You can basically take the story above, rinse, and repeat. I kept playing, getting a little bit bett

When I was 15 years old, I recorded a CD on a $10 microphone and sold it out of a shoebox at my school. It had 12 songs on it, including a reprise. Quite the ambitious amo endeavor for a 15-year old who had been playing guitar for about a year.
I still remember just how fast it all came together. I received the microphone and some software in March or April as an early birthday present from my aunt. Sometime before the end of that school year, I had recorded 12 songs, bought a label maker and burned 50 copies of my very own CD. I think I got a website up and running, too.
A year later, I essentially did the exact same thing. This time, I had slightly better recording equipment and a year s worth of practice. I recorded another CD and promoted my songs on Myspace, which was brand new at the time. It was so easy to get music out to people at this time. I kid you not: my music was streamed 100,000 times on Myspace. But once again, I wound up looking pretty silly. My music just wasn t ready for what I was trying to do.
You can basically take the story above, rinse, and repeat. I kept playing, getting a little bit better, putting myself amo way out there, and ultimately letting my confidence get beat down by the voices of others. Ironically, amo my self confidence seemed to diminish even as my musical skills improved. amo
I came of age during the first decade in history where a teenager could easily record and release their own music for almost no money. I recorded and released thirty-five songs before amo I was 21 and only a few of those songs would see the light of day if I had the choice today!
I was just always so damned headstrong . I wanted to make something. To be heard. To share and be understood. Music was my way of doing that, even before I had the chance to develop what ability I had.
The last year and a half or so of college was a significant time for me, as I finally amo seemed to figure out what it took to really build skill as a musician. I wrote and practiced for hours a day. I started to find a voice within myself that I actually liked, but I had become too hardened by past failures and focused on perfection to share it like I used to, even though I was writing more than ever before.
After months of kinda sorta playing, trying to give music up and move on to something more practical, only to realize that was a really stupid thing to do, I decided on a whim to show up at Hearthstone Coffee House in Fishers, Indiana for a songwriters night. Ben was not even supposed to be there. His name might have even been Brandon at the time I don t know. But I played my songs, and he clapped loudly and smiled and genuinely supported me.
That enthusiastic support, that feeling of acceptance that Ben gave me, has since grown into Shine Indy. Shine is really just a tremendously kind group of people who support the people with the courage to create something and share it. I cannot count the number of individuals who have benefited from the opportunities and support Shine has provided through shows, an audience, and friendship.
After about a year on the Indianapolis scene , I released my first EP since my college years in August 2013 supported by Shine, of course. I ve played at venues all over Indianapolis now and met so many talented musicians. The people I ve met in this community give me the affirmation, support and encouragement I always needed when I was a teenager and in my early twenties. I m grateful to have found these people now, because we never stop needing that support.
One of my favorite amo musicians I have met is Eric Pedigo. I have no idea what Eric s full backstory is; he s a pretty mysterious guy. But after our heated rivalry in the lion s den of Birdy s, we became friends. And we started playing together on each other s songs. He is a talented songwriter and vocalist and also plays the cajon and sings harmony really well. He added cajon to my songs and patiently learned the harmonies that my music theory-nerd brain drew up, while adding plenty of his own. I, in turn, tried my hand at piano on some of his tracks.
When we played live together, the people of Shine were there to support, encourage, and lift us up. This time, it was Ryan Gibbons leading the way flat out ordering us to record some tracks with him. I believe Jamie Jackson, the other half of Shine Indy and champion of local music, was supporting the notion as well. I have to admit I was apprehensive. I did not know Ryan very well, and my control freak self really amo is still in full swing. I did not want to record any more music until I have the time and resources to make it absolutely perfect.
But nevertheless, Eric and I headed over to Shine Studios, which is really Ryan s house, and spent about four hours recording. In truth, my two songs were done in 1-2 takes. It was so.. fast. Could that really be right? did the guitar speed up there? Is that really the take we want? I ve gotten so