#MusicMonday-When Doves Cry

Music Monday is back!  Sorry that it has been gone for a while.  I didn’t have a chance to post anything because school and homework took over my life for a while there. Back to the music!

This week, the music world as well as many music lovers lost a legend. The artist known as Prince was found dead in an elevator.  No one knows how he passed yet, but a week before his passing he checked into a hospital in Illinois because he had been dealing with the flu for many weeks prior.

I chose the song When Doves Cry because I think it is safe to say that doves there were many doves crying this week after his passing.

If for some weird reason you do not know who Prince is, he is a singer, songwriter, actor, plays all the musical instruments, and his genres of music range from funk, R&B, rock, soul, and pop.  He was the main character (The Kid), in the 1984 movie “Purple Rain,” and wrote all the music for the movie including When Doves Cry, as well as the song Purple Rain, based off the movie.  He was a very spiritual and private person, and lived out of the spotlight most of the time.  He was born in Minneapolis, where he stayed his entire life and career.  

I have never really been a Prince fan until a few years back.  I heard his music growing up, but never really got into it because it was not the type of music I listened to.  However, over the past few years, my musical taste has grown and I have grown to love and respect his music.  I love how Prince always made the music about the music only and not all the politics surrounding the music and the business.

Like I said, the world lost a legend this week and the music world has a huge gaping hole that will never be filled again.

Rest in Purple, Prince! I hope you are up in Heaven rocking out with all the other great musicians that we have lost over time!

Image found on Google Images

#MusicMonday: La La Land

Happy Monday!

This week I decided to share a song that, in my opinion, tells and shows how the entertainment industry can be.  That song is “La La Land” by Jax.

If you have never heard of Jax, you are probably living under a rock.  Seriously though,  she came in third place on last seasons American Idol.  Coming from New Jersey, she wowed the judges with her rendition of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles.  To no one’s surprise, the judge’s loved her and she headed on her way to Hollywood.  She seemed to breeze through every week on Idol thanks to amazing performances, as well as her fans, better known as  the JaxPack.

Jax wrote this catchy pop song about her time on the show and with the message that “everything ain’t always what it seems.”  While the show is a great thing to be on and has great exposure, it also comes with it’s negative pressures as well.

I agree with everything Jax sings about in this video.  The industry is not all glitz and glam.  Honestly, there is actually a lot more pressures that come with being in this business.  It can be very stressful and cause a lot of different emotions all at the same time. When you read or see something that claims to be true in an article, my advice is to take everything you see with a grain of salt because everything may just not be as it seems.  This is why I have said, and will forever say, that this business is not for the faint of heart. So enjoy this song and I dare you not to get it stuck in your head.

Speaking of American Idol, if you live in the U.S. be sure to watch this Thursday, yours truly will be in the audience.

 

#MusicMonday: My Name is Blurryface

This week I chose the song “Stressed Out”by twenty one pilots,

Twenty-One Pilots are a band that I just recently heard about after this song started playing on the radio.  They have actually been around for about 5 years.  The band, which consists of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, hail from Columbus, Ohio.  “Stressed Out” is their third single off of their album “Blurryface.”  To me, their sound is unique.  A mix of hip hop, mixed with alternative with a pop feel.

You might be wondering why blurryface and what does it mean?  Trust me, I was wondering the same thing too.  Well, according to this interview here, blurryface represents the insecurities that the lead singer feels.

Honestly, I think this represents people in my generation.  I believe that a lot of people my age have the same insecurities.  I will be the first person to tell you that I also suffer from these types of insecurities.  Being an adult is overrated.  I wish that I could go back to childhood where there was not a worry in the world.  I wish I could go back to the day where it didn’t matter what I wore,  what I looked like, and back to the day where I didn’t need to worry about job hunting or paying bills.  When I was growing up I was always greeted with, “Go for your dreams!” “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish your dream!”  Is it just me, or was it the previous generations that taught us this powerful lesson?  However, if we do that, we are labeled as rude and disrespectful as well as greedy and lazy.  See the problem here?

This is just an idea, but maybe our dreams look different then people in previous generations.  Nothing is wrong with that.  Different dreams include different ways of achieving them.

That’s just my two cents.  What about you? Do you agree? Disagree?  Why?

#MusicMonday: This Is My Fight Song

This weeks song that I chose was Rachel Platten and her song “Fight Song.”

If you haven’t heard of Rachel Platten, she broke out into the music scene last year with this song and it was an instant hit.  It seemed like everywhere I turned, or every radio station that I turned on was playing this song every hour on the hour.  She just recently released her first full length album “Wildfire” at the first of the year and is continuing with hit songs like “Stand By You.”

This song really speaks to me and about my life here in Los Angeles and being in the music industry.  Like I have said about a thousand times before, living here in LA and being in the music industry is not easy for anyone, let alone being disabled and pursuing a life in the music industry. It takes a very strong willed person to keep pursing and fighting every day.

My dad came to visit me a few weeks ago and he finally got a glimpse of what my life is like here in good ol’ Hollywood. I was excited to see him, and am very happy that I got to spend some time with him.  I know my dad loves me unconditionally and supports me in anything that I want to do with my life, but I sometimes feel like he doesn’t understand why I decided to move all the way to LA to pursue a job that probably has the most unstable job market out there.   Yes, it is not the most stable job environment, but it keeps me on the edge of my seat most days.  But want to know something?  I wouldn’t have it any other way. For example, a wise person once said that if there is something else that you are good at, and pursuing music isn’t your only option, go do that because the music industry is no cake walk.  I have never been one to settle down with a 9 to 5 job. To me that is way to boring.  I want excitement.  I want something new to happen every day.  This is why I am pursing a certificate at UCLA in their Music Business program.  This is why I go to tapings and concerts and network with people from all around.  I am learning every day, and yes, there are days where I have no idea what the hell I am doing, but it’s all a learning experience. This is why I always ask people to trust me.

I am a fighter and I don’t give up easily and when I set my mind to something I make sure it is accomplished, come hell or high water.  Because like the song says, “I still gotta fight left in me.”

 

#MusicMonday: Sometimes You Just Can’t Fight It

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I mean, I wouldn’t live in the entertainment capital of the world if it wasn’t, so I’m going to start doing something new every Monday.  I am going to share a song or music video that I love at that moment. So without further ado. I introduce to you Rayvon Owen and his music video for his new single “Can’t Fight It.” (see below for video).

Rayvon has come a long way since his stint on American Idol (where he was in the top 5), musically and personally.  You see, not only did he release his music video today, he also used that platform to say that he identifies as a gay man.  In the song he sings about how there are those moments where you just cannot fight the feelings that you have for people and that is where learning to trust and surrender to those feelings comes into play.

I have had the honor to meet him during his stint during American Idol, and have seen him numerous times after Idol ended and I cannot express how proud of him I am.  He is quite possibly the sweetest guy on the planet as well as humble. When it comes to his music he is a hard worker and is very passionate about his craft.  I can safely say that while yes, I am a fan of him and his music, I consider him a friend as well.

With the platform that he has, he will make a huge difference in the LGBTQ community as well as the music industry.

Please check out the interview that he did with Billboard here.

A Year Can Pass By In A Blink Of An Eye

A year ago today, I posted my first blog post with this post right here, and little did I know my life would never be the same.  I started this blog with a mission in mind to stop stereotypes that are put on the disabled unnecessarily.  I can honestly say that while the problem is still out there, I have made an impact in people’s lives to be more mindful of the stereotyping that happens.

I have also shared a lot of stories and things I have gone through throughout the year as I live in the craziness that is known as Hollywood as I pursue my dream of working in the music industry.

Crazy how much can change in just one year, and how fast one year can go by.  I have learned a lot in many different ways over this past year, including by all my 245+ followers and I look forward to connecting and learning more from all of you in the next year(s) ahead. So this is my huge thank you to all of you that have put up with me these 365 days and here is to many more days and years together.

Is the Kylie Jenner Wheelchair Picture Really Worth the Debate?

A few days ago a picture came out of Kylie Jenner posing on the front cover of Interview Magazine in a wheelchair.

Then I started seeing people saying that it was disrespectful of people that are actually wheelchair bound because she isn’t disabled herself and it pokes fun at disabled people. When I read that I was really confused.  I do not understand how it is hurtful at all, and I am disabled as well.  From what I know of the research I have done, she referenced a British artist named Allen Jones.  Also, speaking from the artistic/entertainment industry side of things, this is normal.  People like Kylie will go outside of the box to get publicity (and lets be honest, the Kardashian/Jenner crew has been known to do that for years now).

I also saw a post saying if they had tried to recreate this picture it would not look as glamorous as Kylie’s picture.  Now this is understandable, but let me get you in on a little secret, neither did Kylie when they took the picture.  Please take a look at the cover and realize how photoshopped it is.  She doesn’t even look real.

When it comes down to it, I say we move on from this situation and focus more on more important issues like the mass shooting in San Bernardino where developmentally disabled people go to get help, and focus on ways in which we can help the people who were affected by this horrible tragedy.

An Ode to the Annual Food Coma

To say that I am beyond stuffed from all the eating I did today would probably be the ultimate understatement of the year.

Even though the food is always a big hit when it comes to Thanksgiving, it is never the most important thing.  For me, it is a day to reflect on the things that I am thankful for, and a day to reflect on what has happened over the past 11 months.

I was talking to my friend tonight as we were working on dinner and we were telling each other what we were thankful for and I realized I have a lot to be thankful for.

First of all, I have a roof over my head and I am able to live in LA and pursue my dreams. I am also thankful for my family and friends that are there for me and support me in anything that I set my mind to.

I am also thankful for the job that I had with Wag for a few months.  I may not be working there anymore, but my time there left an impact in my life and I met some pretty awesome people that have impacted my life in many ways.

I am thankful that I have good health. It may not be perfect, but it could be worse and I am thankful that it is not.

I am thankful for a certain someone who has been a positive influence in my life and helped me grow and step out of my comfort zone in ways that I did not expect.

I am thankful that I found my voice through writing and for starting my blog earlier this year.

And last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for all of you, my readers, who put up with me randomness and are there for me when I need to vent and voice my opinion on things.  Thank you all.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What are some things you are thankful for?

Happy Anniversary to Me!

Today marks the one-year anniversary that I have been living and pursuing my dreams of working in the Music Industry here in Hollywood, or Hollyweird as I like to call it. And honestly, looking back, so much has happened, but it all seems to have flown by in super speed.

Hollywood is a crazy place. It is also a VERY hard place to live in at times. It WILL force you to grow up and mature fast. You have to get used to being on the go at least 99.9% of the time. Believe me, being a girl who grew up in Oregon for 26 years, this was a huge adjustment for me, but I honestly would not change it for the world.

In just the last year alone, I have learned so much about myself. When I look back on the last year, I think the biggest thing that was the toughest for me to learn was on the friendship side of things. I was shown who were true friends and who were friends that over stayed their welcome. At least I know that all people who come into your life are supposed to be there for a reason, it was just their time to go, I guess. Yes, it was tough, but I am better and a stronger person because of it.

I have also learned to express myself more and be honest with my emotions and not run away from them. I am a creative person, so it is important for me to let it out, and hell, something beautiful can come out of it creativity wise. I also started going to school for Music Business and have learned a ton of interesting things just in the first two classes I have taken. Another thing I have started to dabble in is some song writing. Honestly, I never in a million years thought I would do this, but I really felt like God was calling me to be more creative lately and this is the way he wanted me to go. I don’t have a lot done, but it will get there.

One other important thing that I grew in, was my acceptance with my CP.  Over the past few months, I have gained more of an open mind with the disability world and through that this blog was born, and I am so glad it was!

When I first got to LA a year ago, the first thing I did is  what every person on the planet has probably done and gone to The Happiest Place on Earth and that basically was the kickoff to something amazing. If I could live at Disneyland I would. One of the plus sides to living where I do, I am literally only half an hour away.

Then in August I was able to go to Las Vegas for a few days with some friends. While I have had been there before with family a couple of years prior, I was really able to see The Strip and experience it a lot more than the first time. Let’s just say it was A LOT of walking and very little sleep. But it was probably one of the best trips I had taken last year.

Most recently I was able to go to a series of American Idol tapings and this really helped me network with people in the business from a business standpoint as well as personal. I met some pretty amazing people through this experience. Idol crew even called me a professional audience member. (Hey, I’ll take it!).

So in conclusion, I cannot complain with where my life is at this moment. To be completely honest, I am in the best place I have been in a very long time. And this makes me super excited to see where the next year will take me. I have some pretty awesome goals set up for myself and they are starting to look like they will all work out.

I’m off to spend this day at the beach celebrating the anniversary as well as Memorial Day! I know, life is rough when you live in sunny Southern California! 😉 Have a great holiday weekend everyone!

The Beginning of My Musical Journey

Everybody has dreams and aspirations in life. Some people may want to become a doctor, or scientist, or a teacher. Some people may even want to become an actor, Broadway star, or musician. I thought today, I would talk a little about my dreams and aspirations for my life and talk about how important music has been to my life.

For as long as I can remember, music has been that special thing in my life that was always there. There is a song out there for every situation and emotion that comes with it. Because of this, I have known since middle school that I have always wanted to work in something with music, I just wasn’t sure what exactly. I took band and choir in middle school, but band was short-lived. Choir was the one that stuck for me through all my middle school days and most of my high school days. As much as I loved it though, I knew deep down I wasn’t meant to be a singer.

It wasn’t until about three years later when I was living in Los Angeles that I got the opportunity to intern with a record label that I finally knew what I wanted to do. I love social media and I love helping artists and record labels out, so why not incorporate both of those? So that’s what I decided to do.

I ended up going back to Oregon a few short months later, but with the dream of working in the music industry still very strong inside of my heart. I had school to worry about first anyways. I tried going to my local community college at first but they didn’t have anything that would help me in the direction that I wanted to go into at all, so that ended up being a major fail. However, I did look into University of Phoenix and found a perfect major for me for my Associates Degree and quickly jumped on that train to pursue that. After 2 and a half years of doing that I finally graduated with my Associates with a 3.5 I believe.

After that I jumped right into getting my Bachelor’s Degree, which was fine for about the first year of the course. About a year after starting my Bachelor’s Degree I finally decided to take the plunge and finally move to Los Angeles full-time and pursue my dream of working in the music industry.

A few months after I made the move to LA, I decided that University of Phoenix was no longer the way to go. The area I was studying wasn’t going in the direction that I wanted to go in. I decided I wanted to go into more of the Music Business side of things. So I ended things with University of Phoenix (much to their disappointment) and applied for the Music Business Extension Program at UCLA, where I am currently attending, and love it.

Being out here almost a year, I look back on it and see that yes, there have been a lot of struggles to get to where I am today, but that it has only made me stronger. It also comes with the gig that I chose, and that is okay with me. I am still learning every day about the business and myself. I am making connections on business levels and personal levels, because I know that is one of the best ways to make my way up in this business. Yes, it is tough, and yes, it is super competitive, but I would not change it for the world. Every day is a new adventure and I love the ride.