Latest News
Meet my new music partner,
Christopher Gipson
Being around Chris makes me feel like singing! So we do. Sing, that is. We've
been singing together for a few weeks now and I have to say that it's
been a great trip. His songwriting is challenging and fun. We just finished
a run at Prophetstown State Park singing and playing in the big red barn. The
series was organized by The Voice of the Independent Artist, hosted by Bobby
Steel and was recorded for playback on their show that will air on the Fourth of
July. It's been a long time since I've done anything "real" with my music and
I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with such a great
musician/songwriter. Check out his CD's on CD Baby too!
*If you see this on or before June 19, come out to Prophetstown State Park , just outside Lafayette,
IN from 8-10 p.m. for some great music from independent artists from the region.
Chris and I will be there too :) Stop in and say hi.
In Other News
I'm still working on my script, working title: Night of the Living. I will be
handing it off to a casting agent and executive producer who have shown interest
in the story, and that's got me pretty excited. I've been editing and studying
and editing and making note cards and using storyboards and everything I can,
just to try to get it to come out professionally. I'm new at this, but
apparently I've got a good idea in there somewhere if people in the
industry want to take a look at it!
It's All About The Music
On Music, Performing, and Domestic Abuse
It's long been a dream of mine to sing the National Anthem at a
public venue. If I had one wish, it would probably be to sing at Talladega. That
would be totally awesome.
In the mean time I'm working out my vocal cords and getting my
fingers limbered up to play. I let things get rusty when I felt I had slammed
into a brick wall in my life. I gave up so many things that I had loved to do,
thinking that I would never again be "good enough" or "deserving enough" to go
after the things that meant the most to me. I stopped singing and playing the
piano for several years. I just felt that I couldn't do it right, and I should
stop trying. Well, something changed this year. I met Christopher Gipson and his
sweet wife, Margarita. Chris had overheard me tinkering around on a piano one
day and came over and hummed along. I don't know who I was trying to impress,
but I felt like putting my fingers on those keys again. Anyway, about two weeks
later, Chris asked if I would like to back him up on a few songs at an upcoming
gig. I felt the old thrill tapping on my shoulder - you know the one that comes
from performing live, in front of an audience - and said yes. Well, that's all
it took. I'm back at the microphone, warming up and getting back in shape, but
it feels wonderful.
After spending years in domestic abuse, my spirit had sagged and
I didn't know my own strength and value. The emotional toll had been sapped from
me and I had given up on myself, believing that the my abuser had said and
done must have been justified. I felt worthless, helpless and useless. The last
few years, away from the cycle of violence, have helped me heal and realize that
I am a woman of power, value and I have a lot to offer my family, friends and
community. So do you. No one deserves to be abused, and it's up to you and me to
make a stand and support those who are still in domestic violence situations.
And remember, violence takes many forms: emotional, physical, psychological.
It's all abuse and it must stop. The music helped me climb back up and into
myself again. the music can help others too. While I was living in a domestic
violence shelter in Huntsville, Alabama, I wrote and performed this song at a
rally in Huntsville and then again at the Governor's Conference on Domestic
Violence that year. I've been privileged to be part of something that has
touched so many people and inspired them to take a stand and make a
call.
Here's what you can do right now:
Take a listen to Too Late For
Lisa , then contact your local Domestic Violence
Prevention Programs and volunteer, donate money, clothes or personal care
products, or just talk to someone about what you can do in your own
community to be ready to help those in need when they need it. It's not easy to
just "be there", but that's what it takes.
So anyway, I'm off to sing my songs and live the music. Come
sing along!
