WHY MUSIC?
WHY am I so passionate about writing songs and WHY am I so committed to sharing them with others?
Ever since I can remember, I've processed the highs and lows of life experiences by creating melodies and lyrics in my head. It is a natural way my brain operates. I just never used to share those with others because it felt too vulnerable. I feared being embarrassed and rejected. In the summer of 2015, I felt a conviction to develop and complete these thoughts in my head (songs) and share them with others. I couldn't fully grasp why, but I knew I just needed to! So I did it. Some of you will remember my year long project to write and share one song each month in 2016 - the project that got it all started!
At the end of that project, I realized the main outcome was MY freedom. Sharing a song month after month continually exposed the lies and insecurities in my life holding me back from my true potential as a PERSON, not a songwriter. Each time I exposed a new area of insecurity through being vulnerable, God met me right there in that moment and replaced the lie with His truth. Over time, I began to see improvements in my relationships and I even felt more connected to myself. I felt like I was being COMPLETELY authentic for the first time in my life when I told people, "I am a songwriter." There were no strings attached. I wasn't striving for perfection or trying to fulfill anyone's expectations. I was just resting in my identity.
You don't have to be a songwriter to relate because the point is this: there is something unique about YOU that only YOU can share with the world.
Shakes the Wilderness at its core is stories of personal transformation put to music. I want the music to somehow help others gain a confidence to share THEIR unique story with the people around them in whatever “art form” is authentic for them - painting, writing, dancing, quilting, maybe starting a business or just starting a conversation. Whatever form, whenever you do or create anything out of your personal story, it is beautiful.