My Music

I recently submitted an essay for a contest, and I had to answer the question “Why do you love to sing?”

Since I haven’t written a whole lot about my music on Wedshock, I wanted to share my essay with you. The winner of the contest would get a free recording session in Nashville, and although I didn’t win, writing the essay was empowering.

After I graduated I was faced with two options: move to Nashville and pursue a career in music, or move to New York and figure it out from there. I chose New York, and if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be married right now. It’s bizarre to think about what my life would look like if I had chosen Tennessee.
My Music

Zach and I when we were just friends interning together at Warner Music Group.

Here’s the essay I wrote for the contest when asked about my music and why I love to sing.

I was old enough to see but too young to understand.

My parents dragged me from coffee shop to festival, from bar to small venue. They lived out their dream and showed me what it looked like. My home was full flawless harmonies and mastered blends.

Music was woven into my being, and my voice was trained for stages and studios. Weekly vocal practices and stage time at our church kept me sharp. My dad would challenge my range, my technique, and my attitude. He didn’t allow me to settle in even after a decade of training. He constantly urged me to become a better vocalist and musician. I picked up the guitar, the piano, and several other instruments as I got older, but I always focused on my voice. Even the drive to and from school included lessons on music theory, The Beatles, and vocal warm ups.

The learning never ended, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

Writing lyrics became my means of expression. After a decade of songwriting, I finally feel like I am getting a grip on what it takes to be a writer. The power of the written word and the force behind a timeless melody draw me to create. I can’t help it. There are too many stories left to tell.

Like any musician, I have contributed to several bands over the years. Recently, I’ve been honored to cover artists like Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin with a Motown band on the stage and in the studio. I also sing at church on the worship team. I’ve sung on a stage a thousand times, but I still get the same rush. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get over it.

I spent time watching my parents in the studio, but also recording my own songs in later years. My dad would trade his talent for studio time. We’d spend long days in the studio, but my energy stayed high. I preferred this work to anything else.

At 23 years old, I am settling in to a desk job at a marketing firm with my shiny degree hanging on the wall. People intrigue and inspire me every day, but there’s an ache at my core. I owe the world all that I have to give. I don’t just love to sing, I am moved to share my song with meaningful lyrics and striking melodies. I sing because I am.

Now I’m old enough to understand, but still young enough to dream without boundaries. My parents spent their lives showing me what it costs to run after a career in music. They never had much, but they didn’t need it.