Just Like Lou

Alice Berry was diagnosed with ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, at 59. This fiery Latina would always say, “Who is this Lou guy, and what does he have to do with me?” Well, those two had a

lot more in common than just a disease. They shared a spirit that lives through the ages. They both displayed an unrelenting dedication to what was important to them. Lou Gehrig won our hearts and inspired us through his humble love of a sport and courage to overcome the odds. The first ballplayer to have his number retired, number 4, was called the Iron horse because of his graceful strength in the game he loved. The world will never forget his famous speech made on the fourth of July at Yankee Stadium when he proclaimed himself to be the luckiest man on the face of the earth. That was his story; this is the story of my mother.

I remember back in high school. I was eighteen and trying to discover the person I wanted to be. Your typical hard-headed teen butting heads with my mother and demanding that I was the only one who knew what was best for my life. Yes, admittedly, I did everything a typical teen would do to hide the fact that I was a frightened child. Reluctant to go out into the real world, afraid of who I was and who I was to become. Mom and I fought like cats and dogs. Everyone would say we were too much alike. Our personalities clashed. We saw our faults in each other. However, Mom would say, “No, not the faults, I see everything I ever wanted to be in you only with more potential!”

She always encouraged us, kids, to put forth 110% in everything we did. “I’ll support you in anything you want to do as long as it makes you happy,” she would say with fire and honesty that only a Mother can have. Those were not just words she said: words she lived by never faltered in that truth. She stood by me while I made my journey of self-discovery. Encouraging me all the more as I decided to become a singer and songwriter.

Along the way, she’d picked me up when I’d fall. And, she directed me to make those right turns even when I insisted on going left. Her guidance was never wrong. Although frequently, I had to make a full circle to my ultimate destination, if only I had listened to her in the first place. Ah, the beauty of being young.

Over the years, I realized she wasn’t just my mother; she was my best friend. We are just alike: headstrong, determined dreamers that refuse to be defeated. No dream is too big or too small as long as it makes you happy. These are just a few things I have learned from the great wisdom she never gave herself credit for. I focus that wisdom on my creative energies, and it has made me the musician that I am today. Everyone tells me it’s a harsh industry; it’s a crazy dream that only a few chosen will reach. Mom’s response was, “Baby, your one of those chosen ones. You can be anything you want to be if you only try.” She was my number ONE fan! She loved every song I ever wrote, even the bad ones. She would tell me the more I’d write, the better I would get. Always eager for the next song, she would give me that extra push when I got lazy. Because of her, I believe in myself.

I recall countless lonely nights when I was on the road away from home. I’d call her in tears, tired and discouraged, missing home. I wanted to give up, feeling like it was a futile journey with no success in sight. Her stern but a straightforward response, “Ay mi hija, don’t let me hear you talk like that. Stay strong! Keep your focus. The only ones who make it are the ones who never give up. Your time will come. This is your year; I just feel it. I believe in you that has to count for something!” It counted for everything! I lived for those talks and kept trudging forward because she said I could do it, and I believed and trusted her. Fourteen years later, I’m still plugging away at it. Thanks to Mom’s constant and steady encouragement, I’m even making some headway. And, who knows, maybe this year will be my year as Mom would say…

One day, a friend of mine in Boston told me about the ALS Foundation and how they did a Walk to D’feet ALS every year and asked if I wanted to be a part of it. This was probably the first acknowledgment I had made of the fact that Mom was sick. Being the creative type, I spoke to the organization. I told them about being a singer, and they asked me to sing the National Anthem for the walk. I accepted the honor. Mom was so proud. She wasn’t able to be there, but she bragged to all her friends and family. I had a dedicated group who raised money for the event, and we walked in her name. That day, I met ALS patients that were far more progressed than my mother at the time. It was a slap of reality of what my mother was facing. She hid the pain so well. She never complained. Until that day, I guess I was in total denial that I was losing her. She was the one who needed someone to lean on to help her pull through. Instead, she gave the whole family strength and support. How ironic someone so feeble was supporting all of us.

She accepted her fate with dignity and strength, like no one I have ever known. If I could possess at least a third of her courage, I believe I could make any dream come true. She was a great role model, a friend and confidant, and an inspiration to so many. We lost her on the sixth of February, 2005. I say “we” because I never realized just how many lives she had touched until the day of her funeral. So many people traveled great distances to bid her farewell.

I have to say that life just isn’t the same without her in it. Everything has been a little out of sorts since that day. I want so badly to have her back and give her everything she ever gave to me. My number ONE fan…the only way I know how to hold her again and hear her soft, comforting voice is through a song. I hope I always make her proud.

I told my story to another musician. We collaborated to write this song for her, hoping someone else could find comfort in the words. Isn’t it just like Mom to continue to give encouragement? Like she uses to say, “Who is this Lou guy, and what does he have to do with me?” He personifies everything that she is because she was, “JUST LIKE LOU!”

A Short Season

To Georg, with love!

Some people come into your life for a reason and some for a season. I always liked that saying because it is so honest. I had a friend, Georg Hegelmann he came into my life with drive and purpose. We had met through Russ Williams at a time I was working hard to win a competition. It was a grueling couple of months, and I got through it with the help of my friends. Georg, played my music, created commercials to advertise and request for votes; he and Wolfie were a massive part of my success. Georg would even vote to download the songs I had listed as rewards. He wouldn't let me send them; he said he was willing to work for it. I won December of 2014. We celebrated new years eve together on Fame Music Radio it was the start of strangers becoming dear friends. It was a packed house on The Pack Show and was one hell of a party!

The Pack Show aired every Friday night, and it became a ritual for me, the thing to do every week and Me and Mr. cheek Hegelmann would banter back and forth, and Wolfie would play mediator while Helen would be posting angry birds in my defense on Facebook. Every shot given to each other was presented with the utmost love and giggle behind the scenes. Georg was a shock jock, and he did his job well.

And then there was the behind the scenes, the part so many did not see, the love he gave, the laughter shared. The hours of us talking via Skype, fixing the world's problems if only people would listen...jejeje

And how could I ever forget, “Georg, turn the music down? I can't hear myself think?”

And his cheeky response, “It can't be loud, if I turn it down any lower it will be off!”

Still makes me giggle to this day.

More behind the scenes no one else saw was all the time's life had taken its toll, and we would chat for hours on instant messenger, and he would not stop until he knew he had cheered me up. He leaned on me a few times as well we got to know each other, and he was easy to talk to and a great listener with sound advice.

Not only was he a friend to me but he introduced me to so many other people that became close, genuine friends, still to this day, we remain connected. The family keeps growing and it all started from Georg and his partner in crime Russ, aka Wolfman!

A friend like that is one easily taken for granted, and God love him if I ever forgot to say thank you and I love you, please dear Lord tell him now. He left behind an entire community of grieving, broken hearts. This kind of fall for us is one that will hurt and leave a mark that may never go away. I want to believe it is all a bad dream, I will wake up and brush that one off. Chat with him and say, man, you would not believe what happened to me today!

Unfortunately, the harsh reality is I lost a dear friend. He was so many things to so many people. For me he will always be that cheeky Georg, that kept me on my toes, made me laugh, and now making me cry.

Georg you were put in my life for a sure reason, the sad truth is only for just a short season. Rest in Peace, will love you always!

New Year, New Beginnings

Where do I start when reflecting on this past year. The highlight for me was finishing my 6th studio

Last performance of the 2017 UK Tour

recorded CD, SEESAW, with longtime friend and producer, Scott Neubert. I was very proud of this CD, and I took it out on the road for another UK tour. I spent five months bouncing from one corner of the UK to another, I performed over 50 dates, hit several radio stations, charted and met new friends and my UK family keeps growing bigger and bigger. Sharing the stage with Ruzz Evans and Dave Willmott and a few others I met along the way was an experience I will carry in my memories forever. A true honour playing with so many incredible musicians.

I was able to catch the attention of a publisher here in Nashville, Merf Music and they have been golden as far as working it for me and getting my songs heard and placed. Still working with APM out of LA and One Night Stand Music out of the UK. In recent months I was picked up by a management company, Dalyce Entertainment. Together we are working on exciting opportunities for 2018.

I was considered, again in four categories of the Grammys and did not get the nomination, and my fans picked me up and celebrated my music anyway. You cannot know what that meant to me.

As a member of The Recording Academy, I decided to become a district advocate and fight for copyright reform. I have been heartbroken at witnessing the injustices an artist is faced with in this changing age of technology. So many benefitting from our work except for the creators themselves. We made some strides but there is still much work to be done.

We share in the success, and you lift me up in my failures. Life is indeed a roller coaster of ups and downs. The lessons I've learned and blessings I have taken away on the journey feeds my muse and keeps me moving onwards and upwards. I could not do it alone, and I get by with the help of my friends.

Now another new and exciting year is upon us and I want to extend my love and best wishes for all of you. Looking forward to what 2018 has in store for us. The journey is boundless, and the love will see us through. Every year I make new goals and as I reach each one I get closer and closer to making all my dreams a reality. I could not get there without the support of my fans that quickly became friends and now family. This journey has been hard at times, but with so many seeing me through each challenge makes my blessings countless. 

I know I say it often and I hope it does not diminish the meaning, I cannot be me without all of you, Thank you for helping me keep my dreams alive!

Saying Goodbye to 2017 and Welcoming Another Year

Join Rebecca Hosking and Scott Neubert for a Christmas Celebration

an online concert from our living room to yours

The World is INVITED!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AT CONCERT WINDOW

Review by Actress and filmmaker, Penelope Read

Review of Words and Music, The Story Behind the Song

Penelope Read, actress and filmmaker

By Rebecca Hosking

As I read this, I felt as though   Rebecca was in the room with me, so conversational was her style, yet her eloquence pulled me up sharply with its aching honesty.  The ideas and images she writes about are so vivid, the metaphors so apt, that everything she says is easy to understand and inspires empathy. The overriding message of this story is one of positivity, in fact, much of Rebecca’s writing is inspirational.

I especially liked the idea that even the bad times can be made useful, by incorporating the feelings into a song! ‘As I trip over myself and try again’ (In Over My Head)  In ‘A Hard Dream To Sell’, Rebecca urges us to follow our dreams, even though it’s difficult to combine dream-chasing with reality.

I enjoyed  ‘Riding Shotgun’ – it is full of the courage it takes to launch off on your own.  It ties in well with A Hard Dream to Sell – we have to carry on with that dream-chasing and change it into reality.

My favourite of all is ‘Safe Haven’ – many of us have a happy place – our den, the garden, the beach, but the idea of a safe haven within oneself had never occurred to me. Rebecca has offered me ‘ a doorway into a corridor’. Brilliant metaphor!

This story behind the song is achingly honest, not least in ‘Trouble Comforting ‘ – perhaps we heal ourselves, in helping others. The idea of impermanence is reassuring – even the worst pain passes in time, even if we have to ‘stumble through it’!

I’m so glad I discovered both the songs and the story behind them.  Rebecca has made me think, inspired and comforted me.  I will remember her words.

Penelope Read - Actress and Filmmaker, Trained singer who took up acting in 2006.Experienced in TV, Film, Corporate events, Murder Mysteries, and commercials

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF WORDS AND MUSIC BY REBECCA HOSKING

Reflections, thinking small to make big changes.

the_enchanted_mirror_by_ineedchemicalx-d5qtrsv

Reflection is a great tool for self-improvement in my humble opinion. We are all guilty of pointing fingers and complaining about what is wrong in the world when in most cases the things we complain about we do have the ability to change because quite often we are usually guilty of what we are vocalizing, ourselves.

It is easy to point out what is not working, but implementing change is not always as easy as it seems. I have said this before and will reiterate it here, our brains function on habitual routines. The best way to seek change is to set up a regular routine and before long it becomes a habit that is as natural as breathing. It is that simple but, we have to start somewhere. The hard part is creating the change before it becomes a habit.

If we are honest with ourselves we can hold a mirror up and ask truthfully is this annoyance caused by me? Reflection is a tricky thing. If someone hurts us or we feel slighted, are you reflecting what someone did to you on the wrong person? If a repeated action of deceit affects us in our lives it is easy to fall in that pattern and automatically assume everyone is going to do the same thing, before anything is done at all. Often times we, in fact, enforce the behavior by our attitude towards the innocent party, creating their defenses to react to your behavior. That person becomes the victim of your own reflection.

We can also be the culprit of the things that annoy us the most, we see it easily because maybe we do it as well? It is not easy to be fully honest with yourself, no one likes to admit their own failures. However, it seems failures are the stepping stones to success. Trial and error is the process to finding the best fit, should we say? You cannot fix something if you do not understand what is broken. An analysis of truth must be reflected in the mirror, then change what you do not like about yourself to create a better you. Then others see and react and follow suit; you created the cycle for a positive change.

May seem confusing but it is human nature and no one is immune. However, we can use it to our advantage in a complementary way instead of negatively. Being the control freak that I am, I understand that we can not control the actions of others, but we can control how we react to them. Change starts with the individual, be the change you want to see and lead by example.

One voice can make a difference and soon habits start to form and changes trickle down to

more and more people before you know it, you are a cause of a movement. It all started with a habit you formed in combating something you did not like about yourself. Make that movement count, put more favorable energy out and we get it back 10 times fold. As easy as it is to argue with someone and demand them to think like you do, that can be replaced with an eager ear, waiting to listen, or a helping hand looking to help someone in need, or a simple handshake and smile, can create an entirely new outlook that is rewarding on so many levels.

I believe! All we can do is try, right? What is the worst that can happen? But the best case scenario is a better world for future generations. Changes happen globally when we start locally!

 AVAILABLE NOW! Words and Music, the story behind the song! Check it out and download your copy TODAY! 

The Emotional Highs and Lows of a Touring Musician

Another new year is upon us and I was working on my ebook that is a reminiscence of my 2016 UK radio tour. I was on the road for 4 months with little to no down time at all; you'd be amazed at what can happen in a short period of time. The people I met, other musicians I had the honour to share the stage with and countless rare moments I experienced that will live in my memories forevermore. The ebook will have direct quotes from my journal and details about the moments lived and lessons learned. But while working on it, I was making discoveries about myself and the emotional toll a tour can take on a musician.

Going out on the road is a huge part of a musician's job. We do not have a career unless we have an audience that will buy our merchandise and come out to see us play. I started out as a songwriter and learned over the years there is a big difference between an artist and a writer.

I'm a songwriter first and foremost and having said that, being out on the road for an extended period of time taught me the real difference. The high is vastly different between the two and each have their unique just rewards. An artist feeds off the emotions the road provides. It builds and carries us to the sky, then coming home is an instant drop. The higher you are, the harder you fall.

I started touring and promoting my own music as an Indie artist, in recent years. As a songwriter, I

With Scott Neubert at Smith's in Atlanta, GA

was not having any luck getting my songs heard so I started promoting my own music as an artist. I released my first studio recorded CD, Love and Other Disasters in 2007, produced by Scott Neubert. It received countless accolades from across the globe. I also started getting my music placed in TV/films etc. It was a whole new world and I was making progress. My 4th release, A Few Broken Pieces, landed me a membership to the Recording Academy and I was considered for a Grammy in the category of best new country artist. These are the kind of steps that inspire you to keep moving forward and never give up on your dreams.

I started building a fan base in the UK and went out on a radio tour in August of 2016 hitting every single radio station that would play me, I did live in studio performances and interviews and also hit the open mic scene and played for exposure to build an even larger fan base. Any hard working, serious musician knows, there is no formula to success, no set path, you have to blaze your own trail by doing whatever it takes. In doing so your job becomes your lifeline, the people you meet become your crutches that prop you up and the lessons become your to do list, it is learned by trial and error and so you start repeating what proved to be working.

I got a small taste of life on the road, keep in mind there are musicians that spend an entire year on the road, my 4 months was a taste of a musician's reality and all the ups and downs that come along with the lifestyle. I used to read biographies of all my favorite musicians, mainly to learn what worked for them, best way to be a musician is learn what the greats did in order to make a living

Kevin Wrapson and Helen Bawden at
the Manchester airport

doing what you are trying to accomplish. I read countless stories of depression and mental illness and the instability that lurked in the minds of most of these stars, I often judged them and thought suck it up, you are doing what you love, why all the whining….However, now I get it, probably more than ever.

Here in the USA I would go on short tours, hit different regions, 10 days on the west coast, 10 days in the Midwest, etc. After, I would come home it would take a couple days to come off the initial high then I'd fall right back into my normal routine and plan for the next road trip and write new songs. I never felt anything other than a bit of fatigue and I bounced back pretty quickly.

This time was different for me. I packed my bags and grabbed my passport and journeyed to another country with the intention of staying as long as I could with a goal of promoting my latest CD, Safe Haven. I was already building a following in the UK and Lucky me, getting a fair amount of radio play, the tour was easy and I bounced across the country and circled it twice hitting each station that was playing me as well as being sent to new ones all over the radio community. I would promote live performances on the radio shows and started getting a nice draw in all the rooms I played, which got me more invites to play again and many brought me back as a featured artist.

This was it, it was happening, people were noticing and giving me positive feedback every single time. I cannot describe to you the sense of accomplishment as an artist to have a stranger buy your music and walk away genuinely happy as if they have just won a prize. As a songwriter, when that happens, you know you have done your job right. It is like an office worker getting a promotion or recognition for a job well done. There is not a lot of rewards or compensation for an indie artist, so these little natural highs are the gold that keeps us focused on our ultimate goals.

You win some and you lose some it is the nature of the beast, but when you get on a roll and everything is going right, you feel in your mind you are unstoppable and that is the best reward any musician could ever ask for throughout their creative career, in my humble opinion. It certainly gave me a new sense of self worth and a confidence I have never felt before.

Coming home and what happened to me mentally caught me off guard and not what I was expecting. I still have not adjusted to the normal. For 4 months my normal consisted of trains, planes, couch surfing, meeting new people, rewarding interactions that lead to new opportunities, every single day. Since I have been home the high has turned into a low. I had to remind myself of what was accomplished while I was away. Nothing felt grandiose anymore. Nothing held anything that felt

The Basement in Chelmsford, London UK

extra special. I think for me, when talking to family and trying to explain to them how empty I feel now, it becomes glaringly obvious, the reality that, yeah I felt special, but obviously it was not real, I'm nothing more than I was before I left. All those insecurities rush back to rear their ugly faces and stop us dead in our tracks.

I finally get it, I do not think I am alone in these feelings, I think most musicians no matter what level you are at, feel lonely after the crowd has gone home. Like a junky hooked on a drug, I now have a need to feed a crowd and be heard. As an artist making that connection with an audience feels almost as good as it did when I wrote the song.

My family is my songs, my life is my career, my self worth comes from my success and I feel my success is measured by how many people listen and give positive feedback. This is only the beginning for me and I want to give props to all the ones before me that taught me what it takes to make a dream, reality. I want to show respect to the ones I used to think were whiners. The road is not an easy journey to partake in, however the rewards are vast. Please forgive us when we are not ourselves or the person you are used to seeing. Artists are extremely emotional people that seek comfort in very unconventional ways. The world is seen in a different light and artists by default has a self centered nature that makes it hard to understand, that most people, simply do not understand us.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to follow my heart and dreams. I am even more grateful that I have a group of people that love and respect me enough to follow me on this crazy journey we call the music business. The Hoskettes, have created a family that looks out for each other and that, especially in the times we are living now, is not an easy thing to accomplish. This Fan group has become a safe haven for me, a place I can go when I need to feel like I am a part of something.

The Uncommonground in Chicago, IL

I'm a pretty positive person and a firm believer of visualizing the success you want for yourself in order to create a reality. But those visions do not come to fruition without putting forth the effort and that work is never easy. Creative people are humans, like everyone else, we have good days and bad days and most of us have crippling insecurities which is the reason we crave your attention, it is our reminder that we do have something to offer, in a society that we usually do not quite fit into like others do.


Thank you for the blessings, I say this often and hope it does not diminish its meaning, but I cannot be me without all of you. Thank you for the attention and love you have shown me from the beginning and all the times you've picked me up during the in betweens from one failure to the next successful step. Thank you for always believing I could do it, when I did not think I could. Yeah the tour has ended and that feels very sad for me, but the smile comes back when I think of the possibilities 2017 holds.

Here's to another year and may success keep growing, onwards and upwards for all of us, no matter what your dream may be.

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Melantha's Storm is distributed and available at A Novel Idea, Inc. To order your copy email: anovelideapromos@gmail.com

The Year in Review

Wow, I can't believe this year is almost closed. I have to say 2015 was much better than the year
before. I believe 2016 is going to be even better! There has been a lot of changes that has taken place throughout the year. Some took quite a bit of adjusting, however, like all good and bad situations we learn and grow from every experience.

My year started out with a big win on Artist Signal after countless months of hard work, Myself along side a very active team won a $10,000 reward for being the most popular artist on the site. I cannot not list all the names of those who helped, because the list goes on and on; was a group effort of epic proportions. Some of the rewards rendered as a thank you from me, were songs I wrote to the person who voted for me 650 times, That was sheer dedication that humbled me and I will forever be grateful for everyone and everything you did, the time you gave and interruption of your lives, please know it was then and will always be very appreciated. Thank you for your TROUBLE and for all THE STRANGERs that became close friends. I tried for the win in November and failed and it was the workings of a group of hard core supporters that encouraged everyone to continue to vote in December that got me the win!!! You know who you are and I do hope you enjoyed all the rewards rendered for your assistance. It was the journey that showed me I cannot be me without all of you. An artist is nothing without an audience and I am truly blessed with the most supportive street team ever.

With that reward came many challenges, many of which have been squashed and not worth a mention, but the biggest reward was the lasting friendships and the continued support of so many. The deal was to use that money to get to the UK, well the dream is still very much valid, but the money was not even a tip of the iceberg of what it will take. You all know me by now and when I set a goal I do not rest until it is reached no matter how long it takes. I believe I will and look forward to meeting all of my friends over there in the UK.

Since then our group has grown quite a bit and there are several, post AS, that have joined us along the way. Our family grows daily and we have so much fun, I am spoiled by the interaction and in return I will continue to create art I hope you will always enjoy and love. Scott Neubert and I have formed quite a team musically and I feel my art changes for the better daily, he has believed in me and taught me so much as an artist and an individual, I feel I have grown beyond measure, especially in 2015.

With the winnings I went on to release my 4th studio album, A Few Broken Pieces and it became my top best seller surpassing my debut in 2007, Love and Other Disasters. From that CD the song, No Reason got me on the Hot Disc charts out of the UK, I then released a single, Tonight that hit the top 20 and was also picked up by Clear Channel for iHeart radio here in the USA. Then another single, A Cold Heart Never Melts is slowly climbing the charts as well. I was added to The Wolf Pack Music after sharing countless Friday nights (the reason why Friday's are my favorite days) on The Pack Show with my good friends Russ Williams aka The Wolf Man and Georg Hegelmann. I can't forget to mention where it all started and how they have given me so much support and took me under their wings, The Rock Doc, Northern Girl, Gonzo, Diane Marie, Sheldon Snow and Raymond Rowe. So proud to be a part of the NEWUSB family! Since then the radio stations have grown worldwide and impossible to mention them all, Bright Sky Radio, of which got me on The Best of Independent Country Music compilation CD. That debuted in the top 4 best seller in country music on iTunes. The Yankee Babes, Woman of Substance Radio, Monies Indie Music Promotions, Talentcast to name a few, So many the list goes on and on, thank you all for the opportunity to share my music. 

I have received countless sinc opportunities for TV/Films landing a song on the hit series, The Lost Girl, Bizarre Foods of America, several commercials both locally and nationwide, also landing on ESPN on the Poker World Championship, even a few indie films. I want to thank my licensing company, APM for believing in my music and working hard to get me heard.

2015 ended on an unfortunate note when I was laid off from my job with HP after 16 years of service my position was handed over to India, a sad misfortune that is happening quite often in my country. However, this quickly turned into an exciting adventure as I relied heavily on my freelance work to stay afloat and have had several opportunities arise that have life changing potential. 

I am excited to see what 2016 has in store, the possibilities are limitless and I'm ready to take the bull by the horns and seize life to its fullest. I hope to make my friends and family proud and show the generations to come nothing is impossible without a dream and a whole bunch of elbow grease. So here's to rolling up our sleeves and making all our dreams come true. I cannot be ME with out all of you, thank you for sharing the journey, here's to another year!

Retrain your brain for success, one smile at a time

Humans are creatures of habit and our brains function through repetition. We train our thoughts and our actions through daily routines. These routines become common practice and soon working, eating, sleeping and every aspect of our life is a regular occurrence, none of it feels like work anymore, simply a natural progression of daily living.

In this blog I have argued that creative personalities see things a little different from others. We create a different reality, not seen by anyone else. We share our views through our art to make others aware of what our mind's eye sees. I'm learning through my travels and new people I meet that we all have some form of creativity living inside of us.

In this piece I want to explore the measure of success. What do you consider a successful day, a momentous occasion? Waking up in the morning and accomplishing making another person smile is a very successful day in my opinion. But we all have to make a living and we all have to pay the bills, realistically a smile does not accomplish putting money in the bank. Or does it?

There are countless self help books out there that all say the same thing, The Secret, Life is a Contact Sport and my personal favorite, The Artist's Way. These are only tips of the iceberg, do your own research there are countless books that can help guide you that will speak to your own needs; bottom line is, we create our own reality. Regardless your religious or political beliefs no one makes success for you, except you. Having said that, no one gets there without help. Remember to respond kindly and help others on the journey behind you. Always educate yourself and continuously question the world and all that is involved, knowledge is power and is the number one tool to success.

Actions make reality. Think of a goal you want to obtain and make a plan. Planning and goal setting is a sure fire way to reach any dream. Dreams are reality in the making. Build a trustworthy team that is like minded to your needs. Success is more realistic when learning and sharing your experiences with others on the same path. Failure is not an option, but the pitfalls and road blocks are inevitable, adapt, adjust and overcome. Never let negativity discourage you from a reality that is waiting in the wings.

I propose starting by retraining our brains to think and do different things. Nothing changes unless you make a change. I have spoken of this many times throughout this blog, the repetition is me practicing what I preach, I am retraining my brain, so positive thoughts and actions become second nature it is no longer a chore to accomplish, it is simply how I live. I'll keep repeating it until it sinks in and maybe if you are reading and sharing, it will benefit you as well.

Challenge yourself to The 7 Day Mental Diet, By Emmet Fox. I'm a huge proponent of Emmet Fox's teachings. I'm not saying it is easy, but if you successfully complete it, the positive nature can change your life. I have started and stopped many times and still in the process myself.

Success in my point of view is dusting yourself off when you have fallen and try again. Learn from mistakes so you do not repeat them and keep looking forward. I believe if you do what you love the rest falls into place, I also believe nothing is handed to you, we must always relentlessly set small goals in order to reach the bigger picture. I do not believe you can be successful, by stepping on other people or abusing trust. Karma has a way of coming back to haunt us, apologize profusely when you have unintentionally hurt someone and always help when you are able to do so. I believe you get back what you put out, it is our responsibility as humans to make this world a more loving place. A smile can lead to success because it is creating a habit that soon changes how you think and live and soon the changes unfold as naturally as breathing.

Maybe in the environment we have been living we may have all lost sight of certain habitual luxuries we normally take for granted. Retrain our brains for success. Wake up each morning regardless what challenge you must face and say today I'm facing it with a smile. Ignore the naysayers trying to put negativity in your path. Happy living is successful living and success should be shared and celebrated.

Someone told me once, you only lose if you stop trying, so don't give up. I would love to hear your opinions and success stories, if you decide to try the challenge, please share your experience. If you feel negative feelings creeping in, stop, take a breath, maybe even take a day or two, then try again. We are all in this journey together, we are all interconnected whether we want to believe it or not. The world can be better and as a team we can all succeed one smile at a time. 

There are Angels Among Us Always

The year of 2014 has been life changing for me. Many very rough moments that happened this past year that I thought I would never recover from as it all unfolded. But as the old saying goes, that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger.

I do not want to dwell on the moments that brought tears but I want to reflect on those chance happenings that changed everything for the better. I believe we all have angels looking over us encouraging us to try new and exciting things. Influencing us in ways, if we are only open to the signs.

I had many angels this year that affected me in ways they may never truly understand. My first angel I met many years ago,  Eva Shaw opened a lot doors for me in the writing world. She has been a mentor over the years and this year, our relationship became so much more. She had helped me grow as a writer and our relationship also helped me grow as a person as well. I will forever be grateful for the lessons I have learned that she so patiently allowed to be revealed. She not only is a mentor but she has become a friend that will always have a special place in my heart.

Then there was a woman I met at the beginning of 2014 who sings like an angel named Rebecca Newman. She had shown an act of kindness by a chance happening of introducing me and my music to her fans called the Newmaneers. I joined her fan page as I had never been a fan of classical music until I listened to her sing. Her voice is an instrument of its own and I was in awe of her talent and even more impressed by the love of her fans. I had never witnessed such admiration for anyone, like the Newmaneers had shown her. I thought anyone that received as much respect as she was given not only had an obvious talent but a generous heart as well; it was an honor to be a part of something that was so much bigger than simply a fan page.

She was in a contest called Artist Signal and won the month of February. I had joined the contest many months prior to meeting her but never really understood that a win could be a possibility until witnessing her hard work. I started paying attention and making friends within her group and I eventually had the honor of a gentleman creating a fan page for me, Kevin Wrapson created a page that eventually soon became what we now know as the Hoskettes. He joined forces with Robert Scullen and I had started with 34 members that generously came from the Newmaneers. Many said they never listened or cared for country music until Rebecca had told them to listen to me. Thank you Rebecca Newman for giving me that chance.
 
I had the good fortune to be able to do a tour in the Northeast with a good friend Renee Wahl. We had a great show in Philly that Jennifer Logue had set up for me at Milk Boy. It was a great crowd and I was also able to meet my friend Andy Whatt face to face as he made the journey from DC to come see me.

Renee and I then journeyed to NYC. I had wanted to play in that city my whole life. Unfortunately it did not turn out as good as Philly, however it was where I met the very talented Micheal Castaldo. He was the only person who said he would come to my show who actually showed up. He not only came to the gig, he proceeded to show Renee and I around Little Italy afterwards and bought us dinner. After my car breaking down and learning of limited time left with my brother and wasting time on a rough gig in NYC; he gave a pleasant ending to an extremely rough day, yet another angel here on earth.

We had to cut the tour short and head back home. I was able to spend some unforgettable moments with my brother that I will cherish until we meet again. He is now with my Mother and I am blessed with angels in heaven as well as on earth.

The Hoskettes are now 183 members strong and we have gained members from all over the world. I have had the good fortune of meeting and joining forces with Ashei and through them I met and befriended Sonja Garard who allowed me to become a member of The Pack. I also met Into The East and became friends with Liv McBride. I also soon met the leader of the Pack, Wolf Man who then took me under his wing and did many radio interviews with me and I eventually made the top ten most requested on Fame Music Radio hosted by Georg Hegelmann out of Johannesburg, SA. These acquaintances have quickly become life long friends I will cherish always. 

I have had a very successful year with my release, My Soul is Already Sold, produced by Scott Neubert. My first release with him since Love and Other Disasters. I have made several cuts on TV and films from songs on this CD, being featured on, The Lost Girl, Bizarre Foods of America, also featured on Delta Airlines, Smithsonian Channel and many more.  Scott and I are finishing up my latest release, A Few Broken Pieces which should be out literally within weeks. We make a good team and I appreciate him always believing in me and helping me make my musical aspirations a reality. He is a God send to say the least.

There are so many others I have not mentioned and you all know who you are, that have impacted me in one way or another. You never really fully realize or appreciate how blessed you are until you sit and count your blessings. There are so many angels that have been there for me through thick and thin. I have been blessed 10 times fold and will never know what I have done to deserve such love.

I will be closing the year with a win on Artist Signal, ironically ending the year basically how it began; with angels looking after me and changing my life forever.

Enter to WIN!

Its time for us to have a little fun. For those of you who know me, know I am an artist as well and work under many different creative realms. I have been hired to do many portraits in recent months and now for a little fun I'm going to give you all the opportunity to show me what you can do!

Starting today until the end of the month I want you all to draw a portrait of ME! It can be a stick figure or whatever you are capable of doing you will be judged on originality and how well you know me, for example, my favorite color is green and my favorite flower is carnations and I play guitar, sing and write! If you can't get my likeness draw a stick figure that will show its me by the things incorporated in the drawing! Be creative and show the world your talent and how much you know me. Another hint, I have two cats name Linus and Speck whom I love very very much! :o)

The winner will receive a never before released completed demo of my song written for my family called, Every Chance I Get!

Meet your judges, my dear friends and 2 people who know me better than my own family, Scott Neubert and Renee Wahl all of whom you should check out their pages and enjoy their music while your posting your drawings of me! Scott Neubert and Renee Wahl

Don't be shy visit my blog and you will learn I believe we all are creative, only not all of us tap into our creative whims, like others do. Creative Compromise! 

So now is your chance to show the world your vision of art and how your eyes perceive one of the artists you enjoy listening to.

You can submit your entries at my fan page: Rebecca Hosking Support Group aka The Hoskettes!
 

Winners will be annouced on Sept 8th after the judges have a week to review all entries! Can't wait to see what you guys come up with! Make me PROUD but first and foremost let's have some fun!

Paz y amor siempre

Monkey Wrench, Anyone?

Funny how life keeps going no matter what, you know when people say, don't feel so bad, no matter how bad things are there is always someone who has it worse. Ever feel like you were that person who had it worse?

God, life is a funny little cycle and time stops for no one, does it? We do our best and make our plans and strive to reach our goals, but some days no matter how you try, there is a monkey wrench and it is jammed right in the middle of everything causing all your hard work to fall apart.

Life is balance and 9 times out of 10 so rarely does any of us actually have the balance we need in order to survive these bumps. We go day to day with our routines thinking there is an end in sight and when that end comes and it is never what we had planned; it makes us feel like we did something wrong.

But guess what, your not alone and you did nothing wrong. Its called life. We can plan as much as we want and be prepared, but no amount of strength or preparation will ever make the bumps any smoother. Some things do not have visible answers, hell, some things have no answer at all. It simply is what it is, good, bad or indifferent. At the end of our life when we have to answer to our maker, I imagine that is when all the mysteries will be revealed. But, who knows? As I have planned this day to come I also think, it most likely will never be like I imagined.

Call it a mid life crisis or a bout of depression or maybe things are right on track for you at the moment. Regardless the state you are in nothing is permanent and nothing lasts forever. When the tide rolls in and we are treading water and struggling to breathe; we have to tell ourselves this too will pass. When we are on top of the world and everything falls right into place, enjoy it while you can, because it will eventually fade as well.

To live with the philosophy that nothing is permanent some find to be grim and bleak. But I find it to be my comfort when I feel like the world is focused on killing my spirit. There is nothing, absolutely nothing that lasts forever. But maybe that belief  is not the complete truth either?   

Humans are riddled with flaws and imperfections, but it is also our nature to nurture and build bonds that cannot be broken by these cycles of hard times. I used to live my life by the philosophy that nothing is permanent, but here I am learning yet again. There is one thing that is constant, there is a monkey wrench that messes with my program of belief.

When I look back on my life and all the hard times I have been through it is true with time the sorrow did pass and the monkey wrench that broke the cycle of sadness was always love. When things were great those good times were always shared with those closes to me and their pride for me was shown through their love. When we lose someone close to us, the love never dies, in fact, it is felt even stronger with their passing.

When it is real and comes from a true place love is the one thing, the only thing, that lasts forever, no matter the circumstances.

My Soul is Already Sold Tour 2014

Being on the road is a huge part of being a musician. It is when I put all the hard work behind the scenes out on the front lines for the world to see and hear. Hours and hours of writing, rehearsing and recording comes down to this moment, walking out on the stage. This is where I connect with all of my fans and hopefully meet and make new friends and build an even bigger fan base.

I kicked off this leg of the tour with Scott Neubert, musician extraordinaire, best producer any girl could ask for and an amazing friend. We performed in my living room through Stage It an online performance venue. It was a great turn out and I want to thank all of you who attended and donated  money to help fund my road expenses.

I then headed to Philly with Renee Wahl. Renee is from Philadelphia and had heaps of her friends

Renee Wahl and Rebecca Hosking at Milkboy in Philly

come out to the Milkboy and shared the evening with us. My good friend Andy What made the trip and I made a whole bunch of new friends there as well. It was a packed house and phenomenal fun.

My good friend Jennifer Logue is the host of the show Rock on Philly and had invited me to play their Tuesday night show. I'll forever be in debt to Jennifer for thinking of me and always supporting my music. We met through the magazine I write for, I was offered a column and she was my first story, and we have been friends ever since.

It is almost inevitable that a musician runs into a little bit of strife while on the road. My car started overheating and I was concerned. Renee contacted a friend Rob Branco aka (Cousin Rob) and he put me in touch with a gentleman named Donnie DiDonato, please forgive me if I got the last name wrong. He owns the Advance Auto on 1826 South 11th, Philadelphia, PA 19148, he took me in right away, fixed me up and even drove me around the city to make sure the problem was fixed before sending me on my way. I cannot thank him enough for his kindness and concern. A genuine soul and thank you seems too little of words. BUT, THANK YOU so very much! If anyone is ever in need of work done in Philly go see Donnie!

I'm headed to NYC today and playing at the Ella Lounge, 9 Avenue A. NY, NY at 9pm. I'm looking forward to see what this night will bring. I have been wanting to play Manhattan my whole life, for me, this is a milestone of my career. To be able to share it with the amazing Renee Wahl is an added bonus. I'm hoping for another packed house and looking forward to seeing some old friends and making some new ones.

The Importance of Self Evaluation

Have you ever been on that journey, trying to find yourself? 

Salvador Dali

I am pretty sure most of us have, especially us creative types. We do tend to dig a little deeper in order to delve into depths of emotions most people choose to bury. These emotions are the catalyst to our art. In other people's lives they go to work, come home and spend time with family on the weekends and have created a routine that works very well. To stray from the routine is usually cumbersome, we all are creatures of habit

Although regimen and structure can be very beneficial if you are like me, I get bored quickly and need to keep things interesting or else I tend to get myself into little messes. The details of those messes is for another post altogether.

The world around us is forever changing even if we continue on our same path, everyday is a new day. I think we should always redefine who we are and what is important to keep up with the changes. I believe you should be unapologetic for changing your mind. You may feel one moment one way and the next moment completely different, especially if you keep your mind open to new ideas and different opinions.

I can only speak for myself and I know that I play many different roles in any given day and I act accordingly. I work in the corporate world and I behave as such, when I'm on stage, I'm a different person. I can be a writer, a friend, a daughter, a sister, whatever role I am, each is deserving of its own reaction and personality.

Stagnated ruts can quickly kill our creativity. Force yourself outside of your comfort zone daily. It is a sure fire way to learn your flaws and improve and build strengths where you were weak. Not only does it spill into our work but it makes us more well rounded individuals.  

I have a plethora of personal flaws that hold me back if I succumb to them and give them strength. But, you cannot fix something until you know what is broken, you have to view yourself with an extremely crucial and judgmental eye. If you are honest with yourself, you will see the good and embrace it and feel compelled to fix the bad. Once the bad is revealed it is your responsibility to make the change. Try not to justify, simply accept that it needs to be addressed.

For most of us it is difficult to view ourselves objectively. I find a good rule of thumb is to pay close attention to the insults you put towards others, often times if you spot it, you got it. Keep it to yourself, you do not have to air your dirty laundry, I'm simply giving you a way to gauge honestly. If you think to yourself, I am fine, it’s the rest of the world that is crazy; there is some truth in that, but you are still a part of that crazy world. Trust me don't be embarrassed I have said that many times and genuinely believed the statement.  

To ask someone to define who they are, I think is an impossibility unless you ask, who are you at this moment? It is easy to say here I am, take it or leave it, and be okay when someone decides to leave it. But if we really evaluate why that person decided to leave, and in all honesty try to improve on that flaw then maybe next time you will make a better companion.

This works in every aspect of our lives, be it creative or not, be critical and decide to always change for the better. It is human nature to be mad and offensive, but try not to even waste a moment with all that nonsense. After all, think about how many times someone said something and it made you angry, then later when by yourself in a quiet room, you thought more rationally that maybe they did have a point.

You have to start by loving yourself, I believe when we reach a point of comfort in ourselves it is easier for us to be happy and put good back into the world. Viewing people and things negatively is a reflection of you and who you are, do you want to be that person, if not, the only solution is to stop.

I'm still learning how to love myself, I beg your pardon while I'm on my journey and thank you to all of those people, who have been a shining example of who I want to be.