I’ve been playing music since I was 11 years old. I played in a band when I was in grade 7, organized by my teacher who had a thing for music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. I was hidden in the back behind the drums. I bought my first guitar when I was 15 and taught myself how to play over the years. I began writing songs as soon as I knew how to make chords on the piano and always felt that there were songs inside me waiting to get out. I started another band with my best friend in high school and we fantasized about ruling the world through the awesomeness of our punk rock. Then it faded away and I got all growed up. My music underwent a bit of a metamorphosis and became much more observation and introspection-based. I became inclined to folk music, but lyrically, my punk roots are still visible. I work as an addiction counselor and many of my songs are based on the stories of people that I have met. Songs come to me from some place outside of me and when they are there, I feel like I need to grab them. I can’t force it when it’s not there, and I can’t stop it when it is. I hope my music is a vehicle to spread a message of understanding, even the fun stuff.

Machine Made for Living

I was speaking with a schizophrenic man and he was describing several unsuccessful suicide attempts. I asked him if he had learned anything from these experiences. He stated flatly, “Yes. I’m a machine. A machine made for living.” With those words, he had captured what my music is all about. Living. Living includes joy and sadness, pleasure and pain, and yes, living includes dying. My music, me, and all of us, are machines made for living. So get on with it, start living!