“Aunt Vicki Lore” Part 2: Let’s back up a bit.... In order to talk about how we joined forces and ultimately created a musical project together we need to talk about what we were each doing ~musically before we ended up together. This segment is dedicated to Erin’s musical journey before her and Lee joined forces. The next post will be dedicated to Lee! I had a hard time writing this one because this time period is all tangled up in heartache, endings, leaving Seattle and extreme emotional instability BUT it was also a time of growth and really coming into my own as a new musician. Unlike Lee I hadn’t been playing music my whole life. Instead I had always focused on visual art, going to art school, completing a two year clay residency at Pottery Northwest starting a leather jewelry business, sewing and altering clothes, etc. I had always wanted to play and sing but was morbidly shy about showing that side of myself to the world and I honestly thought that the ship had sailed and I was too old to begin. [For perspective I was 30 at the time] I am glad that I gave myself permission to be bad at something and to start late because it has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my life. I will never catch up to those who started young, I’ll never be incredible at guitar or a trained vocalist but I’m not competing with anyone else. I’m on my own journey. I have my own voice and story to tell. At first it was terrifying [full disclosure- it still is but now I take propranolol for nerves and have years of experience bombing and still living to tell the tale behind me:)] I couldn’t even sing without getting the full body and vocal shakes. My hands would cramp up with adrenaline like crab claws and I would fully feel myself dissociating and leaving my body when trying to perform for others. I also used to cry when performing - A LOT. {this was do mainly to fear, embarrassment, frustration and the sensitive nature/content of my songs} . It was during this time that I experienced the worst heartbreak of my life and, as you can imagine, I was writing about it.... and performing it while it was raw and painful. [REST OF STORY IN COMMENTS]