Music that feeds the soul

Music has always been a substantial part of my life. Since pre-school I have been in a choir throughout my school years. It was one of the ways I loved being creative. Choir was the one class I absolutely adored and looked forward to in my school years. In high school, I had a phenomenal choir director and he really helped me grow and mature as a singer. He was always pushing me and giving me advice on how to improve. I’ll never forget the impact he had on my life. I was in choir for three semesters in college before I went on an exchange program to England. It was a whole new ball game in singing, but it was so rewarding. I was one of the few Alto II’s and I was encouraged to let me true voice roar.

I haven’t been in a choir since the beginning of college, but I can still sing a mean karaoke song or sing loudly in my car. I will always have music in my life—it’s something that makes my heart swoon and makes me feel alive.

Brandi Carlile is my number one favourite artist, and her new album, “The Firewatchers Daughter” came out today. Luckily, I pre-ordered her CD months ago and they gave me a free mp3 download of the whole album. Needless to say, it’s been on repeat since I returned home from a work trip this weekend.

This album, man… this album… I don’t know if I could put into words what this album is. I have all her CDs, even the ones she recorded herself when she was starting out in coffee shops. It’s amazing to hear the changes in her voice, lyrics, musical experimentation, everything. Yet, she still has the original spark that caught my heart 11 years ago.

I have traveled to different states to see her perform, because honestly, she is by far the best live performer I have ever seen. When I flew to Reno to see her a long time ago with my aunt, I looked at my aunt and said, “be prepared to have your life changed.” And it’s true. Her live performances have been better than any of her CDs. The energy she brings to a show is astounding and inspiring. The way she and the twins give it their all in every performance is something I admire and love so much.

When I first met her, it was 2011, and it was the weekend of my M.A. graduation. My aunt (the same one mentioned above) and I went skydiving to celebrate and then drove down to Tucson to see Brandi perform. When I did meet her that night, the first thing I said to her was, “I jumped out of a fucking airplane today.” And ever since then, the times that I’ve met her after her shows, she remembers me as the girl who jumped out of an airplane.

I am good at making impressions. J

There’s something about her music that makes my heart flutter. Seeing her live will probably be one of the best experiences of my life, and I hope to fly up to Colorado in August to see her at Red Rocks. I hope her tour extends cause she’s not coming to Arizona or Nevada this summer, which makes me so sad! The last time I saw her was December 2012.

There have been other bands and singer songwriters that I’ve enjoyed, but they have never made me feel so alive, emotional, and raw as B.C. does. I can listen to her albums on repeat for the entire day (which I did yesterday) and I do not get sick of it. Sure there are songs that may be a bit less positive, but you know what, at least they are true. Life isn’t always positive and I think it’s important that we understand we all go through hard times in life, and if you’re a singer/songwriter, your outlet to let it go may be a song.

Music feeds my soul, and I am thankful for artists like Brandi Carlile that can not only make me feel, but are honest and true to their passion.

If you ever get the chance, go see her live. It will, without a single doubt, change your life.  In the meantime, here's a video of "Wherever is Your Heart," the second song on their new album. This video was done live--they are really singing and playing in this video.