The nominations were chosen from thousands of submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Greenland and Europe.  Katie Quick’s latest album, Valley Between Love, was nominated in the Best Country Album category among 4 other artists/albums.

The nominees will be judged by an esteemed panel of judges including: Tom Waits, Ziggy Marley, Suzanne Vega, Meshell Ndegeocello, Del McCoury, Pete Wentz, Shelby Lynne, G. Love, Jim Lauderdale, Brandi Carlile, and many more. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks.  

Congratulations to Katie Quick and the rest of nominees!

http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/12th/Album/Country

Click here to be part of music history!!! Donate and help fund my 3rd…and best album yet!!!! 

Thank you again, and lots of love,

Katie

I am so excited to announce that on Tuesday, February 19th, I was featured on the Katie Couric show for a special segment called, “One to Watch!” I had the amazing opportunity to talk about my Fingertips Program, and sing for a Grammy-winning music legend, Clive Davis, and former American Idol star, Jordin Sparks !!

Click this link to vote for Katie Quick as the next “One to Watch!” Please pass this on to your family and friends!

Click here to watch the segment on Katie Quick’s Fingertips Program!

Cinderella and her fairy godmother (If only we were all so lucky)

In finally acknowledging this harsh reality, I began to realize that maybe we should stop waiting for this Big Break and start making it happen for ourselves.  It’s like hearing about girls who are obsessed with finding their soulmate.  First of all ladies, that guy you are pining over who is not calling you back?  He’s not your soulmate.  He’s a big idiot and most importantly, he’s just not that into you.  But that’s a whole other story.  What I’m saying is that instead of sitting around waiting for our soulmates to arrive, we should be working on ourselves.  Do some yoga, start knitting, go back to school, get that promotion, WHATEVER.  Just focus on being the best you that you can and you’ll see that Mr. (or Mrs.) Right will magically appear when you least expect it.

The same is true about our Big Break.  It WILL come, and it will come when we are ready.  Can you imagine the horror of winning American Idol when the most singing you have ever done was in the comfort of your own shower stall?  That would have been me back in 2005 when I first auditioned for the show.  I wanted to make it so bad, yet holy crap I probably would have had a massive panic attack during my first live television appearance.  Yet all of us, including myself, have been in that place wishing and hoping someone would make all of our biggest dreams come true while we sat there with our feet up, relaxing…and waiting.

With that said, I’m going to let you in on a little secret about myself.  I stopped waiting for my Big Break a long time ago.  I started taking action and making things happen for myself.  And looking back, I have come so far.  To this day, I have not had the help of a record label, manager, or anyone doing my public relations yet I have found TONS of success and my career is only continuing to grow.   So stop worrying.  Stop caring what people think.  Stop giving so much power to “the man” and thinking that someone else will make your dreams come true.  Make your own blockbuster movie starring yours truly, and get people excited for what will happen next.  When you’re happy and living your dream, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll get your Big Break.

Download The Exit today on iTunes or anywhere digital music is available!

“Cuz you’re like Free Fallin on the radio…Crank it up loud I love to sing along…You make me feel so alive ain’t it easy to see…There’s something about you…That brings out the best in me.”

Doesn’t that just make you wanna smile?? :) Best In Me is one of my favorite songs.   I wrote this one during the summer of 2011 with my good friend Ben Goldsmith. This feel-good tune got its start when Ben and I were sitting on the front porch of an old farm house strumming our guitars.  We started humming different melodies and before you know it, Best In Me was born, and we’ve loved it ever since!  Legendary country music critic, Robert K. Oermann loved the song too.  In fact, in a recent issue of Nashville’s Music Row Magazine, Oermann said Best In Me was a “hand clapping, banjo-propelled, sunny, toe-tapper of a single…sweet as candy.”  And really you can’t describe it any better than that! **(Fun Fact: the porch where Ben and I wrote this song, is the porch I’m sitting on in the music video!)** So without further ado, here is my brand spankin’ new music video for Best In Me.  Feel free to leave comments below and let me know whatcha think <3 

 (Directed by Alex Shofner)

Mick Jagger at Muscle Shoals

  I’ve decided to go back into the studio.  And not just any studio…but one of the most historical, sought after, Grammy award winning studio’s in the entire world.  Muscle Shoals Sound Studios is located in Sheffield, Alabama, just a few hours south of Nashville.  If you are a fan of classic music of the 1960’s and 70’s…or even Grammy Award winning music of today…well there is no doubt that you have loved a song or an artist that has recorded (and found immense success) at this studio. 

I have been looking for some way to challenge myself as an artist…a way to expand my horizons and open my eyes and ears to new experiences. I learned of this studio only a few short months ago and scheduled a tour.  The moment I walked through its old doors, I felt the magic and KNEW I had to record there.  If you’re a fan of the Rolling Stones, then you’ve surely heard their classic hit “Wild Horses.” 

Lynyrd Skynyrd at recording at Muscle Shoals

The Stones not only recorded the song at Muscle Shoals, but Mick Jagger WROTE it while sitting in the bathroom stall of the studio.  The original console that is still used today has recorded Led Zeppelin, Paul Simon, Cher, Linda Rondstadt, Bob Segar…the list goes on.  More recently, the Alternative duo The Black Keys recorded there, which resulted in them winning not just one, but SIX Grammy awards for their album Brothers 2010. 

Now take a moment to imagine all of these amazingly talented artists, singing, playing, and creating unforgettable music inside the walls of this studio.  I cannot accurately describe the feeling when you walk in those doors, except to say that it’s truly magical.  I could FEEL the energy and creativity rush towards me and welcome me in.   I knew instantly that this is where I needed to be.

Cher outside the studio

So, wiithout further ado, I am happy to announce that in two weeks, I will be bringing myself and my guitar to the historical Muscle Shoals Sound Studio to record a song.  Just me and the guitar.  No band, no frills.  I want to challenge myself not to hide behind over-production and crazy instrumentation.  I’ve always dreamed of letting my music speak for itself and I was never brave enough to do so until I stepped into this studio.  I am so excited to be there and even more excited to share the finished product with you.  I’m starting off with one song, but my ultimate goal is to record my next album, in its entirety, at Muscle Shoals.

I will be documenting my every move in the studio so I can share it with you.  I wish you could all come with me!! (Especially all of you classic music lovers.)  I know for a fact that you would appreciate all of the history there.  But because I can’t bring you all in, I’m going to bring the music to you.  Take a minute and check out this fascinating video about the history of the studio and its owner, Noel Webster:

This is something I made for my dream wall. It's a constant reminder to myself to keep going even when things get tough and to never, ever, give up.

What an amazing week it’s been! Since I arrived in Chicago this past weekend I have been able to visit 5 schools in 5 days and perform in front of over 2,000 students with my Fingertips Program.  The response from all the students has been so amazing! :)  (If you’re not familiar with the Fingertips Program, it’s basically an inspirational school assembly where I mix music and motivational speaking.  I am giving real world advice to students on how to make their dreams a reality.  We also touch up bullying and how treating each other with respect plays a big role in how far you can get in achieving your own big goals and dreams.)  When someone asks me about the program, that is normally how I explain it.  But somehow I can never get the true essence of the program across to a person until they see the amazing response from students after the fact.  If you are wondering what kind of impact the Fingertips Program makes on students, just take a look at my facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/katiequickmusic).  You can scroll back for pages and pages and read the amazing messages from students….many of which have brought tears to my eyes.  I can’t explain the happiness I feel when I read them!! It just makes my day :) 

I truly love putting on these assemblies for students.  It makes me feel like I am doing something worthwhile again!  After I left teaching I have to admit I struggled a lot.  I would wonder what I was doing to help make the world a better place if I was only chasing after my dream of making music.  I knew that some way I had to get back and work with students again…..but this time not give up on my music.  The Fingertips Program has been the absolute perfect way to combine my biggest passions, music, education, and inspiration.  Not only do I get to bring a positive message to young people, but I end up getting inspired in return. I always leave a school feeling so refreshed and invigorated, ready to take on the world!  My ultimate goal with the program is to BE THE EXAMPLE of someone who was able to use hard work and determination to follow their dream.  And because of the kids I never want to give up!!  I love the fact that I am accessible to students through email, facebook, etc and that the students trust me enough to open up about their goals, dreams, and even their fears.  I can’t tell you how humbled and honored I am when I get an email from a student who has been getting bullied telling me how much the program inspired them…gave them confidence…and didn’t make them feel so alone.  I am truly the most blessed girl in the world.  I want these students to know to know that they make me want to be a better person.  On the days when I feel like giving up (because, yes, I have those days too), I know that I can keep going because of them. 

This weekend I will make my way back to Nashville, daydreaming all the way home about how amazing the week was and about all of the positive feedback I’ve been getting from students.  I will feel so extremely thankful for all of the love I feel after working with them.  I will visualize my goals for the future and keep them there in my mind, planning my next steps on how to make them a reality.  Right now, I am going to make a promise to you…I will not give up on my dream.  I promise to work hard and stay positive and strong and not listen to the negative things people say.  I will believe in myself even when no one else does.  I will listen to my heart and follow where it tells me to go.  I will not be afraid to be different or to stand out or to be an individual.  I will never.give.up. That is my promise to myself, and you.

Can you make that promise to?

Until next time….xoxo

Katie

Sweetheart of the Chicago public school system has got to be singer-songwriter Katie Quick. This former sixth-grade teacher had the gumption to leave her position to follow her dreams; she’s in the good company of other past educators who became singers, most notably Roberta Flack, Art Garfunkel, Gene Simmons, Sting and Sheryl Crow. Now, Miss Quick’s ex-students are surely a-buzz about her sophomore album, “Valley Between Love.” Self-produced along with Chip Hardy, this country-pop crossover is cascading with catchy, melodic choruses sung straight from her open heart.

The artist has a hand in writing all fourteen songs here, and she really resonates when delivering uncomplicated, image-filled lyrics. The title track is country-soul optimism with a vintage vibe, and a strong, belted-out performance. In happy, radio-friendly rollicker, “Best In Me,” Quick sings the praises of her love interest, “You’re the comfort I’ve been craving/You’re the calm to my storm/You’re my never ending weekend/You’re the one I’ve waited for.”

The best of Quick comes through on the bittersweet “Chicago Summer Nights,” with its intimate string and piano arrangement, where she wistfully remembers: “I rode shotgun at 17/How I loved that passenger seat/Eyes closed face into the warm midnight wind/My lungs filled with freedom/And grand plans of leaving/Not knowing that one day/I’d look back in time and say/ I miss Chicago…” She’s got dynamics as much as she’s got honesty in her voice.

By Janet Goodman

http://www.musicnewsnashville.com/katie-quick-%E2%80%93-valley-between-love