2013: A Look Back

With 2014 around the corner, I took some time to reflect on all the changes I went through this year: A LOT. My life has gone through so many ups-and-downs this year, and I am so excited to see what 2014 is going to throw my way. If I could sum up 2013 in one word, it would be: grow. I grew so much. This was the year I transitioned from a child to an adult, a girl to a woman, a student to a graduate. 2014, bring it on. Here's what you have to compete with:


January - Moved to Tempe
With my mom moving to Rio Rico, I needed to find a new place to live. After searching for a roommate and a place to live, I finally chose an apartment complex in Tempe with a friend of mine from high school, Frankie. I packed up all the contents in my room and moved across town on a rainy weekend. Of course, I had to juggle playing a show that night and working all weekend along with the moving process, but we finally got everything moved in and arranged in time for our housewarming game night the next weekend.

January - Started music business internship at Yucca Tap Room
I was finally beginning my last semester of college, but I needed to complete an internship before graduation. I finally decided to go with Yucca Tap Room, a music venue and bar that is literally walking distance from my new apartment. While I was interning at Yucca Tap, I booked bands to play shows, input data entry for show statistics, offered hospitality to bands on show nights, and did a lot of networking. But the bulk of my internship was spent on foot/my bike traveling around Tempe and Phoenix to distribute show flyers. I gained an understanding of the city and its culture, as well as met people along my route.

February - Ended relationship with Austin
After four long years, Austin and I decided to call it quits. We tried to make things work, but we just grew apart from the people that we were in high school when we started dating. Breaking up was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but it was definitely one of the best...I just didn't realize that until later.

April - Started my new tattoo
I had three small tattoos before, but now I was ready to embark on my quarter-sleeve tattoo that was custom-designed just for me. My friend, Corey, did an amazing job! Just one more session to go.

May - Left internship at Yucca Tap Room
After five months of brutal intern work, I was ready to complete my hours and get my degree. Near the end of my internship, it became apparent that I was no longer needed, so I decided not to continue my internship there past my necessary 160 hours.

May - Graduated from Mesa Community College
I DID IT!!!!!I went through four brutal years of double-majoring (eventually dropped one of my majors) and graduated from Mesa Community College. I studied my ass off and worked extra hard to make sure I graduated on time. I had to retake public speaking and accounting because I failed, and I also lost some classes because I was dropped a few times. But, eventually, I earned my good grades and blue gown and walked across the stage towards my Associates in Music Business.

May - My grandmother passed away
After a long and painful struggle, my grandmother took her last breath and entered heaven to be with The Lord. She battled liver, lung, and breast cancer all at the same time, and it was devastating to watch her in pain and not be able to help her. I am happy that she is pain-free and with God.

May - Met and began a relationship with Matt
Seriously, the highlight of my year.
I've written on my blog about Matt, and I can go on and on and on about how much better my life is with him in it. He picks me up when I'm down, supports me, goes on adventures with me, and is there to offer tough love advice when I need it. We agree (and also disagree) on music, watch Battlestar Galactica together, go to shows together, karaoke together, flip through vinyl together. It's just so nice to be able to do things together. I love him, he loves me...and that's all that matters.

June - Left Emby Alexander
I had been performing in Emby Alexander for over a year. It was fun, but when Austin and I broke up, things got weird. Things got weird fast.
I tried really hard to be professional and not let emotions get in the way of band practice and shows. But when I ignored Austin, more problems ensued. Michael and I would argue about the direction of the band. I wanted to sing more and get more involved in the band, and he didn't want that. I wanted to perform without my bandmates throwing a fit and yelling and acting like immature hooligans. So I left.
This was another hard decision. I loved performing, and some people would come up to me after shows and tell me over and over how much they loved my voice and my performance. I didn't want to leave performing, but I needed to leave this band.

July - Started Mixtape Mandi
After leaving Emby, I was going to more shows and listening to more albums and meeting more people involved in music. I wanted to create an outlet for all my music stuff, without flooding my feed on my personal Facebook/Intstagram. So I created a music account called "Mixtape Mandi" where I can talk about all my favorite music without bugging my friends who could care less.
After that was born, I started collaborating ideas with other networks. I work with Radio Adventure Club to produce podcast episodes every Friday. I work with The Spec Blog to produce album reviews and artist interviews. I work with AZ Music Matters to produce album reviews and concert calendars.
I'm excited to see what will happen for Mixtape Mandi in the future and all the people I have yet to meet.

November - Started working at Danny Zelisko Presents
After six months of graduating and not having a job that fits my degree (which is pretty good, if you ask me) I finally got a job in music business. Currently, I am a part-time office assistant for Danny Zelisko Presents, a music promotion company here in Phoenix that specializes in national touring shows. Even though I am an office assistant, I am learning so much about the business just through all the paperwork I handle. I do tons of emailing, filing, copying, scanning, shredding...and which each document, the ladies in the office have been really helpful with explaining how important each document is to each show. My goal is to be hired full-time soon, but, with everything in life, you gotta work to get the things you want in life. So, that's what I'm gonna do.

 

 

December - Baby sister was born

It's crazy to think that I would become a big sister again at the age of 23, but it happened! Just two days after my birthday, Madeline Elizabeth Kimes was born on December 28 at 12:17am. I cannot wait to watch this beauty grow and show her all kinds of awesome music. My dad and stepmom sure do make a great team and a cute baby.



2014 New Year's Resolutions

HEALTH:
 - Do you work the next morning? What time? Go to bed ten hours before you have to clock in to work. Sometimes when you don't get enough sleep, you get cranky. And you stay up late blogging or hanging out at Lux or at a show, when you really don't need to. In bed, lights out, and phone away ten hours before your daily grind begins.
 - Since you don't work most evenings, those might be good times for you to go to the gym you signed up for then forgot about. Even if you don't make it to the gym, you can still do some workouts at home.
 - It might be a good idea to only save alcoholic beverages for the weekend. You really don't need that vodka-cranberry on a Monday evening after a "long day at the office" or because "Matt's having a beer, I should drink too". Drink water, or coffee, but let your hair down and unwind on the weekends with your cocktail.
 - I'm not saying you're fat, but you've put on some extra, uhm...love. And we all know you can't stick to a diet for more than a day without getting cranky and demanding pizza. So, just be aware of what you eat and make healthy decisions: upgrade to a salad instead of fries, try the burger without a bun, eat more greens, etc.
 - Remember when you were in high school and you took that one yoga class and you really liked it? Remember when you stopped doing yoga and life got hard? Sign up for a yoga class and attend at least once a week, to get your crazy and busy schedule and plans out of your head for just one hour.
 - When was the last time you got a checkup for your eyes, ears, teeth, spine, lady parts, etc.? Schedule a doctor's appointment during January to see all your doctors to check up on your body and make sure everything's running the way it should be. Go back whenever they advise you to.
 - Your parents got you a really sick bike two Christmases ago. You should ride your bike every Sunday. Get some fresh air and ride it to the coffee shop, to the record store, to check the mail. Just get some exercise and let the wind hit your face and wake you up from your blogging slumber. Plus, you got that sweet phone mount for your bike so you don't have shove your phone in your pocket. Use it for map, music, or texting while you ride.

BEAUTY:
 - There have been a couple times last year when you let your hair get really ratchet. I know, you didn't really have money to touch up those gorgeous red locks. So let's try this: schedule a hair appointment every 6-8 weeks. This gives your hair enough time to fade from bright red to that natural orangey-red color that people assume is real, before it goes all "Ooh, sweetie, you need your roots done."
 - You know you're pretty...now dress like it! You're a big girl at your big girl job, so let's look like a professional. No more T-shirt and jeans to the office. Dress nice, but not fancy, to work. This shows that you're not a college graduate searching for a job anymore, but you're not yet the CEO of the company. Plus, you never know who's gonna show up to the office.
 - Remember when you used to be a girly-girl? Ah...those were the days. Let's bring back those girly days and maybe try wearing a dress at least once a week. You always feel so pretty and confident when you wear dresses.
 - You started this in 2013, now let's keep it up: wash your hair every other day, between 24 and 36 hours after the previous wash. When you wash your hair too much or too close together, your red fades, your ends split, and your hair frizzes often. Allowing your hair to "get dirty" gets the natural oils into your scalp for healthier hair.
 - I know this past year has been an up-and-down battle with biting your fingernails and letting them grow out. Please, for the love of God, don't bite your fingernails! Get your nails polished every six weeks, maybe even the same day you get your hair done. Just don't bite your fingernails anymore. You're done with that.

RELATIONSHIPS:
 - You have a beautiful relationship with Matt. Everyone can see it. If it fits your guys' schedule and budget, try to go on a date with Matt once a month. Sometimes life can get busy and it's nice to take some time away from the hectic plans and just spend time together. Go to show, go to a movie, go ice-skating, do something new, try a new restaurant. Just spend some time with that handsome man of yours. You both deserve it.
 - I know it's hard to see your family. Your parents live in Rio Rico, your grandparents and sister live in Gilbert, and your dad and his baby momma live in Chandler. It's difficult to meet with them when you're trying to work and pay bills and go to events that will build your portfolio. See them as much as you can, which can differ month to month, week to week. But always: communicate with them every day. They deserve to know what's going with you, and you to know what's going on with them.
 - Your friends are important to you. You've got a lot of awesome people who care about you. Most of them you only see/talk to on Facebook now. Schedule time to see your friends. Whether it's over coffee or lunch, catch up with those who support you in all that you do.
 - Continuing that last note: remember those awesome game nights you used to host all the time and how awesome they were? Host more events that your friends can come to. Do more game nights, do more mixtape exchanges, do movie nights, do clothing swap parties, do photo shoots, do bike rides, do bible studies.
 - You have a great relationship with Nicki and her growth in the Lord. Keep it up. See Nicki every other week. You guys are both busy (like crazy busy), but you both have some spiritual growing to do, and it's better together.
 - The most important relationship to maintain: God's. Read your Bible every day. If it's not the Bible, then a spiritual guidance book, such as those written by Rob Bell or Donald Miller. You don't go to church anymore, so you need to get your spiritual fuel on your own.

HOBBIES:
 - You are 23 years old and you don't know how to cook. YOU'RE PATHETIC. I'm surprised you've been able to maintain boyfriends for as long as you can without providing delicious meals not from your own kitchen. Learn to cook. I know it scares you: what if I cut myself? What if I burn myself/ What if the food sucks? Don't worry: if you're not failing, then you're not learning. No one said you had to become a gourmet chef, just learn the basics of cooking and make a meal every now and then. You spend way too much eating out anyways. Go grocery shopping and make dinner for yourself.
 - Remember those times your parents wrote you letters? Or when Liam sent you a letter? You got so excited. Write more letters. Send mail to your friends, especially those not in Arizona anymore. There's so much excitement and personal sentiment when you write a letter. Plus, you almost embarrassed yourself at work when you couldn't figure out how to put the stamp on the envelope.
 - You started Mixtape Mandi six months ago and it's been working out really well for you. Continue doing a podcast episode every week like you have been doing, but do more Mixtape Mandi stuff: make more mixes, write more reviews, host more music events. A year from now, I want you to be earning money off of this crazy awesome idea.
 - This one's simple and you'll do it no matter what: keep listening to new music. Go to more shows, buy more albums, meet more bands.
 - This past year kinda sucked when it came to money. Let's fix this: keep a budget. Make a note of when you spend money and get money, put some money away in a savings account, and make sure you pay your bills first before you run off to the record store.
 - You love taking pictures and watching people grow through pictures, so it's time to start your own selfie project. Take a photo of yourself everyday in whatever situation you are at the time. Keep a journal of your photos and post them to your selfie project blog.

Why My Life is Awesome Pt. 103782665

Holy wow, guys. So many awesome things happening for me. Let's take a moment to reflect and rejoice:

1. Yesterday marked the six-month anniversary of my relationship with Matt. It's crazy to think how fast the time has flown by. I still distinctly remember the moment we met and how I felt that night and wondering if I was going to see him again. Now, we're in a committed relationship, we've met each other's friends and family and have gone on plenty of dates and adventures. I don't see him as much as I used to when we first started dating, but when we are away from each other, we are busy working on things that will help us grow as individuals. I've got my jobs and Mixtape Mandi, he's got work and his band. We still go to concerts; in fact, we're going to see Michael Buble this Friday night on a date night.
I'm sure it's very evident, but I'm a much happier person since he's entered my life. He makes me feel confident, adventurous, and like I can conquer the world. He is my constant source of encouragement when I'm feeling down, and can always brighten my day with a simple "hello". Matt Klassen, thank you for the last six months.

2. In January, my lease at my apartment will end, forcing me to move out. Frankie has been the best roommate and I will miss seeing him all the time. However, moving home is perfect for him. He and I have been each other's support for the last year and it's time we support others. I am currently on the look-out for the next perfect roommate and little cozy place for us to live, hopefully in Phoenix. Stay tuned for updates!

3. Mixtape Mandi is blowing up! Since its launch in July, my podcast has a few-hundred listens every week, my blog has an average of 50 views per day, I have almost 100 followers on Facebook, and I have legitimate fans who constantly encourage me to keep doing what I'm doing. It's so inspiring to know that people listen and read and care about the project I do in my free time. I'm hoping that eventually I can turn this into a project when I earn some income, but for now, I enjoy spending hours on Mixtape Mandi.

4. Through Mixtape Mandi, I have met SO many awesome people. It's amazing to think that I could have so much in common with a stranger. Just by handing out my business card, I have talked about music and shows and mutual friends and other stuff with people I meet at work, the coffee shop, the record store, etc. I just went to a networking event tonight and met some talented creative artists that I cannot way to work with.

5. The reason why I am writing this blog and why I am so happy: I got a job.
I have had PLENTY of jobs since I started working at McDonald's when I was fifteen years old. For the past five years, my jobs have involved customer service in the restaurant industry. I'm very good at my job and (some days) I like what I do. But, it's not my passion. I live for music.
Since graduating in May, I have been looking for a music job. I had a couple of internships, but I can only drive so far without payment for so long. Today, I received a call from Danny Zelisko Presents, a local music promotion company, offering me a part-time office assistant position, with the potential to work full time.
(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
This is exactly what I went to school for! I have dreamed of marketing, booking, and promoting shows for a living, and now is my chance. And it's not an internship; IT'S A JOB. I am getting paid to promote shows.
I feel so immensely blessed to receive this opportunity. I start next week, while also working limited hours at both restaurant jobs I currently have.



Readers, let this be a lesson: TO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAM. With hard work and the determination to succeed, I got a job six months after graduating. Trust me; if you want something bad enough, you need to work hard to prove that you and no one else but you deserve it. It's worth it, I pinky-promise you.

Now go out there and get 'em!

I'm a girl and I do music.

I don't understand why the music industry is a man's industry. Anyone can do it.

When I decided to study music business in college, it wasn't because I thought I had anything to prove as a female. I chose the career path because I thought it was something I was good at. Sure, I'm a talented singer, but I didn't want to study vocal performance. I wanted to study the business.

In my music business courses, I was one of three girls in my Music Business classes, one of two girls in my Digital Audio Workstation classes and Live Sound classes, and the only girl enrolled in my Electronic Music classes and all three levels of my Studio Recording classes. When I took advanced music business classes, I was also the only girl to enroll and stick with the whole semester.

Why is the music industry so intimidating for women? People argue that women are more creative than men, but you see women who are accountants, lawyers, doctors, business-owners, bankers, and engineers. If women are more creative than men, why is music still over-populated by men?

I graduated after four years of studying music business and audio production and have learned so much about recording, engineering, production, promotion, touring, booking, management, marketing, and owning a business. Today, I currently go to concerts and write reviews. I write album reviews. I promote bands. I use my marketing skills to sell tickets and merchandise. I run a podcast show about music. I run a music blog. I know the industry.

I pushed my way through school with all the sexist jokes and rude insults, and still maintained to pass all my classes. I was the top of most of my music classes, even though I was the only girl. Guys would constantly tell me that I belonged in the kitchen and not in the control room. I was constantly harassed to clean up after recording sessions because "women clean". I was never taken seriously, because of my gender. Not because of my intelligence or my ability to produce something musical, but because of my gender.

Just recently, I posted a picture with my boyfriend, who happens to be in a band, with the caption "He is a rockstar", to which someone commented that I was a groupie. For those of you unaware, a groupie is "an ardent fan of a celebrity, especially a pop star: originally, often a girl who followed the members of a pop group on tour in order to have sexual relations with them". Whether this commenter was joking or not, the comment hurt because he was basically saying that I am only with my boyfriend because he is a musician. I know I am not the only girl who struggles with this stereotype. Many girls who have boyfriends/fiancées/husbands who are involved in music struggle with the label of "groupie", even though we genuinely love the man for everything he is outside of music. Why aren't men classified as "groupies" if they are dating a female musician?

I read this article that inspired me to share with you my feelings on the subject. If this is ranting, so be it. But it's something I have struggled with that I'm not sure most people understand.

Just to make things clear: I studied music. I passed all my classes and graduated. I am involved in the music industry. I am not a groupie. I am a woman. I do music because I love it; not because I have anything to prove to you.

Abtastic August and the 30-Day Diet Challenge

After much consideration, I have decided to get back in shape by installing a 30-day challenge for the month of August. Many factors contribute to this:
1. I have just been asked to be a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding. All of the girls involved in the wedding party will be helping my friend lose weight for her wedding dress by dieting and exercising, so I will, too.
2. I don't think about the things I eat. I think, "Does it taste good? Yes? I will eat it!"
3. My clothes are becoming snug.

The first thing I will be doing is going back on a diet that I tried last year for about a month:
NO BREAD. NO CHEESE. PERIOD.
I LOVE burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, pasta. So, this is going to be hard, but well worth it.

The second thing I am doing is participating in ABTASTIC AUGUST. For 30 days in August, I will be doing ab workouts to lose my tummy. If you would like to participate, here's my schedule for the month of August:
1. 15 situps + 5 crunches + 10 pushups + 10sec plank
2. 19 situps + 6 crunches + 11 pushups + 12sec plank
3. 23 situps + 7 crunches + 12 pushups + 15sec plank
4. SUNDAY REST
5. 27 situps + 10 crunches + 14 pushups + 20sec plank
6. 30 situps + 15 crunches + 16 pushups + 25sec plank
7. 34 situps + 20 crunches + 17 pushups + 28sec plank
8. 36 situps + 29 crunches + 19 pushups + 30sec plank
9. 40 situps + 38 crunches + 20 pushups + 33sec plank
10. 42 situps + 47 crunches + 21 pushups + 35sec plank
11. SUNDAY REST
12. 46 situps + 56 crunches + 22 pushups + 37sec plank
13. 50 situps + 65 crunches + 24 pushups + 40sec plank
14. 54 situps + 74 crunches + 25 pushups + 50sec plank
15. 57 situps + 83 crunches + 27 pushups + 55sec plank
16. 60 situps + 92 crunches + 29 pushups + 60sec plank
17. 64 situps + 101 crunches + 30 pushups + 65sec plank
18. SUNDAY REST
19. 67 situps + 110 crunches + 32 pushups + 70sec plank
20. 71 situps + 119 crunches + 35 pushups + 75sec plank
21. 74 situps + 128 crunches + 38 pushups + 80sec plank
22. 77 situps + 137 crunches + 40 pushups + 85sec plank
23. 80 situps + 146 crunches + 43 pushups + 90sec plank
24. 84 situps + 155 crunches + 46 pushups + 95sec plank
25. SUNDAY REST
26. 86 situps + 164 crunches + 49 pushups + 100sec plank
27. 90 situps + 173 crunches + 52 pushups + 105sec plank
28. 94 situps + 182 crunches + 55 pushups + 110sec plank
29. 96 situps + 191 crunches + 58 pushups + 115sec plank
30. 100 situps + 200 crunches + 60 pushups + 120sec plank

WISH ME LUCK!!

Friendship vs. Network

As a musician and someone involved in the music industry, it's common to run into the issue of having contacts in your phone of people you don't necessarily care for unless it's in the realm of business. I know I'm not the only person guilty of this. There are certain people I have met where I only have their number if I want to use their services for a show, a recording, etc.
However, it's those people who go beyond that that I really like to keep in contact with. There are some people I have met in high school and college through music courses and common interests that I have hung out with outside of school and shows. They are people I will grab a beer or coffee with, invite to my game nights, etc.
Recently, two friends of mine have approached me to be featured in their projects.

The first is my friend, Ryan Scott. I met Ryan in college when we took some studio classes together and learned about audio production. We helped each other with our mixes and projects in college, but when we moved on from the program, we lost contact. Recently, we reconnected and he is now working with A.M. Rogers on a podcast called The Radio Adventure Club. These guys review albums and shows, geek out over music, and feature artists on their shows. I was lucky enough to spend a morning doing an interview with them talking about some of my favorite music, my old music projects, and my musical background and future. ENJOY.

The second is my friend, Aziz Hussein. I met Aziz through Instagram, who (I think) found me through Emby Alexander's Instagram. He started following me and liking some of my photos. One day, I promoted a show on Instagram and said "Text me for ticket info and I will meet up and sell one to you." So, he did. I met him at Sparky's Ice Cream Shop on Mill Ave to sell him a ticket, and he came to our show. Aziz must have been one of Emby Alexander's biggest fans. He came to all the shows, sang all the words, danced to all the songs, and took so many pictures. He just recently started a website that features the coolest spots in Downtown Phoenix, called First and Washington. He asked to feature me in a video for his website, so I agreed. One Saturday night, we met at Mill Ave to grab some pizza at Slices, play video games at Gringo Star Street Bar, geek out over music at Zia Records, and sing in front of the indie movie theatre. ENJOY.


I would definitely do more work with these guys. I love any kind of exposure for my music, but I also love helping out my friends with their projects. I'd be more than happy to help you out with yours, too. But first: let's grab some coffee.

The Adventures of Matt & Mandi: Our Second Month

We did it, we survived another month! If there's anything this month has taught me, it's that life isn't always fabulous, but it can be if you have the right person by your side. Not only did I experience some bumps in the road of my life, but so did Matt. But, we were able to help each other through them, and it made it so much more easy.

We have also become a couple that, while we still love going on adventures, sometimes it's okay to do the ordinary. We enjoy going to Trivia Nights at Crescent Ballroom every Sunday night, breakfast together every Saturday morning, drinks at our favorite bars, going to shows, and coming home at the end of the day to listen to some music together.

I won't go into detail about every moment I spent with Matt this last month, because we spent quite a lot of time together. But, I will highlight some of my favorite days, some monumental days in our relationship, and some of the days where we truly felt like we were on a crazy and wild adventure.

THE ADVENTURES OF OUR SECOND MONTH:

6/18 – We celebrated our first month together by embarking on our first date! He brought me flowers (my favorite flowers!) and even dressed up all spiffy. We went to dinner at Cibo in Downtown Phoenix and then went to the She & Him concert at Comerica Theatre.  There is one song of theirs that I put on his mix CD called “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”. When they played the song, he and I swayed back and forth, and then he grabbed both my hands and we started dancing. It was beautiful! After the show, we went to SideBar and grabbed some cocktails and relaxed. Our first date was definitely my favorite date I’ve ever been on. And I am excited to go on more dates with this wonderful man. 

6/19 – We attended Open Mic Night at the Little Woody. We started our set with Radiohead’s “Nude”. I think this song is one of those songs that I would call “ours”. After that song, we covered “Fever”, which, I’m not gonna lie, totally brought the house down! I think we sound very good together.

 

6/20 – We went to the Duce for some karaoke, shared a milkshake, I hula-hooped for the entirety of Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.”, and we witnessed some hilarious performances. After karaoke, we hopped into Matt’s car and went to the Crescent Ballroom to grab a drink. After hanging out at Crescent for about an hour, we decided to head home. Matt drove me back to my car at the Duce only to find out that after closing hours, they lock their parking lot shut with a huge gate. My car was trapped! He was kind enough to drive me home, even if that meant that he had an even longer drive home.

 

6/21 – Our adventure for this evening: Meeting his family. I had already met his dad and brother, but this evening I was meeting his mother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and nephew (both of his siblings are married). His mom had prepared a delicious build-your-own taco bar with pork, beef, and bison meats, veggies, and salsas. After dinner, we ate cupcakes that his sister had baked. She made a chocolate cupcake with Nutella in the middle that was to die for! After some of his family, we played a dice-game called Farkle with the rest of the family, in which I am still not very good. I enjoyed meeting his family. They were so loving and accepting and making sure I was welcome and comfortable. And they raised a wonderful man. I look forward to seeing them again.

6/28 – Matt's car broke down at Crescent Ballroom, so I had to go pick him up and we went to a housewarming my friends, Jon and Nick, were hosting. Matt and Jon played “Quarters” and shuffleboard and we went swimming.

6/29 – WHAT A DAY.

We got brunch at NCOUNTER in Tempe before we headed over to Crescent to attempt to fix his car. After trying to start his car and failing, we drive around South Phoenix trying to find the tools and a car battery. Driving through town in the heat made me feel sick and my stomach started to hurt. I ended up throwing up in the parking lot while Matt was purchasing a car battery. I had to go to work, so I dropped him off at his car and left. When I got home, I threw up again. My boss told me to stay home and not come into work. After Matt spent about an hour in the heat, walking to the nearest hotel to use their tools, and finally fixed his car, he came over to take care of me. He brought over a strawberry banana smoothie, the movie HighFidelity for us to watch, and the Blood Bank vinyl from Bon Iver. SWOON! We watched High Fidelity (definitely one of my favorite movies now) as well as Pirate Radio (he had never seen it!).  After watching two movies and starting to feel better, we went into my room and played my new vinyl. After listening to Blood Bank (it’s a short album), we listened to Courtney Marie Andrews’ For One I Knew on vinyl, as well as some Crystal Gayle. It was the first time I had really used my record player, and I’m glad he bought me that vinyl. I think I will start collecting vinyl now.

 

7/4 – Happy Independence Day! Why was this day one of my most favorite days? Let me count the ways:

   1. Matt and I BOTH had the entire day off from work, which is really rare.

   2. We enjoyed a free breakfast at Liberty Market.

   3. We each got a new pair of sunglasses.

   4. We shared music with each other.

   5. We sang along to In Rainbows.

   6. We survived our first grocery shopping trip together.

   7. We went to a party with some friends and had a killer time.

   8. I did pretty damn good at Flip Cup.

I spent the whole day with him. We didn't have to share with work, family, band, nothing. I enjoyed every moment I spent with him.

 

 

7/8 - We went to FilmBar to see Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. I LOVE this film, and Matt had only seen it in theatres. It was fun to geek out with him.

 

7/14 - Matt and I experienced our first trip to IKEA together. He bough his mom a birthday present, I bought a desk. After trivia at Crescent, we came back to my house where assembled the desk, I did some laundry, and we played some vinyl.

 

 

7/15 - Today was Matt's mom's birthday, so we went over to his folks' house where he prepared a dinner for the whole family. It had been a few weeks since I had seen them, so it was all still kinda new to me. But I felt more comfortable this time. Matt's dinner was delicious, his mom received some pretty cool gifts, and I even met his grandmother from Alberta via Skype (who says she reads my blog!) So, Esther Klassen, if you're reading this: It was so nice to meet you. Maybe one day I will see you in person.

7/17 - OUR SECOND MONTH ANNIVERSARY. We spent the evening together by enjoying a delicious meal from The Vig (new favorite restaurant...so good!) and then performing some songs at the Open Mic Night at the Little Woody. We covered Al Green's "Let's Stay Together", ZZ Ward's "Lil' Darlin", The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down", and we arranged a blues-version of Tears for Fears' "Mad World".

Here are some pictures from the last month.

Stay tuned for month three and more adventures!

I Was Born to Be on Stage

Let me tell you the story of how music has changed my life.

When I was a child, I would watch Disney movies. I would sing all the songs. By four years old, I knew all the words to The Little Mermaid's "Part of Your World". I was constantly singing.
When I was five years old, my dad started a cover band with some of his friends. They called themselves "Tonedef?" and the children were "A Lil' Tonedef?" They played covers of Bob Seger, The Eagles, Tom Petty, and, most importantly, The Beatles. That's where my love for The Beatles started. I would sit and listen to them practice. I would go to their gigs at Famous Sam's on Thursday evenings, even though it was a school night. I learned the lyrics to "Dear Prudence". I learned the lyrics to "Stand By Me".
My first performance that I can remember was one Thursday night at Famous Sam's, my dad's band invited me onstage to sing with them. My dad, the bass player, started playing "Stand By Me". I sang the whole song, word for word. Everyone in the bar cheered for me, maybe because I was so young, but I would hope it was because I sounded good.
When I was six years old, I got my first solo in the church kids' choir for a Christmas Eve service. After that performance, I started getting solos in church, with my dad's band backing me up. Eventually, I remember asking my mom if I could sing "better" songs. The songs the church was assigning for me to sing all contained lyrics like "Thank you Jesus for the sun. Thank you Jesus for the birds, etc." and I wanted more "grownup" songs (as a six-year-old, go figure...) The church not only responded with a no, but also a "if you don't appreciate the songs we give you, you won't sing" kind of thing. So, we left.

I tried doing the kids' choir in school, but really what I was looking for were solos. When I was ten years old, my grandmother had found a community children's choir through the Gilbert Fine Arts Association. I was a part of this choir for three years, singing solos in Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, and various community concerts around Gilbert. However, during my last year I noticed a trend: I stopped getting solos. I would work so hard to memorize melodies and lyrics and sing the best I could in auditions, and the solo would go to a child whose parent donated more money in the choir. Also, one big issue I learned at this young age that would haunt me until I graduated high school: I was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-Day Saints. Being a Mormon meant more solos, more respect as a musician, and more acceptance in my community. After being rejected for my religious beliefs instead of my talent, I left the group.

This experience scarred me from choir for a while. In junior high, I chose to pursue acting instead of singing. I was a member of Advanced Drama, learned the basics of improvisation, was a lead cast member in the school play, and acted on the weekly announcements. I fell in love with the stage in a new way. I was sure that my calling was to be an actress. Then, when eighth grade came, we had to pick a second elective. I chose Advanced Drama and Art as my two electives. Instead of art, they gave me chorus. I was scared to do choir again, since my last encounter. But, I walked in the classroom and sang my heart out. I struggled to learn to read music, but eventually I got it. I learned solfege, breathing technique, proper posture, and how to control my voice. And I did all of this without earning a single friend in that classroom. I mean, I had some girls in that class who were very nice to me. But outside of class, I was not invited to birthday parties. I was not invited to hangout after school. I was not one of them. And I never would be.

When it came time to sign up for classes in high school, we had to choose three electives. I decided to get my P.E. credit done early, so I chose yoga (yes, my school offered yoga for P.E.). I also decided to get my foreign language credit out of the way, so I chose American Sign Language, since I already knew it. Then, I needed to chose my third and final elective: Chorale or Beginning Drama. I struggled back and forth between the two options. Eventually, I chose Chorale. Why? Because the high school choir teacher came to my junior high and touched my life in such a way, that I wanted to learn more. She was intimidating, challenging, and very strict...but passionate. I saw that if anyone was going to believe in my voice, it was going to be her.

My freshmen year of high school was pretty rough. I spent eighteen weeks in Chorale, a mixed male-and-female choir for beginners, mostly freshmen. Mostly Mormon, too. Because I didn't make hardly any friends, I spent my free time studying the music we were singing. I learned to read the music quickly. I stayed after school and practiced. I worked hard to push my voice in different directions. After the Christmas break, my choir teacher called me and another student into her office. She told us that she loved our enthusiasm and determination for music. She wanted to upgrade us to the sophomore girls' choir, Advanced Women's Choir. I was so excited! I asked my mom if I could change my schedule, and she approved. My counselor switched around some classes, and I spent my second semester of freshmen year in a sophomore-level class. Upon joining this class, I was excited. However, after leaving class on the first day, I hated it. The other freshmen girl who joined me made friends instantly. She was pretty, bubbly, and a Mormon girl like most of the girls in the choir. I was not. I had girls verbally tease me and give me dirty looks. Anytime I spoke up to give an answer in class, I felt like the whole class was putting my down in their minds. It was brutal.

After Advanced Women's Choir, the next class up is Concert Choir, the mother of all choirs at Highland High School. This choir was primarily juniors and mostly seniors. You had to audition to be in this choir, but the boys from Chorale would move up to there and the girls from Advanced Women's Choir would move there too. My teacher told both me and the other girl that if there was room for us and if we passed the audition, she would allow us to be members of Concert Choir as sophomores. I studied my music intensely, and I auditioned to be in this choir. Not only did I earn a spot in the choir the next year, but then I found out that the Concert Choir would be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York City that next year.
Basically, I would be performing at Carnegie Hall as a sophomore in a choir only reserved for juniors and seniors. I would be singing at a place so many superstars had performed. At 16 years old. WHOA.

As the only sophomore girl in Concert Choir, no one, and I mean it, NO ONE liked me. Eventually, I made a few friends, but by the end of the year, they hated me (boy drama, that's another story). In order to prepare for Carnegie Hall, I had to raise money to afford plane tickets and hotels and all that tourist-y stuff. I also had to learn Latin out the yin-yang to sing the entire 6-movement Poulenc song, and the forever-long 3-movement Stravinsky piece. it was brutal. BUT, so worth it! My experience at Carnegie Hall was life-changing. I will always remember stepping onto that golden stage, closing my eyes and letting the music take over. It was magical.

My senior year was an exciting time for my choir career. Not only was this my third year in Concert Choir, but it was my second year in Advanced Vocale Ensemble (which specialized in jazz). Senior year Mandi was on fire! I was Alto Section Leader in Cocnert Choir, a member of the All-State Jazz choir, a member of the Central Regional choir, an aide for Chorale, and earned many solos in jazz choir. One of the solos, I will never forget.
March 2009, we performed a jazz-gospel version of "Amazing Grace". This song had three solos: one for a girl in the second verse, one for a boy in the third verse, and one for an improviser at the end. I prided myself in studying jazz improvisation, so I did whatever I could to land that last solo as mine. My teacher assigned it to me and I couldn't have been more ecstatic. This performance was my all-time favorite performance in my jazz choir career. I made my mom and grandparents cry, I made the audience stand to their feet, and I made my decision that that day, and for the rest of my life, I couldn't stop singing.

After high school, my singing career has been kind of non-existent. I sang in an acoustic duo for a couple of years called Painted Faces, but that group is no longer alive. After Painted Faces, I performed in the local Phoenix band called Emby Alexander for about a year before resigning my position a few months ago. My best performance to date was when I covered "Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" with Emby Alexander.

I want to get back on stage. I have a voice that needs to be heard, and I can't do it alone. My passion for singing lies in jazz and blues, but I can sing almost anything. My influences include Adele, Grace Potter, ZZ Ward, Kimbra, Zooey Deschanel, and Black Carl (local Phoenix band). I am looking for a jazz pianist, guitarists, drummer, upright bass player, and possibly some brass and/or saxophone player.




Please help me find musicians to perform with. As much as I want to, I can't perform alone. I need passionate musicians who share the love of jazz and blues as much as I do. I have a message, and I will use my singing voice to reach people. But I need your help.

Keep Calm & Feel Infinite

Around the middle of February, I fell into a deep pit of depression. Like, DEEP. I remained in this pit for three months. Three months of forcing myself out of bed to go to school and push my way to graduating, forcing myself out of bed to go to work, scheduling time out of my house so I didn't lay in bed and cry, going to church and Bible study with friends to give myself hope, and trying to find reasons to not kill myself. Trust me, guys: it was bad.

I'd say I got better after I graduated college. Not that I hated college. I loved it. I miss learning and challenging myself. But my last semester was tough. And, honestly, I just wanted to graduate and get my degree. After I graduated, I had so much free time. It was something to get used to. I have always been busy, always had an assignment, always trying to impress someone. Now, I was free.

Not only had I just graduated college, but I also ended a four-year relationship and quit my band. So many things in my life were ending. It was time for a new beginning. A new Mandi.

I can say now that I'm 100% better. I wake up everyday happy. This post is not too rub it in your face like "LOOK HOW AWESOME MY LIFE IS WHILE YOUR LIFE IS SO SUCKY". That is not my intention at all. This post is to remind me (and you) that these moments of pure happiness don't always last, so it's best to count your blessings while they're happening before they're gone and you've missed the blessing completely. Also, this post is for the people who had to sit and watch me suffer and stood by my side. This is to show you that I'm okay now, and it's thanks to you guys. You know who you are.

So, without further ado (adieu?), my list of blessings:


1. I am blessed with an amazing family. My family is scattered across the state, from Gilbert to Chandler to Rio Rico (and previously Prescott). I also have some family in California, Florida, Missouri, and Oregon. Even though my family is separated, I still feel the love. My parents in Rio Rico still support me even if they're three hours away. My sister and I are starting to become closer now that we don't live together. I have gotten closer to my dad and his girlfriend and her kids. Which brings me to my next blessing...

2. I am blessed to become a big sister once again. My dad and his girlfriend are now 12 weeks pregnant with a baby girl. I never thought that at 22 years old, I would have another sibling! It's so exciting, you have no idea. I know they have been trying for a child for a while now, and I'm so happy that it's finally happening. This pregnancy has also brought the two families together. We are now a family of "yours, mine, and ours", but we have fun. Babygirl Kimes is due early January, so stay tuned for more baby news.

3. I am blessed with a job that I love. Seriously. I know most people dread going to work or only go to their job for a paycheck and don't put forth much effort, but I legitimately love my job. I am a cashier/server at Liberty Market, a locally-owned urban bistro in Downtown Gilbert, and it is literally the best company I have ever worked for. I enjoy working with everyone, and I even hang out with most of my work friends outside of work. My bosses care about me. Like, for real. My bosses do whatever it takes for their employees to feel safe, welcome, and at ease. When I hit my depression, I wanted to work more and cover more shifts because that was the only place I found joy. I would go into work, put my phone away for seven hours, and just focus on my tasks and being surrounded by people who loved me. I could escape all of the drama at work. And, it gave me a reason to get out of bed. Liberty Market is and will always be a very special place for me.

4. I am blessed to be living on my own. As much as I miss my parents and the luxury of living at home, being out on my own again has really pushed me to grow up. I have matured in the last six months while living in Tempe. Also, living in Tempe can be awesome sometimes. I'm just down the road from Downtown Mill Ave, I have easy access to the 60, and I am just a five-minute walk from the Yucca Tap.

5. I am blessed with some kickass friends. This dark time really showed me who my true friends are. I had friends call me or text me just to check on me. I had friends come over and listen to me complain and then provide advice. Some friends I would personally like to thank for dealing with my sad, crying self and pulling me out of the darkness (alphabetical order): Aziz Hussein, Bob Roman, Brenda Eden, Brian Clemence, Brody Boren, Colton Haynie, Corey Coole, Diana Deaver Gudeman, Frankie Carreno, Jacob Evans, Jacob Johnston, James Johnston, Jessica Watson, Jon Pesu, Kelsey Garner, Kha-Le Desou, Krystal Rose, Liam Deaver, Lindsay Young, Mateo Bustamante, Matt Celaya, Meghan Augustson, Michelle Traficano, Nicki Hughes, Sam Greenhalgh, Sarah Sturgeon, Scott Krueger, Skyler Farr, and Stephen Dunegan.

6. I am blessed with a man who loves me. I mean, I could go on and on about how wonderful Matt is to me (oh wait, I already did). After my breakup, it was hard for me to get used to the fact that no one loved me anymore. I thought I would not find love for such a long time. When I met Matt, I wasn't looking for love. When I pushed around the idea of dating him, I had to think: "Am I interested in Matt or the idea of dating someone again?" Truthfully speaking, I love him. And the crazy thing? He loves me, too. He is the reason why I look forward to my day. He is the one always on my mind. I truly can't believe I am his and he is mine, but I love it.

7. I am blessed to be forgiven. I am not perfect. I am a mess, I have flaws, and I do not deserve the forgiveness that God gives me. His grace has redeemed me. I have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. I do not deserve His mercy, but He loves me like His daughter and I receive His mercy anyways. That's true AGAPE friends.



So, those are my blessings. And I know that life will not always be this awesome all the time. But, I needed to freezeframe this moment in some way, so I wrote it all out. I think Charlie said it best in Perks of Being a Wallflower:
"There are people who say all these things don't happen. There are people who forget what it's like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen. I know these will all be stories someday and our pictures will become old photographs. We'll all become somebody's mom or dad. But right now, these are not stories. This is happening. I am here, and I am looking at her, and she is so beautiful...I can see it: this one moment when you know you're not a sad story. You are alive. And you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and all the things that make you wonder. And you're listening to that song on that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment, I swear: WE ARE INFINITE."

The Adventures of Matt & Mandi: Our First Month

This past month has been one whirlwind of an adventure. All in 31 days, I have met, dated, and fallen in love with one amazing guy. Here’s our story.

 

The day is Friday, May 17, 2013. My band, Emby Alexander, had a show at the Rogue Bar in Scottsdale. I remember thinking that not many of our friends were going and it’s pretty much a dive-bar, so I throw my hair up in a ponytail and threw on jeans and a plain-white T-shirt. I show up, sing my set, then load our stuff off of the stage. A friend of the band, Zac Fredricksen, was organizing the show. After our set, I saw Zac was talking to a guy and he motioned me over.

“Mandi, this is my friend, Matt. He really likes your voice.”

We shook hands. We talked music. I found out he is in a band called The Cold Desert. He loved my set.
Now, throughout the night, Matt and I would find our ways back to each other, whether it be at the bar, on the dance floor, or in the parking lot by my car. I felt a connection with this guy.

HOWEVER: Matt had come to the show with his friend, Lance, and a mutual friend of theirs, Brittney. Throughout the night, Brittney would show up next to Matt and stare at me. I was certain they were dating. Here I am, some girl coming on to this girl’s boyfriend. I felt like a huge bitch. So, I started to back off.

After the show was over, my band went to In n’ Out and invited us to go. I went, and Matt brought Lance and Brittney with him. Before they got there, I went into the restroom and as I exited the stall, Brittney came in. She looks at me and said, “Hey. I really like you!”

WHAT.

I was so confused. So I said, “Hey, thanks, you’re pretty cool.” Her response? “I have been bugging Matt ALL NIGHT to get your number. You guys are so cute together.” At this point, I breathe a sigh of relief because I knew she was right. I thought we had a connection, too. She grabs my hand and says, “Please, Mandi, PROMISE ME that you will not leave tonight without getting his number!” So, I agreed.

We went outside and ate our food. We had casual conversations over burgers and fries. Then, it came time for us to leave. We walk to our cars, but Matt tells his friends to go ahead. He comes up to me and asks for my phone number. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

It wasn’t until later that I found out Brittney had never said a word to Matt about me. He asked for my number genuinely out of his own interest.

That was the night we met. I never thought I would pick up a guy at a bar, let alone using my voice as the lure. But, this past month has been quite adventurous. And I am so excited to see what adventures we encounter in the future. We have gone to shows, played games, met family and friends, danced, listened to amazing albums together, and held hands the entire time.

 

THE ADVENTURES OF OUR FIRST MONTH:

5/18 - He came to my Last Exit Live show.

5/20 - We went to Gringo Star Street Bar together for the first time, saw the Appleseed Cast play at Crescent Ballroom, and then he introduced me to shuffleboard and one of his hangout spots: The Little Woody. He also introduced me to Cherry Ghost, a band that everyone should check out.

5/22 – We went to karaoke, where he sang Aerosmith’s “Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” and dedicated it to “Mandi, on our 6-day anniversary”.

5/24 – We went to Cornish Pasty and then he introduced me to Sidebar in Phoenix.

5/27 – We went to Lux Coffee Shop where I kicked his ass in Beatles Trivial Pursuit, then we went to Crescent Ballroom to watch Vinyl Station play. On our way back to my car, we listened to “In Rainbows” and sang together.

5/29 – He played a show with his band at Crescent Ballroom. I met his band mates, and I think they approved of me. I got a CD and a cassette tape of his band.

 

6/1 – He played a show at Last Exit Live, where I bought one of his T-shirts.

 

6/2 – We went to the Rhythm Room and saw Marmalade Skies, which is a Beatles Tribute band. We sang, we danced, and we drank. After the show, we got some food and had a picnic in a park and had deep conversations about family, religion, and life. We finally left when a cop showed up. As we’re driving back to my car, we’re listening to “In Rainbows”. When we get back to my car, he gets out of his car, gives me a hug, and kisses me. It was very hard to sleep that night.

6/3 – We went to Crescent Ballroom to watch our friends in Bears of Manitou play an acoustic set.

6/6 – He introduces me to The Duce in Phoenix. We had dinner, a couple of drinks, and hours of conversation. We finally had to part when he went to band practice.

6/7 – I had my last show with Emby Alexander. Our first gig of the night was at a Latte Art Throwdown hosted by my friend, Perry. After that gig, we went to Yucca Tap Room for our second gig. He met most of my friends and my dad. He helped me calm down my nerves before my last gig. The funny thing is, this is the first show I played where I could look in the audience and see a boy look back at me with affection. Every other gig I played, I had a boyfriend on stage with me. It was a feeling I had to get used to. After our set, we did a strawberry vodka shot and he took me home.

6/9 – We grabbed some coffee at Lux Coffee and discuss meeting each other’s family. Later, we went to the FilmBar in Phoenix and saw “Ghostbusters”. The Arizona Ghostbusters were there raising money for diabetes research, so he bought a raffle ticket and we ended up winning Ghostbusters hot sauce.

 

6/11 – I introduced him to Liberty Market and the town of Gilbert. He loved it! I had to get him back to his car in time for him to get to band practice. He called me on his way to practice and told me he left his pizza at my place. How crazy am I? I brought pizza and a six-pack of Kiltlifter to his practice space at 75^th Ave and Deer Valley just to see him. That adventure alone won over his heart, and the taste buds of his band mates.

 

6/12 – By this time, it’s clear that we are both are interested in each other. People are beginning to ask about us. We decide to sit down and have the conversation of awkwardness: defining the relationship. We meet at The Little Woody and figured out that he already thinks of me as his girlfriend and loves being around me. I whole-heartedly agree.

6/13 - I introduce him to my mother, and he passed the test. She can’t help but think he’s amazing, and I don’t blame her. Later that day, I drove up to his practice space to give him a mix CD I made for him. We spent the evening drinking milkshakes in his car while listening to the CD.

6/14 - I went to his Crescent Ballroom show. I met his dad and brother for the first time. I could tell just from the first meeting that his dad loved me. He played a great set, I got pictures and videos, and even sang along. After the show, we went to the Little Woody for a little bit and eventually watched the sunrise.

 

6/15 - We got brunch the next morning at True FoodKitchen, which is delicious! I helped him pick out a Father’s Day gift for his dad before I had to leave for work.

6/16 – I had had quite an eventful and stressful day, so he took me to Gringo Star Arcade Bar to unwind with some drinks and video games. We played skeeball (I beat him) and then we played Ms. Pacman (I dominated). I love being able to play games with him. We get competitive and flirt and have so much fun.

6/17 – OUR 1-MONTH ANNIVERSARY. We spent the evening at Crescent Ballroom playing Bingo (we both lost every game). After the Bingo games, our friend Dylan Pratt played an acoustic set.

 

 

 

STAY TUNED FOR OUR UPCOMING ADVENTURES!

Welp, This Sucks

So, I just spent the last week pouring my heart and soul into this blog entry about concerts and music. I was literally FIVE FREAKING MINUTES from pressing the "Post" button when this happened:























EVERYTHING DISAPPEREAD!




So until I get over this internet breakup and attempt to rewrite my perfect article on music, here's a video on whacking cats. Enjoy.