Rae Solomon

Article Written by the Auburn Reporter 3/5/10

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/entertainment/86681152.html 

Check out this article written by the Issaquah Reporter!

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/iss/entertainment/52608632.html

This really is an experience of clashing emotions. Empowering and draining, exhilarating and tedious, exciting and yet totally horrifying. Just when you know that you have everything planned and prepared to a T, God lets out a small chuckle and let's YOU know that he has other things in mind. Finding that recording in Nashville was not on the agenda was absolutely disheartening, at first, I felt my chest tightening and my breath getting short as I thought of having to create this piece of work all on my own, with no "professionals" or "industry vets" to hold my hand through the process.

So, I cleared my schedule, stopped booking and gave myself 2 months to, as cliche as it sounds, do my soul searching. Now, I really had to "find my voice" and figure out exactly what it was that I wanted to say because, if I could pull this project off on my own, that is exactly what everyone was going to hear. I know that some songwriters are able to come up with 50 songs a year, but for me the process is much slower, on average maybe half a dozen songs a year. Country music, to me, is life in motion. I want everything that I write to touch real people in their real lives so I really take my time and try to make every lyric matter. This made the task seem that much more daunting because not only was I writing an album "on my own" but I had a time limit to do it in.

As the first few days...and then the first few weeks passed, with little inspiration and not many songs getting finished, I really began to feel the pressure. I was doing everything I could to try and stimulate the creativity that I knew was somewhere inside of me. I had seen it before, heard it before, I KNEW it was there, the trouble was getting it to show itself. Then, it finally came! It was like someone had opened the flood gates and I couldn't stop writing, thinking, composing, creating. A week later, when I finally decided to unlock myself from my music room, I emerged with 3 fully finished tunes. Songs that are whole-heartedly me. The best writing I have done so far. And, not a moment too soon, I had completed writing my album.

Like I said earlier, the change in plans was absolutely disheartening...at first. Now, I can honestly say that it was a blessing in disguise. Not only did I finish the songs for the album, that we are  recording this month, by the way, and will be released in early summer, but the creativity has not stopped. I am writing more now than I have ever done in my life. Above all of that, this has given me, actually more like forced me, to stand on my own with confidence and conviction, not only in myself but in the gift that has been given to me. 

The next few months and years will be as busy and wonderful and trying as ever. Yet, I move forward with a renewed sense of strength and passion, a feeling that I have been blessed with many times this year. A feeling that I believe only comes when you are doing what you are meant to be doing. This album is my heart in tune and I hope that you all will enjoy listening to it as much as I have enjoyed creating it.

Such a surreal feeling. Stepping off the plane and realizing that this place that you have dreampt about your entire life, the place that holds the key to everything you have ever wanted, actually exists. That it isn't something that you have just made up in your mind. It's real, tangible and that after all the preparation and training you are standing at the threshold of your journey. That I am finally here!
   
Of course I had all the excitement and anticipation that comes with knowing where I was going but I wasn't expecting to have the flood of emotions that I did.  Being a country musician in Seattle, a city primarily known for rock and grunge, you are always having to "defend" your music but this was a whole new world.

The first thing that I saw in this wonderland was a large display case with the favorite guitars of artists like Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert; it didn't stop there. The entire walk from our gate to the baggage claim area was country music advertisements, instruments and themed gift shops. I was in heaven and I hadn't even left the airport yet!

As the city's skyline came into view from the window of our cab the emotions really hit. I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, scream or jump up and down; so I did all four. The fact that in order to get there we had 3 flights, a 12 hour layover and at this point were beyond exhaustion probably didn't help.

Let me just say that it only got better from there. I have heard before that this is the "10 Year Town". Meaning don't expect to go there trying to make it as an artist without it taking you 10 years to do so and I can see where the saying came from. Our first night at the District was an awe inspiring experience. There is three blocks of wall to wall Honky Tonks with a band in every one! Some that we went into even had two or three bands playing at one time.

Don't think this is like every other town you go to that has live music playing. We were there for a week and no joke could not find a single performing artist that shouldn't have been there.

I will admit a small part of me was expecting to be intimidated by the vast number and sheer talent of the musicians I would see. After all, the creme of the crop from around the world chases their dreams to Music City's door step. But, and I hate talking myself up because I don't want to seem cocky or arrogant but I will make an exception and do so anyways right now, to my pleasant surprise not only was I able to "keep up" I found that I was at or above the level of everyone I saw there. A major relief to someone who has only wanted one thing her entire life.

After it all; the fun, the excitement, the rush, there are two main events that will stick with me for a very long time. The first? In my first professional songwriting session ever I was able to really feel my creative potential for the first time. I had always thought it was there from the few songs I had written in the past but the moments that I have had were so fleeting and hard to hang on to. Now I realize all I needed was someone to help me unleash it. Someone who could show me a tangible way to express myself through lyrics. Once I had that it only took 40 minutes to write and entire song start to finish from an idea that had been in my head for over six months.

I learned what my potential is. That anything I want to do is mine for the taking and that doubt was just another milestone.

The second was the backstage tour of the Ryman Auditorium. Never before did I realize how important it would be to me to perform there. The greatness of the people who have been there before could literally be felt. A feeling that reached down to the core of my being.

The final stop on our tour was the stage, where guests were able to stand and have their picture taken with the world famous Opry microphone. Jill, our guide, with her completely adorable southern accent and hospitality, told us to "make yourself at home". So I did. I stood at the very spot where so many of my heros have and I sang my heart out. If your wondering  I sang Amazing Grace, it did used to be a church of course.

To my surprise I wasn't asked to stop. In fact as I looked around I saw that everyone in the building, including tour guides, there was about 5 different tours going on at the time adding up about 100 people total, had stopped to listen. When I was finished the stage manager repositioned me to a different part of the stage and said "This spot on stage is where the acoustics are the best. Sing it again and hear the difference.".

After I was done singing my song for the second time, certain I was going to get kicked off this time, I was shocked to hear applause. Not only applause but approximately 100 people chanting for an encore. 

Coming back to reality I know it was just a tour but I will sing there again! The next time will be to a full house. The next time it will be because I was invited to come.

Now, I am writing this while day dreaming. Looking out the window from the plane that will take me home all I know is this. I have never felt so at home, so at peace, so confident, so happy, so driven and so reassured that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing with my life as I did there and do now. Nashville truly is where music calls home.

This is such an exciting time! I am very happy to tell you that on July 13th I will be boarding a plane for Nashville Tennessee! It’s about time is all I have to say. Now when people find out that I am a country musician and ask if I have ever been I can say without hesitation “Yes!”.

I will have an entire 5 days to work on songwriting with the producer for the album. Hopefully I will be able to sneak in a few tourist site seeing things while I’m there too. If anyone has been before and have any suggestions of things to do please let me know!

Right now I am a bundle of nerves, excitement and anticipat ion. This really feels like the official beginning of the journey and there is no better place to start.

I wish I could take all of you with me. Don’t worry we are getting everything on film, from booking the plane tickets to the songwriting sessions.

I’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Wish Me Luck!