Comments:
Wow, a loaded question... by now, what haven't I been up to? Best I can say is to follow my music career with lots of life in between.
www.shelleybarratt.com and www.5revolvingdoors.com
Stuck around ABQ for 2 years, waiting for remaining band members to finish school. A few UNM classes and continued to work at Meals on Wheels. Just at the verge of Sub Culture being courted by major record labels, the band broke up. I went to Nashville on my own, and the other members stayed in ABQ (2 of which later went on to become The Shins).
Nashville, did some music, but was so in "band" mind-frame was not easy being a solo artist, though I wrote much music. So I started odd jobs, fell in love, lost, started dating someone seriously, got married. Went through depression not having direction or following my dream, moved to Boulder, CO.
Boulder, got divorced, adopted a puppy who would become my best friend for 5 years, sang with a cappella groups, studied meditation, more odd jobs and a few odd relationships. But continued songwriting, delving deeper. Jobs ran out, moved to Silicon Valley (Sunnyvale) CA where the jobs were.
Sunnyvale/Santa Clara/San Jose, top of the dot-com boom and high-tech. What on earth was I ("touchy-feely" person) doing there? Worked for several high-tech companies, learned a lot about business, high paid jobs, engineers, stock options, and continued songwriting. Played live solo all over the Bay Area. Also played djembe drum for "The Grateful Dudes". Enjoyed evenings with my dog on Half Moon Bay. A few more odd, and one significant relationship with someone from the other side of the globe. Traveled to Germany, Italy and France, absolutely loved being international (my thinking has always been global in its scope, ever since I can remember, but I had never been in a financial position to travel). Experienced a good earthquake. Silicon Valley started to shake, so I made plans to move yet again, this time to Phoenix area to be near my sister.
Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe, out of the Silicon Valley just as the dot com bust occurred. Lived in Ahwatukee with my beloved Goldie, Sage, who had been with me since Boulder. Went through 9-11 alone with my dog who got cancer and died a few months later. I wouldn't trade all my times with that dog for the world. Met a studio engineer (& guitarist for Sister Sledge) that I worked with for music recording, and compiled my first solo album, done all by myself with various guest musician-friends. Jobs were dry again because of economy, so I worked at a local grill, then later at a skin care company where I did international sales and traveled to trade shows all over the U.S. I played co-ed soccer, did yoga and modern dance- even scoring, performing and recording music for modern dance pieces. A few more odd relationships and then married again. I quit my job and tried to do music full time, also helping my husband's SEO business. We visited ABQ, and he fell in love (I wasn't so sure I'd ever live in ABQ again). But it seemed affordable and a good idea, as neither of us had ever owned a home, and we wanted to have a "home base" after years of wandering.
Albuquerque, here I am again, was away for 14+ years, didn't know I'd be back. Some things are the same, some very different. But ABQ remains the strangest city in the known universe. I played solo shows regularly, and soon started gathering a band (now having to return also to "band" mentality after having played solo for years). The internet marketing business fell through along with the real estate bust and our chance to buy a house. I had to go out and find full time work, and I've worked at a "green" high-tech company for several years. The marriage broke up, and I am rebuilding again. Hopefully soon I'll be touring with my band.
My band, 5 Revolving Doors, has been working hard in the studio after a few years of personnel changes, breaking my arm, and other setbacks, and we are now coming clear on new music soon to be produced and published.
One more thing, last but not least, one of my favourite pasttimes is IM'ing with my dad ("Coach Barratt"), and visiting with him from time to time now that I am near again.
Finally, what a trip to reconnect with some old friends and acquaintances from my vaious past lives on Facebook! Many of you are on there, but if you are not, I encourage you to do so. A lot of fun.
