Today, I wanted to give a shout out to some talented people who have been some good friends to me! I wanted to shed some light on all their talent and give back in a way.

All of these individuals have more talent in one arm than I think they know what to do with. It has been awesome to watch them all grow, collaborate, and inspire others with their passions. I know that each of these people inspire me to go after what I love with each day that I am given. I am thankful for how they have enriched my life, so I will give you a little synopsis on these amazing people .

I am not sure why, but I felt it was appropriate to make all these images black and white. It felt perfect for this series for some reason!

Lerin working on recording

Meet Lerin….this girl is a saving grace to me! She has a voice that is as beautifully unmatched as her heart. Currently, she is working on recording several songs with Andrew (later mentioned). Lerin loves the sea, night adventures, anything with ships, and singing about the man in the moon. The two words that encapsulate Lerin would have to be contagious and genuine.

She might just kill me for attaching this, but I had to give you guys an idea of her talent. The other night in the basement of their apartment building, a few of us sat and heard Lerin play this. This song is so beautifully written. It is my belief Lerin’s talent is a well kept secret, only seen by the special few in a basement laundry room. So maybe this gives you all a small glimpse into the beautiful music that lies behind the walls of a 1930′s apartment building. Stay tuned for more images of the process in making Lerin & Andrew’s EP to come.

Meet Jonas (above working on sound)! Jonas is a master at music production. Having been around music and production for quite some time, I definitely enjoyed watching Jonas solicit the vocals and atmosphere to truly set the stage for each musicians talent. Check the studio out here and the many clients Jonas and Jupiter Studio works with.

Next, meet Andrew (above, playing violin)! He is a very talented violinist who has been playing for 22 years now. As a person, Andrew is kind and inviting. As a musician, he is extremely gifted and has collaborated with several musicians recording and live. Learn more about Andrew here and stay tuned for more with his and Lerin’s project!

Meet Noah & Abby Gundersen! These two come from a long line of amazing musical talent. Their siblings have a band called the Le Wrens. Just recently, all of them sang together at the Seattle Rock Orchestra. Take a listen here .

Abby is one of those people I can talk with for hours about anything in life and end the conversation with stomach pain from laughter. She is a humble, beautiful soul. Lerin and I like to call Abby’s voice “buttery”. She is an exquisite violinist as well. Abby actually inspired me to learn violin, but don’t ask me yet how well that is going . I know this song is a cover, but i feel it showcases Abby’s voice. In my mind, this song sinks in much more coming from Abby.

As for Noah, most would begin by talking about how incredibly talented he is as a musician. However, I find it more appropriate to talk about him first as a friend and person. Noah in a lot of ways is a caretaker of those he cares about and is very giving. It’s not easy to truly enter his thoughts, but underneath his sarcasm and wittiness is a man with a lot of depth that very few know. He truly looks in the mirror each day and tries to do right by all around him. I think this song in particular encompasses this thought. Musically, Noah is gifted in writing songs that are raw and stripped of all the unnecessary elements. His lyrics take you back to a place of meaning. They don’t bury themselves in a mess of instrumentation that shouldn’t exist. Instead, his lyrics give your mind an idea that stays and gets turned over time and time again.

Check out Noah & Abby and buy their music!! These two are currently in Texas (my homeland) recording a new record, so stay tuned for that as well! Here is there website, have a looksy!!

Meet Niah! He is my talented and ridiculously fun dance friend! Niah brings life wherever he goes and to those around him. He just recently performed with the Gundersen family at the Fremont Abbey. He is a part of a group of dancers known as Project29. The images actually come from their performance that night, which was titled “Ode to Exhalation and a Spark”. Dance in many ways portrays images and ideas that bring about emotion in people. This particular piece in my heart brought about questions and hope. To watch some of the dance from that show, check this out. Also, their facebook page is Project29. Follow them and their shows to come!

This last image is of the Gundersen Family at the end of the “Ode to Exhalation and a Spark” show. To check out the other siblings in the Gundersen Family go to Le Wrens facebook page here.

Thanks for reading friends!!! It is my hope that you all have others around you to enrich your lives as these people have mine. Always surround yourself with people that push you to grow and get out of your comfort zone. For out of the comfort zone is where true growth exists.

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