I began writing songs at the ripe age of five.  My mother had gotten me a Fisher-Price tape recorder and I remember spending hours in my room making up lyrics, recording, and then listening back.  When I was little my grandmother watched me often and she had a piano in her home.  I entertained myself, teaching myself how to read simple music and falling in love with the energy that came from instruments. 

In grade school, I sang in the church's children's choir.  It was where I got my first solo.  In elementary school, I decided to play the cello because no one else had chosen it.  I played cello throughout middle school and high school.  In my junior year in high school, I finally got the nerve to audition for our Chamber Singers (Honor Choir) and made it.    I also did a lot of regional theater at the time and ended up going to UC Santa Barbara where I earned my BA in Dramatic Art with an emphasis in Dramatic Literature.  It was in Santa Barbara that I came across a girl names Tai Albert (now Tai Carmen) whose performance changed the trajectory of my life.  Her music was raw and I had never heard anyone perform the way she did.  I asked her how she was so brave and she told me, "I write my own songs...no one can tell me I'm singing them wrong".  Honestly, this one conversation gave me the perspective that my music was mine.  Any note I sang, I created and my songwriting journey began. I began writing and participating in the open mike world.  What a gift that was to see other people's work, watch them grow, and develop lifelong friendships. 

Right out of college I was fortunate to tour with Jenni Alpert.  She took me to Seattle and back.  

As a young independent adult, I was scared to make music my career so I went to school to be a teacher. I ended up getting my Master's Degree in Special Education and have taught since 2005.  Teaching also allowed me the money and health insurance to provide my daughter with the resources she needed to be secure and healthy.  I never stopped writing and performing though.  In 2006 I joined a band called Zen Gospel (aka The Micah Justice Band) and learned what an amazing band should feel like.  The IE Weekly nominated us for Best Blues Band and Best Country Band.  We didn't win, but it was an honor just the same. As many bands do, we broke up.  I decided to focus on original music and landed the opportunity to record with Kelly Cairns.  Soon after I was offered a contract with M&M Records.  Nothing much came from it.  A few years later I found myself in The Traveling Stand Still.  It was an all-original band and we performed all throughout Southern California, including on television programs like IE Musicology.  In 2017 I answered a Craigslist ad for a country band.  My ex-husband had always encouraged me to do covers, but fear kept me from doing so.  In this new band, Sweet Mischief, I took on covers.  Soon after joining the band, we won California and the Southwest for The Great American Showdown.  We were featured on radio stations in New Mexico.  Since then we have performed throughout the South West including the Toyota Arena in Ontario, Brandin Iron, Cowboy Palace, and Ted Runner Stadium.  While in the band, I continue to write original music.  I have recorded with many producers including Jeff Berkley, Kelly Cairns, Keith Coleman, Nick Holt, and Chase Walker.  Chase Walker and I created a song called Romeo which was featured on the “Education Insight,” show on NPR affiliate KVCR.

In addition to music, I am a visual artist and author.  I am an avid painter, photographer, and collage  artiist. I have had my work featured at the Riverside Art Museum,  and spotlighted on LOOK what You made!, curated by Listen Localś Cathryn Beeks. I hope you have time to check those things out too:).