This album was 7 years in the making. I moved from Nebraska to Los Angeles to pursue a music career. Shortly after arriving in LA I was offered a production deal, which basically means I connected with a studio and producer who wanted to help me make music, then shop my demo around to try and get me a record deal. The only problem was that the production company didn't really know what to do with me. They didn't think I was ready to write my own music, and wanted to have others write for me. None of the songs fit me or my style. It was a painful experience, that completely crushed my creativity. After a couple years of trying to make it work, I decided I was better off leaving, and trying to record myself. So, the next couple of years were spent building my own home studio, and learning the equipment. I then recruited my friends, a group of talented musicians and producers to help me record this album. The recording process was fit into every nook and cranny of time I had while working a full time job. In the meantime, I gave birth to my first child. That new addition, as lovely and welcome as my Sweet Sadie was, made making music even more difficult. But, the early reviews on the album were great, and I was very encourage to complete it. I tried to team up with engineers to mix and master my music, and they would just disappear on me. I didn't have much to pay them, and I suppose they had better offers. It was a struggle though. Every step of making this album was fought with my own blood, sweat, and definitely tears. As, I got near completing the album, I became pregnant with our second child. But, I was determined to complete this album before #2 arrived. Finally, late one night, as I was putting the finishing touches on my album, preparing it to send to get mix, mastered, and pressed into CDs, I went to back up my files, and accidentally copied the file the wrong direction, COMPLETELY DELETING THE ENTIRE ALBUM!!! I sat stunned. Did I just do that. No, it couldn't possibly be gone after all of those years of work. But, try as I may, I could not recover those files. Trust me I tried every expert I could find and they all said it was impossible to recover. All I had left to show from those 7 years of work were my unmix & unmastered preliminary MP3 files of each song. It took me a good year before I could tell that story without crying. That album was such a struggle to put together, every step was difficult. In fact, on producer told me "If anyone could make it just off of hard work and perseverance, it would be you" But, it was not me. It was not to be. I was completely defeated after that. I had worked so hard for so many years. I had so many almost record deals. So many almost amazing breaks. But, at the end of the day, I didn't even have the music I created to share with the world. I decided to take a break from music. I wasn't going to push any more, but let God open the doors for me, if that is what He had for me. Eventually I came to grips with my story and decided to share the pieces of this album that did survive. I hope you enjoy the songs, and the music, that literally made it through the storm. Those are some of the Steps of My Life.
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