writing to you from Minneapolis. I have been LOVING every minute of The Grand Piano Tour and am so grateful for all your support and social media love.

As you can imagine, staying healthy on the road can be challenging. I am the Queen of finding excuses not to workout. However, our bodies are the vehicle we use to fulfill our purpose in this life. When I’m eating healthy and exercising I feel better, sing better, have more energy, think more clearly, and my clothes fit better. So, before embarking on this tour, I promised myself I would spend at least 20 minutes each day being active.

If I’m honest, I woke up on day one and wanted to can the whole idea. But, I laced up my running shoes and left my excuses next to the leggings I wear when my jeans are just a little too tight. 

Day 2 I started singing a random parody on the treadmill and the time flew by. Mid-run I had the bright idea that if I created a parody during each workout they would all go by quickly. Here we are on day 7, and I’ve got a week full of them. At first I just sent them to my husband for a laugh, however, so many of us face the fitness battle on a daily basis, and if these silly little songs encourage one person to be physically active this week then it’s worth posting. No, I’m not trying to give you a grammy winning vocal performance or win any beauty pageants in this video. Just wanted to remind you (and me) that fitness can be fun. If nothing else, it’s kept me going every morning when I’d prefer to hit the snooze and roll over. So thanks for that. Stay tuned for week 2.

Tea Time Thoughts...UK Tour Wrap Up

It’s been a little over two weeks since I returned home from the Night in Nashville UK Tour with Sarah Darling and Kyshona Armstrong. It was an unforgettable experience. I believe so much of our growth and development as human beings happens not only during our experiences but in the moments of reflection after the fact. This wasn’t just another tour, it was a trip with two of my best girlfriends, learning, growing and sharing our gifts on a beautiful adventure.

I’ll go ahead and say that off stage touring can be tiring, stressful, and as much as you plan, there are almost always unexpected challenges that arise. However, between driving on the other side of the road, dealing with jet lag, organizing press meetings, etc., we were truly able to work together and find a good laugh in every less than comfortable situation. I thought I loved Sarah and Kyshona before this tour, but now that it’s finished I love them even more.

I have to thank every single one of you who came out to support the shows. The tour SOLD OUT, and that wouldn’t have happened without you. I was blown away by the love, encouragement, and number of familiar faces. Some of you traveled quite a distance to attend and I don’t take that lightly.

Photo by Photocillin Photography

The generosity we encountered was humbling So many people opened their homes, kitchens, venues, and hearts to help three songstresses fulfill a dream. I get misty just thinking about how wonderful you all are and for the friendships made along the way.

I have too many favorite moments to list them all, but spending time with Donna Taggart while in Northern Ireland was a blessing to my soul. She has one of the most beautiful hearts. We laughed, we cried, and we talked about how amazing God is. The friendship that began that day makes me even more honored to watch her version of “Jealous of the Angels” touch so many lives around the world.

The love shown for my new single “What Love Feels Like (Radio Edit),” overwhelms me. I will never tire of hearing my music on the radio. I still remember singing along to the radio in the car as a kid, desperately hoping that someday I would hear my voice coming through the speakers. My good friend Ronnie Doss says, “We don’t get what we want, we get what we are committed to.” Thank you all for helping me stay committed to the dream God put in my heart. I pray the songs continue to bring you encouragement, comfort and joy.

So much love,

Jenn

What Love Feels Like Session Blog

Tomorrow I am finally sharing the latest version of “What Love Feels Like (Radio Edit),” complete with gospel choir! I couldn’t be happier with the way this track turned out.

Recording is always a special process, but every once in awhile it’s magical. Preceding tomorrow’s release, I wanted to share my in studio experience with you, as well as a few things I learned about life in the process.

After the release of the “Faithful” album last June, “What Love Feels Like,” written with Barrett Yeretsian, was a natural favorite at the live shows. I grew up both singing in church and singing the blues, this song is a blend of those two things. The original release was recorded in Los Angeles, and has three amazing singers stacking background vocals, however in the deepest part of my heart I kept hearing a full choir. With the cost of recording being high and my independent singer/songwriter budget being low, I normally would ignore thoughts of recording another version of the same song, however something in my soul kept whispering, “Just record it with a choir.”

I don’t like to ask for help, I don’t like inconveniencing anyone, and I really don’t like asking for favors. However, after much prayer, I boldly asked my Pastor, Danny Chambers, if it would be appropriate to reach out to the worship team at Oasis Church, where I lead worship, to see if anyone would be willing to volunteer for the session. Danny is incredibly supportive and gave me his blessing, with an offer to give the team an extra nudge if I didn’t get the response I was hoping for. So many generous hearts offered their time and talent in exchange for pizza and hugs, both from the worship team and various other walks of life. Writing this now I am again humbled all over again by the kindness and generosity of everyone involved.

I tried to prepare everyone as best I could, recording specific parts, checking them with a professional background singer, and emailing every detail to those participating. As the recording session in Nashville approached, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with the fact that these people were giving up 3 to 4 hours of their day to record vocals on my song in exchange for pizza.

The morning of the session, I caught an early flight back to Nashville from West Palm Beach, Florida, where I was performing the night before. I knew God was in it and trusted He would guide me through the process, but I was still so nervous. These were my friends, my peers. I didn’t want to waste an ounce of their time. Also, no matter how prepared you are, you never know what voices will sound like together. Sometimes different voices don’t blend the way you hope, and with the time restraints, there was no way of knowing until we arrived at the session if that would be the case or not.

I studied Music Education at Berklee College of Music from 2004-2008. I love conducting choirs. Deep down, it has been a desire of mine to someday conduct choirs at the high school level, but outside my college classes and student teaching I don’t have a ton of experience.

I tried not to let everyone see me shake as I nervously welcomed them to Playground Studios the day of the session and thanked them for their sacrifice. We all gathered around the piano and ran through each part. IT WAS HEAVENLY! Everyone had done their homework, their voices were blending incredibly well, and the hairs on my arms were standing up straight as I listened to my vision come to life.

Producer, and six-time Grammy award winning mix engineer, Paul Salveson, gave me the freedom and encouragement to run the session. His professionalism, trust and general excitement made for my most favorite day in the studio...EVER.

When I realized one of the harmony parts I had written overlapped another and had to anxiously rewrite it on the spot, everyone was patient, helpful and kind. When my conducting skills were less than perfect, everyone showed grace.

Leading up to the session I kept hearing this counterfeit voice in my head telling me I was selfish saying, “I can’t believe you’re asking this much of people.” “That’s a lot of time to ask someone to volunteer.” However, God taught me so much during that session. A few of the singers had never recorded in a studio before, some had never sung in a choral setting, and after seeing the amount of social media love later that day, it told me that everyone enjoyed themselves and they were grateful for the opportunity to work on something together. There is so much power in unity. Wow. At the risk of sounding cheesy, each one of them truly showed me what love feels like, and my heart was bursting with joy (and yes, so many tears, even as I write this).

It was a privilege to work on this project with my amazing husband, Michael, who filmed the music video. I spent so many hours in tears of joy editing the footage and reliving the experience. Some of my favorite musicians recorded on this track, and Georgetown Masters did the mastering. It just doesn’t get much better than that.

I was reminded through this experience, and the beautiful people involved, that when you boldly pray for the desires of your heart, ask for help, and do the best you can with what you have, God will do the rest. I have never been more proud of a release; not only the final product, but the lessons learned in the process. Tomorrow, when it hits iTunes and Amazon, I pray you will feel the love that went into creating it. For God’s glory, not mine. Spread the love.

xo

What Matters Most

Waiting is hard. I don’t like sitting still. I don’t like not knowing the answers. Well, guess what? 2016 has been a year full of question marks. While there have been days I’ve wanted to stay under the covers with my black out curtains pulled (to be honest some days I did), I’m grateful for the waiting.

This has been a season of change, letting go, and reflection. As uncomfortable as some of those days might be, I’m grateful for every single one. It’s in the waiting that I remember to look around, be present, and reengage with the things that matter most.

What brings you joy?

Photo by Sara Kauss

I’ve asked myself this question so many times this year that I'm almost tired of it. I started with the general, standard, obvious answers; my family, church, friends, music, touring, traveling, writing, recording, etc. While all of these things are true, some of them have also brought pain, disappointment, stress, and sadness. So I started digging a little deeper. Could I even pinpoint the things that bring me joy? If not, how could I ever experience it fully? The over analyzer in me went a little nuts.

What is it about music that brings me joy? It certainly isn’t when I sit at my piano and start 25 terrible songs before coming up with a good idea. It isn’t the frustration I feel when my fingers stumble over something I’ve been trying to play for weeks.

It’s the moment I’m writing a song and I can’t stop the tears from coming because the exact feeling I haven’t been able to express is uncovered in the perfect lyric. 

After a show when I know someone genuinely connected to the music that has come from a raw and vulnerable place, knowing that however painful that experience might have been for me, God has turned it into something that can bring someone else comfort in knowing they are not alone.

It’s coming home from being on tour to the big bear hug of my husband and the wagging tail of my dog that without saying a word, says I’m home, which is so much more than a place.

It’s understanding every ounce of applause I receive is for the glory of the God that created me and gave me the talents I have to touch the hearts of people around the world.

The more specific I get about what truly brings me joy, the more grateful I become and the more I realize what matters most. It is then that I feel most alive, and create the purest art.

So whether you share it here or just think about it throughout the day, week or month. I encourage you to figure out what is it that brings you joy?

COMING TO THE UK IN SEPTEMBER! HOORAY!!!!!!

Artist In Residence at The Reserve

Last week I was given the opportunity to be the artist in residence, at a beautiful gated community called The Reserve, located in Sunset, South Carolina. This was my first experience as an artist in residence, and it was unforgettable. My friend Cathy Washburn, contacted me at the end of last year and suggested that I write a proposal, and after seeing the beautiful photographs of The Reserve online, I took her advice and started dreaming about creating in such a beautiful place.

I was asked to outline what a week at The Reserve would look like creatively, and how I would press into the community. I decided to commit to conducting a songwriting workshop, writing and recording a song about The Reserve while on location, as well as performing a concert. After the honor of being selected I still didn’t fully know what to expect, but looked forward to the opportunity.

During the six hour drive to Sunset, I finished listening to the audio book for “Scary Close’ by Donald Miller. It really set the tone for the trip, encouraging healthy relationships and as well as boundaries and independence. The Reserve was kind enough to invite my husband Michael on the trip, but he unfortunately had to work. Golf, tennis, kayaking and hiking were all available activities, but once I started diving into the project for the week, I was happily engulfed in creating, with the true freedom to do so.

I arrived on Tuesday, and two hours later conducted the songwriting workshop to an intimate group of residents. We experimented with some creative lyric and melody writing, some of which revolved around the reserve. It felt like a giant cowriting session. Sharing is such an important part of the creative writing process, and the more people shared their ideas, the more personal and heartfelt they became. Within the first few hours of my stay I started to realize that there was so much more beauty in this place than just the view. At the end of the session I collected the writing everyone had done and incorporated at least one lyric from each member of the workshop into the song composed for The Reserve.

Everyone I had the pleasure of meeting at The Reserve was warm and friendly. They took a genuine interest in my story and made me feel like family. The Smith Family even invited me over to their home for a sunset evening on their deck. After obsessing over their adorable puppies, swapping favorite bands, and eating some of the most delicious wings I’ve ever had, a spontaneous recording session happened right there on the deck. Melissa Brown, who had also joined us for the was telling me about her college years of studying voice, and I insisted that both she and Ronda Smith record some background vocals on the song. After singing, Melissa admitted that singing on a recording had been something on her bucket list and that the experience was incredibly special. It really was an incredible evening, but there was something so beautiful about how grateful she was, and it helped me to stop and remember how blessed I am to write, create and record on a daily basis. To share that with others in this new way was truly a gift.

After the song was finished, and the final vocal had been recorded, Cathy’s Emmy Award Winning friend Bill joined us at The Reserve to capture pieces of a music video to the song to be used in the sales office. We had fun running around the property filming lines of this brand new song.

During soundcheck for the concert, resident Tom Shull was kind enough to lend his guitar playing to the recording as well. He was quick to lend a hand with the set up and preparations even though he had his own gig that evening and couldn’t attend the concert.

Not only were the residents incredibly kind, but I had a chance to get to know the staff as well. Cathy, Becky and Rutledge took me for a cruise around beautiful Lake Keowee. Chef Lisa and her crew completely spoiled me with the beautiful meals at The Market.

Friday evening I performed a concert at Founder’s Hall, which included the composition entitled “The Reserve.” In additional to incorporating lyrics from everyone at the workshop, and resident background vocals and guitar in the recording, There is also a faint whisper of birds chirping from the impromptu recording session, and the oos at the end of the song imitate the howl of a coyote, which can be heard on the property. I was humbled by the standing ovation that I received after performing the song, and the tears that were wiped away by a few. 

This was such a life giving trip. While I continue to reflect on my experience, I have learned a lot already. The pressure I put on myself to create an accurate representation of this beautiful place that so many wonderful people call home, surprised me. It was a challenge that stretched and encouraged me to press into the community in a way I may not have without this vision. I am grateful for the new friendships and memories made.

The Reserve

Words & Music by Jenn Bostic & The Reserve Community

There is history underneath these waters,

The magestic sun, sparkles as it shines

Whatever season you might be facing,

There is peace within the shadow of these pines

Breathe in the beauty that surrounds you,

And let it fill your heart with light

The savory scent of the market, the echo off the green,

Drink it all in, like the finest wine

CHORUS

Let this winding road lead you home,

Let this sunset sky, paint your soul,

Hear the laughter, feel the love,

No matter where you’re coming from,

Memories are made as campfires burn,

Life at The Reserve

Life at The Reserve

Where the trees are as tall as the mountains,

And the mountains, as blue as the lake,

Land of the mulberry, home of the Cherokee,

A simply beautiful escape

CHORUS

See the eagles soar, and autumn leaves fall

Hear the melodies of Founder’s Hall

CHORUS

To hear the song visit: https://soundcloud.com/jennbostic/the-reserve

To learn more about custom songs or hiring for an artist in residence, please email jennbosticbooking@gmail.com.

God bless,

Orchestra Debut & The Power of Being Positive

This weekend I had the honor and privilege of performing with the Rochester Pops Orchestra. It was an absolute dream come true. Maestro Brock Besse arranged and orchestrated “Jealous of the Angels,” “Not Yet,” and “Snowstorm.” To hear those songs come to life in a whole new way was breathtaking. 

I arrived in Rochester Friday afternoon, and that evening was our first rehearsal. Maestro Besse arranged and orchestrated eleven pop songs, including the three originals listed above, as well as the following cover songs;

Firework (Katy Perry)

I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)

Breathe Again (Sara Bareilles)

Strong (London Grammar)

Skyfall (Adele)

You Got It (Roy Orbison)

Hello (Adele)

Let It Go (Idina Menzel)

I prepared the pieces based on the vocal scores Brock sent me via email, and the orchestra had been rehearsing without a vocalist. I’ll admit, our first rehearsal I was shaking in my fold-over boots! Maestro Besse is unbelievable at what he does, and i cannot remember the last time I had to watch a baton and keep someone else’s tempo. For the last 8 years I’ve been leading songs from my keyboard, and if I happen to forget an entrance or make a mistake, the band follows. However, the orchestra is reading pages and pages of sheet music. If I miss one entrance, I let the entire orchestra down! Needless to say, the pressure was on. 

As a songwriter, I don’t typically read or write sheet music, most of what I do is by ear. So even though I knew all the melodies, I found myself stumbling over the sheet music during rehearsal (not to mention I was having iPad issues).

Wow. Hearing the strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and background vocals was amazing! After the first rehearsal that I completely stumbled through, I went back to my hotel room to reflect. There was a tiny little voice of discouragement creeping in that said, “You should have been better prepared.” “I can’t believe how many times you messed up in rehearsal.” “You’re going to let this entire orchestra down.” However, in that moment I had a choice. I could focus on my feelings of inadequacy, believe the lies of the enemy, cry my eyes out and run back to Nashville, OR I could work my tail off, do the very best I possibly could, and enjoy every second of the experience. I chose the latter.

That night I worked as hard as I could. “Breathe Again,” by Sara Bareilles was a song I really tripped over in rehearsal, so I sang it repeatedly. I also knew I needed a better system for the way I was reading the music. Since I haven’t read scores in years and was confident in the melodies, I typed all the lyrics with instrumental break measures written in text. Not exactly the most technical thing to have on my music stand, but I believe whatever gets the job done well is a great solution.

Around midnight I threw in the towel and decided the most important thing in singing all of these incredibly challenging songs would be my health, which meant 7 to 8 hours of sleep.

The next morning we had a 9:30AM rehearsal. I woke up telling myself, “Today is a new day, and this rehearsal is going to be incredible.” I stepped into that auditorium with confidence, ready to work hard and prove to the maestro he hadn’t made a terrible mistake in flying me in to sing. After a quick microphone check, guess which song he wanted me to rehearse with just piano and background vocals in front of the entire orchestra? “Breathe Again.” Praise God I had practiced the way I did the night before, we nailed it on the first run through. (Wipe sweat from brow).

We ran the entire show in order, and it was smooth as silk. I was extremely focused on making sure I didn’t miss an entrance, and aside from a few mistakes in “Let It Go,” everything was great!

I took it easy that night, and the next morning I watched my home church live stream and tried to speak life and be positive. However, deep down there was this little fear that said, “What if you mess up that part in ‘Let It Go’ again?” “What if your voice cracks?” I haven’t been nervous to perform in years! I knew that if I missed one entrance I would let down all 73 people behind me.

Well, I wish I could tell you that I sang the entire show flawlessly and that I didn’t miss a single entrance, but that’s not the case. And you know what? That’s okay, because I’m human.

The first song I got to sing was “Not Yet.” Friends, to hear the orchestra bring that song to life was amazing! Having a dream come to pass while singing a song about not giving up on your dreams is quite possibly the most empowering feeling in the world.

Katy Perry’s “Firework” was the second song in the set. You know that fear of missing an entrance? Well, it happened. The arrangement is awesome, and has a large instrumental section where the bridge happens on the recorded version. It is 16 measures long, and then I’m suppose to come in strong on the chorus. I missed it friends. My heart sank. I tried to jump back in, and it was not happening. Again that little voice in my head, “I can’t believe you missed that entrance, you’ve just let this entire group down.” But instead of bursting into tears like I most likely would have done a few years ago, I told myself, “Well, you were scared of missing an entrance and you just missed a big one. Now you don’t have to worry about it anymore because it’s over. They haven’t kicked you off this stage and you’re still alive. So you can either wallow in what just happened or enjoy every second of this debut orchestra performance.”

I don’t know where that voice came from, but it was one of the most internal adult conversations I’ve ever had. That’s exactly what I did. I shook it off (as T. Swift would say) and enjoyed every second of the rest of that concert.

Maestro Besse was kind enough to let me introduce each of my original pieces, and wouldn’t you know that two songs after “Firework” was “Snowstorm,” a song about wishing you could go back and do something over. So naturally, I felt it was a perfect moment to be transparent and said, “This song is about the moments we wish we could go back and do differently, like being the guest vocalist with an orchestra and missing your entrance.” Thankfully the gracious audience giggled and didn’t seem to mind my flub. Some were kind enough to say they hadn’t noticed after the concert. Minnesota nice is what I call that.

The concert was titled “Jealous of the Angels,” and Brock outdid himself with the gorgeous orchestration for this piece. I became emotional introducing the song, and while the orchestra had been playing the piece for several months, many of them hand’t heard my story. I heard sniffles behind me and there was this overwhelming sense of unity on stage during that song.

First half of the concert complete. Deep breath. The second half was full of Adele, London Grammar, and “Let It Go,” BIG vocal songs. My voice felt good, but I was starting to notice a little fatigue from singing all weekend. I’m happy to say I didn’t miss anymore entrances, however the big note at the end of “Let It Go,” well again, I wish I could say it was perfect and the entire room magically froze when I sang it. Yeah, it didn’t. It sounded strained and broken. You can’t win ‘em all.

My two worst fears for the day realized, but guess what, I’m still alive. People in the audience had nothing but incredibly encouraging words, I had a blast, and Maestro Besse is already talking about bringing me back.

I’m writing this blog post to share this unforgettable experience with you, but also, maybe more importantly, to encourage you to focus on the positive. It would have been really easy, and pretty natural for me to focus on the two huge mistakes I made during the concert this weekend, but I didn’t. Instead, I chose joy and I chose to enjoy every moment and be okay with the fact that I’m not perfect (which is really hard as a perfectionist). The things we choose to speak both in our minds and out of our mouths are so important. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” (Proverbs 18:21). Our thoughts have the power to ruin our day, week, month, or bring life and happiness to it.

I am so thankful for the grace the entire orchestra showed me, as well as the incredible gift they have given. This opportunity was truly something to check off the bucket list, and I honestly felt like I grew so much this weekend. Guys, God is so awesome!

Love you all, thanks for taking the time to read this post. Hope to have YouTube links to view selections from the concert soon. 

Eastcoast Love <3

Tonight! @rockwoodmusichall stage 1, 6PM, FREE. #newyork #nyc #rockwoodmusichall #rockwood #livemusic #piano #songwriter #pop #acousticguitar #softrock #christian #soul #blues (at Rockwood Music Hall)

Nickle Dickle Day 2015 was a huge success! Ran a 10K, followed by #MochaMonkey coffee, #PangeaCafe brunch, cheese curds, Chocolate chip cookies, 6 hours playing music with @traveledground and now off to bed. I love this town. #Waconia #minnesota (at Nickle Dickle Days)

God is good.

I’m sitting in a hotel room in Portland, Oregon, tonight completely overwhelmed. God showed up in so many amazing ways this weekend, and I can’t help but share them with you.

I performed two concerts, one in Dallas, Oregon, where my best childhood friend lives, and another on Harstene Island in Shelton, Washington. If I’m honest, the main reason I booked a show in Dallas was to spend time with my best friend of 27 years. The Lord has us on such different journeys, but through every big event in our lives, we’ve been there for each other. She’s the mother of four beautiful boys, and I’m the mother of a rat terrier, but when we’re together we pick up right where we left off.

There’s a perfect venue called Pressed Coffee and Wine in Dallas that was packed with love and humans this Friday night. A woman approached me and shared a bit of her story. She said, “Your song saved my life one night...my 14 year old daughter thanks you.” Instantly I was fighting back tears. I have no words for the way it makes me feel when someone is encouraged or comforted by a song God has given me to deliver to this world. He waits for the perfect moment to remind me that I’m doing exactly what I’m called to do by running around this world sharing my heart and songs with people. It’s not a glamorous life. I miss my husband, my puppy, my bed. But it’s those moments that make everything worth it. 

A gentleman approached me after the show who had seen me the only other time I performed in Dallas last summer, and encouraged me in such a powerful way. In a moment of burn out, fatigue, and confusion he told me how much my lyrics impacted his life and that even when it gets tough, I absolutely can’t stop sharing these songs with the world.

Last night I performed in Shelton, Washington, with an incredibly talented, positive and encouraging artist named Mark Wagner. We sang to a sold out audience and you could have heard a pin drop. So many shared their stories and connections to our music and one woman in particular waited until the very end of the night to share her own story of loss. She fought through tears to encourage me. For someone to have an emotional response like that brings me to my knees.

This morning I was asked to share “Jealous of the Angels,” as special music for a church service in Olympia, Washington. Just before the pastor asked me to sing, he opened the floor to prayer requests. One by one the congregation opened their hearts and vulnerably shared the needs and praise reports in their lives. So many broke down into tears. From death, to illness, to confusion, to praise reports my heart was breaking for these people who boldly brought their requests before the Lord.

I was reminded that we all have a story. We all have brokenness. We all have purpose. 

I am so grateful to God for using me this weekend to do His work. To Him be the glory.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

Midwest Full Band “Faithful” CD Release Tour

#heelswereabadchoice

Taste of Minnesota, Bluebird Cafe & Euphraim, Utah

Life’s been a little crazy this summer, and I’ve absolutely loved it! Now that I’ve FINALLY had a chance to blog about my European adventures, I can fill you in on what’s been going on stateside since I’ve returned.

24 hours after returning to Nashville from Germany I was back on a plane and headed for Minnesota to play “Taste of Minnesota.” It was an honor to kick things off on the main stage. This year my amazing hometown of Waconia hosted it, so I got to see a ton of familiar faces, including my piano teacher, Kathy Hasse. Huge thanks to all who attended, and to the awesome band I had that day.

That same weekend, my good friend and percussionist Alec Tackmann and I played a few more shows together in Minnesota including a wedding, my favorite winery Sovereign Estate and the brand new Iron Tap in Waconia. It was a great welcome home weekend, regardless of the jet lag.

I had a few days off in Nashville after the Minnesota adventure, which included a performance at the incomparable Bluebird Cafe. What an amazing night performing with three of my favorite singer/songwriters around, Emily Shackelton, Jesse Ruben and Michael Logen. It was Jesse’s debut at the Bluebird that night which made it extra special. I couldn’t help but think back to when I first moved to Nashville and only dreamed of playing the Bluebird. Grateful for the blessings and opportunities God has given me.

The next day Alec, Ryan Harris Brown and I traveled to Snow College in Utah for a trio performance. A gorgeous Steinway awaited me on a stage to a room full of love. We shared the evening with Nashville band Native Run. What a fun duo, their cover of “Waterfalls” is awesome!  Grateful to all the new friends I made in Ephraim, Utah. Including Purple the snake.

Incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play music for a living. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog and for all of your continued support.

When in Germany...

1. Change the GPS navigation from German to English if you do not speak German rather than trying to figure out how to read the address in German. 

2. Trust the locals on food suggestions.

3. Let the sheep eat your shoelaces.

4. Sing in a teepee 

5. Take a selfie with alpacas

6. Visit Norderney

...and ride a bike.

...and drink coffee while eating rice milch.

7. Sing from behind the bar

...and on top of the bar.

8. Buy neon hats

...and the write and perform a rap in said neon hats.

9. Invite cute audience members to play tambourine on stage.

10. Always say yes to dessert.

11. Eat pancakes on a pirate ship.

12. Wear your sassy heels.

13. Visit the sea.

14. Have a pint.

15. Perform on TV

16. Recreate postcards.

17. Play a Bosendorfer.

18. Sing in schools.

19. Tour with your best friend.

20. Busk

21. Drink lots of fancy coffee.

22. Take selfies with the audience.

23. Find yourself in the newspaper.

25. Play on the radio.

25. Make new friends.

....AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

26. Let your husband adopt a puppy while you’re gone.

HUGE thanks to Songs and Whispers and all my new German friends for this unforgettable experience. xo Can’t wait to come back and do it again. Love you all!

Germany, where do I begin? xo

I’m not sure where to begin. I’ve had a few weeks to reflect on an amazing month in Germany, and I’ve been putting off the blog because there’s so much to tell. I don’t want to skip over anything. I wont be able to capture how truly wonderful the trip was, but I’ll do my best.

As I set out on this German adventure I had no idea what to expect. I had every intention of following through with my Duolingo app and learning enough conversational German to get by, however somewhere between releasing an album and planning a tour that got overlooked. I’d been warned about the German hospitality and how wonderful it was, but to experience it first hand was a whole different level. The food, the kindness, the listening audiences, the venues, the wine, the beauty, did I mention the food? I’m getting hungry just thinking about it...

It was such a joy to tour the whole month with one of my favorite people on the planet, Miss Tiffany Thompson. It was incredible experience to share and I was able to learn and grow so much musically, personally and spiritually. We toured with an amazing organization based in Bremen, called Songs and Whispers. They set up all the shows, did all the promotion, and made sure we were well taken care of. Such a wonderful team of people with a heart for independent artists.

We played 26 shows in 24 days (yes you read that correctly), which does not include our many busking escapades. For those who don’t know what busking is, it’s singing on the street for tips, or in our case tips and free ice cream. There was definite strategy involved when deciding where to busk, and I refuse to admit to the number of ice cream scoops we each consumed throughout the month.

I met so many wonderful people throughout this experience, including our tour mates, I am Love Band, from Denver, Colorado. It felt a little like college living in a German flat with a bunch of musicians. Forever grateful for the memories made and the love shown on this tour. Details to come, but for now, soak in these smiles

xo