Marina Joyce Music

I am a songwriter. It’s taken me so long to feel comfortable saying that. I have always loved to write and I think if I went back and looked at things I wrote years ago, I would be able to find a song in them. It’s interesting how a lot of people, myself included, shy away from a title like “Songwriter” or even “Singer”. I mean, I have always written, and I have been singing for a long time. So why am I worried about saying it like it is? 

I guess there is a level of expectation on titles. Like a teacher, or doctor or a lawyer. We expect them to be qualified and to be good and what they do. And we absolutely judge them if they aren’t. Why would they be this “thing” if they weren’t good at it? So can I call myself a singer even if I’m not Beyonce or Adele, or Pink? 

It took me a long time to be comfortable claiming these titles for myself. I wrapped my head around the idea that those artists weren’t on one level and I on another. But rather, they are each on their own. In their own column, on their own level, and so am I. Not above or beneath them, but across from them. With them. Art is subjective, right? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. And I know that I am not for everyone, just like Beyonce might not be for everyone. And it’s taken me a long time to be ok with that. 

These doctors and lawyers and teachers are showing up everyday to prove themselves in their worlds version of a competition. I always stayed away from singing and dancing competitions because they are judged. And I never felt really ready for that kind of critique. Then along came maturity. I realized I have been being critiqued my whole life. Our peers, (especially school aged peers-kids can be so mean) our parents and basically everyone we have ever come into contact with has critiqued us in some way shape or form. But it’s what we do with it that counts. Obviously theres a line between constructive criticism and outright bullying, but since we cannot control anyone but ourselves, it would be smart of us to turn these critiques, criticisms and all the praise in between into something we can learn from. 

Our experiences shape us entirely. Every single one of them. But there is a part of me, and perhaps in you as well that wants to share with the world. Maybe it’s because I want to feel accomplished somehow. Maybe I need to feel like it’s had, and served it’s purpose.

I write songs. I sing songs. That’s what I do. And I even get paid to do it. So by definition, I am a professional singer/songwriter. I’m proud of that, just like you should be proud of whatever title or claim you call your own- especially if you’re working your ass off for it. So, I will write, and I will sing, and then I will share it with you with zero expectation to result. And I will be proud of myself for taking each step so boldly along the way. You can take me or leave me, but I fully claim and own what I have to offer and am happy, and grateful to have courage to share it. I hope you dance!

MJ