My Mother by far, was the single most influential person in my life regarding music. She had an amazing voice, and sang with a group called the Swing Choir who performed locally and sang jingles for radio commercials. She always said I sang long before I ever talked. I remember she would have the radio on or a record playing in the background while growing up. The blend of the sounds was literally “music to my ears.” I would hum and babble along as best I could trying to match the sounds. The rhythms and the beats seemed to fill my spirit with aliveness. I also always loved to harmonize with the singers on the radio and from there sang in various choirs and madrigals throughout school. In high school I had a couple of solo appearances; singing at a peace assembly when the Viet Nam war ended and also a solo performance at my graduation. I wrote my first song when I was 15 years old which was about feeling like I didn’t fit in anywhere and wishing I was older. When I sing, it’s like this beautiful extension of myself speaking to another soul. When I write a song that deeply touches another, it’s like I’m expressing the words that many long to say. In that moment, it feels like we transcend all differences and move into a sense of oneness. I love singing and performing for many reasons, as it truly feels very freeing for me.