Story and Interview by Miwa Sakamoto
I grew up in New Jersey, in a small town called Gillette – 29 miles west of Manhattan. When high school came around I commuted into NYC on the train to Professional Children’s School on the Upper West Side – best decision my parents and I ever made.
I loved playing with words and singing in high school but it wasn’t until I moved to LA in 2004 that I started writing songs. It happened organically and very quickly I was playing the clubs and had a following around town.
Music is always going to be a part of me and it is a part that my daughter loves connecting with so much. Since Violet came a long I’ve re-prioritized my career in putting my family first, but still giving myself some space to play and create new material for when the mood strikes. My last album “Dark Place” happened that way, I didn’t know I was making an album until I had a handful of songs written in just a couple days and a strong theme – so my husband and I put it on the schedule. In october I was recording and he would move into full time daddy mode. It was a nice little dance for our family and I felt like when I came back from working I was just totally ready to reconnect and felt inspired and proud.
The first year of Violet’s life I basically had a funeral for myself. I had this idea in my head that if I was to move into this new role that I couldn’t be who I was before and that actually didn’t check out at all. I need to bring who I am to motherhood because thats who my daughter needs me to be- my self.
Raising an emotionally healthy human being.
That she can see all my truths over the years- the beautiful ones & the ugly ones. And that its okay to be figuring things out along the way.
Something that can be loved eternally. no matter the era, the time, the space – it feels classic.
When I first moved to Nashville it had this beautiful wasteland vibe happening – abandoned warehouses and just this Southern roots vibe that I had never experienced. It scared me at first but I think that was because I was transitioning through a lot of change at the time. Now this place is booming, a friend of mine said she was flying in yesterday and saw 27 cranes in the downtown area. There’s an opportunity to do it right here – now we just have to hope it turns out that way. Haha.
I like to think that we can preserve a lot of the things we love about Nashville and what drew us here in the first place – there’s always been a strong sense of community, an oasis energy happening – I hope we keep and expand that feeling.
Isn’t that the place where the best pop up parties and shows and things like that always happen? :) There’s something magic about going through an area that looks desolate but has things happening behind rusty doors that are beautiful.
I would say its pretty simple. be open and kind and look people in the eyes when you speak with them.
Absolutely: musically, in my home, in conversation – I want it to feel warm always.
I want to explore South America – all around Brazil and Argentina specifically.
I love that this place brings me peace. As soon as I touch down here, I feel my blood pressure go down.
82 and sunny with puffy white clouds.
As she calls it, “Get Me” where I chase her around for 30 minutes until I can’t anymore.
The kitchen is stocked and my family is ready to eat!