Setting the Stage for 29

Some key members of my NYC family sure sent me off with a lot of love!

Upon turning 29 a couple of weeks ago (Feb. 14), I began reflecting upon the life-shifting happenings of 28 (I can just hear all of my astrologically-inclined friends exclaiming, "I told you so!" -- Saturn's return and such).

This was 28 (in a nutshell):
- Shortly after turning 28, I decided it was time to leave NYC, the city that had been my home for the past five years.

- I said "I'll be seeing you!" to my chosen New York family and to the city that had exploded my heart wide open at the ripe age of 23!

---

Photographer, JuAn Song.

- Dreaming up and filming  "Behind The Tune" of my original song, "Catch Fire." Big thanks to Darren, Fiona & Jeremy for their work and time on this fun project!
Check it out here! ​

---

Dancing with the the ravishing bride, and my New York City angel, Terriann.

​- My darling friends, Terriann & Wendo, graciously asked me to sing at their magical wedding in Brooklyn. It was one of the greatest honors as a friend and also as a singer-songwriter, to sing & dedicate one of my original songs,
"To My Love," to them.
​During the reception, my music partner-friend, Johnny Cuomo, and I, along with fiddler Pat Mangan, cellist Leah Rankin & bassist Mark Minoogian (recognize these names from my EP?!) sang a traditional Irish tune, "The Galway Shawl" while Terriann and her father did a jig!
(Shoutout to TA & Wendo for having THE MOST EPIC first dance -- we were all absolutely peeing ourselves when they got up and nailed a full-length swing dance!!)

​- My heart led me abroad for a wild Summer, beginning with a wedding in Ireland, followed by one incredible month of backpacking around Northern Italy, ending with a father-daughter trip from Barcelona, through Scotland and into England, where I had my first international gig in an adorable Cotswolds town called Witney. 

Ireland

Cliffs of Moher

The NYC squad takes on an Irish wedding!

​Italy (hardly scratching the surface!)

My sweet friend, Stefania, introduced me to her stunning mountain hometown and her wonderful family! (Including her adorable little cousin whose favorite toy was a fly-swatter).

Another dear friend-host, Alena. This blurry pic is to prove we did, indeed, go to a real Italian disco (night club).

The most stunning building I've ever seen - The Duomo in Florence.

Completely captivated by Venice. True story - On one of my Venice evening walks I met a young man who was singing on a bridge and he asked me to sing with him! Together we sang Elton John's "Your Song" and my heart exploded!

Riomaggiore (one of the five towns of the Cinque Terre) where I stayed for a few days and reveled in these stunning sunsets every evening.

Barcelona, Scotland & England

Inside Sagrada Famîlia in Barcelona

Edinburgh, Scotland - one of my top favorite cities, during the Fringe Festival

Outside of my beloved Blenheim Palace with Dad in England

​- At the end of the Summer I landed back in my hometown of Austin, Texas with equal parts gumption, determination and nerves.

- I became a barista at Caffé Medici, one of Austin's best and most beloved local coffee shops! These coworkers and patrons are now major parts of my Austin family. They have been instrumental (literally, two of them accompanied me at Parker Jazz Club!) in setting the foundation of new opportunities & community in the Live Music Capital of the World!

- With the help of 200+ Kickstarter backers along with my ingenious team of engineers & musicians, four original singles from my debut EP were released throughout the year!
House on a Hilltop, Catch Fire, Welcome Home and Tides (available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, etc.).

​- Ending 28 with a bang!
​​Two sold-out shows at Parker Jazz Club in Austin, a return show at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC and a feature on CBS Austin - We Are Austin! 

Interview with Taylor Ellison on CBS Austin - We Are Austin (Music Monday). Click for full interview and performance of Welcome Home.

December 15, 2019 return show at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. Photographer, Ciera Battleson

Parker Jazz Club - January 26, 2020. Accompanied by: Braden Guess on guitar, Matt Weber on bass and Maddie Horrell on cello. Photographer, Tiffany Chapman.

There were infinite lessons learned from age 28, but the one that showed itself over and over and over was this - 
TRUST!
- Trust the process and trust intuition.

This year showed me a new dimension of Love and generosity. 
​I got to fall head-over-heels for new places and people and experienced a loving partnership that brought tremendous growth. Over and over I took the jumps, even when the unknown was terrifying (cue "Into The Unknown" from Frozen II), falling into the beautiful net of community.
​
Thank you to everyone who contributed to 28 with your generous Love, your time and your open doors & hearts! 

These are the first few weeks of 29:
​
- Starting March 3rd I'll be teaching a weekly Candlelight Flow & Restore evening yoga class at Be Well Austin (every Tuesday evening from 7-8:15PM)! It's a privilege to bring my yoga teachings & learnings from the Big Apple to the Austin yoga community!

So lucky to have gotten to teach in such gorgeous, light-filled rooms! (This one was a studio in the Financial District in NYC)

The lovely yoga space at Be Well Austin where I'll now be a regular weekly teacher!

​- The fifth original single from my debut EP was released on February 22nd -
To My Love, is a celebration of Love, in all her many forms. It has been an absolute joy to receive your lovely responses thus far!

- I'm embarking upon a totally new endeavor of turning my original song, House on a Hilltop, into a children's book! (Open to all connections & helpful tips for this journey). The process has been bringing me such joy! :)

These friends (& Lily) made my 29th birthday a very special one!

I'm filled with great anticipation & curiosity for what's on the horizon.

The stage has been set.
​I'm ready for you, 29! ​​

Parker Jazz Club. Photographer Tiffany Chapman.