Album Notes

Some people said I was crazy, traveling to SXSW 2007 all by myself.

But I was ready for a change – ready to take my music and my career to the next level. And those three days in Austin, TX turned me down an incredible path that has led me to where I am today: set to my release my first full production CD "Shatter Queen".

Let me go back a bit. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I began piano at the age of three and started singing around nine. I really found my voice as a composer in my later teen years – have your heart broken and you'll be surprised at the stuff that pours out of you! While attending UW-Milwaukee for a music degree, I started playing with bands which got me out performing my original
material and learning all the ups and downs of the music business.

In 2005, I decided to go out on my own as a soloist, and recorded an acoustic album "Standing on a Bridge". I am proud of the work on this CD because it was my first venture, it assisted in getting me bigger gigs (like opening for The Fray at The Rave in Milwaukee!) and helped garner some awards (2006 WAMI Female Vocalist of the Year, 2006 WAMI Song of the Year Nominee). But I have come a long way since then.

That brings us back to 2007. After meeting some amazing people at SXSW, I was introduced to Daniel Mendez who became my producer and the person who changed my life. I spent 35 days with him in Seattle, WA where we literally ripped my songs apart and re-built them: lyrics, chords, melodies. Not an easy task but I couldn't be more proud of these tunes. Each piece on this CD came from me: my struggles and those around me, my voice, and my hands at the piano. I have grown as a musician, a songwriter, and as a person because of this experience.

A little bit about the disc now. The songs have a common theme running through them of failed relationships and unrequited love. That is where the title of the album comes in – "Shatter Queen" – I'll give you that much about the name, the rest is for you to decide. There are,
however, a few glimpses of hope and inner strength, and of possibilities to come on the CD. For the recording, we brought in a slew of amazingly talented musicians who truly brought these songs to life.

So here we are in 2008. My CD Release party was March 7th at the Miramar Theatre where we had every seat filled plus people standing (300+ crowd). That night I performed all the tracks on "Shatter Queen" with my new backing band. This is just the start though - I've got big plans so stick around for more excitement to come!

Thanks for taking the time to check me and my music out!!