Day 9: Meet Krista Maurer

Our guest today is one of my favorite people on this planet.  I first met Krista Maurer when I was signed to Lumen Records with Excel Entertainment.  She was my publicist for several years and has been one of the main directors for Shadow Mountain Music Group at Deseret Book for the last several years.  She, like an angel from heaven, recently called me up and offered to help out with this upcoming benefit concert.  "Will you be the executive producer?"  I asked.  "Done." she agreed without hesitation.  She was also responsible for the large success of the Nie Benefit concert in Mesa, AZ.  A dreamer, a writer, a painter, a poet, please indulge in Krista's beautiful thoughts on Nie:

Perhaps it was her love for silhouettes that drew me in, made me smile, and think

of my own childhood profiles that hang by my bed in my room:
(me at 5)

Perhaps it was her sisters,
who love her somethin' fierce,
that I,
with all my heart,
understood and related to.

Perhaps it was her utter adoration for all things mother/wife/& home
that stirred within me
the plans and hopes I keep for "someday,"
but carefully put away
(and don't usually acknowledge)
because it aches to not have them.
Yet.

Perhaps it was her love affair
with a man named Mr. Nielson that
renewed my hope
that those kinds of stories really do exist...
and that maybe I can have one too.
Someday.

Perhaps it was her color,
her flair,
her creativity that
awakened me to a remembrance of who I am
at my core.
That is--a creative being.

Perhaps it was the immediate and unquestioning aide
I saw pouring in from thousands of strangers,
who reached across boarders and oceans and religious lines in her behalf,
that fed my belief that humanity does still exist in this world of ours.
And in turn
ignited in me
a desire
to be more,
and do more,
for my fellowman.

Whatever the reason,
I can honestly say that I have been changed by her story.

-Krista Maurer

Christmas Tour Recap Part 1

I have been recovering from a post-tour coma these last few days. And while in my comatose state, I dreamed about my little Christmas tour over and over again because it was just THAT AWESOME.

On Monday last week, I picked up my band at the Salt Lake airport in a 31 foot RV complete with brown and mustard decals on the side and the word "Chateau" printed in enormous letters on the front. Upon climbing aboard, my guitarist Joe stated that he felt inspired to get a photo of himself sans shirt, in leather pants with a boa around his neck in the Chateau before the tour was over. But with his shirt still on, we drove up to Bountiful, UT to put on a house concert in Krista Maurer's home (aka our tour manager).

She had the place decked out like a magical winter fairyland what with a doily-clad bunting, hanging gold stars and a wall wrapped in bright, red paper. People were squished in the living room like packing peanuts in a gift box, and believe you me, the evening truly was a gift. I left feeling ecstatic that my first show in Bountiful was sold out.


The next morning we headed up to Good Things Utah where we were interviewed about our "Winter Moon" music video with "puppet friends." The highlight? When my drummer Matt Mayhall acted as the puppeteer for Simon (left) and later confessed that he forgot to move Simon's mouth for him while he was talking. Perfect.

After our segment on Good Things Utah, we scurried over to Channel 2 News to sing a few Christmas songs.

The next night was a private concert hosted by Christian and Stephanie Nielson at The Great Salt Lake Guitar Company on Center St. in Provo. What an amazing little venue. I would definitely love to do some more shows there. The room sounds fantastic and it looks incredible with handmade guitars all over the walls. (And if you're still looking for a stellar Christmas present, one of their guitars would be a dream come true for your special someone).
But the best part of the evening was when CJane came up on stage with me to sing The Christmas Song and she basically peed her pants. Read all about it here.

Check back tomorrow for Christmas Tour Recap Part 2! You won't want to miss some amazing photography by Justin Hackworth, Jefra Starr Linn and Krista Maurer.

P.S. All photos by Krista Maurer except the last one, which was snapped by Mr. Christian Nielson.

Christmas Tour Recap: Part 2 (Provo and Pocatello)

I'm going to be honest with you about something. My show at Velour in Provo last week was my worst performance of the whole tour. It definitely had it's shining moments, but there were a few times where I felt like a competitive figure skater who just couldn't quite land that triple loop. No. Triple sau cow (it's more fun to say). But somehow, the Gods smiled upon me that evening. Perhaps they took pity. For lo and behold, not one, but three fantastic photographers showed up in the audience that night and captured some great shots. Velour is a magical venue and if you haven't been there, then you you should run to their next show.

13 year old Faith Johnson left everyone's jaw hanging wide open during her opening set. I've never heard anyone that young have such control over their voice and command so much attention.

Then Ryan Innes came out and KILLED IT. Oh man, every time that man opens his mouth to sing, the audience is spellbound.

I was so lucky to have such a fantastic band this tour. Joe Corcoran on guitar, Matt Mayhall on drums, and Spencer Harrison on bass. Thanks to our tour manager, Krista Maurer for these first three photos.

Jefra Starr Linn took these next three photos and man are they CUH-RAY-ZAY. As in crazy awesome. They feel so warm and bright and I just want to jump inside of them and swim around in the glow. As a side note, Jefra took the photo of me on the cover of Winter Moon. Thanks Jefra!

When tickets were up for sale for this show, I saw Justin Hackworth's name pop up under the ticket purchasers. "Excellent," I said in my best sinister voice, while tenting my fingertips a la Mr. Burns. I speed dialed Justin's number to see if he'd be willing to snap some photos for me and he was so gracious to oblige. I'm so pleased because I got some signature clean and classic photos from him. You can see a few more and read his words about the show on his blog. Thanks Justin!

The next morning, we hopped in the Chateau and drove up to Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID to do a show with the Teton Chamber Orchestra. Oh, how I love playing with an orchestra! I nearly cried several times throughout the show, singing with a shake in my voice to hold back the tears. The conductor, Eric Wenstrom, is such an amazing man and his scores are gorgeous. I'm completely dumbstruck as to how I would be invited to play with him and his musicians. But I thank my lucky stars for it, believe you me. (Thanks to Krista Maurer for these three photos with the orchestra).

The set design came together so beautifully. Thanks to Fauneil and Luhi Purcell for making my paper snowflakes! Here's how they did it.

Many thanks to Corey Fox at Velour and George Casper at Idaho State University for making these two shows possible.

Kindred Piscean Spirits

This is the dirt pile I feel like right now:

This is the woman who swept it up for me after I complained that my green room was disgusting:

These are the friends who danced around the disgusting green room in Beauty School Drop Out hats and got caught by the stage manager who did not think it was in the least bit amusing:

Happy Birthday Krista Maurer!  Yesterday, I put my foot in my mouth and told everyone that I was an art snob, emphasizing how picky I am about paintings.  Then my dear friend Krista left a comment asking me if I hated  the painting she created for me for my birthday three years ago.  I tried to make a joke that my storage room just wouldn't be the same without it.  But I think it wasn't appreciated.

No Krista, you can't have that painting back.  I adored it from the moment I saw it and love that you took time to create something so personal just for me!  Now I am hoping that she will tell me how she never liked the knitting basket, the old mirror, and the globe I gave her or that Burt's Bees gives her an allergic reaction.

Krista, you are my kindred Piscean spirit.  Can we still be friends?

Krista Crafts Quilts for Karl - Brought to You by the Letters, C, Q, and K

Have you ever been to one of my concerts? You may have seen my face on stage at those shows, but the real person who coordinated them is the beautiful southern belle in the photo above. And yes, she will once again be the muscles behind my release concert on August 2nd. Krista Maurer has been doing PR, booking and management for me since I got my first record contract. The woman is a marvel. She can do EVERYTHING so incredibly proficiently it's sort of disgusting. Ask Karl Malone if you want. He just commissioned her to make a quilt for him (OUT OF HIS OLD JERSEYS!). Yeah, she gets to cut them up. Can you imagine? But anyway, because of her ability to do everything so well, I have always been able to trust in her for everything. If you see her at the show, give her a hug and tell her what an amazing job she is doing, will you? Right now, it is not a stretch to say that my life would fall apart without her. Thanks for everything, Krista!

Feel the Rhythm. Feel the Rhyme. C'mon Everyone, It's Concert Time!

Photo by Krista Maurer of Island Belle Photo

I have no idea why I'm channeling "Cool Runnings" right now. Maybe because Winter is upon us? Maybe because it's late and I'm delirious. Or perhaps because I'm going to sing a Jamaican tune at my next show. Who knows?

But the real reason for this post is to tell you that next week I'll be doing a string of concerts, performing songs from both Anchor and my new Christmas album, Winter Moon. I just might be coming to your town! See details below:

• 12/12: Bountiful, UT // House Concert (limited seating) // 8:00 PM // For tickets, contact Krista at (801) 360-1235 or kristaqm@gmail.com
• 12/13 Private concert hosted by The Nie Nie Dialogues
• 12/14: Provo, UT // Christmas Concert at Velour Live Music Gallery // 135 N. University Ave. // 7:00 PM // Buy tickets now!
• 12/15: Pocatello, ID // Mindy Gledhill Christmas Concert w/ the Teton Chamber Orchestra // ISU Stephens Center // Tickets or call the box office at (208) 282-3595
• 12/16: Boise, ID // Christmas Concert to Benefit the International Rett Syndrome Foundation // The Rose Room // 718 W. Idaho St. // 7:00 PM // Tickets
• 12/17: Kennewick, WA// Kamiakin High School Auditorium // 7:00 PM // Tickets

Even if you don't live in within 60 miles of any of these places, could I ask you a favor? Will you tell your friends that live near these cities about the shows? That would make me so very happy. Merry Christmas my friends.

P.S. If you can't come to a show and you want to listen to my new Christmas album, or give it as a gift, there is FREE SHIPPING on my website on all purchases, now through Christmas!

Mesa, can I kiss you?

You know what knocks my socks off about Mesa, AZ? Both times I have performed there, they have set the record for concert attendance. We had about 1,000 people show up last Thursday for my show. I haven't been able to shake the swelling of gratitude in my chest for that. Mesa, can I just kiss you? I wanted to share these beautiful photos taken by Krista Maurer of Island Belle Photo. Yes, this is the same Krista Q. in my last post. Not only is she a publicist, but she's an awesome photographer (and seamstress! I've commissioned her to make quilts for my boys for Christmas. Shhh. Don't tell!).

The Sound Check

Bart Olson maps out tempos. He's such an amazing drummer and ne'er has there been a sweeter person.

Ok, maybe my bass player, Alex Aponte, could rival Bart in the "sweet person" category, but as sweet as he is, he plays a really mean bass.

Joe Anderson! I always know I can count on him for awesome sound and good humor.

Speaking of humor, Stu Maxfield could quite possibly hold the record for making me laugh more than any other soul in this world. But if he forgets his capo one more time, I will surely strangle him.

All you have to do is see that he came to the venue sporting dress shoes and no socks and you can't help but laugh. Laughter aside, he is UNREAL on guitar and any other instrument he plays.

Rod Elwood is the best lighting and set designer. Look how he arranged my globe collection?
I love this.

The Show

Many, many thanks to Christian and Nie for hosting and promoting the show. I love them. Check out the fun they had in my dressing room here.

I'd like to personally thank my keytar for making an appearance as well.
He is becoming quite popular after all.

Christian came back out on stage and joined us for our now famous cover of "Friday, I'm in Love" by the Cure. He's a natural on stage. Do you know he was a child actor? That's right. He was even in a Slip 'n Slide commercial. (P.S. Don't deny the all-omnipotent hair of Jacob Jones to the bottom right on keys).

Thank you all again for coming and I am looking forward to coming back to Mesa again and again and again. But right now, due to exhaustion, I am going to hibernate all winter. See you next Spring.

Mesa, Here I Come!

Dear Mesa, Arizona,

I have LONG been wanting to come back and share some music with you. This time, I have a brand new album. This concert will be in conjunction with the Shun the Sun Race in November. My concert is on November 11th (all proceeds will help the fight against skin cancer). Then, on the 13th, I will be running the 5k. All who want to run with me get a free ticket to my concert. Just go to www.shunthesun.org and sign up for the race, then send an email to Krista Maurer at kristaqm@gmail.com telling her that you signed up. ALSO (and this is the most awesome part), I will be filming part of the music video for "Whole Wide World" during the race. So, if you want to be a part of that, then mention it in your email to Krista. Men are welcome, but I want lots of women of all different cultural backgrounds, religions, shapes, sizes, and ages. More information to come soon. This is going to be an AMAZING trip.

Loves,

Mindy

P.S. If you don't want to run, but want to come to the concert, you can buy tickets at www.shunthesun.org. Just click on my poster on the home page.

Music and Motherhood

Photo by Justin Hackworth.

I am a singer and songwriter by profession. I am also a mother (which should be a profession).  Someone on my Facebook page recently requested that I blog about how I balance these two roles.  And although I'd love to tell you all just how "balanced" I am, I'm not sure I've ever achieved that level of zen in real life.  But what I can do is tell you how I'm really just making it all up and writing my own story as I go along.

Stories are something I'm good at.  I've made up a lot in my lifetime about my limitations and weaknesses. There was a time when I thought that after I had kids, that would be the end of my ability to pursue a career or further my education.  Where did that story come from?  There was also the time when I bought into a story that being in the entertainment business would make me a bad mother.  Or how about the ones I've made up when I've been pregnant? No one will want to watch Jabba the Hutt sing songs about hearts with scars and little girls with great, big plans.  Thankfully, I've had some amazing mentors who have pointed out my story-making abilities and how they've proven to hold me hostage.  Why not make up stories where life is working for me, not against me?  I began to write a story where babies didn't mean that my own personal dreams were over.  But, a story that spelled out a plan where my children would be by my side as companions on my musical journey.  A story where I would wrap them up, and carry them to my college classes in a sling if I had to.  A story where they would toddle around during sound checks and eat the finger foods in the green room during concerts.  A story where people would find my big, round, pregnant belly endearing rather than offensive up on stage.  I have found that when I write stories that resonate with truth and lay them at God's feet that he always carves a path for me to accomplish them.  Does it all look perfect?  No.  Have I made mistakes?  Yes.  Have there been times when I've been self absorbed and lost my center?  Heavens, yes.  

So, if I had to sum up just exactly how I do both motherhood and music, I would tell you that I do a  reasonable amount of it with my kids in tow.  Yes, I write songs while I'm cleaning, driving or rocking a baby to sleep.  I do paperwork while my toddler dumps everything out of a drawer and onto the floor.  I let the camera crew hold my baby during shots and then I soothe him in between if he gets fussy.  At times it can be exhausting and as my career has grown, I've also recognized the need for help.  I have some amazing young ladies who come and help me with cleaning, answering emails, running errands and watching the kids when I need solitude.  My husband has also adapted in amazing ways to what our life looks like with me as a recording artist.  I'm not superhuman and I can't pretend like I do everything on my own.  I think the main thing to emphasize to you (and repeatedly to myself) is that your story doesn't have to look perfect.  In fact, it can't.  The beauty of it is, you get to write your own.

 

Photo shoot in L.A. for Zoe Magazine.

 Wrangling baby Griffin in between shots.

 

Backstage with my boys at the release concert for "Anchor." Photo by Justin Hackworth.

  

 Performing with the Teton Chamber Orchestra at six months along.  Photos by Krista Maurer.

 Filming the music video for "Eyes" at nine months along. 

Griffin was born exactly one week later.

Syn-er-gy

Photograph by Haley Warner

Synergy:  The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Over the course of the last 24 hours I have envisioned myself as a spirit surveying the beautiful collage of events in slow motion at the Nie benefit concert.  At 7:15 p.m. over a hundred people wait at will call, hopeful to get a seat in a sold-out 7:00 p.m. show.  Splashes of color flood the lobby where oil paintings, jewelry and furniture among other treasures, have been lovingly given to be auctioned off.  Volunteers that arrived in the morning are still scuffling around ten hours later, attending to every whim, every detail.  Backstage, the green room is alive with laughter.  Snacks and drinks are consumed. Matt Mattson strums a guitar while the Thrillionaires spout off witty song lyrics.  Krista Maurer magically seems to be in three places at one time banishing this disaster and that with the flick of her wand.  From the shadows of the back of the theater, Rod Elwood illuminates my shoulders with star dust.  Joe Anderson turns knobs and mixes instruments that reverberate through the hall and settle on our ears like a soft kiss.  I move across the stage and look into your faces.  I open my mouth and a voice flows out that doesn't feel like my own.  

It feels like a gift.  

You feel like a gift.  

Together we give.  

It is breath taking.

Backstage, behind curtains, two adoring parents listen as their daughters sing like angels.  They are the recipients of this night's display of love.  Yet, they may not yet comprehend just how much they've given to us and our hearts are full to the point of bursting!  This is synergy.

  

On the Road to Kennewick (Part 4 of the Christmas Tour Recap)

Behold! The chariot on the left in the photo below drove us from Utah to Washington and back again. Notice how it is appropriately entitled the "Chateau."

Here's what Life on Le Chateau looked like:

Regardez notre chauffeur, Monsieur Gledhill.

See Matt sit. See Matt read. See Matt wear a cool thrift store coat with a fur collar at the Chateau dining table.

Griffin was a champ aboard the Chateau. His disheveled perma-bedhead was the envy of all the band members.

By golly, I think it even rivaled Joe's stylishly unruly coiffure.

Spencer has mastered the art of baby talk.

We knew we were in Oregon when we saw a valley of fog below us.

Pendleton, OR was where we made our stop for lunch and boy was it awesome.

We ate at The Rainbow Cafe. Great little place. I recommend the tuna on sourdough.

Inside The Rainbow.

We stopped in at an amazing old junk shop on the main street in town. I bought some vintage shoes for $10. They had some fabulous finds in there.

Not much more than an hour north of Pendleton, we found ourselves in Kennewick, WA loading in our gear for the show. Our sponsor, Marilyn Lott, greeted us, fed us and made her magic happen to make the night the best it could be. Thanks Marilyn!

We discovered some pretty badical props backstage at Kamiakin High School Auditorium and put them to good use in our set design. But the fancy red bunting was custom made for me by none other than Washington's own Danyelle Mathews of Dandee Designs.

A special thanks to Krista Maurer for all of these killer photos. How lucky can a girl be to have a tour manager who is also a photographer?

And that concludes this year's "Christmas Tour Recap." Thanks a million to everyone who came to the shows! May you have a happy new year. Signing off.