I'm Moving to Nashville
or else I'd always wonder what might have been
The last four and a half weeks have been a whirlwind, and April is shaping up to be wild!
Let me start at the beginning — July 2023. I came home from a writing trip to Nashville knowing in my heart it was time for me to make the move. I told my husband it was time for me to go or else I’d always live with the wonder of what might have been. That wasn’t an easy conversation.
The following weeks and months, we looked at ways to make it happen. Should I rent a room from someone and travel back and forth on weekends? Should I get an apartment and see how it works out? Should we buy a second home and live separately, seeing each other when time allowed? None of the answers felt quite right. Still, I knew in my heart it was time to go.
Upon each return trip home from writing and playing music in Nashville, I’d feel a cloud descend on me as I exited the interstate a few miles from home. Often, tears were involved.
Around the same time, my husband began to feel like he was ready to make a change as well. He decided to sell the business he’d poured his heart into since 2006. But things didn’t move as quickly as we expected.
So, for the next year and a half, I kept traveling back and forth to Nashville, sleeping on friends’ couches or in their spare bedrooms or renting Airbnbs. I’d write songs, play shows, visit with friends, and overall, feel more at home there than anywhere I’ve ever lived.
Fast forward through a lot of frustration, tears, crushed hopes, and impatiently waiting… and the business finally sold! We never dreamed things would move as quickly as they have over the last few weeks.
We found a house in the Nashville area on the first day we looked at homes. Surprisingly, the seller wanted to close in less than a month (which we eagerly agreed to!).
We’d spent the last year and a half cleaning out our house, so we were ready to put it on the market as soon as we were free of our obligations.
Meanwhile, I recorded a new EP in December, and the first single release fell on the same day we were closing on the house in Tennessee. (What could be more appropriate than a song titled “Somebody Else’s House” on the day we bought somebody else’s house?)
Allow me to share what I posted on social media the day we closed:
We drove the back roads to do the final walk-through before closing on the house I’ve waited 30 years to live in. Passing fields filled with morning sunshine, I felt my body relax, and a sigh escaped my lips. Mark said, “That sounded like a peaceful sigh.” It was. “For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m home,” I replied.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say I’ve felt a bit nervous around the idea of completely changing up our lives to fulfill this dream I’ve held onto for decades — living within a stone’s throw of Music City, the place where people write and sing songs and chase unrealistic dreams they can’t give up on.
I thought about everything we’re leaving behind. “I wonder if we’ll have deer in the backyard of the new house like we do now?” Mark said we might, but we’d just have to wait and see.
We pulled up to the house, and he immediately went to inspect the deck and backyard. A couple of minutes later, I walked out to find him peering down the hill into the bushes. “There’s a deer down there.” Sure enough, upon looking closer, there were several! One was bedded down beneath a large bush, staring right back at me without making an effort to move.
For the past decade, I’d say I didn’t believe in signs anymore. But that sure felt like one: “Welcome home. You belong here.”
Now, we are less than two weeks from moving day. We couldn’t be more excited!
The timing is CRAZY though! I’m in the midst of releasing songs, running a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, and playing shows in multiple states. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Below, I’ve listed some other important things happening this month along with opportunities for you to be involved:
My Kickstarter is how I plan to pay for manufacturing CDs, marketing, and distribution. Recording music is wildly expensive, y’all! The amount I’ve set to raise is less than half the amount of recording alone. So every single pledge helps because if the campaign doesn’t get fully funded, I get nothing. I’ve created rewards for you, including CDs, art, tshirts, a party pass, and more! You can check it out here.
Voting begins today (and lasts through April) for the International Singer-Songwriters Association. I’m a nominee in three categories: Female Single of the Year (for “Somebody Else’s House”), Female Emerging Artist of the Year, and Female Rising Star. You can vote once daily throughout the month. I would love your support, especially for single of the year! You can vote here.
I’m releasing new songs throughout the spring and summer. I’ll be announcing the next single on Friday. You’re the first to know it will release on April 25th! It is a HUGE help when you stream my music. It helps the algorithm know that more people want to listen to my songs. What’s even better is when you add one of my songs to your favorite playlist. You can find my music on all streaming platforms!
For my friends in Alabama: I’m playing at Corbin Farms Winery this Friday evening (4/4), 6-9 pm. I’d love to see you there!
For my friends in Tennessee: I’ll be playing a backyard songwriters round with two of my friends, Kristen Budde and Michelle Lynn Thompson, in Murfreesboro on 4/25 at 7pm. We’d love for you to join us! There’s a $10 suggested donation per person. Please RSVP here.
For my friends in Kentucky: I’ll be playing in a Nashville-style songwriters round with Kristen Budde and Michelle Lynn Thompson at Verona Vineyards on 4/26, 6-9pm. Reservations are recommended.
Whew! I think I’ve covered everything for now.