Changes. Growth. New beginnings.
From Musician to Master of Human Rights Grad Student
Changes. Growth. New beginnings.
Hello to all you wonderful supporters of my music. Whether you have been with me from the beginning or just met me this past summer, thank you for ever being interested in what I do. I am honored to hold any of your attention at all.
For nearly 20 years I have been able to sing and share my stories with you from stages all over the Midwest and beyond. I have done my best to “make it” in the music industry while living in a body that this industry has historically had a hard time uplifting. As a queer, non-binary being, who was born female finding an entrance point into the music world has been nearly impossible. I have always stayed true to my heart - the womb of my art, which has not made it any easier for me to access any kind of success.
It wasn’t until the past couple years, that I was able to see my first successes as a musician, and I am sure it has everything to do with the uproar of racial inequality that rose out of the summer of 2020 when George Floyd was callously murdered by a cop on the street. Suddenly eyes were opening to the racial injustice of our country, eyes that were previously closed to the suffering marginalized folks experience daily. The powerful impact of the Black Lives Matter movement spread to other injustices, and folks started focusing on uplifting the voices of those who traditionally did not have access to big platforms, including queer folks. On a small level (but big for me), I was able to benefit from some of this.
Though I remain grateful to the folks inviting me to share my message and play music for amazing events, I also am aware that I deserve recognition regardless of my queer identity. My music on its own deserves the biggest platforms, despite the labels put on my body, despite this new society’s desire to uplift marginalized voices. Please don’t hear this as a lack of gratitude for the opportunities given me. It is more a statement on the state of our country. I fully support continuing to uplift and centering the voices of all marginalized folks and artists, but I wish for the day when we no longer have to, and I am putting in the work to help ensure that.
Today I will be starting my second week of grad school, working towards a Master of Human Rights degree in the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. And I would like to take you along for the ride with me. If you are up for it, stay with me as I plan to post a weekly newsletter from this new platform, I discovered called Substack where some of my hero’s post like Robert Reich, Roxanne Gay, and Anand Giriharadas. The shape that this newsletter will take is yet to be carved out. It will be a process of discovery and I invite you to come along with me.
The truth is, I have always wanted to be a writer for change. My heart has always leaned towards wanting to inspire others to speak their own truth, and to inspire compassion, empathy, and advocacy for all beings regardless of their differences. We have something to learn from every one of us. Using my voice as a writer has always been my favorite tool, and I hope to use this newsletter as a way to harness that skill while sharing this precious time in my life with you.
Now is your chance to unsubscribe if this doesn’t resonate with you. I will not be offended as I only want you to go exactly where you belong as you follow your own true path. BUT if you are willing to stay, I am honored to share this journey with you where we can all grow together.
Please engage me by asking questions. Share with me your insights. What do you want to know about my schooling? Is there anything you would like me to talk about?
For those of you sticking around, I can’t wait to build this new project with you. I am completely optimistic about what this will become and love what it already is. Buckle up as we’re going to have a great adventure!