Waterfalls and roadtrips

Tennessee is a landlocked state, as many here in the US are. I'm not really used to that given that everywhere back home has access to the coast (even the ACT, seriously, look it up) but that means that instead of the beaches people here go to the rivers and particularly the waterfalls.

My amazing flatmate took us to see one a few weeks back. It was a great hike all the way down and there were falls to look at all the way. I'm told there are lots of falls near Nashville so I'll have to tick a few more off me thinks.

Colour Run Nashville

So a little over a week ago I helped out at the Nashville Colour Run, benefitting the Make A Wish Foundation here in Middle Tennessee. I was stationed on one of the colour stations which meant I got to cheer on the runners and throw colour on them. Or more accurately throw glittery silver dust on them.

ReCYCLE for Kids

Quick one because I've been very lazy with posts. I'm going to claim I've been busy and I have but that's still not really an excuse.

So last month I had a fantastic time helping out at Hands on Nashville. It was the final part of their Recycle for Kids program where old or unneeded bikes were donated and done up to be given to a deserving new home. This was the final give away where the kids could come and get their new bikes. They also got a helmet, bike lock, safety training and we had games and an obstacle course as well.

It was so much fun meeting people and watching the kids get their bikes. I got to help out on games and snacks so I got to give them prizes too which was awesome.

I only took a few pics but you can see more and read all about the program on the Hands on Nashville website.

Helmets ready to be fitted.

Daily round up - Sat May 31

So today I got up and went to a hot yoga class which nearly killed me. I am way too prone to heat stroke so I think I'll just have to stick to regular yoga and pilates.
Then tonight I went to watch the amazing Bec Milly play at the Pavilion coffee shop which is an awesome church run venue with a really eccentric vibe, great food which is all by donation, and a lovely crowd.
The night finished pretty early so Bec and I went in to midtown to check out the bars which I've not been to on a Saturday before. Only live music at one venue which was disappointing but the band we managed to catch was really cool.
Nice relaxing Saturday.

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Trial run of daily round up

Friday

Woke up and went for a walk, managed to not get rained on.
Had breakfast with flatmate and house guest.
Did some video editing for HP.
Had lunch.
Went to Jeni's in East Nashville for ice cream.
Took awesome pics.
Visited Vinnie Louise for much coveting then on to DCXV to finally pick up my Tennessee raglan.
Home for a nap then early dinner at Savarino's Cucina before farewelling house guest.
Then out to Soulshine Pizza in midtown for the end of the live Lightening 100 set with Tony Lucca.
On to Brewhouse for many games of darts. Turns out I am terrible at darts but now I know this. Also Nashville is not good at pink lemonade, or even sprite with grenadine, but Dani tried for me.
Finally one quick visit to Loser's followed by an even quicker visit to Winner's before heading home for snickers ice cream and bed.

High Tea - flashback post

So right before I left my dear friend Violet and I finally threw ourselves a high tea that we had been talking about for over a year. When I say "we" threw I really mean Violet threw for me as a going away celebration.

I've been so caught up in everything Nashville since I've been here that I completely forgot that I had all these gorgeous photos from the afternoon and all the yummy treats that she whipped up for us.

The cute vintage teapot and the beautiful weather we were treated to.

Doing things before you're ready - my Youtube channel

So this is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I'm a firm believer that messages come to you when you need to hear them and this one has been coming at me a lot lately.

Since I've been in Nashville I've been really focusing on writing songs, refining, editing, making sure that they are the best that I can possibly make them before I put them out for feedback from other people.

There is an inherent problem with this though and that is that they may never be "ready". I do this in a lot of areas actually. For over a year I have been meaning to get into the world of Youtube. It's the biggest music discovery service out there and while it's not the only component if you're not on there at all... You get the idea.

Speaking of ideas, I have lots of them, lots of song ideas, lots of blog ideas, lots of video ideas, and yet for the last however long I haven't posted a blog, I've been working on but not released (to anyone) any songs, and I have yet to start my Youtube journey.

Not good.

I got an email recently from a good friend and trusted mentor, Steve Palfreyman, about just this topic.
He summed it up beautifully:

"The funny thing is, I'm not short of content.

I'm not short on ideas.

And I'm certainly not short of confidence to speak to you.

But I am scared of delivering anything sub-par.

I'm scared that what I put out into the world won't be amazing."

Steve sent this out because he figured, and I'm sure he's 100% right, that this is an issue all creatives suffer from. The solution to this of course is that if something's stopping you from doing something, do it anyway!
There are a lot of people that can explain this better than me, Joel Runyon for example.

The bottom line is that I decided to do it anyway and as I made this decision I had another magnificent article come across my path that reinforced something else I was afraid of and was in fact the reason behind me delaying. As Steve says I didn't want to put out anything that was perfect, or not even perfect that wasn't good.

Then I read this:

Moving Toward the Ugly: A Politic Beyond Desirability

There's a lot of content in there and it is all fantastic, but the thing that stood out to me in this regard was this,

"Our communities are obsessed with being beautiful and gorgeous and hot.  What would it mean if we were ugly?  What would it mean if we didn’t run from our own ugliness or each other’s?   How do we take the sting out of “ugly?”  What would it mean to acknowledge our ugliness for all it has given us, how it has shaped our brilliance and taught us about how we never want to make anyone else feel?  What would it take for us to be able to risk being ugly, in whatever that means for us.  What would happen if we stopped apologizing for our ugly, stopped being ashamed of it?  What if we let go of being beautiful, stopped chasing “pretty,” stopped sucking in and shrinking and spending enormous amounts of money and time on things that don’t make us magnificent? "

This hit home for me. What was it that made me think that whatever I put out there wouldn't be good enough? It was this. That I wouldn't be pretty enough, skinny enough, funny enough, polished enough. That I, it, the whole endeavour would be some form of ugly.

So, I did it anyway. It's ugly and unrefined and messy in every possible way but it's done and hopefully, in it's own way, magnificent.

*EDIT* apparently the link didn't attach to the screenshot so here it is: https://youtu.be/zB7qwXXaKrI

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Snow, Ice, and over a month since posting. Whoops.

Oh dear. I had grand plans for blog updates but as it does life got in the way.

I keep thinking about whether to write about what I've been doing or how I've found the changes and it's all been a bit hectic and crazy.

So instead here are a few pics that made it onto Instagram just in case you missed them and in the meantime I will collect my thoughts and get back on track with posts.

The amazing Jeni's ice cream. This one was Salty Caramel and 

Askinosie Dark Milk Chocolate with Salty Graham Gravel

sunburnt country to the home of country music

Well I've been in Nashville for a week now and I am loving every second of it.
I've been to a bunch of different live music nights, lots of tourist things, and lots of boring life things (like buying groceries and more winter clothes).

It took me a while to get used to driving here again but I'm feeling ok about it now, because of course tomorrow I won't have a car any more...
One thing is that no one here does the speed limit. Or even within 5 miles of the speed limit.
But given that most roads are 4 lane highways everyone just goes around me and so far no one has been a jerk about it. Unlike Sydney.
I figure if I was to get pulled over, it would be because I'm more likely to do something silly without realising it's illegal so the least I can do is obey speed limits.

I've seen some really great songwriters and I'm trying to get out and see a lot more.
Monday night I went to The Listening Room to see Song Suffragettes, which is an all female singer-songwriter night.
The venue was great and the line up blew me away. So much talent, it's so inspiring.

I also went to a writer's night out of town a bit at the 404 Bar and Grill. Great bunch of people and again, some really great writers.

I've also briefly walked down broadway, done a round on one of the free Music City buses, checked out the Farmer's Markets, and visited The Hermitage.

Then my bank locked one of my credit cards, despite me telling them that I would be over here and it being a TRAVEL money card. So I spent about half a day walking around trying to find a landline, (in 2015!) so I could call their reverse charge number back in Australia. I eventually gave up and bought some Skype time because as it turns out no one that I know here has a landline at their house and no one in any hotel or public venue that I came across (and I tried about 8 different ones) had a phone that wasn't blocked from calling internationally. It was a whole saga but I got it sorted eventually.

Anyway, here are a few of the photos that I took around the place. Turns out I'm really bad at remembering to take photos but I figure it's because I'm enjoying the moment, or at least that's my excuse.

Writer's Night at 404 Bar and Grill

The Ryman - the "Mother Church of Country Music"

Shopping - for the important stuff

Visitor's Center

Milkshake at Burger Republic.

SNOW!!! I lost my mind the morning I walked outside to snow.

The Zoo Run Run. 5km run to fundraise for the Nashville zoo. It was the day after the snow and it was still freezing! There was also about 2000 people apparently and we went all the way through the zoo, including through back areas. I may have stopped to look at the animals (those that were out) and not paid any attention to my course time. Oh well.

There should probably be lots more photos especially at The Hermitage but I forgot and you actually can't take photos inside the house which makes total sense but it was really amazing. I'm not too familiar with American history so it was probably even more interesting to me than most visitors because it was all new. Apart from the house they had so much stuff from Andrew Jackson's time. An entire carriage (!), plus clothes, personal items, and weapons from the war of independence. At some point I would love to study American history in a bit more depth, I'll add it to my list and get to it at some point I'm sure.

Anyway, that is pretty much my first week and a bit. I'm sure I've missed stuff but it will have to do.

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Gifts, gift vouchers and appreciation

*this post was supposed to go out before I headed to Nashville. I had already written it but I ran out of time so instead I am posting it on my first night here*


As I prepare to pack my entire life into a suitcase I am struck again by how blessed I am for the people I have in my life.

I'm not usually a big "look at all my presents" kind of person which is why this post wasn't done at Christmas, but right now I am feeling incredibly grateful for the amazing people in my life and the thoughtfulness that they have all shown me regarding this big, crazy adventure.

I am the first to admit that I did not make it easy for them. It's a bit hard to buy someone "things" when you know they'll either have to leave it behind or somehow manage to fit it into the tiny box on wheels that they will be taking with them.

So my ever resourceful loved ones found me miniature presents, useful gift vouchers, and the best assortment of "need it in Nashville" essentials that I could ever have been given.

Adult Colouring In book and pencils (not pictured, I was actually using it and forgot to take a photo but it is filled with beautiful things like this.

Also:

Amazon Voucher - never not useful

Pick Holder Necklace!

Warm scarf knitted by fistula patients

Because Parents.

So I don't starve.

To keep me looking fabulous

Boba Fett keychain that has a light in it (currently attached to my carry on) and SOCKS!.

Edit ------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition I also got the most wonderful calls, texts, Facebook messages, and tweets ever yesterday from so many people, all wishing me the best of luck.

As I re-read the first line of this post I am reminded of Lisa's response the night before I left when I told her I'd
just packed up my whole life. "Your life is not made up of what fits into a suitcase, it is made up of the people in it." - perfection.

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Career or Day Job?

I am committed to my music career. It's my passion. It puts a smile on my face and most of all it is the thing that I feel I can contribute the most to the world with.

I recently left my last full time "day job" but as most musicians or creatives know it is rarely as simple as making the decision and just leaving. 

For the last few years I have had a full time day job and  a part time music career. I made the decision this year it was going to be reversed. I would work full time at music and part time in my professional career, so I can still do crazy things like pay rent and eat.

The thing about my "day job" though is that even though it's not my true calling, I'm damn good at it. Which means that I do get enjoyment out of it. I enjoy interacting with people. I like participating in the business sphere and it has helped me a lot in the business aspects of my music career.

Most creatives always feel that they haven't "made it" until they can earn a steady income solely from the area of their creative interest. Or at the very least from complementary fields. For many musicians this means teaching.

I've been lucky enough to build a huge amount of knowledge during my professional career, knowledge that has actually enabled me to make that career reversal. Though the fields I've worked in are not remotely connected to music (retail and IT) they've each taught me critical life lessons.

Plus, the skills, experience, and tools that I've gained during the last few years have actually led to my ability to move to the other side of the world and commit full time to music. 

I don't just mean this in a financial sense, although I have been saving like a doomsday believer for a year to give myself enough security to make the leap, but in addition the tools I've been exposed to and used have led me to building this blog, being able to work remotely from the USA while being legally employed (contracted actually) on my Australian ABN, and given me the understanding and confidence to be able to engage confidently on a business level in an industry that has traditionally had a fairly rocky bridge between the creative and fiscal aspects.

It has made me appreciate that my professional career is not something to put up with until I can replace it with my music, it is in fact something that has helped my music career in almost every aspect and I am incredibly, incredibly lucky to have had that opportunity. In reality both sides of my life are part of one great career that I am still growing in and building on.

Working from Coogee Beach

Filming for HP

Mystery Puzzle with the team

So, if you are sitting in your day job right now dreaming of the days when it's long gone don't forget to make the most of what it's teaching you here and now. You never know when it might come in handy.

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New Website

We're just delving into a whole world of new at the moment and it seems like the right time of year for it.

I've just put the finishing touches on my new website.

I'm more inclined to use this blog and my other social media platforms on a regular basis but I'm a firm believer in professionalism so it seemed appropriate that I put together my own website for this exciting adventure of "doing it on my own".

I'm sure that I will put more photos and posts up over time and I plan to start finally posting videos too so they will all go on there but until then it's just a little bit more about me.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

www.elanorjane.com

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New Year, New beginnings, and Nashville!!!

I love Sydney. I love the city itself, the lifestyle, the opportunities, and I love my life here. In a few short weeks though I am leaving it all behind.

I'm going to Nashville. Music city USA.

Nashville is heading towards being as far away as I possibly can be without coming back around again. Well technically it's the furthest city from Perth but it's still pretty far. Not just in terms of distance but it is quite possibly one of the most opposite types of places culturally to Sydney that you could get while still being part of the English speaking "western" world. Especially for me.

I'm heading to the home of fried meat and whiskey. The home of country music.

I'm a sober, vegetarian. Oh and I don't play country music. It's going to be great :D

Over the last 6 months as I've told people my plans I've had a lot of questions.

No one seemed particulately surprised about the moving overseas part but Nashville seemed to stump them. Why Nashville?

As I've already pointed out I don't play country music. I do love it but as I'm going to play not just listen to music the question was always the same. Why Nashville?

My answer: the craft

I love songwriting. Passionately, crazily love it. I love what music can do, to the mind, to the heart, and to the soul and I love that songwriting is about consciously creating these effects. So why Nashville?

Because they know songwriting. It isn't called Music City for nothing. 

There are a lot of other US cities with great music history and culture. LA has pop and screen music, but it also has Hollywood. New York has musical theatre, jazz, hip hop, but it also has fashion, wall st, and the history of the New World.
Nashville is all about the music. Just about the music. That isn't to say that there aren't a lot of other things going on in Nashville but it always seemed to me to be somewhere that was dedicated to the craft of making music. Any time I'd hear someone speak about learning to write, co-writing or how certain people got their start Nashville always seemed to come up.

So I'm going. To see what it's all about, to have an adventure and most of all to learn.

For now though I'm just going to be on the hunt for some non-leather cowgirl boots. Wish me luck!

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