Award-winning singer, songwriter, and guitar player who was featured in a Rolling Stone “Songs You Need to Know” feature and an “American Songwriter” magazine feature. She is also an author, playwright, and touring member of The Black Opry. She was a part of CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2023 and is a voting Member of The Recording Academy. In addition to her home state of Virginia, she has performed in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Florida, and Maine. She will be performing in November at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Songwriters Festival.
“Usually, I'll grab my phone and record a simple melody to that phrase.”
“A lot of folks think that is some sort of magical process, but nine times out of ten it's during the most monotonous of work in which we get that spark of inspiration.”
“I trust the musicians that I bring to the studio and so I trust their interpretation of the music… I like to leave plenty of room to play, which I think is important when it comes to making music.”
“I decided that is just best for me to … define success for myself… Nine times out of ten people are focused on something like streaming and numbers. And it's like, well in order to… keep your name in the algorithm, you have to release constantly… For me… that's not exactly the goal because… the only thing streaming equates to is numbers on a screen. It doesn't necessarily equate to a paycheck. It doesn't pay my bills, right? One-sixteenth of a penny for these streams and so to put my focus on that to me is kind of frivolous.”
“It does kind of sap the energy and the joy from the creative process when there's some sort of continuous deadline to meet for these arbitrary numbers.”
“I've been writing songs since I was 16 years old and it wasn't until my 30s that I finally had the boldness and made the decision to step into that space and pursue it full-time.”
“(Norfolk’s festival committee) trusted that I would be the right artist to warm up the stage for those legends (Patti LaBelle and Sister Sledge) and so that was a pretty big deal and (I’m) just very just honored… I did have a chance to meet Sister Sledge backstage; so encouraging, and so kind, and (they) gave me some wonderful advice.”
“I got the same nerves every show just because maybe it's the overthinker in me, but I'm always curious if I'm prepared, I'm ready for this… There's always something going through my mind as to whether or not I'm ready ready for any show.”
“I think being nervous is very good, staying humble and knowing that this, number one, this is not about you, and that you have a responsibility. This is a gift that you've been entrusted with and you're responsible for taking care of it. And the nerves are a good thing.”
“I used to teach high school actually… it has been a huge tool in my journey as an artist.”
“I'm also becoming more known for, just as known for, my storytelling as I am for my songs.”
“When I was teaching, I co-authored a book called Kinky Curly Fuzzy Wavy… and then I’ve written a number of plays and skits.”
“Girl Gone Missin”
“Too Much of a Woman”