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*Who or what has influenced your writing significantly?*
Definitely Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), CDJ, Keith Urban and a lot of music from the 70's with folk and blues influences. I love country in the lyrics sense, because that is how I think, feel and naturally write my thoughts on paper.
*What highlight in your songwriting/performing could you share with us"
My song time placed in the top 1% in the 2003 CMT/NSAI song contest out of over 6500 entries worldwide. I have to say that's a big one for me, however, Brian Malouf (my recent producer) believing my songs enough to want to work with me and give me a chance, has to have topped everything so far. I was thrilled to have worked with him in LA and Hollywood this past fall on my 2nd CD. It has been a highlight to have performed songs from both my first and upcoming 2nd cd on the BIG VALLEY JAMBOREE songwriters stage in 2005 and 2006. I shared the stage with The Poverty Plainsmen, Sean Hogan, Melanie Laine, Craig Young, Duane Steele and Alana Levandoski.
*What have you learned that you could pass on about songwriting/performing
experience?
Believe in yourself and the stories you have written and are sharing. Co-writing is a must! You learn so much and performing is equally as important if you choose to be a performing songwriter. Do that and share your songs as often as you can (open mics or with friends, whatever). Enter song contests and songwriter/performing contests. I did that, and it's great experience and great way to find out if people truly like what you do. Your family will always love what you do, but it's important to know where your true strengths and weaknesses are. This is a great way to get feedback. Just be prepared for much constructive critisism. That isn't a bad thing.
*Any tips or advice you could give to songwriters?*
Always believe in yourself and what you write. Those are your stories that are likely derived from your own feelings and life experiences. Translating that to a song and sharing it with others is rewarding, and you have to remember why you're doing what you're doing. For writers, it is a huge form of expression and performing it is acting that out. Always write, co-write and jot things down when you think of them. You will often come back to it if you can't finish it at the moment. At the time you feel it, you need to write it. I think those are the best songs. When you feel inspired, grab that paper and pen, or get to that guitar/piano.
*What plans or goals do you have for the next year?*
I just finished recording my 2nd CD with World Class producer/mixing engineer Brian Malouf ( Queen, Pink, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Kalan Porter, CDJ, Amy Grant to name a few). We recorded at Cookie Jar studios in Studio city and Hollywood Sound Recorders in Hollywood Ca. I look forward to the release of this CD very shortly and promoting it across the country and hopefully elsewhere. For more information, people can go to my myspace page www.myspace.com/sarahbethkeeleyab or my website www.sarahbethkeeley.com
*Where can we buy your CD?*
My debut CD "Time" is available at iTunes and CDbaby. My 2nd CD release dates and information is still To be decided.
It is also important for me to say, I've been writing for a long time. Having worked with Brian Malouf is absolutely an experience I don't take lightly and will always cherish and be grateful for. Seven of the ten songs on the upcoming album chosen by Brian were songs of mine that were sent by his request via demo version (three of which I co-wrote with an Ontario writer Dave Woods). The melodies and lyrics were all there with most of the music behind them; enough for Brian to hear the greatness and potential in the ones he liked.
The songs were taken and to strengthen them further, some additional writing/arranging was done on the songs by a fellow named Peter Argyropoulos, a writer from L.A. whom has had some of his music in shows such as Dawson's Creek, Beverly Hills 90210 and Party Of Five. It has been a dream come true to have had this many of my songs chosen. A writer always dreams of these sorts of things, but to have it happen is truly Amazing! Everything from writing, playing, arranging and performing the songs and getting them across the best way possible in music and in voice. I play my guitar everyday and try and come up with something new. Us Writers can't deny we get writer's block sometimes, but snippets of our life and feelings never stop. We can almost always jot something down. I learned so much from my recent experience and know I always want to keep learning. I've met so many great people just by believing in myself, that I could actually do this and by being persistant, having a ton of drive and keeping the vision I could really live the dream.I hope to be writing for a very long time to come.
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