My world is a fairytale. Not the part that's perfect and ends happily (though I'm hopeful), but the rest of the fairytale that is equally saturated with opposition and victory. Much like being born in the dead of winter in Alaska, then being raised on the sunny beaches of Santa Cruz, California, my life is an ongoing contradiction. I can only conclude that this tug-of-war is beneficial to my art, and is therefore necessary.

At different times I was convinced I would be a marine biologist, painter or actress "when I grew up"... but that was before the songwriting bug bit me. My defining moment was at a James Taylor concert in 1996. As he played "Your Smiling Face", the screaming crowd became background noise to the most important thought I ever had: I want to do that.

Since that enchanted evening I've learned how to play guitar, been in a band, written hundreds of mediocre songs (and a few cool ones), moved to Nashville, made a CD, played many shows, written for other artists, and started working on a new EP. Despite the battles and occasional villains, it's truly magical to wake up, meet with a co-writer for coffee and do our best to create something beautiful and meaningful. There is nothing more satisfying or fairytale-esque... than doing what you were born to do.