My Big Audacious New Goal: BANG!

I Don't Want To Tell You About It. But Also, I Do.

Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash

I’m excited to share with you my Big, Audacious, New Goal: BANG! (lol) At the same time, I really don’t want to tell you anything about it. Sound crazy? Let me explain.

If I don’t tell you, then there’s no harm done. I didn’t raise your hopes. I kept it to myself, head down, trudging through, with any kind of disappointment (or failure! whatever that is) to deal with simply being left to me.

If I do tell you, I might I’ll get your support and prayers, which I promise I’ll cherish. I might also get your help. Someone reading this might know someone who knows someone who might have an open door for me to explore. I’d love that, too! I’m so thankful for the close friends and family who have already expressed tremendous support for me.

I remember right before I moved to Nashville, my friends were all very supportive. They threw me a beautiful going away party, and everyone communicated their belief in me and sent me away with meaningful prayers and support. I also left with the thought, “Oh goodness, I better not let these people down!”

So here goes, I’m going to let you in to this part of my life…a pretty big part…because I want to include you. And I want to risk letting you down if it doesn’t happen or if my desires change. I also would love your thoughts and prayers. And I would cherish any help you or someone you know who might know someone is able to offer.

I want to go to Europe.

That doesn’t sound too crazy, does it? But here’s the catch. I don’t want to just visit Europe. I want to work there. Specifically, I want to do music in Europe. And to be honest, I don’t want to do “Christian” music in Europe. Even more specifically, I want to sign a record deal with a UK-based pop label who can promote my adult-contemporary pop music to radio, and allow me to tour throughout the UK and Europe. That’s pretty specific, isn’t it!

Photo by Veliko Karachiviev on Unsplash

Sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it? I mean, who wouldn’t want to sing songs and travel Europe for a job? So what’s the plan?

The first piece (I think!) would be to find a manager who catches a vision for what we could do together. This manager (probably based in London) would then connect me to a label with whom we’d strike up a licensing deal for my Beloved album project. Licensing a project makes a lot of sense for a label because it reduces upfront production costs, since a majority of the work is already done. They basically buy the project from me, then distribute and help promote it.

Beloved is my most favorite album I ever recorded. We worked so hard on it, and there are some really gorgeous moments throughout this collection of love songs—half covers and half originals. Check out “Time After Time,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Just Any Day,” or “Coming After You,” for starters, and you’ll see what I mean. (You can listen to my music anywhere you stream or download music like Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, for starters.)

Why Europe? This is what most people ask when I tell them. Because why not Europe? I’m thankful I’ve had the opportunity to visit Europe a few times. And I’ve been unquestionably influenced by some of my favorite music, most of which has come from the United Kingdom—not to mention film, television, and books! Even though I’ve never been to London, it has always held a fascination for me. I can’t wait to learn more about this town as this journey unfolds.

I want to make music, travel, and love people. Pretty simple. Like a musical Ted Lasso.

I still hear voices from time to time that say, “Who do you think you are?” Or even some specific voices I’ve heard say things to me like, “You’re so average,” or “Aren’t you old?” or “Are you sure you’re ready?” or “You’re too nice to succeed.” Uggh.

I’m going to set those negative voices aside, follow my heart, and lean into my faith. And follow the voice that tells me I’m the Beloved (like I keep saying to other people) and says I’ve been uniquely and creatively made to do things only I can do. And that there are still many good things ahead to experience in this life, regardless of how many years you’ve lived.

My experience over the past couple of decades (writing, recording, touring, marketing, promoting, etc.) has uniquely prepared me for this next chapter.

And being rooted in this great foundation of love, from God, from my awesome family and friends, from so many, I can take the next step toward this big, audacious, new goal, trusting that even if I don’t accomplish everything I’m aiming for, my life will be continually allowed to flourish in the process. With this attitude, there is no such thing as failure.

Is there something in your life that you haven’t gone after because of what all the reasonable people in your life might think? I’m handing you a permission slip. We only have one, super brief life. I’d much rather live my life full of risk, adventure, and curiosity, than simply being upset that God, or all the industry experts, didn’t hand it to me on a platter.

Here’s a two-minute sampler of some of the songs I’ve recorded. I hope you get to listen, and also, that you’re able to check out some of my albums. I even have some CDs in my closet if that’s how you’d prefer to listen!