She is Inspiring
Hey Fam,
So I was at my friends fab fundraiser event about a month ago and this woman was walking around in this long printed dress that was to die for. I told her that I loved it and of course found out it was Zac Posen. She had the nicest smile and we chatted about her singing career. She ended up singing that night at the event and her voice was amazing!
April good luck with all of your endeavours,
xoxo
Ally
She-blogs: Who is April Peters?
A great friend, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a singer/songwriter called to sing to all, and especially the battered, the bruised and the broken.
She-blogs: What inspired you to want to be a singer and how long have you been doing it?
I’ve been singing all my life. I remember standing in the kitchen door frame at 4 years old declaring to my mom that I would be a singer when I grew up. I think as children we have such unspoiled clarity! My family is quite creative, so the arts run in our blood.
She-blogs: This month is national domestic violence awareness month. Why did you decide to release your EP Early Bloomer this month and tell us a little about it?
Early Bloomer is what I call “April’s Lullabies”–but just like nursery rhymes they tell both the dark and uplifting sides of life. It’s part of the story of my growing up. My mom was a victim of domestic violence. And as a child, I experienced some emotional and mental abuse. I stand against abuse and want to use my voice as an advocate for victims. This project needed to be released this month. It’s an adult contemporary array of pop, rock and soul influences, co-produced by Donald Robinson of S.O.W. Productions in Philadelphia. The title track “Early Bloomer”, featuring spoken word artist C.C. Word, is a funk music mix singing the universal story of growing up too soon; the soulful “Opportunity for Love” is about battling bitterness and extending forgiveness in order to move forward and accept good love; “Daddy Laddy” is a foot-tapping folk song that juxtaposes, Irish-influenced melody with brooding lyricism about “daddy issues”, betrayal and domestic violence; “Promises” is a guitar-driven ballad, erupting with hunger for vows-kept and commitments honored.
She-blogs: Do you think women talk enough about domestic violence? What helped you get through your bout with domestic violence?
No. Believe it or not, its challenging for me. All my life, I’ve spoken openly about it among friends, family, even strangers…but now, as an artist, I have a national platform. That’s scary, because my story reaches people at an exponential rate! But it’s also great for the very same reasons! Women, people in general, need to be talking about domestic violence and they need to hear honest stories. 1 in 4 women will be a victim in their lifetime. That’s 25% of the women you know. My mother’s decision to pack up and get out, with me (7 yrs old) and my brother (2 yrs old) in tow…that’s what inspired me and helped me make strong choices in my life. Don’t get me wrong…she was scared and there was a battle that awaited her to heal and recover from abuse and to raise 2 children. But her faith was the beginning of my freedom! Over the years, I watched my mom’s relationship with Jesus Christ deepen and her strength evolve. That was amazing, because, my mom was a minister’s wife. She had not only been beaten, but she was spiritually abused; so the fact that she could turn to God and understand that it was the abuse of Scripture that oppressed her and not the true meaning of Scripture, that God loved her and was angry about her suffering, and that He was for her safety and freedom from abuse, is miraculous! So many people turn from God after suffering at the hands of so-called “ministers of God”. My mother and I were best friends—we talked about the abuse and what to avoid in choosing a mate. We were extremely honest and open with one another. My father remained in my brother’s and my life. Growing up, I went through a lot of emotional turmoil with my father. But my brother and I had a way of making everything humorous after the tears. We would act out the crazy scenarios and manipulative conversations we underwent. We would make our family and our mom laugh as we played out the scenes between father and son or father and daughter. Laughter was a coping mechanism. It wasn’t until after my mom passed away (from Sickle cell anemia) before my 22nd birthday and college graduation that more flooded me–the realization that she hadn’t been the only victim, that I had been abused as well, and some past memories I’d buried suddenly bubbled to the surface. But it was too late to explore that with my best friend, my mom…she was gone. So God and my family helped me. And after I married, the love of my husband was so healing. He was patient and helped me experience true, healthy love.
She-blogs: What is your average day like?
My husband wakes me up for a kiss. I go back to sleep. Then I get up, thank God, check my Blackberry or Bible for the morning scripture devotional, pray, tweet and get to work.
She-blogs: Tell me about one of the biggest career obstacles you have faced and how you worked through it?
How to record this album in another state while working a full-time job. I:
1. Prioritized my life and my goals, ranking them highest.
2. Took advantage of flex-time so I could travel to recording sessions during the week.
3. Honored my commitments–since work afforded me the opportunity to produce my project–by conducting business remotely from the recording studio in between sessions.
She-blogs: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Enjoying my life, singing, speaking touring and raising a family.
She-blogs: Name one place that you have never been that you want to travel to and why?
I’ve lived in Paris and traveled to many places. But one of our next trips will be to Australia. Everything is pointing me there. I want to see the landscape, the beauty, the sunset.
She-blogs: What is your mantra on life?
“A life without love is a life not lived.” I heard this said in a film and it’s stayed with me ever since.
She-blogs: When was the last time you laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe?
When my brother visited and we were watching David Allen Grier on an old episode of “Martin”.
She-blogs: What do you do to stay balanced?
I rest in the Lord’s love and grace. I nurture my relationship with God, listen for His direction before making a move, meditate on the Scriptures, converse with God (pray) daily, and exercise my body.
She-blogs: What do you like the most about the way you look?
Everything! My features, my height, my natural hair, my body shape.
She-blogs: What do you like to do for fun?
Watching films (action-packed thrillers or old Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Barbara Stanwyck films or BBC miniseries); exploring new places; and dancing.
She-blogs: Are you Happily single or Happliy in love?
I’m happily in love with my wonderful husband.
She-blogs: Is there anything else you want the she-blogs readers to know?
Little known fact: I used to work at Essence Magazine in the Fashion and Beauty Department.
Visit my site to learn more about me and the music aprilpetersonline.com
Tags: April Peters, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Early Bloomer, Singer, Songwriter