I'm in a Food Trance

You should hear the moans and groans of pure delight as our taste buds were reawakened to the taste of Torchy's Tacos here in Austin, Texas. Not to mention they were playing my happy song Hall and Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True" when we walked through the door.

Did we go a little out of the way again to be able to eat here? Maybe :)
Thank you David Newbould for introducing us to this ecstasy.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~nat

We've Been Waiting For This Moment for Almost a Year

I Just Went From Mom to Grandma

Panther and Miguel were standing and admiring the Werther's and talking about how great they are and how it's a treat you always got from your grandmas. I pointed at the Riesens and silently but very excitedly nodded. Miguel said "what's that?!" I immediately grabbed both the Werther's and Reisens & bought them at the register. I can't believe Miguel has never had them! As soon as I got in the car Joel said I had just gone from their mom (cooking at the band house all week) to grandma. :)

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Natalie Stovall World Tour 2011 Officially On The Road!

We ran through the new songs, packed up, ate left-overs, cleaned like crazy, and left the hills of West Tennessee today. We're currently in Hope, Arkansas at a Days Inn, and Man does it feel like home. I have never stayed in Hope before - only driven through... but there's something romantic about pulling into a cheap hotel the 1st day back on the road after rehearsing like crazy. :) It just feels right.

Our DVD player didn't work when we got in the car - so our lists and plans of what order to begin our viewing pleasures have to be put off a bit. We're kicking it old school - nothing but talking, listening to music, and reading. (Well... and iphone games)

I am completely lost in my Dolly Parton book right now. I love her so much. It would be hard not to enjoy her book even if you aren't a fan. She's an incredibly poetic and vivid writer. It's just so entertaining!

I've been silent all day... my first muttering will be tomorrow at 1 during another phoner... I love being on the road.

Somewhere in Hope,
Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

So Many Pedals. Such a Little Girl

So I've been incredibly intimidated by my new ginormous pedal board and pod addition. But I'm all good now. I mean, seriously? Who could be intimidated by this many Gerbera daisies?

Even though I'm incredibly proud of my feminine touch... The real credit goes to Miguel. He arranged, drilled holes for, and wired this entire thing for me!!!!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

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

New Songs Do the Heart Good.

Fantastic day of rehearsing. Let me just say - it is an incredible feeling to be surprised by how GOOD a song sounds with the band when you weren't really expecting it! There's a few I've been sitting on for a while - for one reason or another... Other songs triumphed over them. But man! What was I thinking?? However - I will say, they would have never sounded like they do now without this specific recipe of band members. I suppose that would always be the case - any song will only sound a specific way depending on who's in the room when it's being hashed out and who's playing it. But... I feel as though I waited for the right moment - both personally AND with the band - to bring these songs to life.

I'm a happy girl.

With an unhappy voice. :( It's hard to restrain myself when it sounds so good! But 8-10 hours of intense singing isn't exactly healthy for the voice...

So time to rest.

I have my first phoner (interview) tomorrow afternoon. Clear sign that the road is back in full swing!

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~nat

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