Today marks six years to the day that I started You Sing I Write. Part of me feels as if it flew by so quickly, but looking back on the triumphs and struggles six years sounds just about right. My friend Sarah recently started a blog of her own called Fashion and Philosophers and interviewed me while she was in town. We spent the day in Brooklyn getting brunch, wandering in Park Slope and chatting in Prospect Park.
I must admit, it was strange being on the other side of an interview. Talking to her about my career really awakened me to just how much I persevered despite some major odds. I can honestly say being a music journalism was the only career path I set my heart on and I wouldn’t take no for an answer from anyone, no matter the amount of failures or rejections I received. You can read an excerpt of our chat below. For the rest, visit her website.
On Humble Beginnings
I started my blog in 2007 thinking my dad and a few friends would read it. My dad is my biggest fan. He follows me on twitter and when he responds to tweets, he texts me instead. It’s great. The blog started as a creative outlet and became very personal. It shares a positive outlook toward life and music. I only write things and people I am passionate about and hope that people can see my love for music through the writing.
Writings on the Wall
I interned for Jane Magazine and then MTV News. My articles have been featured in Marie Claire, The Boot, LemonDrop, Hoboken Patch, Billboard, Rolling Stone. Currently, I work for CBS Radio.com interviewing pop and country bands and covering shows for all of CBS’ music sites. I also freelance for Billboard and Rolling Stone on occasion.
On Robin Thicke
I interviewed him the week before “Blurred Lines” went to #1 and he was very personable. He wore sunglasses the whole time so that threw me off because you want an interview to flow organically and it’s hard to make it feel like a conversation when you can’t see someone’s eyes. He shared that he and T.I. were in the studio and wanted to make a follow up inspired by one of Marvin Gaye’s songs, “We had the chorus and we had our old man BBQ dance. We were just dancing around. Then Pharrell came up with the hook “hey. hey. hey.” And that was that.” That was one of the interviews we used almost everything. We mostly discussed relationships and he talked about his wife, Paula Patton. They have been together since they were teenagers and he had a lot of good things to say about commitment and making it work. Basically, choose one person that you’re willing to lower walls and allow them to hurt you because it will happen. But you choose each other and you give them everything. Nothing held back.
Interview Methodology
I really research for interviews including diving into the lyrics of albums. I look for the stories behind the songs and really try to ask them different questions. These artists are interviewed over and over and I would like them to know that I care about who they are and why they’ve shared what they have with the world.
On Persistence
It took 6 years to get to this place and it was not easy. I was determined but people were telling me that this wouldn’t happen. You question, “Why am I taking my third unpaid internship?” If you really want something, you will find a way to make it work. One of my favorite quotes is by American mythologist, Joseph Campbell, “Follow your bliss and windows will open where there were only walls.” For me this is true. I want a job that I wake up and love to go to everyday. You do need to get paid. But it’s special that I do love going to work everyday. The short stint where I took a paying job and wasn’t writing was miserable. If there is something you want to do, then you will look at obstacles as small challenges to leap over.