Lacey Atchison - BiographyAs far as I remember, I have always had a form of creative expression. As a child, I danced and loved belting out the National Anthem in the bathtub, ( for the great acoustics of course!). Growing up, music was always playing around the house. I was blessed with parents who love music, and best of all, love to rock out. I remember neighbors complaining that ZZ Top was way too loud, and thinking that was the coolest thing ever. Though I was exposed early on to varieties of music I didn't really "get it" until a point in my life when I needed an outlet. My mother died when I was nine years old, and needless to say it absolutely wrecked me. After several years of sleepless nights, someone suggested that I listen to music while falling asleep. I played Eric Clapton Unplugged one night, and I felt like someone slapped me. I was wide awake, excited, imagining myself playing those songs. It was the best night of sleep I ever had. My parents bought me a guitar at fourteen. It seems now like I never came out of my room. I read Mel Bay books, watched videos, and decided I would just teach myself. For a year, I played out of tune, slowly, and very annoying. Slowly but surely I got better. I learned the basic chords, and wrote my own songs since I couldn't play anything else, Throughout high school, I was head over heels in love with music. I kept it to myself, looking forward to going to my room, my humble abode, to let go. Instead of taking notes in class, I wrote lyrics and Grammy speeches. I did not like school because I had no particular group that I belonged. I tried cheerleading (ugh!), and basketball, but nothing true to my passion. In college I sang for the R&B band, which was the only thing that kept me even somewhat interested in school. It seemed like everyone around me had a major, a direction. My parents wanted me to find a direction. I knew the direction I wanted was probably not agreeable in comparison to everyone else. At some point, there is no choice. I have one chance to live one this Earth, one chance to contribute art to the world. I don't want to be accepted anymore. I want to be happy. Music makes me happy, fulfilled, and challenged. I want my songs to affect me day to day. I will take this journey and appreciate each experience I have. There is a quote I love that pretty much sums up my philosophy of everything. " Life is a song. Love is the music." |