• L.A. | Superficial or Super-chill?

    June 27, 2018 - By 

    New York, Nashville, and LA are known as the three pillars for the music industry. They each specialize in slightly different markets and industries, and I had my guard firmly up against all of them for different reasons. My admitted presumptions: Nashville: Cutthroat and competitive. New York: Highly skilled but no money to be made. LA: Superficial. Examples of these stereotypes definitely exist, but I’ve also been very lucky to experience the beautiful, contradictory sides of each as well. I was so pleasantly surprised by Nashville’s community-based approach to music (more here), and now have also been lucky to experience…

  • Life is short – Go to LA

    June 15, 2018 - By 

    I crash-landed onto my bandmate’s couch after an exhausting but rewarding day of teaching. I had finally stopped, but my brain continued its inner debate about whether a last-minute trip to California simply to “relax” was a good idea. It seemed so silly, yet I found my “reckless brain” fighting hard to convince my “rational brain” to book the flight. I was torn. A series of events had brought the idea for this short visit to the surface, and my curiosity to re-experience this particular city wasn’t letting go. It was a warm Michigan evening and still light out at…

  • Find cheap flights and book smart travel online

    How to find cheap flights and book smart travel online

    June 2, 2018 - By 

    I love air travel, but it can be so stressful. You can’t be late, but airlines can. It’s expensive, so there’s a lot on the line. Booking flights has to be done early and is very permanent (most airlines charge a $200 change/cancel fee), so it’s kind of a perfectionist decision-maker’s worst nightmare. This year I find myself having to make a decision most weeks about where I’d like to spend my 1-2 days off, and it’s really hard to predict that months in advance! Here are my tips for finding cheap flights, avoiding fees, and booking smart: Embrace Southwest.…

  • THE BADLANDS | Strength in kindness

    May 25, 2018 - By 

    I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised by the conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation, but unfortunately they lived up to every troubling story I had heard. My heritage is Native, and it’s always pained me to know that the American Indian population is amongst the most impoverished and oppressed in the country. I knew I wanted to help, but until recently I just wasn’t sure what I could offer. Having spent the last seven years teaching music enrichment clinics, I’ve begun to more fully understand music’s ability to access and empower students, particularly those who are struggling in…

  • The Badlands | Solo Travel and Self-Trust

    May 13, 2018 - By 

    I was nervous for this trip. It occurred to me as I was boarding my first flight to South Dakota that I’ve very rarely taken trips alone. I travel by myself often, but it’s almost always to a gig with a bandmate waiting at the other end. This trip out west was my first solo venture funded by my new nonprofit (which I’ll talk more about in the coming posts.) The plan was to perform and teach the students of Pine Ridge Reservation; an area rich with culture that faces devastating hardship. This solo adventure was a new feeling, but…

  • IRELAND | What to know before your trip

    April 30, 2018 - By 

    I’ve been lucky to have experienced this beautiful country several times now, and I’ve compiled the list of things I wish I’d known before my first trip. I also sought the consultation of my dear friend and The Elders lead singer, Mr. Ian Byrne. He had some fun insight and a few points to add. If you’re preparing for your first trip, fear not: the scenery, food, and language are every bit as beautiful as you could imagine! Enjoy!  1. Read up on the history. Learn about the “troubles” and have a base knowledge of the Irish history, particularly the…

  • IRELAND | Keeping Perspective

    April 25, 2018 - By 

    My last posts touched on the importance of staying passionate and keeping a perspective on my role in the world, not just my day-to-day travel life (link here.) This helps me keep moving forward in a globally relevant way, and also keep a clear view of how incredibly lucky I am. I sit pretty high in the world. Perseverance and hard work have a lot to do with it, but there are also many things that I was handed and I think it’s important to acknowledge them. I am vacationing in Ireland at the moment, perched in a recliner overlooking…

  • MADISON | Slow Down to Stay Passionate

    April 11, 2018 - By 

     We had a short time and busy schedule in Madison, WI, so we resigned to pretending we weren’t actually there. The Moxie Strings fell in love with Madison after performing at the Mad Gael Music Fest the summer before. We found it to be a fun, fit, open-minded community that appreciates art and great brunch. I wish we could say that on this trip we toured the stunning Capitol Building and jogged the expanse of trails, but there just wasn’t the time. We spent most of our time teaching and then retired to our quaint Air BnB outside the city.…

  • NASHVILLE | Locals’ List

    April 7, 2018 - By 

    These aren’t the “Top 10 places to visit in Nashville.” These are the spots the locals love: Fido: My favorite brunch eats. Creative specials daily and refill-yourself coffee. I spend full work-days here! The Station Inn: Center of Nash’s down-home bluegrass scene. You might sit next to a grammy-winner. Lightning 100.1FM: Nashville’s independent radio. Life changed when I discovered this gem! Marche: My other top brunch spot. Great ambience and friendly staff. Musician’s Hall of Fame: I haven’t been, but I’ve heard it’s a fun visit for musicians, specifically. Turnip Truck: Nashville’s local “Whole Foods.” All your organic staples and good…

  • NASHVILLE | Commit and Enjoy

    April 2, 2018 - By 

    Brilliant photographer Sean Fisher and I chose the coldest day of the year for this photo shoot, and to explore the Tennessee beauty outside the city. Sean is a driven and inspirational artist who I’m lucky to call a friend! (www.fisherai.com) He’s also one of my favorite IG follows: @mr.bootstraps The pictures turned out beautifully thanks to Sean, but the story of that particular day is hysterically bad. I woke up at 5am in a fit of stress about the amount that needed to be done as The Moxie Strings finished booking our summer months. I watched in annoyance as the…