Photo credit: Anna Haas
Tell us about your tour vehicle.
I have a loyal Toyota Prius, perfect for a touring duo. Minimal maintenance and maximum mileage! Thank goodness there is a Toyota dealer in every city willing to help out if a light comes on!
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
Nuts, cheese, fruit, COFFEE. It helps to have a plan for the long rides and a good mini cooler in the car.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
Luckily Johnny Hawthorn is the best guitar tech in the biz and knows how to set up an acoustic so the strings rarely break. I take good care of my gear on the road and make sure to keep the dust out and wipe everything down after gigs.
Where do you rehearse?
We are lucky enough to have a 200 square foot custom built studio on our property where all the dreams come true.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
That’s a tough one because at this point the early days blend together. As a writer, I am always mulling words through my head. An early song that I love, though, is from a record I made called Lucky Girl. It was a sassy little ballad – “I’m a lucky girl and that’s why you don’t wanna gamble with me”.
Describe your first gig.
Terrifying. I think I threw up first. I played an outdoor festival in my little town in So Cal for a few hundred people. Rehearsed for 2 weeks. We sounded pretty good but it was a total blur.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I have been working on a documentary about California Country music for the past 7 years with Mule Kick Productions. It’s something I’ve never done and it’s a thrill to put this story together. It will premiere at SXSW 2026. I did LOVE my waitress job at Owen’s Pantry though, back in the day.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
Most of the income stream these days comes from XM radio and royalties in synch placements. I am getting more into composing and hoping that it yields a bounty.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
It would have been nice to have had some guidance in the business department early on when I was constantly creating. Everyone in this biz could use a mentor!