101: Life lessons and what it’s like moving away from home at a young age with Avery Anna
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Hi guys. Hi guys. What's up? Welcome back to the moments podcast. Today is a very big, very exciting, very awesome day because I am having my first real guest on the podcast. And I say real guest because you've heard my mom on here. You've heard my best friend on here and my therapist, but

This is someone that I haven't met yet, and you guys haven't met yet. You might follow her, you might listen to her music, I don't know, but by the end of this, you're going to know her and love her, because I already do, and we've only talked for, like, literally two minutes before we started recording this episode, so I'm excited. And this is Avery Anna, so if you want to say hi, go for it. Yeah, hey guys, this is like...

Super awesome for me. I've been a fan of Lexi for the longest time and been a fan of the podcast. And then we got this together. So this is really cool. And I'm honored to be the first guest. Yeah, it's a big deal. And it's super awesome. I can't wait. I honestly didn't even know that she had listened to the podcast too many times, but I love her music. And it's just so cool how that crosses over, how like we know each other, but we didn't actually know each other until right now.

I love it. No, if you go, you probably, I was like, kind of like, oh, I hope she doesn't,

Because now that we follow each other, you probably see in your DMs, it's like, "Avriana mentioned you in their story. Avriana mentioned you in their story. Avriana mentioned you in their story." Because they're always going to post your cute quotes and stuff. Oh my God. Wait, that's so cool. I can't believe I didn't even see that. I went and today I was obviously stalking you. I think I got so far back on your TikTok, I was just so invested and I was learning more about you and figuring everything out. But that's so crazy. Oh yeah, it's so funny.

And now we're here. We're recording a podcast together. This is also, guys, like my first time recording virtually. So if the audio is a little bit different, we'll work on it. But we're not going to know until we try. So this is the first step towards figuring it all out. But I guess so that we can all get to know each other a little bit better, I kind of wrote down these random things.

questions that are going to be like hot seat questions. So just answer them quick and then kind of get into like the depths and the deep stuff and the fun stuff after this. But I just think that this could be super fun. So first tell me your full name, middle name included. Yeah. Avery Anna Roten. I love it. Okay, cool. And then first three words that come to your mind when you have to describe yourself. This is such a tough one. I would not be able to think of anything. This is so hard because it's like, okay. Um,

Dang, I don't even know. Spunky. I know, I've been asked this question before and I can't answer it. So I feel so evil even asking it to you, but. No, you're good. I'd say like my nickname growing up was Sparky and I feel like that describes me perfectly. So Spunky, Sparky, Spontaneous. Okay, I love the three guesses. Wait, that's perfect.

That was incredible. I don't know how you just came up with that. You must like write music or something. Oh, yeah. That was awesome. It's not my downtime. And how old are you? I'm 19. Okay. Awesome. And your three favorite foods or two or one?

Okay, mac and cheese, Honeycrisp apples, and peach cobbler. Oh, wait, and a steak. I really like a steak. Okay, now I'm hungry. I love Honeycrisp apples. And I went to the grocery store yesterday, and I didn't get any, and I should have. Okay, moving on. What are a few things that you do in your morning routine that you feel, like, completely thrown off if you don't do? I would say...

Dang. I definitely listen to music in the mornings and wash my face with cold water. I don't know.

That's pretty much it. Brush my teeth. The more things you have, the harder it gets to keep up with them all. And I'm learning that, unfortunately. Like, I keep adding these things to my morning routine that I get so dependent on. And then I travel or I go anywhere and I can't do them all and I'm just a hot mess. But, yeah. I know I was taking good, like, vitamins for a while. And then, like, I was traveling and then it just didn't work out for me anymore. Yeah.

Every time I take new supplements and I feel like anyone who's listening to this knows this about me. I just can't stay consistent with literally anything. So I'll take my supplements for like three weeks in a row. I won't take them for like two weeks. And then I wonder why nothing changes. And I'm like, this crap doesn't work. Well, yeah, use it properly. Okay. The next one we'll get into why about this one later, but what's your favorite song that you've ever listened?

written or performed or like what song means the most to you? Okay, um one that's released I'd say probably in the sense of like I mean we'll just I'll describe more about it later but probably Narcissus and if not Narcissus probably Biggest T-Shirt.

Amazing. Okay. Yeah, I want to get into like the deep stuff about the music. Yeah, a little just because it's so fascinating. I have always been so just inspired by songwriting and music in general that this is like another reason this is so exciting for me. Yeah, it's like two cool things, two things that mean so much to me in my life together. Right. But yeah, I keep getting ahead of myself. Where are you from?

I'm from Arizona. Okay. And there's a town called Flagstaff, which is like mountains and it snows there, which people think Arizona is the desert because everybody gate keeps Flagstaff. But I feel like I've heard of, is it near? What's it? What's another city it's near?

Um, it's like 45 minutes away from Sedona. Okay. Okay. I feel like I've been to Flagstaff or I don't think I've been there, but. You would actually literally love it. I probably would. And like little fun fact, they found Pluto there at the observatory. So there's all these like restrictions on lights, like all the lights have to be covered. So the stars there are really good.

Whoa, I love that. The one time actually, like when I remember seeing the best stars I've ever seen in my life was when I was in Arizona. I forget where Arizona I was, but I'm going to have to come visit. It's beautiful.

You're living in Nashville now or? Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I live in Nashville now. It's so fitting. Is it fun? Is it everything you wanted it to be? It's super fun. I will say like, I'm not really a city girl. So it does like catch me off guard every time I come back home from tour. I'm like, I can't believe I live here, but I don't know. I think I'm gone so much that it's like, it's a good home base and it's really cool to be around, um,

like all of the songwriters and people that love music so much. Like it's really cool. Yeah. That's awesome. How long have you been living there now? Two years, I think. Gosh. Okay. Longer than I thought. I mean, I don't know. I wouldn't know, but in my head it was shorter than that. Two years is a while. That's awesome. And do you have any siblings? I do. I have an older sister, a younger brother and a younger sister and we're all like very different.

I love that. That's the same with my siblings. So you're in the middle, right? There's four of you? I am. Yes. Do you feel like a middle child or do you feel more like a youngest or oldest energy? I feel like kind of in between. I kind of feel like oldest energy, but at the same time, I feel like middle childs are usually like pretty creative. And like...

Not that I was, like, neglected, but I feel like the middle child is kind of, like, forgotten. And so, like, as I was forgotten, I made space to, like, go do my own thing, which is, I think, why, like, is another reason why I would song write all the time, but...

Yeah. You know, there's a reason for everything. And like, I think that like, I have such, I'm the oldest, I have two younger brothers. And I think the reason I like do everything that I do now and am who I am is because I was the oldest and it's just so weird how it all ties together. Okay. Yeah. Question. And then we'll get into the fun stuff. What's your sign? Pisces. You know, I didn't really like Pisces that much because I've only had like a

rep of them in my life really I've met some really cool Pisces I don't know how to say that with a plural no you're good they're they're turning around like their version in my head is it's getting better and better so that's good no I feel like an unhealthy Pisces is like super not good yeah same thing I'm a Capricorn like that's how I feel about some cancers sometimes I'm like oh I think I'm on

Really great cancers or really not so great cancers. Yeah. But I guess it always makes sense because... Yeah. What's your sign? I'm a Capricorn. And unfortunately, I'm Capricorn to my core. I used to be like, no, I'm not at all like that. Like, I'm not boring. I'm not...

super driven like that. Like, I don't know. I just, I did not like all of the traits that they had, but then as I like got deeper into what they're like darker traits are like, they isolate and they get super like locked in on like this all or nothing mindset. And I'm like, I'm just an unhealthy Capricorn. That's why I don't know. But that's so funny. I do think they're cool now. I've learned to like them since I have to. Yeah.

They just have like such a rep that they're so boring and I never wanted to meet them. And I don't think I am. You're definitely not boring. You're like, this is so interesting. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. I remember reading that Pisces were like super emotional and I really didn't like that. But then I just had to swallow that pill because I'm definitely emotional.

Yeah, it's always those traits that you're like, I don't want to believe that I am that because it hits the hardest like that's the one that goes closest to home. Yeah. Okay, it makes it starting to make sense in my brain. Yeah. But yeah, okay, I guess like the fun questions the stuff I really want to know and I'm sure everyone else really wants to know too.

What is like the one thing if you really had to think like what first inspired you to start writing music? Because I know I was reading something. You started writing music and singing when you were like 10 or something or maybe just singing. I feel like if we're really starting from the very beginning, the first journal I ever got, I was eight years old. I got baptized into my church.

And my aunt got me a journal with like some pictures of me on it so that I could write down what I remembered about my baptism. And so I wrote down, I like read the journal when I went home just recently. And it was like talking about Jesses and I spelt Jesus like J-E-S-S-E-S. And it was so funny. But I feel like... That's too good.

At a young age, I was really, like, I started to get in the habit of, like, putting my big feelings down on paper. And I think that as life, like, as I grew up, like, I grew up in a house where you don't really talk about feelings that much. It was more of, like, a rub some dirt on it family. So whenever I did have really big feelings, especially, yes, especially, like, sad feelings or mad feelings, I would always write it down.

And then that kind of... I didn't even get into journaling at that time. Like, I... My parents were the same way. Like, it wasn't even in a negative way. It was more so just like, no, you're tough. You're strong. Just brush it off and keep moving. And I'm like, uh-huh, you're right. And eventually, you know, that catches up to us. Yes. But your aunt was ahead of the game, giving you a journal at eight years old. That's... I know. She... Her time. Yeah. I'm glad that, like...

early on I developed like like that's a healthy way to deal with your negative feelings like I'm glad that I went to a journal instead of like doing other things I don't know what I would be doing but yeah what a great mechanism like some people don't learn some people never even get to that point where they write things down at any point in their life like how cool to do it so young and how cool that it's everything you're doing now no it's it's a huge part and I also I love that like

Like, sometimes I'll try and do a structured journal, which is super helpful if you're consistent. But, I mean, I'm like you and I'm not consistent with stuff like that. And then I get frustrated at myself if I don't do it every day. So instead, like, with my journaling, it's super, like, sporadic and random. I don't do it at the same time every day. I just do it, like, when I can. And a lot of times it's, like, prayers. So, like, write, Dear Heavenly Father, and then, like,

Which is, like, good for me. And then it's, like, I'm also, like... Exactly. Spiritually, like, helping myself out. But... And then that always translates into, like, writing songs. Whether if it's by myself or, like, I started co-writing with other people when I moved here. And so then if I'm, like, comfortable enough, we'll just, like...

read my journal and then write a song. - So cool. I think that's why I think music is so awesome because it's like, if I have always said this, well, let me backtrack. When I was younger, I thought I could sing. I am the most tone deaf person. I won't even remember Yoki now. Like I remember so vividly, I got in front of my neighborhood

we were having like a block party of some sort and i sang love story by taylor swift and i love it like the group was like you have potential but like not yet like you should not be doing this and i was like oh my god he didn't say it like that he said it so nicely but as a child i remember like being stabbed in the heart and

all of my dreams of becoming a singer were crushed. That's so funny. Yeah. I think a lot of people though, when they were younger, wanted to do that. Like me and my friends would just play instrumentals on my computer and just sing. But,

Besides the point, ever since then, I was like, okay, I know I'm not going to be a performer of any kind, but I do love to write. And sometimes my words have like some kind of something that I think could be some kind of song. Yet I write a song, but I think it's so cool how it can go from our thoughts and feelings into something that so many people can feel and relate to and jam out at the same time.

No, that's so cool. I think, like, I don't think you should ever say that you could not do it, because I would always say that, like, I never thought I was good at songwriting, and then this all happened for me, and luckily, like, the people around me believed in me, but, like,

I feel like just from following you for a while, I feel like you would be really good at even if you didn't want to write songs, you could do like poetry. I don't know if you've ever tried that. We'll randomly like throw together and I, yeah, I love it, but I just get so hard. I feel like you'd be so good at it. You have such a good, like salt of the earth, creative brain.

Yeah, we'll see. Maybe one day I will. Yeah.

this all kind of happened because of TikTok. Is that how, explain it to me because honestly, like I relate because somehow I'm doing this because of TikTok. So it's so cool. It's a similar kind of thing. So tell me all about it. I feel like there's so much that we could talk about about this. So many. So we could go down so many paths. I already know. We could do, we could do so, so many conversations, but

Okay, so during COVID, I was doing school online. So obviously, I didn't pay attention ever. And I would just sing all day. And like, I would never really had time to like sing and write songs because I was, I would do like seminary before school and then school and then volleyball practice. So I was just like, if I would song write or sing, it would be in like the early hours of the day, like 5am or like 2am.

Gotcha. But then when COVID hit, I had... Creative. So I'm sure that's when a lot of good stuff came to life. Yeah. So when COVID hit, I finally had, like, all day to do all those things. So I ended up singing in my mom's bathtub because the acoustics were really good in there. That's so... And then...

Literally, it was a video of Say Something by Great Big World. I think that was my first, like, really big video. It was, like, I think it's at 10 million views. That's nuts. It was crazy. I have never, like I said, I never really believed I was that good, especially because having social media at a young age, I always was watching other people singing, and I never thought that I was, like, good like that. Like, I was, like, never...

And then it just kind of blew up. It ruins us all a little bit. Yeah, and I didn't even realize... I feel like none of us really realize we're just sitting there like... Even if we're not sitting there like, oh my gosh, they have this and I don't. Like even subconsciously, you're just like comparing yourself. Oh, yeah. So when that... Oh, sorry. No, you're good. Continue. So when that blew up, I like...

kind of freaked out I had like my first taste of like oh this is like people like me singing and then I just kept doing it and I actually like hid my TikTok from my mom for a while because I was scared she'd take it away from me if she figured out that I was like blowing up so yeah I just kept going and then I ended up um there's this band named Parmalee that was like watching my TikTok on their tour bus and they showed me to their manager their manager DM'd me

And asked me to work with them. And, like, a lot of people were reaching out to me, like, through Instagram. And I was freaking out because I was, like, 16. I was like, I don't know. You were like, what do I say to this? Like, there's no way this is happening. Yeah. And I'm, like, in the middle of school. Like, how does this work? And then I ended up signing a little contract with their managers. And then we cut. We recorded Just Cause I Love You. And then...

I signed a record deal, and then I moved to Nashville. Dude, that's insane. It's kind of just like that. It just kind of happened. Yeah. Every time someone asks me to explain the story, I'm like, oh, like, how are you out where you are now? You're like, I literally don't know. I blinked, and somehow we're here, and, like, all of this happened. And they're like, but how? I'm like, if I knew, I would tell you. I just don't. It's like, it's like all, man, it's such a big thing.

Like, I don't know, something like it's like all the stars align into a perfect constellation of this, of this. Yeah, I don't even know. It just kind of happened. Yeah. And it's so crazy how like I wrote down to talk about this too. I'm just gonna like sidetrack over to it. Oh, you're good.

Like social media is the thing that like got us to exactly where we're at. And like, it's so, it's such a cool like opportunity and way to reach people and like have a platform. And it's, it's like created our whole entire careers. But then at the same time, it was like, it's the same thing that makes us feel held back, which is so nice.

And I can't at all, but before we even dive over there, I guess another question that I would have is like, did you plan on doing this? Did you want to do music or did you have like a backup plan or, or what was your, like, if TikTok didn't exist, what was going to be your course of action? So I hadn't figured it out, but like, I had a few dreams in mind. I never, I genuinely never thought about,

Like I said, that I could ever do this. It wasn't even in my mind of, like, maybe I could go sing. I didn't even really know that Nashville was, like, the place where people get opportunities. Like, I didn't even know that. That's so crazy. I had a baby before you even did. I know. I know. I was like, maybe I'll move to Montana and, like, work on a ranch or...

Like, be a dental hygienist. I don't even know. The Montana one sounds a little more appealing to me, though, but... That spectrum is crazy. You know, like, music artist, dental hygienist. The two... Farm girl.

Yeah. Like, that's wild. But I feel that. You know, I've got the same spectrum. It goes from, like, all over the place to all over the place. I know. Yeah. I just, I can't even believe that TikTok just did it. All it took was a bathtub and a cover and then... I know. Yeah.

Wow. It is super cool too, playing live shows. Throughout this whole process, my heart's really, really, really into the songwriting, but I found a new love for performing, mostly because I get to meet the people that like performing and being a place for people to let go of the crap in their lives. Mm-hmm.

Like, for me, that's where I would love, like, I release all my stress in music. And so to be that stress reliever for other people, I don't know if that sounds crazy, but it's so cool. And meeting people and, like, hearing their stories is, like,

the awesomest thing ever. I bet. I mean, just even through doing this and meeting people through this, even people like you, like, it's just so cool how many people there are to me and everyone's stories and how we all end up at like the same place at the same time for some. And again, like all the stars align, but that's actually funny you say that because I wrote down on like my random question list, like, do you prefer songwriting or performing more? But I guess you just kind of explained. Yeah. I mean, yeah.

I think it's cool because I feel like for you songwriting is where you can release your own stress and your own whatever it is that you're feeling and going through and then performing it's like you get to just kind of that's the fun part

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That's the fun part. Yeah, I feel like it's like to do the writing some in. Yeah, like I write, I write to get things off of my chest and then I feel like I perform so that people can get things off of their chest like they can scream, they can dance, they can cry, they can laugh. I just mean, I know that being in a Taylor Swift concert was the highlight of my whole entire life. And yeah, me too.

Everything just disappears and I can actually just feel so much peace and be in the moment more than ever at concerts, music festivals. I don't know what it is. I think it's just because music has power. It's so beautiful. No, it's so amazing. And it's really cool to like, like before I started playing shows, I just would write like selfishly like for myself and like,

And then meeting people and hearing their stories. I mean, I'm sure we'll talk about it a little more later, but especially if they're, like, narcissists, I can, like, as I continue to songwrite, I have, like, all of them in mind. Like, I'm not just writing for myself anymore. You have so many stories to tell. Yeah, so many stories to tell and so many people to, like, connect with. Mm-hmm. That's another thing. It's so cool. I'm a geek for it. Yeah.

I love music, especially songs that I can be like, wait, I feel that so much in my life too. And it just gives you a connection. Like I was listening to self-love that song. So weird. Like, especially right now in my life. And it's so weird that the timing has fallen into the place that it has, but

I think if you asked me like maybe a year or two ago, like I wouldn't have felt as related to that song because for some way I was actually confident and happy in my own skin. Not that I'm not now, but of course now like I'm in such a state of comparison and I just did an episode on this actually a couple weeks ago.

And, like, that song, it just hits – it's so comforting to know that I'm not the only one that feels like that. And so many of us are feeling the same thing. We're just, like – No, I love that. Oh, it's crazy. It is crazy. I know. But what was going on in that song? Like, was there, like, a time in your life that you were going through? Like, was it a mental health thing? Like, just tell me more about how that song even was born. Right. I think, like, I had written in my journal – it's something that I constantly write, which I'm sure –

Like, being in the same, almost the same space you are with social media. Like, again, subconsciously, it's just something that really affects you. And I was so frustrated with it. I was writing down frequently, like, oh, like, there's so much pressure on, like, posting. And I'm constantly seeing other people doing the same thing as me. Or, like...

I don't know, just that, like, comparison all the time. Yeah. And just, like, being frustrated with myself for not doing enough or not, like, working hard enough, especially being on my own. Like, I'm my own boss, and I don't know when to stop working, even when it's, like, 11 o'clock at night. Oh.

Oh, do I feel that? It's so cool. But, but yeah, it gets, it gets to be so draining and it is so easy to compare. Like I feel these, it's so weird. Like the words coming out of your mouth are exactly what I feel and how I feel. And it's so strange. Yes.

Because obviously I can look at you and I can see everything that you've done and everything that you've accomplished. And I think you're just this beautiful light and like everything you post, I'm amazed by. But then when we look at ourselves, it's like the opposite. Yes, it's so weird. It's crazy. Like I'm like an outsider, you know, I can only see myself through this lens of just like.

negativity yeah and how do I change I don't know I don't know I just write songs about it so that's where that one came from it was really like it was a fast write we wrote it really fast because it was just like stream of consciousness consciousness I think I think you know I think I know exactly I don't know if that's a word but yeah it came out super fast and then

I played it on TikTok and people loved it. And then we released it. The thing that it's one of those songs that just hits so hard that it flows naturally to write, I would imagine because it's so weird. It's just like raw. Yeah. We were dying laughing when we were writing that song too. Cause I was like, I remember especially the confidence is so mainstream. Maybe it's just not for me. That line definitely came from like,

everyone's so confident on social media. Yeah. And then I was like, well, maybe it's just like, that's just not my vibe then. It's actually, it's so wild. And I think it's beautiful that so social media has focused a lot now on like people being real and raw and talking about what they're going through and what like, I don't know, the real person looks like or feels like. And I think that is so comforting. Um,

But at the same time, it's still like, it's still there. Just the constant comparison. So what I've tried to do for myself is just, I guess, take myself off of social media as much as I can. Like, unless I'm consuming things that are actually good for my brain, which is so much easier said than done. I feel like I remember you talking about that on one of your episodes where you're like, only look at things that are, like you fill your feed with...

positive things yeah because I mean it's so again like you've been saying it's all subconscious like I can sit here and scroll for three hours watching a bunch of nonsense and be like oh no like that didn't affect me that didn't do anything to me but like yeah mind I'm like remembering what I saw this one person doing and then I what I saw this other person doing and like I can remember in the back of my mind that I just spent three hours doing nothing watching all these people

all these things and then no wonder that's going to pull at me and make me struggle. They can do all that and I'm just sitting here scrolling and then I have to remind myself that we all do that and then I have to remind myself again, let's sit back and understand that social media is not a terrible thing. It doesn't have to be. We just have to start consuming things that are actually going to make us feel better about ourselves. I really like to follow stuff that is

yeah some sort like learning about things because then I just feel I don't know I feel like I'm in school a little bit yeah that's awesome I think that like it's such a great thing that people like you have a platform that you do because it's so important if you have that power to like spread the positive things that you do or even like

Something that I love about your page is you are majority of the time so positive, but you do show that there's like just as much like when you struggle or like when you're sad. And that's super like relatable and comforting to me because I'm constantly positive.

like i don't know it's super relatable yeah and i feel like it's exactly what you do with your music it's like we're both just getting out there and being real and raw for just hopefully you know a little bit better you know that's that's cool like social media is is crazy and a lot of times i'm like i just kind of wish i could get rid of it all but i need to yeah i feel so grateful

And I love it so much because I get to meet so many cool people. And I'm like, if I'm doing the thing, I want to do it right. And I want to make people feel good. And I think that it's really cool. We both kind of found a way to do that. Like, I just, I'm watching your videos today and they just make me feel good and happy. Oh, good. And I'm like, I need to be following. And like, this is awesome. Yeah.

But yeah, comparison is a big one and it is the thief of joy. And I have had to make that like my affirmation. Yeah. Last couple of weeks, just because it gets, it builds up to, you know, like it's not something that just happens overnight. It's like, I've been letting it get so bad in my brain that it's just completely knocking me down, but we're humans. Yeah. Yeah.

I think another thing too, that's just been running through my brain, like especially recently and especially in this conversation, I just thought of it so I have to say it. But I feel like for us, it is super cool that we get to connect with people. And, but since it is a job, like it's really hard because like you are the product that you have to sell. And like your brand, like it's so odd to be like,

Your job is to make people like you. Yeah. And so you have to have a balance in your mind of, like, this is just me. This is just, like, a part of my life. This isn't me. This isn't my life. But I'm sharing with people, like...

What I believe, what I feel. But it's like hard not to put your self-worth subconsciously into like your product because it's like. I actually, I really like the way that you just worded that because it's something that I think about, but I don't think a lot of times I need things explained to me in certain ways or like certain expressions for different things to stick. But like separating myself like from like being the thing or the product versus my real life is. Yeah. I like.

I like that because I think that I'll get in my head and I'll be like, if I'm not in a good space mentally, I can't show up the way that I want to. And then I get more in a darker place because I'm like, well, now my work is not like doing what I would like it to because my goal is to be a happy light, to share good things, to inspire people. So when I'm not even feeling that for myself, I'm

sharing it I'm like oh no it's all gonna fall apart but yeah I gotta separate it and I think that yeah it yeah it's hard to separate but also you want to like be real and genuine and like share those genuine sides of you yeah but there has to be like a balance of some kind which I've been really trying to learn what I feel like I take a lot of notes from the way that you do everything because it seems so great

I try. I really do my best. You do a good job. Sometimes it gets more out of me than other times. Like, I think just these past couple months for me, I've been all over. Don't know why. But it comes in phases and it comes in waves. And I'm sure this is something that we have all experienced, which honestly, I guess, leads me into another question that I had. You just went on tour in Europe. And I know we talked about this very briefly before this.

we started, but what was that like and how did it feel in your mind? Was this your first time doing a tour across overseas? And just tell me about it. So I went to Europe first time I was ever out of the country a year ago, and it was my fourth ever show as an artist. So it was my first time out of the country and my fourth show.

And it was in an arena with 15,000 people. Holy crap. And, like, I'd never really played a show before. I only did, like, 10, 15 minutes. But something about, like, Europe fans, they're really respectful and they're very...

they love lyrics, which I love lyrics. So I just person to like when I listen to music, my best friend does not do lyrics. She's like a beats girl. And I'm like, dude, yeah, yeah. Explain to her what every song means. And eventually she gets on the wave. But like, that's really cool that that got to be the first playing. That's so funny. That's so funny.

That's the same as me and my best friend, but that's the people there's lyrics people Yeah, like listen to the song people and I'm like, how are you not feeling this in your so I know I'm like, did you not just hear what they said? Yeah, and she's like no, but I like that tune and I'm like what? Yeah I know that's so funny Yeah, I know so I played that show it was just I was only in London for like three days and then This tour I was out with an artist named Breland. He's like a

super high energy, pumped up. Like he's always got a joke. Like he's super cool. So I was opening for him. Yeah, I know. He's awesome. And his music is super like,

cross genres so he's like country and rap and pop and all these other things so as someone who listens to like every genre of music I think it's so cool thought of an artist doing that so I looked at his Instagram when I was catching up with all your stuff today but I want to I want to listen now his live show is like probably one of my favorites just because he brings like

an energy and space to where, like, everybody's welcome and everyone in there will have a good time. Like, it's just so fun. But, yeah. So I opened for him for three weeks. We went to, like, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Norway, and then the UK. And it was just, like...

show hotel drive show hotel fly show hotel drive it's like that's a cup sound bus club another bus yeah no literally that's the real life version of it literally it was like 22 days I think but it was definitely exhausting like yeah super exhausting and

a lot harder than touring in the U.S. just because of the borders and the gear carrying with just me and another person but it was so worth it and the crowds I just love connecting with it's so different over there and they're so just attentive is that the right word I do think that people in Europe are just more genuine I think that like they are lost so and I'm

Every time I go to Europe, it makes me realize that what we have turned ourselves into here are these robot machines that just don't... I don't know. I don't feel like we're people anymore over here. I feel like people actually appreciate life. They do, and they give themselves breaks, too. Yeah. They can just not work for a day, and they're very grounded, and they appreciate things more.

I will say I really liked Norway. I went to Oslo. And people would just like, it's like you walk down the street and everyone's just like enjoying life.

Yeah, it's like, I, it's the same exact thing. And given most of the places I go, a lot of them are touristy spots. So people are just happy to be on vacation, but just overall, I think the culture in most places besides here is so much more like laid back and people are alive to be alive, not to just exist for like these bigger corporations or whatever it is. Right. It's like, they don't live for the hustle there. Yeah.

But I feel like America is very like hustle and like work and, you know, do all those things. Definitely. Definitely. We're like these. Yeah, I keep saying it. Like, we're just we're just robots. Like, we just want to work, make money, succeed for other people, get validation, whatever.

show off on social media. It's just this, it's a crazy world, but we're slowly changing the narrative. And I think that going to places like that and meeting people who are so genuine and awesome and great, it just kind of inspires us to be more like that. So yeah. And you gain a lot of perspective. I feel that way also though, like even touring in the U S like, I, I feel like I gained so much perspective on just like,

how different everyone lives their lives. It's, it's beautiful. And I think that that's why it is so exhausting as it can be and draining. It is always so worth it because meeting people from all over and just learning about other cultures is the kind of lessons that nothing else can, can compare to. Like I think say I had college, like nothing in college would have taught me what I've learned, like seeing other people's cultures, just like,

around not even the world like like you said even in the U.S. just like understanding that everyone's a little bit different and that's what makes it all so special yeah it's so true so true it's it's crazy but um I guess back to where we started that conversation before we got off like I always do it was it was tiring but it was exciting but what was like the biggest lesson that you you took away from it and um

Do you think you could have done it longer or were you excited to come home? I'd say I definitely was excited to come home. I think this is like, there's a lot of lessons that I learned with the actual like performing. Like I learned a lot about performance and like connecting with people, but also like on a real note, I don't know if I should be sharing this, but this is a safe moment. Okay. Yeah. Real for honestly. Yes.

So, one, I have to go there with more than one other person next time. Just because, like, it was way too much to, like, handle. Yeah. As, like, a touring artist, it's, like, you have to have more than one person on your team there. Because there was a lot of gear to carry. And, like, things that you don't expect just, like, happen. And, yeah, I had a really bad experience with a driver that was driving us around. But, yeah.

I won't say too much about it, but it was just not really fun. And that's why I also am like, I have to bring someone that I trust that is like,

You need the comfort and the safe person. And, like, life's a process. Yeah. Things happen that should not happen that you don't plan on happening, and it's terrible. Yeah. But it's part of it, you know? And you live and you learn every time. And now you can say you did it. And now you know how to do it for next time. I do. And I feel like slowly, especially being, like, thrown into the music industry, I'm, like, learning how to –

stick up for myself kind of and like have a voice which I've always been the type of person that's like just gets walked all over and like usually I'm like okay with it because I'm like oh well I'm fine yeah I'm the same way but I'm learning to like kind of put my foot down

It's an important thing to do. And I used to view it in my head. I always thought it thought of it as a strength of mine or like a good trait about myself that I'm like, no, like I just like, I'm a people pleaser. I love to like make people feel good. Even if it's at the stake of my own feelings or like comfort, whatever it is, I'm always like, no, but I'm like making other people feel good. And it wasn't until recently that I kind of realized like, that's not necessarily a good thing. That's not necessarily a good thing either. Like,

there can be a balance. You know, you can help people feel good and, like, make people feel comfortable, but not the...

the what's the word i'm looking for i guess the steak or the um the um cost of your own yeah or comfort whatever it may be like there's a fine line there and like standing up for yourself doesn't have to be this bad toxic karen thing like in my head yeah i've never wanted to stand up for myself because i thought of it as a bad thing yeah like a diva yeah and now yeah no it's not that i just deserve to be respected and

And I think that's something that comes with just being a woman too. I agree. I was like, as we're thinking about that, I'm like already thinking about the Barbie movie. I feel like it's so funny, but that movie, I was like, oh my gosh. No, it really put things into perspective for me. It did. I was like, it all makes sense now. It does. That movie was so good. I actually so enjoyed it. I

I didn't expect to. Like, I did not want. Me too. I didn't think I was going to like it that much for some reason. And I left the theater and I'm like, I need to watch this again. And I need everyone to watch this because it just puts so much into perspective for me. I know. I'm like, we feel this way and we are this way because we've like grown up.

One, like with our parents, you know, giving us instructions and telling us what to do, like that kind of sticks around where I just listen to people who are above me or that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That did like that comes from I don't want to say childhood trauma because my parents were strict in a good way. But just the general idea of having to listen to people older than you. And then now the older I get, I'm like, wait, I can kind of stop unlearn that a little bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I am now someone who can be respected and stand up for myself. It's not like you can't talk to an adult like that. Now I am an adult. And I don't know where I'm going with that. That's so funny. No, I agree. Like when I moved here, because I'm very, I grew up in the same type of situation. Like my parents are amazing. I have such good parents. And they were strict in a good way. But when I moved here, I was like,

I'm my boss. I'm an artist. But like there's all these other people that have been here longer than me and like I need to learn from them and respect them. But there's like also that thing of oh they're older and wiser. And I remember saying that to my dad when he called me one time. And he was like no like you know like you don't have to listen to them just because they're older. Like you...

know things too. Yeah. And I was like, oh. Respect. Dang, you're like, wait, I'm at that age now? Like, I'm the older and wiser one? That's crazy. Yeah. It was so cool. How was it moving?

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Like, did you, so you must have, you've been there for two years. You're 19. You moved when you were 17. Did you move, like, by yourself or with your parents or a sibling? Like, how did that go? No, so, dang, this was actually wild because I'm a super, like, all over the place person. Like, I cannot make a decision to save my life with anything. Like, I really can't. So, but when the opportunity came that, like, I needed to move here, like,

I was 17. I needed to like... This was shortly after everything happened, right? Yeah, this was... So I decided I needed to move here in June of 2021. And I moved in August. Oh my gosh. Okay. It was so fast. I had a year left of high school still. So I did it online. I moved without my family. Like they helped me move. Yeah. But like, I don't know, it was crazy. But it was the most like...

The quickest yes I've ever had in my life. I was like, yeah, like, I'll go. Yeah, something must have been telling you. Some higher, who knows? I know. It was just, like, it was so... I just felt like I had this whole time God's just been, like, holding my hand through the whole thing. And, you know, that's what's so beautiful. Yeah. It's really cool. It was just such a... Like, it was a crazy thing to watch my family...

Like, my mom missed me. And, like, I'm such a family person. And I'm always, like, when I lived in Arizona, I was always doing things with or for my siblings all the time. Or for my mom or with my dad or whatever. And then I moved. And then it's just, like, I'm here by myself. I was here with my cousin and her husband for a little while. But then they were here for, like, two months when I first moved.

But then, like, I didn't know anybody here either. Wow. Besides my managers. And so it's like, I'm not going to school. I can't make friends through school. The only place I really had to make friends was church. And I did. But it was, it's just, like, was the most wild thing. It's a lot like moving to college, just minus the friends. Yeah. And, I mean, that's just such a big change to make when you're so young. Like, 17, I think about where I was at in high school, like, my junior year. Yeah.

It's just crazy. I can't imagine doing something like that. But like when I went to Hawaii, it was similar to that. I mean, I was 19, but it was the first time. Actually, that's a lie. I was not 19. I was 20. But when I was in college and I was only a few hours from my family, so I don't really count that as my first big move away. Yeah, I still saw my parents all the time. But it was when I moved to Hawaii that it was the same time I first felt like, OK, I'm here with a couple of friends. But other than that,

I don't really know anyone here. I'm so many miles away from my family and I'm the same in the sense that I did everything with them. Like my family is super close knit and we always are doing something. Yeah. Weird change to go through alone, but I think it's also so much about myself and that's what made me appreciate the time I do get with my family so much. Yes. Yeah. I feel like anybody, um,

That even moves away from home. Like for college. Even if it's not that far. Like. You really really learn. How. Important your family is. Yeah. And you appreciate things. That you do. Or your family does for you. So much more. Yeah. It's like everything. And I feel like. The siblings. Like you realize how.

like important your siblings are in your life too it's crazy how similar we are which just makes me realize that we are all so similar like everyone listening to it's we've all had the same experiences yes different situations which is great but yeah same thing with me like my siblings I was like oh I'm gone and I'm kind of missing them grow up a little bit and that I know it's never something I would have thought about before like I don't know I just never I

It's crazy. I know. I just watched my younger sister. She's in high school. Like, this is her first year of high school, and she just went to homecoming. And I'm like, that's, like, weird. That's so weird. My brother just graduated. Oh, my gosh. He started college. And, like, thankfully he didn't go away for school, but all of our family friends did. And I'm, like, it's making me realize how old I'm getting. Because in my mind, not that I finished college, but if I would have, like,

It feels like it was yesterday, but realistically, a year ago. And I feel like I just graduated high school and it's been five years and it's it's wild how fast time goes. Yeah, it's crazy. But it's just the older I get, the more I appreciate the things like that, which is super, super cool. Yeah. Yeah. But overall, like, do you think it's been a good experience and do you want to stay in Nashville? Do you have any plans like moving forward? Do you want to go back to where your family's at or what? Yeah.

Right. I think that, like, I'm kind of in it to win it with my career. I know that you have to be present to work as hard as you can in this job. So I'll be in Nashville for as long as I need to be, like, with my career. But hopefully I can be established enough to where, like, I don't see myself living in a city for the rest of my life. Like, I love, love, love, love being in the mountains. Yeah.

And, like, being outside, I feel like that's where I'm most, like, connected, like, with myself, with other people, and with God. So I would go crazy if I lived here for the rest of my life. Not because it's a bad place, but just because it's not –

where I'm the most there's some people who want to be in a city who need the fast pace and some people who need it slower I'm the same way like I learned quickly that I can't necessarily do the city for long long terms but it is so worth it and it's so it's awesome that the environment

inspiring that like right now that's your focus is like your career and success is maybe the wrong word, but just it's your passion and you're working towards dreams and That's it's so inspiring even just for me to just hear and process like just keep keep chasing them. So cool. Well, thanks No, yeah, it's a yeah, I hope that I can I

be established enough to where I can live somewhere in the middle of nowhere with, like, a horse. Well, I'm sure you will. And I feel like we're both still so... Yeah, we're, like, three years apart. But still, we're both so young that there's so much time to, like, figure it all out. Yeah. And, like, there really is no time like now. So...

I guess it's a great time to just be in the city life and soaking it all in. Yeah, it's grind time. It's so cool. I've never actually been to Nashville, and I want to go so badly, so I need to come visit. Really? I want to go do the drink of beer and wear my cowboy boots because I wear them all the time anyways here, and I love the music, and I want to experience the hype.

Like, everyone I know actually loves it. Like, it's not – they don't say it's overrated. No, it's super cool. So I'm sure it's different living there than it is visiting. I mean, you would love it. I really genuinely think you would love it. And you could, like –

There's also a town right by Nashville called Franklin that you would love. If you ever want to visit, just let me know. I'm going to have to come visit. You can kick it in my guest room. Oh my gosh, I'm so excited. I want to go through, look at my list of what other questions I wrote down because I do think I've talked about most of them. But is there anything at the top of your mind that you're like, I want to tell someone this or I want to talk about this or...

I guess in other words, what is like something that you would want to tell everyone in the world who is willing to listen? Like a piece of advice or a quote or a story, whatever it is. I feel like a lot of people genuinely ask me when they meet me like advice on how to like pursue their passion. And like they want like an actual like list of like what to do. And I think that's something that I always like to tell them is

Just know there's no certain path and there's no specific way that you have to do it. It's just what is the most authentic to you? And like for me that was somehow singing in a bathtub and like coming here and for you I was like just being your little bright fluffy light-hearted self and it's just like if you really tap into like who you are then it'll Work out for you. Yeah, I strongly believe that

the energy that you radiate and the things that you focus on is what you're going to attract and yeah it's such an important reminder too especially when i'm in these like more negative mental states or or funks per se the more we we focus on those like negative thoughts the more are going to grow and the same way vice versa if you're focusing on being your most authentic self loving the version of you that you are right now and yeah

whatever dreams, goals, no matter how crazy, that's what's going to slowly come to you more and more. And I think that that's how you get to these dreams and passions and you reach all these goals. And that's really the basis of it is just the mindset. Yeah, I love that. Yeah. I also love... Crazy. Sorry, I just cut you off again. You're totally fine. I love...

in general, like, people, especially, I noticed this about you, is, like, you love to learn, and I think that accepting that and, like, learning to love the learning process is so important because once you have a big ego and, like, you think that you're on top, like, you have to humble yourself because it's so important to, like, expand on your knowledge. Yeah. I've been using a tree analogy recently where, like,

Who I am is the roots and everything, but like the branches are just things I can add. Wait, I love that. Yeah, like songwriting is a branch. Performing is a branch. Like social media is a branch. Friends are a branch. Family's a branch. But you're the roots. Yeah, but I'm the roots. That's so cool. I really like that.

That's like a comforting one. I love something about like that. Wow. Yeah, it helps me like balance everything in my mind because I'm like so scatterbrained. Oh, me too. And I'm like, okay, so it's like, yeah. Yeah. I was going to say something about something that you said a few sentences ago. Totally forgot what it was. It just left me a thought, story of my life. But... Right. Yeah, I think that... I know. I actually...

I do have a question for you. I was thinking about it. I can't remember exactly what it was, but it was something along the lines of, like, because I look up to you so much as, like, a person that I have been following for a long time, I'm always curious as to, like, I know that you've said that you get really overwhelmed and, like, stressed out. But, like, when that happens, especially social media burnout, like, what are, like, your go-to things? Is it, like...

something you tell yourself or something you do yeah or like what is that honestly I think I'm working through right now what the most important ones and what the most impactful things that I do and traits that I pick up are when I get to that mindset because again like I've I feel like I've repeated this so many times even recent episodes and even in this episode that I'm just like

Like in this weird funk, it's slowly getting better. But yeah, I always try to remind myself is to go back to what worked before, but not in the sense of me trying to get back to a past version of myself, but me trying to go back to the traits that I was doing when I was this version of myself. And I'm going to find this deeper. When I was in...

I want to say winter break, like January time, I was at a really, really good point in my life. I was going to Sunrise every day. I was taking care of like my mind and my body. I was journaling, I was volunteering. I was just prioritizing the right things. And I noticed that I've lost a lot of those traits in the past couple months just because life happens and it gets so busy and we can't help it. It just happens. But when I lose sight of those things, I also start losing sight of like

my confidence, my joy. Like I just, I get a little bit more low because the things that bring me the most energy are the things like going to sunrise, taking care of my mind and body, journaling, volunteering. And I know that if I let go of those things, I would lose more things. And then it,

you just keep falling down into a darker path. So the long story short of that is that I go back to journaling. I go back to waking up to watch the sunrise, getting outside. Prioritizing play is such a big one. Like when I get too overwhelmed by my work, if I keep trying to do more work to delete that overwhelm,

the overwhelm only gets bigger. Like the only thing that takes it away is actually getting outside and having fun and being a kid because that's what sparks all my creativity and my inspiration. And then once that happens, the work comes more naturally and it flows better. And it's just really a big game of figuring out what is tied to what and like what traits make you feel certain things that makes you do certain things and they can go up or down, but

It's really just a never ending puzzle. And yeah, first pieces to put back together are like, what were you doing when you were the happiest version of yourself? Remember, and how can you slowly incorporate them back into your life?

one step at a time because you can't do it overnight it's just like you got to do what you can and all you can do is your best and then slowly but surely you'll start to feel like you again hopefully yeah that's always the goal I love that I love everything you just said and I love how um what's the word like comfortable you are in your own mind like you can like

your mind solo and like what works for you, what doesn't, what happens when this and all those things. That's so cool. I want to, I think if I want to give everyone a homework assignment for this episode because I want to give it to myself too. Just explaining that made it

kind of make a little bit more sense in my brain how all of the things are tied together. So I feel like we all need to get a big piece of paper or a journal and just like write down what is tied to what. Like scrolling is tied to comparing myself to what I'm watching, which is tied to looking at myself in the mirror and wishing that I had what this other person had while I was scrolling, which leads to just feeling bad about myself. And then also write down the same ones that are like, hey,

went to sunrise this morning that was tied to me having more energy in the morning which was tied to me being more productive in the morning which was tied to me just feeling happier in general and then we can understand all of that overwhelm that does happen in our mind when it's on paper in front of us that's so great that would be cool

I don't know if that made sense, but... No, that made so much sense. I also love... I feel like everyone needs to draw a tree and figure out what branches they want to learn about. Yeah, I like that. I'm going to take your tree analogy and, like, definitely write that down and make a tree because...

Yeah, I like that. My therapist, you know, we all got to figure out our tree. Yeah, we do. Like, what are our priorities? What do we want to do? Who do we want to be? It's a never ending question. But I do think it's helpful to have like these rough drafts or these rough ideas of what the goals are. Because when we don't, everything just gets to be

too much too chaotic yeah yes exactly um and I noticed that too like when I do have my goals and my priorities somewhat in place never strictly because I have ADHD so bad that I don't even know what I'm doing tonight but yeah I have an idea of what I want to do it helps keep me on some kind of track even if it's up and down a million circles it's better than being on no track at all

Yeah. What my therapist also tells me is cool while we're talking about like these assignments that we could do is she's told me this since our first therapy session, I'm thinking like three years ago or something, two years ago now, she told me to make a timeline of everything I can remember that happened in my life. The things that were like super high highs, super low lows. And once you have that all written down, you can like look at it and you just understand more about yourself again. That's so good. Yeah.

But you can like look at this timeline and say, oh, in 2014, this happened in my personal life. Maybe that's why I react to things like that now. Wow. That's so great. I have yet to make this timeline. So I like literally don't even take my own advice, which I love it. It's like we share all these things, but how do we apply them? The world may never know. Yeah. Yeah.

I love it. Yeah. That was so fun. This has been fun. This is so fun. This is so great. I love chatting and talking. I know. And I hope everyone listening is loving it, too. No, it's... This is great. I'm sure everyone... Wait, I don't even know who's all... I see Christy, but I don't know who else is all on here. But I hope that everyone, like, listening to your podcast gets a good...

Gets a good chunk out of this. Yeah, I think I want to, I have like more things written down, but I also feel like we went over so much without even going over it. Yeah, I mean, you can, we can still talk about it if you want.

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Or if you need it right away, you can find Julie at your nearest CVS, Target, or Walmart today. Oh, I guess like one other question that I had, which I think is just such a cool question to ask everyone. Yeah. Who do you learn the most from and who inspires you the most? Not necessarily just in your music, but as a person. Okay, I think I learn the most from, like, I feel like I'm generally a really creative person. So I don't, like, I feel like that's very self-like.

building. Like I learn a lot from myself in that sense, but I think I learn a lot from my manager, David and my manager, Tina, just because they're so business brain and I'm not like, I'm super, I'm creatively driven and emotionally driven and they're very like business and marketing. And I love learning with that side of my brain because I'm not good at it, but I've definitely learned in the past two years a lot about

business and like that world right it's so cool it's just it's so cool those things just like being a lyrics person or a beats person there's business people and then there's just I don't know what we are but I'm the same as you like business is never something I focus on but I'm fascinated every chance I get to learn more about it like same thing right and I think that

Sorry. No, you're good. Just the same idea when I work with like my managers or I work with brands and I do like behind the scenes stuff of campaigns. It's fascinating how much goes into it. It's really crazy. And I think that like even in life, like in general with people that are so opposites, I think it's really important, which something I just recently am learning is to like.

I don't know if this is going to make sense, but, like, lead with curiosity instead of criticism. Because you can easily judge someone that's so opposite from you. But if you're, like, question things and, like, you ask questions and you're curious about why they're so different, then you, like, your perspective is so much bigger and you...

are more like you just learn more about everybody and everything. Yeah. I think perspective is huge. Like I really believe that if we all kept a little bit more of an open mind, we would just live in a happier place. I mean, I go so deep on this about politics. Like, yes, you don't have to agree with someone, but I think it's so important to listen to someone and there's still going to be people with different opinions. That's never going to change. I think that so much of the like strong feelings and like really negative, like hate feelings,

Scary stuff from politics is because no one's listening to each other, you know? Yeah, I agree. I completely agree. I think that, like, there's extremes in everything in life.

But it's super important to have an open mind. Yeah. I think that's my one tip. Like, I think everyone should take away in life. Just have an open mind. Listen to people. Be inspired by people. Even if it... My best friend's an accountant. Never in my life am I going to touch an Excel sheet or do this. But every time she's talking about something, I make it a goal of mine to really listen and to really grasp. Because who knows? I'm probably never going to need it. But it's just...

cool to understand other people's hobbies things and why people and like the way that they work and everything it's fascinating i just yeah it's fascinating i think that like i don't know how religious and if everybody is even that's what like listening to the podcast but i think that like it's important to like appreciate god's creations like in everybody and i think it's important to like

Yeah, like, respect everyone and, like, listen to, like, where they're coming from. And then you can learn how, like, God created everyone's personalities and stuff so differently.

It's so cool. I recently, this could be a whole nother episode that we do just talking about faith because it has been an episode I've wanted to record lately. Just I've always grown up Christian. I've always had a great relationship with God and just with religion in general. But like the more I'm kind of getting closer with God again, which is super cool. And we can like deep dive into that one day because I think that that we totally can. I could talk for so long about that and just like,

different doubts that I've had that have been like totally trumped and stuff like that exactly exactly but cool he's a powerful dude he really is it's it's amazing but I guess back to the question what who inspires you the most thing I think probably one person you could pick two people three people however many people ah man that's a good one I think a lot of people say this but I think my mom is just such a big inspiration for me

It's like the women that I look up to in my life the most. And she's like, I genuinely think if my mom was any other mom, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing right now. Like she's so great. And like, she is like so loving to other people and so understanding too. So she's really inspiring to me.

But I also feel really inspired by like things, like physical things, especially nature. Me? Me too. I'm scared of how similar we are, honestly. No, that's why I'm like, I literally have been the biggest fan of you for so long because I'm like, I feel like we're soul sisters, literally. I like look at your stuff and I'm like, dude,

That's me. It's wild. But about your mom, like the apple does not fall far from the tree. I feel the same energy and like that just loving, supportive aura. So just, just know that. But moms are special. I think that both of us would be really blessed to be doing what we're doing because in any other case, I mean, I definitely had to like force my parents a little bit to understand what I was doing at first and why it was a great idea. But yeah,

Even in those times of doubt, they've always been supportive and they've always just trusted. Everything I'm doing, I'm doing for a reason and it's all going to work out. And that's just such a cool thing. Parents are awesome. They are awesome. They're great. But I believe in nature being something that inspires you. It's amazing.

crazy how like calm my mind can get and how actually comprehending my thoughts my mind can get when i'm just sitting in stillness like outside yeah me too i feel like that's

my favorite thing in the world. It definitely draws the most inspiration for songwriting and for just like life for me. Like it gives me life to be outside. It's like a drug. Like nature's drug. It really is. It really is. It's like I go outside and I just, I've learned that another thing I do when I'm in that like super weird overwhelmed mindset is

I just walk outside. I just stare at the sun and it works like a charm. But that's such a good one. It's great. It's a great thing to do, but that's where it sucks when the weather is bad. I have such a hard time because yeah, I've had to teach myself to love the rain and the grayness because if I didn't teach myself to do that, I would be an actual disaster. But oh my gosh, that's so funny. Like when it comes to that, I don't even know how to explain this in the right words.

But I see life a lot of times in very black and white, very all or nothing. I'm like, if I'm not succeeding, I'm failing. If I'm not loving myself, I have to hate myself. Like, I'm really – something I struggle with is finding that in-between, which is, like, finding the right – and since the gray is something I've always hated, it kind of ties into why I've never really liked the grayness outside, like that in-between of the sunshine and the light. Right.

And it's just a cool way to connect like that mindset of mine with the outside and teach myself to love it and like go outside or look at the clouds when it's overcast and find the beauty in it and then translate that into finding the beauty in my gray of my own life instead of just one or the other. I mean, I feel like for you, since like you said earlier,

Like, that boring, like, you were scared of boring. Mm-hmm. And, like, gray, that in my mind is connected, but, like, I think that that's, like, where you can sit with yourself the most. Like, for me, when it's raining outside, I love writing a song. Like, that's my favorite time to write a song. Because I'm like, I can just be cozy, and, like, that's your alone time, like, when it's gray outside. Yeah. Yeah.

And I think I need to just start appreciating that. And I think that that's something that a lot of us could use. Cause every time I post, I'm like, Oh, the sun's not out. I'm going to have a bad day. I get so many. Me too. And then I'm like, wait, no, we need to change this. We need to start focusing on the rain. Cause you know, there's no rain without a rainbow. Wait, no, there's no rainbow without the rain. Yeah. I guess. But yeah,

Yeah, we're all just figuring it out, I think. And that's a cool thing. Yeah, it is a cool thing. Yeah. Well, I literally loved every second of this. I feel like we could talk for probably hours. But I know. Yeah, I guess we should probably end it somehow. It's been an hour and 13 minutes.

I did not expect to be able to chat for that long. I mean, I guess I did, but I'm so glad. I was like, I was kind of like, well, I wonder what we'll talk about. And then, but I was also kind of like, well, I have so many questions. So even if she doesn't know what she wants to talk about,

I already know that I have questions. Yeah, I don't know why I was so nervous. It just kind of goes to show that we're always going to be afraid of things for no reason. And this proves to be my life over and over and over again. Oh, this is a question I want to ask. The first time you performed in front of like a lot of people, what went through your brain? Like how did that feel adrenaline wise, nervous wise? Do you get anxious or just nervous?

Tell me how it went and then we'll end on this note because I think this is okay. This is actually a good note to end on because it's also something that I want to mention for the future. But the first time I ever performed like as an artist, I was opening for Josh Turner. Do you know Josh Turner? Baby lock them door and turn them off. Yeah, that guy. He's so cool. But I was like, obviously, like I was starstruck by him because I listened to him growing up and

I didn't know how to do it, which is what scared me the most is because I was like, it's like, I don't know how, but I have to do it. Um, and like the first three shows I ever did, I was really nervous. Like almost like, can I do this? Like I was super doubtful of myself, but then this past year of touring, like playing more shows, meeting new people, different artists too. Like,

I've really, really, really grown to love it. And that just goes to show... And I played my... Yes. It takes time and practice. And you gotta do it to get to what's comfortable. Like, it doesn't just... Well, it's like the first time you move out of your house or you do something, like, get your oil changed for the first time and you're like, this is...

nerve-wracking for no reason. And then you do it all the time now and it's just not that bad. Yeah. It's just another thing. I used to think I was never going to drive a car ever and now I love to. Yeah. Just we got to the big things in our life too because yeah. Yeah. Well, I also really want to mention like I had my first

four headlining shows earlier this year. I'd never done headlining show before. I was scared people weren't going to show up because I'm obviously a really new artist. Um,

But they were, like, the hypest shows that I've had. Amazing. And so we added shows, like, 12, I think, headlining shows for the rest of this year. Oh, yeah. I wanted to ask you about that. Like, you have that coming up, right? That starts in... Yes. Yes. So I go out with Jordan Davis and Cole Swindell. And then, like, in between slash, like, after that, it's headlining shows. That is so cool.

We called it like the "Treat Yourself Nice Tour" which is really cool and I feel like really ties together everything I've been through the past few years like even mentally and like how I've connected with people through music.

So that's going to be really fun. And I'd love for people to know about that. And I get to play Arizona for the first time, which I've never played in Arizona yet. Gosh, it's like a hometown. I know. It's so cool. I'm so excited. I need to come to one of them. I need to figure out which one. And I have to come. And I'm so excited. You should. You should. Where can people find the schedule so that we can send everyone to the right spot?

Yes, all of my tour dates are on AveryAnnaMusic.com, but it's like the link in my bio. Oh wait, actually it's not in my bio right now because I just teased a song that's coming out. Oh my gosh. Okay, I'm excited. I've got a lot to keep up with. Yeah, but AveryAnnaMusic.com. Perfect.

Yeah. Yeah, so now you guys know where to go watch, and I'm going to be there. I need to come to all of them. You should. You could come to whichever one you want. I think you are. Are you coming to Florida at all? I think I might be. I know. Wait. I don't know how far away you are from Georgia, but I'm playing Georgia. I'm not super far. I can make the road trip. And...

If you wanted to come to Arizona, I would love to do that. I think that that could be so, so, so fun. And then we could do another episode like in person too. That would be so fun. Oh my gosh, that'd be so cool. That sounds like a good plan. I love it. Yeah. Yeah, so I guess if there's anything else that you want people to know about you or your music or the future or whatever it may be, share that. I think just I have a new song coming out very, very soon.

I'm pretty sure it's next Friday. Let me look at my calendar. Oh, my God. My brain is so mush right now. I feel you. And I can't even imagine with you just getting back from Europe, too, and then going on another tour. It's a lot. You got to remember to self-ground it. Yes, it actually comes out Friday the 13th. So that's a good thing about the 13th of Friday. And it's also with somebody. Oh.

Oh, I saw your tease on Instagram. Yes, it's a secret, but it's going to be so cool. Oh my gosh. And then, yeah, my biggest thing though is just like shows. Like I just want people to come and I just want to meet everybody. And make all these new friends. Yeah. Sharing your love and your passion. And I think that's so awesome. Well, thanks.

Cool. Well, I think that we're definitely everyone who's listening. You're going to be hearing from us again, probably soon because this was so fun and I'm proud of you for doing the thing. We did it. All of it. And hopefully you guys like took something awesome away from this. That's what I, what I hope and dream. And yeah, we'll talk soon. And then me and you Avery, yeah, we'll talk soon too. Yeah. Amazing. Well, bye guys. Thanks for listening to the moments podcast. I'll talk to you next Monday.