Finding her own way

[airhigh]

There is a story in the January issue of Utah Valley Magazine about Utah singer Mindy Gledhill who is thirty two years old and has pursued a musical career since her early twenties. I see Haley's struggles in Mindy's climb so I hope its worth a mention on the Forum. What I present will be quotes and paraphrases from the magazine. Oh, Mindy's wardrobe usually comes from cloths from the 40s 50s & 60s that she likes to find at yard sales.
Mindy released her 4th album in 2013 & performed to 40 sell-out crowds but it hasn't come easy. In high school she tryed out for concert choir and didn't make it. She auditioned for the dance team and was cut. Tryed out for the school musical, turned down. Moved on to BYU & was rejected by the Young Ambassadors & Latter-day Sound. Her first yes was acceptance into BYU's music program. She dropped her Spanish major & pursued her dream. She got a job selling smoothies so she could take singing lessons & buy entrance into Provo's Rosewood Recording Co. where she made her first professional recording tracks. "I did it for my own satisfaction...I was fascinated by recording."
Skipping along to shorten the story "Mindy has now released a total of four independent albums via her brand of vintage, quirky, colorful, bold, creative & feminine." She started her own company Blue Morph Music. She say's one of her long-term dreams is to give flight to other artists with her passion for branding, styling & Freedom from musical strings. "I love owning music & being in control of all the decisions. Nobody has a greater interest in what I do than myself."
Today she has grassroot followings from the Pacific Northwest to Arizona & pockets in Asia. Her marketing plan is getting in tune with fans online. She has 2 million views on YouTube and says, "I don't monetize on YouTube, but it helps to see a visual representation and it's connection to my music, it helps fans see the message I'm trying to get across, and it's another way for people to discover who I am." ....thanks Tusk, Rachael, Himm & others, your so important right now... YouTube build her international base especially in Asia. Her first international distribution deal was put together over MySpace & took her music to Korea. She had a No 1 single on there version of iTunes for two weeks beating out Rihanna & Beyonce. This led her to Japan where she's toured & performed for her Asian fans who love "Crazy Love" & "All the Pennies" "The Japanese love cute things, and my music and brand are quirky." Asian music-lovers also love buyiung hard-copy CDs more than iTune loving Americans.
Mindy future goals include her own tour bus. She envisions sponsors for the restoration of the music mobile, which will be documented via social media. She envisions taking her bus to elementary schools where kids could come on board and play with the instruments & experiment with sounds & beat.
Mindy's recording company might be a option Haley could look at. Because she owns her own company she has put out 4 solo albums, the first one was a wash because of start up expense but the rest have made money. She has distribution contracts in Japan, Taiwan & Korea. Her songs have been featured on "So You Think You Can Dance," "20/20," "Bones," & "Jane by Design." She is commissioned to write music for Fruit of the Loom commercial.
From your blogs I know Haliens are in the game untill the end, stay strong & Haley, never, never, never give up. Mindy's journey has been ten years & it's just taking flight.