inspired by | marcy

each friday on the kreatid blog, I’m shining a spotlight on a different person who I admire on a regular basis…the people who inspire me (whether in person on on-line) to strive to live every day, creatively.no matter what their creative medium is,no matter what their vocation is,if I admire them, you’re gonna be introduced to them!in·spi·ra·tion [in-spuh-rey-shuhn] nouna thing or person that inspires.they say that the sense of scent is the strongest of the senses...I believe that to a certain extent...old spice original will forever remind me of my boyfriend (now husband) ;)teaching me how to drive a manual car with the sun-roof open and wind blowing at seventeen,johnson's and johnson's will forever remind me of laughing/nearly-having-a-heart-attack almost falling into the tub after my soaped-up-like-a-piglet nine-month-old-who-liked-to-splash slippery baby boy...and the midwest smell of the rain will forever transport me to grand rapid's where we spent many summer's with family and friend's and where it always seemed to rain buckets at least one happy day while we were on vacation.yes, the sense of smell is pretty powerful.BUT.I would like to challenge that powerful sense of smell with the sound of music.it transport's, it evoke's memories and feelings that I think smell just doesn't quite envelop...norah jones will forever transport me to downtown chicago...chilly cheeks and nose with my man smiling at me, holding my mittened hand...just me and him.crimson & clover takes me back to high school singing karaoke with my little sistersomewhere in a pizza bar in indiana...tears of a clown takes me back to dancing in my bedroom with my older sister laughing til' we couldn't breathe... chariot's of fire, eight-years-old in my little garage on elm street, on my seriously old upright piano, with my dad encouraging me to keep learning piano..."I believe God made me for a purpose Jenny, and I believe He made me fast." incredible quote. :)yup, music is pretty powerful stuff.and this woman excels at creating it.I met her about a year ago and was immediately intrigued by her.stories preceded her arrival of what she had accomplished and what she was supposedly about.and I have to say that the stories are all true. :)but that's not the super cool part about her.yes, I am absolutely blown away by her voice...it's like if norah jones and ray lamontagne had a baby girl...SHE is what the baby would sing like.that's cool, but the super cool part about her is her demeanor...my kids love her house, her kids, her family...there's a laid-back-I'm-forever-from-iowa-vibe that is just her...it's a character trait that immediately puts you at ease and unless you're from the mid-west and are eager to find it, you just might overlook it.she described her last trip home perfectly..."there's nothing like fall in the mid-west...well, if you do it right...hot apple cider on an old antique stove, lantern's lit-up in the backyard...hayrides...cold cheeks...warm blankets...family everywhere...you just can't get the same here."that description is as much true as it is her in my opinion.and the super, super cool part about her is how she uses her creative medium of writing musicand how she makes magic.her music draws you in...her voice makes you feel...makes you feel like... (yup, buckle up for a seriously emo description) ;)like you're sitting on a hay bale with crisp autumn mid-west wind blowing through your hair with sparkly lantern's lit-up all around you listening to family laugh... :)yup, I admire her.she's on a permanent playlist in my car (buy her CD...you won't regret it.) :) she's amazing at what she does...and I can't wait to continue to get to know her more and to listen to her magic. :)meet, marcy. :)

if you had to describe “you” in ten words, how would you describe yourself?

much too hard of a question.  :)

what are the key things/people in life that "drive" you?

Unfortunately, I have days that my own selfish ambitions, my desire to succeed, and the dream of my name being known and respected among my peers drive me.  But I hope that God is changing me to have a different drive to glorify Him, to dream of His great Name being known among all the nations, and the hope of one day hearing Him say, "Well done."  

how did you get started in music?

I found my mom's old guitar in the attic when I was 14 or 15.  It had a chord chart inside, and I immediately began to learn chords and write songs. 

who/where do you look to for inspiration in writing music?

Mostly stories.  My stories, my friend's stories, friend's of friend's stories, and of course, God's story.  So I read books, watch movies, and listen.  And I know that if something moves me either by making me laugh or cry, it will probably be a good song.  

You've been nominated for a Dove music award.  Which song?  What was that whole experience like?

"The Water is Calling."  I'm not one who dreams of awards or playing in front of large crowds.  I'm the one who has nightmares about it.  And I hate dressing up, but I had more fun than I could have ever imagined going to the awards.  Two friends of mine from Iowa and my dad came down to meet me at the awards.  It made me feel more loved than any award could have.  I couldn't believe people would spend their vacation time and money to come support me.  That was the best part of being nominated. check out an acoustic version of it here: http://marcyeach.blogspot.com/2010/10/thank-god-for-your-pick-up-truck.html

what music style do you gravitate towards? artists?

I think I gravitate toward Americana or Roots Music which includes country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, and gospel.  I love artists whose voices move me.  Like Johnny Cash, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Andrew Ripp, Amos Lee, and so many more.

you're married to Jake...how did you and Jake meet?  what's your top five favorite things about him?

We met in 5th grade.  His family started going to my church, and our family had them over for supper (that's what we call dinner in Iowa. :).  We played hide and seek, and I wrote in my journal that night that he was really funny.  We became good friends in high school and never really looked another direction.  I suppose my top 5 things about him are different now then they were in fifth grade, although funny is still probably one of them.  He does make me laugh.  A lot.  Especially when he dances.  He loves God.  He forgives.  He is a good dad.  He is all man and yet isn't afraid to play house with his daughters or get a pedicure.  Okay, I made him get the pedicure.  And he loves me even when I am unlovable.  Which is quite often.  I guess you could call him a pretty good husband.  :)

you have three kids...what are their names and what are they like?  :)

Moses -10- curious, intense, passionate, creative, athleticJohnnie -8-fun, vivacious, compassionate, smart, out-goingRudy -3- crazy, bold, funny, courageous

you've lived in a few places...what are your favorite places/restaurants/memories in these places?

Muscatine, IA-- (home-town) My all-time favorite place in Muscatine is my attic bedroom my dad finished off for me in 5th grade.  I put my bed by the window, and I would spend hours up there with the window open reading my bible, playing guitar, singing, and writing.  I felt like that was the place where God got a hold of my heart and started to change me.  

 

Ames, IA-- (college) My favorite memory of college is roller blading at night.  Down big hills.  That was about as crazy as I got.  :)  Best place to eat in Ames is Hickory Park.  No doubt.

 

Chicago, IL--(first job) So many good restaurants.  My favorite being Maggiano's.  And now it's become a chain and there is one in Scottsdale!

 I have a lot of tough memories from teaching in Chicago.  I taught 5th grade in one of the worst schools in Chicago.  I cried almost every night on the drive home, but I'd come back to our little basement apartment, Jake and I  would order a deep dish Chicago style pizza, and try to feel normal amidst the abuse, racism, and poverty I saw every day.

 

Marathon, WI--(Jake's first job) This town was so small, we couldn't even order pizza.  My favorite memory is playing euchrer with the Seubert family.

 

Manchester, IA--(Jake's 2nd job) Casey's taco pizza.  We miss it.  For some reason no one makes taco pizza in AZ.  Must be a mid-west thing.

Too many memories to count in this town.  This place was where I feel like I became an adult.  I slowly became more comfortable speaking and singing in front of people because I knew I was loved no matter what.  My girls were born here.  In many ways, Manchester feels like my home town.  

 

Gilbert, AZ--(current)  Oregano's is my ultimate favorite.  And that's where Jake and I would go on our dates when I came down to watch his football games at ASU.  And my favorite memory so far is worshiping God under the stars on Good Friday service at Redemption Church.  

what's your favorite inspirational quote/Bible verse?

Isaiah 53 gets me every time.  

what lights you up personally on a daily basis?

Like many artists, I can be a little moody.  But I love a mission.  I love a project.  That's why songs and music get me going.  When I'm working on a song, I'm focused and happy.  Or even if I'm cleaning out a closet, I feel like I have a goal and a sense of accomplishment.  It is significant for me to spend time in the Word of God every day and remember my big mission.  My big purpose.  And that lights me up like nothing else.  

favorite bands/concerts/songs?

You know, I do not go to a lot of concerts.  I'm really cheap, and I don't like to be in large crowds of people. But this past year, I went to a Mumford and Sons concert, and I was blown away despite the heat and mass of sweaty people.  :)

you juggle being a mom, wife, musician well...how do you do it?  where do you find encouragement?

I'm not sure I do it very well.  My husband knows as soon as he walks in the door if I've been working on a song.  The house will be a mess, and the kids will be scrounging for their own food.  Jake is super amazing about helping out when I've had a busy day or the creative juices are running.  I do have scheduled times for writing, cleaning, laundry, kids, and husband, though.  Even though I'd prefer to write whenever I feel like it, it doesn't work that way with a family.   

 

Jake is a huge encouragement to me.  And whatever church I've been in has also been very supportive and encouraging.  I try to not rely on encouragement, though.  Mark Arant, my college pastor, once told me that if after I sing, I say, "How did I do?"  I'm asking the wrong question.  It's not about me.  It's about the message.  I've always remembered that and try not to look for a response to me, but to what the goal is of that particular event, song, or worship service.  So if I see a tear, or a hand raised, or a life changed, or laughter, or whatever it is, I'm looking for a response.  That is what encourages me the most.

where do you find your guilty pleasures?  food, tv, etc...

Lately, I've been into the show, "Call the Midwife."  And my kids always seem to walk in on my crying.  

And I have been known to make a late night run (or ask my husband to) for chocolate ice-cream (which I make into a shake).

do you have a collection?  or do you want to collect anything?

No collections.  I used to collect elephants as a kid, though.  My sisters were into horses, and I wanted to be different. :)

if you were going to share encouragement/insight with someone just starting out in the music field, what would you share/tell them?

Get in a musical community.  Go to conferences.  Never consider yourself better than anyone else.  Find friends who share the same interest.  Listen and learn.  

are you OCD about anything or pretty chill?

Very chill.   I encourage my children to lick the handle of the grocery cart.  :)

what is a nickname(s) you've been called in your life?

Rocky--my Uncle Randy gave it to me when I was born because he thought my name Marcy Anna sounded like the boxer Rocky Marciano.  Then it kind of caught on, and my sophomore basketball coach started calling me Rocky, too.

top three magazine’s you would buy in barnes & noble?

I've never bought a magazine before.  Ever.  But I guess if I had to, it would be a news magazine like Newsweek or Time.  That's what I pick up at the doctor's office, anyway.    I pick up People Magazine when I'm getting my hair cut.  :)

if you could encourage young women (14-21) to be anything, what would it be?

A servant.  Selfless.  My Aunt Becky had 4 daughters, and they've all turned into beautiful people, and she said her main goal in raising her daughters was to teach them to deny themselves.   

I love that.  That's what our Savior did, and that's what He calls us to do.  It's the opposite of what the world would tell us to do.  

what lights you up creatively? 

A good book.  Great music and musicians.  

if you weren't being a musician or super woman...what would your dream job/vocation be?

A Teacher.  Which I am.  Or used to be.  But my dream job would be teaching songwriting to high school kids.

who have been the key-influencer's in your life? why?

Mom and Dad--They have been a great example of living their life for others.  I admire them and strive to be like them. 

My grandparents--My grandparents prayed and still pray for me every day.  Their faith has been unwavering.

Jake--I would never be the writer I am without Jake.  Many of my songs come out of our story together or from His teaching of the bible.Sue Smith and Allie Lapointe--These are songwriters who are my heroes and my key-influencers when it comes to songwriting.  They are selfless.  Always giving.  Never haughty or prideful.    I want to be like them.