Project Together
I don’t always know when my music is truly making a difference in someone’s life. We write and record songs with the intent of moving people, but after we throw these creations out into the world, we rarely know whose ears they’re hitting or if they’re moving anyone at all.
I got to experience a life-changing musical moment recently. I want to tell you about it. Keep reading…
Project Together - featuring Keb’ Mo’ & Lauren Lucas
Project Together
Project Together
Keb’ Mo’, Lauren Lucas, Bob DiPiero, Pat McMakin
I don’t always know when my music is truly making a difference in someone’s life. We write and record songs with the intent of moving people, but after we throw these creations out into the world, we rarely know whose ears they’re hitting or if they’re moving anyone at all.
From time to time, I’ll get an email or direct message on my socials saying, “I played your song at my wedding.” Or there was that one time I was invited to sing a song live as a proposal (true story! And she said, “yes!”). Those are moments when I know, without a doubt, that something I was a part of hit home.
I got to experience a life-changing musical moment recently. I want to tell you about it.
A few months ago, I was asked to record a duet for an international marketing campaign for Canadian National (CN) Railway Company. This was a dream gig in so many ways. For starters, my duet partner was one of my musical heroes: multi-Grammy award winning blues/Americana artist, Keb’ Mo’.
I’ve been a fan of Keb’s music since college and even performed one of his songs for my senior project to graduate from Belmont University. I’ve heard it said you shouldn’t meet your heroes. Meeting Keb’ Mo’ did not disappoint. He was as kind and authentic as I expected him to be. I loved getting a bird’s eye view of his recording process, but most of all, I enjoyed our conversations in between takes.
Ocean Way Studio A
Lauren Lucas, Keb’ Mo’ & CN Employees
Getting to record a song written by hit-makers, Bob DiPiero and David Kalmusky, in historic Ocean Way Studio A wasn’t a bad deal, either. Pat McMakin, along with David, manned the ship in the producer seat, with Mills Logan engineering.
Here’s where the real magic starts to happen: CN, a company with over 23,000 employees spanning across North America, held auditions to find 14 musicians to help us record the song. Most of these folks had never met each other. Very few had ever been to Nashville, and even fewer had stepped foot into a recording studio.
Given the bad press lately about derailments and spills, it’s easy to forget how integral trains are to our every day lives. I learned that one triple-stacked train car replaces 10,000 eighteen wheelers on the road. I also learned that more women work in the railway company than I expected, including the CEO and many of it’s engineers. Two women train engineers joined us for this recording.
It was heartwarming to see these 14 strangers connecting over 2 commonalities: a love for music, and pride in a company where their jobs are demanding, isolating and often times dangerous. They bravely sang or played their solo for each other while being amplified (some for the first time), and with video cameras up in their faces!
Taillight TV documented the entire studio experience. They even traveled to all 14 employees’ hometowns to get B roll footage.
What you are about to see in this video is stunning scenery of Canadian countryside, footage from our studio process recording the song called, “Together,” behind-the-scenes interviews from employees and Keb’ Mo’, and the huge hearts that guide the spirit of CN.
Just a few weeks ago, several of these CN employees had to evacuate their homes due to wildfires. These 14 people, once strangers, now see each other as brothers and sisters because of their shared bond in Nashville. They sprang into action, sending train loads of supplies and doing anything they could to help.
The CN employees saw first hand that no matter where you are, or how autonomous the working conditions, business and life mean more when we do it together.
Heck, Pat, David, Keb’ and I could have recorded this song and sent it to CN to enjoy. But it wouldn’t have touched them the way this experience did.
It only matter because we did it together. Push play below to enjoy the song and video of Project Together.
Credits:
Recording Team
Mills Logan, Pat McMakin, David Kalmusky, Lauren Lucas
Executive Producer: Pat McMakin
Song Producers: Pat McMakin, David Kalmusky
Guest Artists: Keb' Mo', Lauren Lucas
Production Coordinator: Bridgette Slater
Audio Team Engineer: Mills Logan
Asst Eng: Katelyn Prieboy, Wolf Robinson
Mixed by: David Kalmusky
Songwriters: Bob Dipiero, David Kalmusky, Marc Pavlica
SESSION MUSICIANS Leader and Drums: Chad Cromwell
Keyboards: Jeff Roach
Bass: Marc Rogers
Electric Guitar: Sol Littlefield
Acoustic Guitar: Bryan Sutton
Electric Guitar: David Kalmusky
Video Team —
Video Producer: Matt Houser
Video Director: Justin Key
Production Coordinator: Taylor Campbell
Director of Photography: Tyler Oaks
Camera – Steadicam: Trent Millspaugh
Camera – Broll: Maria Valetta
1st Assistant Camera: Kenny Herron
2nd Assistant Camera: Quentin Lesser
Camera Utility: Sheila Dunaway
Gaffer: Barrett Depeis
Key Grip: Kitt Fresa
Swing: Luke Lamar
Audio -
Doc Crew: Hunter Vickers
Production Assistant: Patrick Tyler
Production Assistant: Kristen Herbert
CN TALENT:
Anuoluwapo (Anu) Adeola Brian Chojnacki Claire Levesque Eugenia Kefallinos James (Jimmy) Mitchell Jeffrey Aitchison Jonathan Moorman Mariah Lambertus Mark Girgis Rick Laboucan Ryan Whittle Sneha Cherian Timothy Evans PROJECT TEAM: Mark Seland Bridgette Slater Sunny McKechnie Marc Pavlica Alessia Longo Cathy Stojak Sheila Bourque
Recorded at: Ocean Way Nashville, Addiction Studios, Curb Studios
A Delicious Hummus Hack
If you read about how I came up with the idea to launch my podcast, Happiest Hour, then you know I’ve been influenced by my favorite online influencer, Landyn Hutchinson (better known as Living with Landyn).
Last year sometime, Landyn shared a recipe for hummus she tried at a restaurant on the west coast. It just elevates the regular ol’ hummus dip from a package by mixing in some fresh herbs, cheese and a little kick (to taste).
I’ve adapted this idea into my own favorite hummus dip. I consider it a hack, since you use store bought hummus and just give it a little extra pizzaz. Give it a try, then whip up some frozen watermelon margaritas from Ep. 10 of the podcast (recipe below), and join my conversation with hit songwriter, Kirsti Manna!
If you read about how I came up with the idea to launch my podcast, Happiest Hour, then you know I’ve been influenced by my favorite online influencer, Landyn Hutchinson (better known as Living with Landyn).
Last year sometime, Landyn shared a recipe for hummus she tried at a restaurant on the west coast. It just elevates the regular ol’ hummus dip from a package by mixing in some fresh herbs, cheese and a little kick (to taste).
I’ve adapted this idea into my own favorite hummus dip. I consider it a hack, since you use store bought hummus and just give it a little extra pizzaz. Give it a try, then whip up some frozen watermelon margaritas from Ep. 10 of the podcast (recipe below), and join my conversation with hit songwriter, Kirsti Manna!
Try the Cocktail…
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
My guest in Ep. 10, Kirsti Manna, brought in the most amazing frozen watermelon margarita recipe to pair with her episode. Try it here!
Catch the episode!
Ep. 10 - Staying Inspired with Kirsti Manna
Ep. 10: Staying Inspired with Hit Songwriter, Kirsti Manna
I started my professional career in Nashville as a teenager. My first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was at age 11. Because I started my professional path so early in life, I have had the amazing privilege of knowing some of my co-writers, collaborators, teachers and mentors for nearly 30 years.
One of those mentors is Kirsti Manna, my guest on Ep. 10 (the grand finale of Happiest Hour Season 1). Kirsti is a hit songwriter, record label president and a fierce advocate for female creatives.
You’ve heard Kirsti’s hits like “Austin” for Blake Shelton and “Loud” for Big & Rich, to name a few.
We sat down to enjoy her delicious watermelon margarita recipe (more on that later), and to chat about the difference music and creativity makes in our lives. Click to enjoy our conversation on your favorite podcast platform or on YouTube!
Ep. 10: Staying Inspired with Kirsti Manna
I started my professional career in Nashville as a teenager. My first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was at age 11. Because I started my professional path so early in life, I have had the amazing privilege of knowing some of my co-writers, collaborators, teachers and mentors for over 30 years (and counting)!
One of those mentors is Kirsti Manna, my guest on Ep. 10 of Happiest Hour (the grand finale Season 1)! Kirsti is a hit songwriter, publisher, record label VP, and a fierce advocate for female creatives.
You’ve heard Kirsti’s hits like “Austin” for Blake Shelton and “Loud” for Big & Rich, to name a few. Her songs have been heard around the world in such places as CMT, ESPN, Gayle King’s Grammy Special, The Tonight Show, The David Letterman Show, Friday Night Lights, and Dance Wars.
Known as the go-to person for inspirational information, Kirsti’s “whatever you do, stay inspired” mantra has helped girls and women find their creative voice. In 2008, Kirsti launched “Songwriter Girl” and “Songwriter Girl Camps” (www.songwritergirl.com).
Kirsti and I sat down to enjoy her delicious watermelon margarita recipe (more on that later), and to chat about the difference music and creativity can make in everyone's life.
In this episode, we also cover:
How she and her producer-husband, Bill Warner, came to Nashville from Ohio
Her goal of wanting to move people with her art — and how she’s accomplished that
What hard work looks like in the music business
Why mentoring women is so important to her
Her secret to success of working with her husband and staying married over 30 years
What she hopes to leave behind
Okay, now back to that mouth-watering margarita. As with every episode, we paired our conversation with a truly delicious watermelon margarita recipe (thanks to Kirsti’s husband, Bill), and a hack for making excellent hummus that I adapted from the woman who inspired me to start this podcast in the first place.
Get your recipes here! Blend yourself up a batch of Kirsti’s margarita recipe, then join us for the conversation!
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Connect with Kirsti here.
Ready to get inspired and spark your creativity? Check out Kirsti’s Spark Your Creativity Course here.
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The Happiest Hour theme song was written and performed by... me! If you'd like to hear more of my music, click here!
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Keep scrolling to get your recipes! They’re just below. ↓
Don’t Forget the Recipes!
We paired two delicious recipes with this episode. Get them below.
Cheers!
Frozen Watermelon Margarita
Hummus Hack
More Happiest Hour…
Becky Knowles' Peanut Butter & Brown Sugar Sandwich (from Jay Knowles)
My guest on Ep. 09 of Happiest Hour, Jay Knowles, said to me: “How ‘bout I make the peanut butter and brown sugar sandwiches the way I remember incorrectly that my mom used to make.” That’s Jay’s sense of humor for ya! Eye ball this nostalgic after-school snack and enjoy the sweet and sticky memories. Read on for Jay’s recipe!
My guest on Ep. 09 of Happiest Hour, Jay Knowles, said to me: “How ‘bout I make the peanut butter and brown sugar sandwiches the way I remember incorrectly that my mom used to make.” That’s Jay’s sense of humor for ya!
Eye ball this nostalgic after-school snack and enjoy the sweet and sticky memories. Read on for Jay’s recipe!
Try the Drink…
Clever Coffee
My guest in Ep. 09, Jay Knowles, teaches us the secret to making the best cup of coffee… ever. Click here for the recipe!
Catch the episode!
Ep. 09 - The Art of Loosening Up with Jay Knowles
Clever Coffee Recipe
My guest on Ep. 9 of Happiest Hour podcast, Jay Knowles, asked if he could bring in a recipe and make black coffee in the very specific way he does. This recipe is more about the gadgets and tools needed to make an exceptional cup of coffee. Start with a high quality coffee bean and read on to learn how to make the best cup of coffee… ever.
My guest on Ep. 9 of Happiest Hour podcast, Jay Knowles, asked if he could bring in a recipe and make black coffee in the very specific way he does. This recipe is more about the gadgets and tools needed to make an exceptional cup of coffee.
Start with a high quality coffee bean (Jay and I are partial to Nashville’s local Frothy Monkey). Then, read on to learn how to make the best cup of coffee… ever.
Try this Nostalgic Snack…
Becky Knowles’ Peanut Butter & Brown Sugar Sandwich
We paired this super simple dessert dip with the French Toast Latte on Ep. 8. I made this for friends over Christmas break and it was a huge hit. Just throw a couple of ingredients into a skillet and bake. Viola! No campfire needed! Get the recipe here.
Catch the episode!
Ep. 09- The Art of Loosening Up with Jay Knowles
No campfire needed! This quick S’mores Dip recipe could not be easier. Just throw a couple of ingredients into a skillet and bake!