When You Know It's Right... You Just Know...

I am sitting in the midst of an incredibly deep, philosophical late night conversation about music. (Mostly listening and nodding ferociously... trying not to talk) It's fitting, considering we have closed ourselves off from the rest of the world, in the backwoods of West Tennessee... doing NOTHING but eating, breathing, learning, creating, and rehearsing music.

I am blown away with this band and the music that is coming out of us. I have done so much musical soul searching in the last few weeks. Now... let me say that I have been doing "musical soul searching" my entire life. But there's a new level of consciousness lately. We all go through ups and downs. Things that I once may have viewed as confusion or failing I now understand was all part of growing. And honestly? I know that for a while I was just trying to keep my head above water with learning how to handle a constantly changing band AND 200+ shows (meaning 300 days) out on the road a year.

But now - that's all old hat. Touring is engrained in us. Granted - we keep upping the ante... so there's always new things to learn and get used to. But step by step, we are running a marathon... not the sprint. I have SUCH a different approach from anyone else I know in the country music world. Most at my level (in country music) don't tour as the stepping stone to "make it". The road more traveled is to work on a publishing deal and write write write. And even though that works for most and seems more obvious... it isn't obvious to me. I ACHE to be on stage. Nothing feeds my soul more than when the stars aline and a song I have written connects in that perfect, splendid moment with the band, the audience and myself on stage.

Even though it isn't the most obvious route to most... somehow... we make it work. And YOU keep coming to shows. And reading. And we are working our TAILS off to make YOU proud. To keep bringing you better, more fun, more touching, more inspiring music.

2011? It's ON.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie