Hello again, I hope you are doing well.
I have to once again apologize for falling short on my podcast release schedule.
In this case this episode of What’s Your Excuse?
Was delayed by my trip to Washington DC to attend the national conference and Blind Leader Development Training Program of the American Foundation of the Blind.
Not having been anywhere in person since the beginning of Covid, it took me much longer to get prepared to leave.
Then the day before I ws scheduled to leave I fell in my yard and twisted my left knee.
And if that wasn’t enough I pulled a muscle in my back on the plane.
So, after five days in a hotel and day-long sessions, I got home really tired.
It took me so much longer to recover from this trip.
I think during covid I got old or soft or both. Haha
I know that y’all will understand. Including my guest this time Heather Hutchison
But I feel bad about disappointing you.
This is especially because my delay meant that this episode did not come out to coincide with the release of Heather’s latest Album If I could.
Which you can find at www.heatherhutchison.bandcamp.com
What We Talked About
This was an amazing conversation.
I do wish that I had the skills to edit it though.
This is because we spent the first half talking about writing, recording, and performing music both before and during Covid.
This was great stuff. I found out about how she deals with stage fright, and how she was discovered as an artist.
We talked about how music has always been there for her in good times and especially bad.
But we didn’t get to her struggles with depression and mental illness until the second half of the show.
If you go to the 29 minute mark, you can hear her sing If I could from her new album.
And our conversation about her emotionally struggles starts from there.
We talked about how before school she lived life in a bubble. And how attending school caused her to feel like she didn’t fit in because of her blindness.
She shared about how Covid brought on a major breakdown because she lost both the physical contact with her doctors and the tangible events to look forward to.
She shares about how being hospitalized was good for her in spite of some of the horror stories people have heard.
For her final thought she urged people to think of one small moment of joy in their lives. And then to think about what it would be like to have missed that because you are no longer here.
It was a difficult interview for me. Probably why I started with and spent so much time on her music.
And we both want you to think about asking for help if you are struggling with your mental health.
Two things You Should Know
One, I sing on the intro to my podcast. In this case I am singing the final verse of I song I wrote myself called If You Don’t Ask.
Two, I do not edit the recordings. The show is recorded live just like classic television or your local morning shows.
Now On To The Show
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:39 — 22.9MB) | Embed
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Support Our Sponsors
Thankful to Blubrry.com
For providing the podcast hosting for my show as well as The WYE Podcast Network.
We couldn’t do this without their continued financial and technical support. Reach out to them if you are wanting to start a new podcast.
I also appreciate Chip Edwards the owner of createmyvoice.com
He created the Alexa & google invocations for the podcast. And he makes sure people can find my show just by saying “Play What’s Your Excuse.”
About Heather
Could sharing our own darkness be the light that guides someone else through theirs?
This is the question that award-winning, Vancouver Island-based singer/songwriter Heather Hutchison seeks to answer on her latest release, If I Could, (January 28, 2022).
Hutchison’s songs have always been rooted in the universal feelings of the human experience, but If I Could is undoubtedly her most personal work yet.
In this concept EP, Hutchison shares her experiences of the time she spent hospitalized for psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her first, tentative steps into recovery.
This EP crosses genres, from the gritty, pop-punk Spark, to the orchestral pop track Exit Plans, to the understated strings and piano of the title track, If I Could, in which Hutchison speaks to her former self, as well as to the ones who have been lost to mental illness.
Hutchison sings with the conviction of someone who has lived these experiences, and her crystal clear voice commands attention from the very first note.
With captivating melodies and strikingly powerful, honest lyrics that stay with you long after the songs are over, Hutchison weaves achingly beautiful stories, offering her unique brand of realistic optimism to others who are struggling.
Blind since birth, music was an integral part of Hutchison’s world from a young age. Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, she spent much time in her early years making up melodies and figuring out songs by ear on the piano.
She was exposed to a diverse array of artists from her parents’ music collection such as Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, and Burton Cummings.
She cites later musical influences including Sara Bareilles, Eva Cassidy, Donovan Woods, and City and Colour.
Since her completion of a diploma in Jazz and Contemporary Voice in Vancouver, British Columbia, she has grown to incorporate some elements of jazz into her music.
Latin influences are also evident in newer material, a product of time spent living in South America.
If I Could is not only a musical project for Hutchison, it is her life’s work.
The themes of this EP are the perfect soundtrack to her recently released Amazon best-selling memoir, Holding On by Letting Go.
Hutchison is passionate about educating people on mental health and disability through her music and writing.
She is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs and renowned podcasts across the globe, singing and speaking to bring her message of hope to those who are struggling.
In her advocacy work, she has appeared alongside numerous high-profile psychologists, clinical counselllors and other mental health professionals.
Since the release of her first EP of original material at only sixteen years of age, Hutchison has released four albums to critical acclaim and has performed in concert halls, theatres, clubs and outdoor stages from North to South America, with many performances broadcast on television and radio.
Her singles have received frequent airplay across Canada and the US, and she has been a regional finalist in CBC’s Searchlight.
Her single, Reason to Stay, won a 2016 Vancouver Island Music Award for pop recording of the year, and her album, Where the Ocean Meets the Sand, was nominated for album of the year at the VIMAs.
A versatile artist, Hutchison sings in both English and Spanish and can be seen performing her original material solo or with a band, as well as appearing with her jazz group, The Heather Hutchison Trio.
With fans from around the world and the innate ability to connect with audiences young and old, the universality of Hutchison’s message is clear.
Friends Of The Show
While not a sponsor, I have personally benefitted from the CBD products made by the great people at crystalcreekorganics.com
I don’t think I would have survived and even thrived during my trip to DC without the gift of CBD they sent just before I left town.
And I really enjoy my comfortable extra-soft headphones made by sleepphones.com
I actually got in a little trouble for them. Because I was trying to keep up with my life back home when I was supposed to be paying attention to the meetings and trainings there.
Hey, it’s hard to disconnect. 😉
Connect With Heather
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heatherhutchisonmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hlhutchison
Instagram: www.instagram.com/heatherhutchisonmusic
Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@heatherhutchisonmusic
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/18261847.Heather_Hutchison
Apple Music: www.music.apple.com/us/artist/heather-hutchison/80068390?uo=4
Spotify: www.open.spotify.com/artist/07t3LapcWFZmhrUN5FJ15n
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/HHutchisonMusic
Sharing Is Caring
I truly appreciate Heather coming on my show and sharing her experiences so openly and honestly with us.
Her appearance is a fine example of the best that podcasting has to offer.
And the best way to thank her is to help her on her continuing journey.
So, I would appreciate it if you would connect with her and share her content.
It would also be great if you shared the links to her book and movie with your friends and family and encouraged them to at least check her out.
I would love it if you listen to the podcast to leave a rating and a review on it.
This isn’t because I want to become some sort of rockstar in the podcasting world.
It is simply because I want even more people to hear and to learn from the awesome guests I am blessed to have on my show.
If you have any suggestions for the show or for me personally, please leave them in the comments section or Drop me an email.
This also applies if you have questions about the podcast network or want help starting a new show.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your continued support of me, my show, and my journey.
Until next time take care out there, Max