Authentic
August 3, 2011
Here it comes. Next month, is the release of Lady & Gentlemen. In all honesty, this release feels very surreal and the fact that it's finally coming out for the world to hear hasn't quite set in yet. Yes, after all these years I still get excited and nervous, but this time it's a little different.
On Sept 27th, it will be 18 years since I signed my first record deal. And, I will be turning 29 on Aug 28!!! So if you do the math, I was 11 when I walked into Mike Curb's office. I wasn't walking out without a yes and I don't think he was taking a no from me either. I was a mildly determined child to put it lightly. Upon every album release I've always been terrified, confidant, but terrified. I feel like I've always been trying to hit the right mark, make the right radio hit. And making sure we have radio hits doesn't change, but my "marks" are always a bit different. I learned I have to hit 'my' marks for myself and love it all, every last note, every last word, or really, what's the point?
As I grew up, my age and life experience made me want to push boundaries, try new things. I am proud of it all, but I always felt in my heart I was chasing something. I believe it was the "success" rather than the joy and the art. When you achieve such astronomical success, so fast, so young, you just expect it to always remain at that level. I never thought I'd go through what I've gone through with my music and my life, all of it so public. No one ever prepares you for the roller coaster ride, and no one can. I'm so damn proud to still be on this ride after 18 years; still making music that I believe is only getting better as I get older.
When people have this idea of who you are in their mind, they want you to always remain that way. It's clearly impossible for a child in the music business to sing the same music for the rest of their life and never try new things. Now, I've been truly blessed to have had amazing fans that've followed my career through it all. I've gained new ones along the way with every record and lost a few because I was a "sell out" or "too pop" or "too country" or whatever else they may have felt. Hopefully, those fans will find their way back.
I used to worry so much about how people would react to a record, how successful it would be on a chart. I always aim high and work my butt off to achieve great success, but I've redefined success for myself and I've become more authentic in my writing, my recordings, my performances, my life. My last album Family was the first record where I felt like I, LeAnn, the human being, had something to share and something to say. It was emotional to write, it will always be emotional to sing. I found myself opening up and being touched by the words I was singing, words I had written. Although, Lady & Gentlemen is a "covers album," with all of the songs originally recorded by some of the greatest men of Country music may I add, I actually feel like it's my most authentic album to date. I laughed, I cried, I relived so much of my childhood while recording these songs. I've truly been moved and changed by my new album. I'm on a great path musically, by just being me! Somebody out there's gotta like it right?!? Right!
Lady & Gentlemen was always made with the enjoyment of our craft in our hearts and a true appreciation of a kind of Country music that is a lost art. I have a great appreciation of the truth that came from these courageous men who wrote these songs and sang them before me. I can't wait to share it with all my fans. It's a new chapter in my life. Authentically making music I want to sing, not just for everyone else's approval and praise, but for mine. I can't wait for my next record of all new material. After these last few years, I have plenty to write about.
On Sept 27th, it will be 18 years since I signed my first record deal. And, I will be turning 29 on Aug 28!!! So if you do the math, I was 11 when I walked into Mike Curb's office. I wasn't walking out without a yes and I don't think he was taking a no from me either. I was a mildly determined child to put it lightly. Upon every album release I've always been terrified, confidant, but terrified. I feel like I've always been trying to hit the right mark, make the right radio hit. And making sure we have radio hits doesn't change, but my "marks" are always a bit different. I learned I have to hit 'my' marks for myself and love it all, every last note, every last word, or really, what's the point?
As I grew up, my age and life experience made me want to push boundaries, try new things. I am proud of it all, but I always felt in my heart I was chasing something. I believe it was the "success" rather than the joy and the art. When you achieve such astronomical success, so fast, so young, you just expect it to always remain at that level. I never thought I'd go through what I've gone through with my music and my life, all of it so public. No one ever prepares you for the roller coaster ride, and no one can. I'm so damn proud to still be on this ride after 18 years; still making music that I believe is only getting better as I get older.
When people have this idea of who you are in their mind, they want you to always remain that way. It's clearly impossible for a child in the music business to sing the same music for the rest of their life and never try new things. Now, I've been truly blessed to have had amazing fans that've followed my career through it all. I've gained new ones along the way with every record and lost a few because I was a "sell out" or "too pop" or "too country" or whatever else they may have felt. Hopefully, those fans will find their way back.
I used to worry so much about how people would react to a record, how successful it would be on a chart. I always aim high and work my butt off to achieve great success, but I've redefined success for myself and I've become more authentic in my writing, my recordings, my performances, my life. My last album Family was the first record where I felt like I, LeAnn, the human being, had something to share and something to say. It was emotional to write, it will always be emotional to sing. I found myself opening up and being touched by the words I was singing, words I had written. Although, Lady & Gentlemen is a "covers album," with all of the songs originally recorded by some of the greatest men of Country music may I add, I actually feel like it's my most authentic album to date. I laughed, I cried, I relived so much of my childhood while recording these songs. I've truly been moved and changed by my new album. I'm on a great path musically, by just being me! Somebody out there's gotta like it right?!? Right!
Lady & Gentlemen was always made with the enjoyment of our craft in our hearts and a true appreciation of a kind of Country music that is a lost art. I have a great appreciation of the truth that came from these courageous men who wrote these songs and sang them before me. I can't wait to share it with all my fans. It's a new chapter in my life. Authentically making music I want to sing, not just for everyone else's approval and praise, but for mine. I can't wait for my next record of all new material. After these last few years, I have plenty to write about.
