Dear Friend,
I am from country farms on one-lane roads
Tractors and trailers filled with baby pigs
Front porch swings watching the pink sunset
Stars sparkling during hard work at 5AM
I am from the national blue and corn gold jackets of the FFA
Speaking my heart out in front of 500 people
Judging contests and chocolate milkshakes
Black tights with runs and trips with an advisor driving crazy
All nighters in hotel rooms and friends made across the nation
I am from county fairs in the hot July sun
Ferris wheels and pork burgers
Playing cards in my best friend’s camper
Showing pigs to win that blue ribbon
❤
I am from rockin it out to Fall Out Boy in my room
Not caring what any one thinks
Living for the moment
Determined to be an old lady on a Harley with no regrets
I am from singing my heart out on Sunday mornings
Praise of having such a blessed life
In awe of the wonderful powers from heaven above
Always having faith so that nothing will be impossible unto me
And this is why I write…
I write to clam my soul,
I write to unleash my soul, my tears, and my pain.
I write to thank God of everything he’s given me and for being in my life.
I write to heal my anger,
I write to scream my emotions out,
I write to show my love for him.
I write to remember my life,
I write to experience my pain over and over again.
I write to realize I am strong for coming out of pain and into the light.
I write to feed my hunger,
I write to honor God and spit on Satan.
I write to never forget love lost and love earned.
I write to have faith,
I write to later speak those words,
I write to change lives,
I write to change my own life.
I write to live,
I write to die,
I write to fight against evil,
I write to embrace purity,
I write to fill my emptiness,
I write to embrace my aloneness.
I write to cry my black tears,
I write to wipe my black tears away.
I write to understand my meaning,
I write to wonder simply why?
I write to cry myself to sleep,
I write to laugh till I feel worse pain than when I began writing.
I write to be in cold darkness,
I write to be in warm sunshine.
I write to taste that sweet kiss over and over again…
Sincerely,
Lauren Marceé Schwab
Texas natives Eli Young Band had the crowd dancing and singing acapella to their hit song “Even if it Breaks Your Heart” at Miami Valley Gaming on Thursday, August 4 in Lebanon, Ohio. Their inaugural performance in the grandstands captivated the crowd and lit their dreams on fire. Lead singer, Mike Eli, told a story about how a fire got lit inside himself as a child.
After seeing Garth Brooks in Houston as a young boy, Mike Eli told his parents, “This is what I want to do with my life. As you can imagine I had two very different reactions to this news. Mom on one had said, ‘Son, you go out there and you follow your dreams.’ This is the part where I knew she was lying to me. She said, ‘If anybody can do it, you can.’ I was ten years old. Dad on the other hand said, ‘Son, for the last ten years of your life, I’ve been working three jobs for you to have an opportunity for you to go to college or just make something with your life. I promise to the good Lord right here and now, if you do not go to college, I will kick your ass.’ So I went to college and the first week I met these guys and we formed a band. This song is for all you dreamers out there (Even if it Breaks Your Heart).”
With three No. 1 hits under their belt as well as a Grammy nomination and an Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year for their hit “Crazy Girl,” the Eli Young Band approached their second Republic Nashville album, 10,000 Towns, with a sense of confidence and purpose. “We knew what we wanted and how to get what we wanted.” It’s been a long, steady rise for Jones, Thompson, lead vocalist Mike Eli and guitarist James Young, but the same four musicians have been together from the start and are now reaping the rewards.
There have been many miles over the years for the Eli Young Band and that’s why 10,000 Towns felt like the right title for their new effort. “There’s a general theme between small town America where every town is different, but in some ways, they are the same,” says Young. “We felt like the title encapsulated the best years of us driving all over the country playing music.”
Eli agrees. “We’ve traveled all over the country and to other countries, but at the end of the day we all party the same way no matter what the culture or the town,” he says. “To us, ‘10,000 Towns’ is a great way to sum up this record in that way as well as who we are. We love traveling around the country and seeing all that and being a band of road dogs.”
worship leader, teacher, speaker, coach, husband and father led by faith. His life and music has constant vision of hope, peace and understanding through the eyes of a loving heart. As a musician and songwriter it was twenty years ago that he made the decision to offer his creative gifts to God. Since then he’s released seven CD’s and written countless songs for the church and world at large. On any weekend you can find him in a coffeehouse, in concert, at a conference, and/or leading worship.
A. “In high school someone put a guitar in my hands and it changed everything. I was a really shy child growing up. It wasn’t until I played guitar did I feel confidence. In the beginning I wasn’t very good, but for some reason I still had confidence and could express myself without any reservation. So it was a natural thing for me. In college while studying business, I realized I needed to be on the road to get this out of my system. I realize now, it will never be out of my system. It was a journey that developed and blossomed quickly for me.”
Q. What or who played an important role in developing your career goals and making the decision to take fate into your own hands to pursue a career in music?
“When I started I was infatuated with the instrument. I listened and studied all the guitar greats in the past. Then it occurred to me what was getting me out of bed was the creative part of song writing. So began to dig into the great songwriters of the past. Try to understand why certain song resonated with people. I grew up listening to all types of music. When it came time for me to write I started naturally to write in different styles. Whatever we experience in our lifetime becomes part of the fabric of who we are so whenever we are creative it comes out naturally.”
A. “I’ll be honest, when I picked up the guitar back in high school what I enjoyed most were the girls. As I became a professional, I thought it was cool I could make a living doing this. My career evolved from being a professional musician to a songwriter. Being able to write and touch other people. Being able to relate to other people who want to be creative or seek a career in music. It’s wonderfully humbling to touch other people in a spiritual way.”
A. “I was doing a concert when a came in who lost her husband to cancer. She just wanted to get out of the house, saw an advertisement for the concert, checked out my music online and decided to come. We had a wonderful conversation on how she was lifted up, touched and felt a little bit better from the songs.”
usician and creative person, my career is never still. It’s always changing and evolving just like our lives are. At one moment we could be in the deepest valley and five minutes later we could be on top of the mountain. For someone just starting out, the arts are tough because people judge the arts in ways they shouldn’t be judged. When I was teaching, I would challenge people to find the creative part of their brain and use it. You can’t get down because one person doesn’t like something you wrote or played or if you can’t get work right away. You just have to enjoy the journey and where you are at now. Perhaps write about where you are at now. There isn’t one person other than God that’s going to put a stamp on whether or not you have been successful in this life. We are all struggling in our own skin, to find our own way. I have written music that touches one person and goes write by another person.”
A. “I am looking to travel and play more. I’ve done a lot of recording in the past year and some projects are going to be released. I have a collection of worship pieces that are being released in September called Re:Prize. In November, I have the follow up to Dig Love being released called The Consequence. So I have a lot of new things I’m excited about. I have my plans, but I wont be surprised at all if there are some unexpected turns. I’m excited and confident about the future in what I’m doing and pleased I’m being used by God.”
Country music is life to Swedish country singer and songwriter, TJ Leonard. His first guitar was given from his grandfather at eight years old. He was taught to play Swedish folk music and evergreens. Soon, TJ was introduced to pop and blues through his cousin who played in a famous Swedish pop band. At eighteen, TJ became lead singer and guitar player in a dance band. Many genres have passed through TJ’s life from Jazz, hard rock, gospel, soul and R&B, but not until country music came along, did it feel like home.
A. “Country music is my life. I started to write country music and formed a band called Chestnut. We toured Sweden and Denmark, but we began to have scheduling issues due to family, so I decided to be on my own.
. “For a while, I stopped doing anything with music and focused on my ‘regular’ career at a computer shop. I just had to go back to music, it felt like something was missing. It’s become a lifestyle. If I don’t write music, sing or play, I’m not me. What I love most about it is meeting people in the studio and all the fantastic musicians. I like being on stage and wish I could be on stage more.”
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for the rest of the 2016? What goals do you have for your career?
Follow TJ Leonard on social media to stay updated on his music and performances:
Richard Lynch stands out in the crowd as a proud member of the last of a dying breed, the pure country music artist. His rock solid country roots span three decades. It comes up with the sun each morning, it settles in the music he writes and the songs he sings. The spirit of Lynch is attached to the workingman’s soul. It’s real and it’s timeless. It’s country, the way country was meant to be.
Living the life he sings about is what gives Lynch the edge as a singer and songwriter. He is a designer and builder of amazing barns and an American farmer. Performing at hundreds of shows a year across the country has shaped him into a one-of-a-kind performer. His style is true and it carries into his live shows. Much like his music alone, a live performance of the Richard Lynch Band is something you feel. It’s something you carry with you when you walk away.
If country music is a gift that sustains in our lives wherever we go, Richard Lynch is the messenger. Backed by a group of hand selected country musicians, the Richard Lynch Band performs a wide variety of music for the true traditionalist. Ranging from pure country, western swing, rockabilly, outlaw country and hard driving honky tonk, their performance will surely warm your country soul.
A. “My dad was a well- established country music entertainer. He played with the likes of Bobby Bare, Glen Campbell and the Osborne Brothers. I was always around that great music and influenced by my dad. At the ripe old age of eight, he invited me up to sing a song with him and his band. At that point, I was bit really hard by the country music bug, I have been doing it ever since. It’s just a thing of passion. I love the folks in country music. My direction is to keep the traditional sounds alive and well. We are pretty fortunate we’ve had a little bit of success with that direction. We are finding there are a lot of folks out there that really love good traditional sounding country music.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about recording or performing music?
Q. What is a memorable experience for you in your music career and how has it impacted you?
You can see the Richard Lynch Band live at his Keepin’ It Country barn on his farm in Waynesville, Ohio. Stay up to date on music and performances at:
“Country music hits the heart, and feeds the soul; it’s the story of all our lives in one way or another.” That’s Madelyn Victoria’s perspective on the depth of country music and just one of many reasons why this talented young vocalist and songwriter from Deep South Texas decided to pursue a career in the country music industry.
Madelyn Victoria and her own band perform at local venues, honkytonks, bars, and events in south Texas. “I hope to have my music playing in the background at backyard BBQ’s and at honkytonks, at weddings and parties… and hope my music and songs are able to show people the love of Jesus Christ.” 
A. “I have been singing my whole life. When I was five years old I sang at a Christmas pageant. I remember thinking how it was so natural for me and I enjoyed it so much. Since then it has been non-stop with talent shows, singing the National Anthem, church choir, lead vocalist in my church and more. I began song writing around 13 years old and my first official song was done by 15 years old. Since I was 16, I always knew I’d be involved in music somehow. I did a talent search with modeling and acting. I was cast for a couple of things, took classes in New York City and won awards there. The first time I was on the big stage, I opened up for the Jonas Brothers. When I was on stage with the roaring crowd and energy, It struck me I knew I would be a professional artist. I am thankful for all the opportunities that come my way. It’s only the beginning, there’s always more to strive for.”
Q. What or who played an important role in developing your career goals and making the decision to take fate into your own hands to pursue a career in country music?
“As far as musical influences professionally, I like to categorize my influences and myself. One being my voice and who I listen to as far as vocals go. That was a lot of female power singers like Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys. They help cultivate my voice and make my own. Another category being musicality and song writing, how I want to sound. I grew with 90’s country. With George Straight’s music you can’t deny he did something right. I look up to him and Allen Jackson, Randy Travis, Patty Loveless, just 90’s country really gets me. As far as songwriting, Johnny Cash, I love his lyrics. In preforming, I was influenced by Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and Shania Twain. They can captivate a crowd.”
Q. What do you enjoy or look forward to most about recording or performing music?
A. “The first time I heard myself on the local radio. There is one big station for the whole region where I’m from. Only the big shots get to be played, not all the local artists. The musicians in my region told me, ‘You’re not going to get your music played since you’re just starting off and recorded your first song. You don’t have a record label, you’re an independent artist, you have to go find a station that plays them.’ I had faith and kept going. I would go visit the studio and make friends with them. I didn’t even ask, I just showed up, gave them my EP. They started off a Texas Saturday night special to where they play local artists and played my music. Not only did I accomplish something myself, I opened a door for local artists on a big station. I also enjoy meeting with headline artists I open up for. I take their advice, they tell me to never give up and write about what you love.”
Q. What advice would you give to someone who may have a dream or desire, but is struggling with taking the steps to make them a reality?
Q. Can you tell me some of your exciting plans for the rest of the 2016? What goals do you have for your career?
Ballerini’s breakout hit, “Love Me Like You Mean It,” is just a taste of the country-pop sound in her imaginative catalog. The Knoxville, Tennessee native has dedicated the better part of the last decade to creating inspiring music, based on her life, to motivate others to live without fear of their emotions. Her full-length debut album, The First Time, has Ballerini’s credit behind every song. The album radiates positivity while exploring all facets of the human experience.
Ballerini’s refreshing approach to music is rooted in a vulnerable place. Turning to songwriting to help her through her parents’ divorce. “I grew up singing at church and glee club at my school. I didn’t start writing songs until I was 12 and it was my favorite thing ever,” Ballerini says, “Life got rocky…and this gift of songwriting just fell into my lap. It was literally this blessing that came at the perfect time. And for me, it’s always been that steady thing in my life that I can always go back to.”
Songwriting propelled Ballerini forward. At age 15, she moved to Nashville with her mother to pursue music. Ballerini credits persistence to getting her voice heard. “I went to town not knowing anyone. I friended a bunch of people on Facebook that were in the music industry. I would post demos and videos of me singing a song. Someone working at my record label saw it and invited me in. I started there as a writer and wrote songs all the time. I quit school, and just wrote songs. Every time I had one I liked, I would go into his office and play them for him, until finally he was like, alright.”
Ballerini’s vision, ambition, natural talent, and genuinely positive personality became a buzz on Music Row. “I would meet with anyone that would meet with me,” Kelsea says. “I always approached meetings not expecting anything but just asking for advice. That way I never left disappointed.”
With a bold approach to life, Ballerini’s connection to her fans comes from an unapologetic authenticity. “Letting yourself feel whatever you need to feel, not protecting yourself from emotion and dealing with it is what makes people, people,” Ballerini says. “It’s what makes writers good writers. It’s important to me to be vulnerable and transparent, that’s when people relate to music best. It’s not sugarcoated and it’s not super pretty. It’s just real.”
Recently, Ballerini made her Grand Ole Opry debut and is currently co-headlining CMT’s inaugural “Next Women of Country” Tour. “Dreams do come true. I’m seeing it first hand. While I want to do it all, the arena tours and award shows, most of all, I just want to put out good music that matters.” Her album, The First Time, is Ballerini’s first big opportunity to do that. “When I signed the record deal, in my heart I thought, ‘what do you want to say to the world? Because now, there are people who are going to help you say it.’”
Connect with Kelsea Ballerini at 
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At the band’s core is a belief that good music knows no boundaries. While paying homage to their roots of bluegrass and country music, Monroeville embraces that history and creates their own sound with original songwriting and arrangements that have been described as “a seamless flow through a range of musical styles and sounds, from bluegrass to country and pop.”
Q. What are your goals for the band and what do you enjoy most about it?
Q. What advice would you give to someone else who has a passion for music and is struggling with taking the steps to get started and get their voice heard?
It is clear with Munsey’s lead, Monroeville is making new waves in music. Munsey feels he has been developing musically in his own way. He refers to it as, “Music that has always been in me but hasn’t had a chance to come out.” He wants to be original and that means getting away from what everybody else is doing. Monroeville recently recorded music in a New York City studio. Munsey had written a song and wanted to have orchestration written for it. Their single Save Me is just the start of their new sound, Monroeville fans will patiently be waiting for more. Their music will continue to uplift and inspire others to follow their dreams and make the most of the life they are given.
http://monroevilleband.com
I first heard Christina sing when I searched for the song “In Christ Alone” on You Tube. I was immediately captivated by her voice and love for the Lord. I began downloading her music and listened to it will taking a shower and getting ready to go out all the time. Her music always put me in a good mood. Christina truly used the talent God gave her to honor him and uplift others. She lived out the calling on her life until her last moment when she was called home.
I was saddened and shocked to learn of her death. There is so much evil, hate and violence in this world. Heaven is a perfect place and I know with out a doubt Christina is singing with the Lord now. It is unfortunate her life ended so soon. She gave the world so much during the short time she was here. I will be inspired by her life everyday. She will serve as a constant reminder to love and honor the Lord by fulfilling my purpose in life.
