Where did you grow up? Is your family musical or artistic?
I grew up in Louisville. My mother is a painter and my father is a writer and a songwriter/musician.
What is your musical background / training?
I started playing violin in the third grade and played through high school. I also sang in a church choir for a few years during elementary school, but didn't write songs until I began playing guitar. I taught myself guitar. Three years ago I decided to try playing bass, as well.
Who are your musical favorites/inspirations?
I was deeply inspired by all the local bands and touring indie rock bands I saw as a young teenager in the early '90s, in particular - Rodan, Ruby Falls, Drinking Woman, Crain, Evergreen, Unwound, Sleater-Kinney, Come, Versus, etc. Some of my current favorites are Neko Case, TV on the Radio, Shannon Wright and Mirah. I also love a lot of music made by women from the past like Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, etc.
What bands/projects are you currently involved with? How did you get involved with them?
I play guitar and sing with Second Story Man. I've been playing music with bandmate Evan Bailey since I was sixteen years old and we were in a band together called Itch House. A couple years later, Evan introduced me to Jeremy Irvin and the three of us started Second Story Man. We've been together ever since. I also play bass and sing in Minnow. I had never played bass before and when Rob Pennington asked me to play with his wife Becca and their friend Doug Maxson, I jumped at the opportunity to work in a totally different musical context.
What do you hope to achieve with music?
I want to continue to be a part of the creation of thoughtful and exciting music - and to have my bands' music be available to others to hear. I love collaborating with others and seeing song ideas transform into something beyond where I ever expected them to go because of the input of others. Of course I love performing live, too. I guess I just want to be able to continue doing this as long as I can.
