Beyoncé, Misogyny and God

I sneezed on the beat and the beat got sicker. "What's the big deal about Beyonce, other than her butt?" my mother asked yesterday via face-time.

"Are you kidding? She's amazing!"

"I couldn't name one of her songs."

"Yes you could. You know... all the single ladies, all the single ladies." I flipped my left hand back and forth at the screen, showing the signature move for the 2009 smash hit that just so happened to drop during my senior year in college, when I was a single lady and he definitely should have put a ring on it.

"And that song inspires you?" my mom said with a smirk.

"Absolutely," I laughed.

The truth is that her most recent album, Lemonade, is even more of an inspiration (though I wouldn't dare recommend my mom watch it from start to finish, unless I were there to help her translate things like Becky with the good hair, etc.). There's enough on the internet about the anger, redemption and artistry of that album, so I won't wax poetic about it here. But suffice it to say, it's an album that makes me uncomfortable. It's an album that made me feel what she must have felt like during one of the roughest parts of her life. It's an album that puts words to some of the ups and downs in my own marriage.

What's worse looking jealous or crazy, jealous or crazy?

I've never been one for big arena shows because tickets are expensive, and even if you bite the bullet and shell out, chances are it won't be enough to really see the person you've paid to see. From the "J" section seat on the floor of the Titans Football Stadium (that seats 70,000 during a sold-out game), the best view I got of Beyoncé  was through a sea of cell phones held up by other spectators zooming in to prove that they, too, were here.

And yet, the show was incredible. I won't downplay it. Beyoncé sampled everything in her repertoire from Crazy in Love, Drunk in Love, and Halo to Partition, Charlies Angels, Survivor... the list goes on and on. She played portions of most of her songs on Lemonade, augmented by a massive three-dimensional rotating screen that alternated from projecting large images of her (so people could see) and video clips from the opus. Decrepit buildings, swinging lights, stills of strong African-American women; the ultimate survivors. Halfway through the show, two cannons shot off confetti into the air. There were fireworks, huge flames, a pool where her back-up dancers kicked up water as they moved to the beat. Countless costume changes. Acrobatics. The production was epic—a picture of what happens when you have millions to spend on every  possible theatric to make people feel.

Here are a few things I felt:

One:  I felt a desire to live with more passion and confidence. Beyoncé is a powerhouse. I've heard that she taps into an inner diva before getting on stage, and even has her alter-ego Sasha Fierce to combat any feelings of insecurity. To see that kind of confidence in another woman is contagious. How would my experience of the world change if I could wake up in the morning with that kind of confidence? To walk with the kind of chin-up assuredness of a person living out their dream, their calling—with all of their God-given talent on display?

Two: I felt a desire to be more free. The booty is real. I mean. I don't know if she was wearing leggings or some sort of industrial spray-paint to keep it looking flawless all night, but the girl can move it. Again, there's something jaw-droppingly incredible about a woman embracing her body and dancing and allowing herself to be free. Even the way she moved her hair—head-banging with the best of the 90s grunge kids—speaks to a kind of reckless freedom. I want more of that in my life.

Three: I felt convinced that I'm a different kind of feminist than most. Feminists walk a fine line between embracing femininity, sexuality and pleasure and reinforcing misogyny and sexual objectification. There were times that I felt uncomfortable last night at the overtness of it all. At one point, the singer climbed across a large three-dimensional phallic sculpture and most video clips included snapshots of an orchid in bloom—a clear reference to the female anatomy. Some of the costumes and dance moves, veered from making me feel free to making me feel like I was watching a person in bondage—something that didn't make me feel empowered, but isolated.

Last night, I felt convinced that true feminist authors, writers, musicians... must work to show that sexuality isn't the only weapon in a woman's arsenal of power.

Four: I felt surprised by my desire for God.  Even an over-the-top, crazy experience like a Beyoncé concert leaves you wanting more. She could only sing a verse and a chorus of most songs. For example, Beyonce's song Freedom from the album Lemonade is my absolute favorite. It's an incredible anthem, and despite the fact that she and her dancers gave a jaw-dropping performance using a similar water-stage to this year's Grammy Awards—she didn't have time to sing the whole song, and even if she did, it just isn't complete without Kendrick Lamar. All the theatrics in the world still come up short from what we really want.

And what we really want, we'll never get out of Beyoncé. Standing there, looking at a woman on the stage that is just as human as every woman in the crowd, it reminded me that all of our efforts on this side of heaven—even when we are  confident, passionate and free—pale in comparison to the glory we desire. We were made to see God in his splendor, not humans.

And for that reason, I am even more thankful for Beyoncé. A great artist points viewers to a greater creator. She did.

When you love me, you love yourself. Love God herself.

Who You Gonna Vote For?

Over the last few weeks, more and more friends have asked me whether I know anything about Nashville's mayoral race. The truth is, I didn't know much—and that's why I asked my editor at Style Blueprint if I could write a story about all 7 candidates. Sure, it's nice to have a freelance assignment. But what I really wanted was an excuse to do all the reading I'd been putting off. Seven candidates is a lot. So don't feel bad if you don't feel up to speed. The election ends next week. You're not too late.

The first major surprise for me while researching the candidates is that this election is supposed to be "non-partisan." That's why you don't see candidates claiming to be "Democrats" or "Republicans." It's kind of nice isn't it? But it's also more difficult for us voters—you see, we can't just lean on the "oh, i'll just vote for the D (or R) on the list," logic in this kind of race. Still, if partisanship matters to you, a little digging can go a long way. (i.e., Bill Freeman was on the fundraising team for Barak Obama, etc.)

For me, I could care less if a mayoral candidate is a democrat, republican, or a lobster. I just want someone in that office who (1) has a specific plan to alleviate traffic, (2) wants to protect the things that make Nashville special, and (3) can improve Nashville's schools.

If you know me at all, you know that I have a special place in my heart for our current mayor, Karl Dean. Dean is the reason I moved to Nashville in the first place—he raised the initial $2M needed to bring Teach for America to the city. And that means he's the reason I married Patrick and the reason I'll end up living in a place longer than 7 years for the first time in my life. Those are big shoes to fill.

So who are you going to vote for? Where are you going to vote? I can't answer those questions for you. But I can give you the run down that I gathered for Style Blueprint (plus my opinion, because this is my blog). WARNING: some of the following statements are FACT. Some of the following statements are OPINION. By scrolling onward, you are claiming to understand the difference.

MEGAN BARRY

Professional background: Elected as Metro Councilwoman in 2007 and 2011, Barry chaired both the Budget and Finance and Education committees.

Age: 51

Years in Nashville: 25

Favorite brunch spot: Garden Brunch Cafe on Jefferson Street

Favorite place for a drink and live music: For a drink, Arnold Myint’s BLVD. For music, Barry mentions Mercy Lounge and Marathon Music Works, but adds “I’d buy a ticket to see anybody at the Ryman.”

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: “We are fortunate that within Davidson County we have a very vibrant downtown and inner core, but we’ve also made it a priority to protect our green space and value our rural communities. Just 10 minutes from downtown, Bells Bend Park is a peaceful and serene treasure with hiking trails that follow the old farm roads.”

You’ve heard: Connie Britton and Emmylou Harris joined Barry onstage at Cabana to support her campaign for mayor.

Vision for Nashville:

• Universal PreK
• Better funding for public schools
• Producing jobs while preserving Nashville’s affordability
• Finding ways to alleviate poverty
• Create an Office of Transportation
• Develop transit solutions that are less costly than streetcars or light rail

Why she’s running: “I believe the next mayor of Nashville needs to have a bold, progressive vision for our future and the experience necessary to implement that vision. As the only candidate in the race who has a deep understanding of government and business, I’m in a unique position to expand on the progress we’ve made by making sure we continue to invest all over the county, while also addressing our challenges—mass transit, safe and affordable neighborhoods, and education.”

To learn more: meganbarry.com

My opinion: I didn't love Barry's delivery during several of the televised debates. Her responses seemed canned, and to me — I want a mayor that can speak on the fly and do it in a way that's charming and shines a positive light on our city. 

CHARLES ROBERT BONE

Professional background: Bone is an attorney at Bone McAllester Norton. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, and was recently dubbed Best Lawyer of the Year by Nashville Administrative/Regulatory Law.

Age: 41

Years in Nashville: Seventh generation Tennessean

Favorite brunch spot: The Southern (“Their Southern egg sandwich is one of my favorite dishes in town.”)

Favorite place for a drink and live music: Robert’s on Broadway

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: An avid runner, you can often find Bone on the trails in Percy Warner Park.

You’ve Heard: Bone’s catchy campaign song, which cleverly connects all the neighborhoods in Nashville with the tune to “Dem Bones”

Vision for Nashville:

• Develop a transit system that leverages the current bus system
• Create an 18-month, as well as an 18-year, transit plan
• Use data to better understand gentrification and reinvest in communities
• Provide support to local chambers of commerce in Donelson, Hermitage and Bellevue
• Develop a comprehensive program for how to serve students when they are not in school

Why he’s running: “I’m an attorney, entrepreneur and business owner. I have real-world business experience and understand that the government cannot take job creation by businesses for granted. I want to be mayor because I want to execute on a vision to keep our momentum going in a fiscally responsible way, but also diversify that prosperity in all of Nashville.”

To learn more: boneformayor.com

My opinion: Let's face it. It's tough to imagine someone named "Bone" in office. Aside from that childish point, I like that CRB is a fiscal conservative and that he has promised to focus more on other communities other than Downtown. I just don't know if he has what it takes to make a big difference in Nashville schools. 

DAVID FOX

Professional background: Worked as a hedge fund manager and business reporter for publications such as the Nashville Post, The Tennessean and Bloomberg News, as well as serving as chairman of the Metro Nashville Board of Education

Age: 53

Years in Nashville: 50 years, with family roots in Tennessee dating back to the 1860s

Favorite brunch spot: Garden Brunch Cafe on Jefferson Street

Favorite place for a drink and live music: Bluebird on the Mountain at the Dyer Observatory

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: McCabe Park Little League ballpark (where his sons play baseball)

You’ve heard: Fox gives out his cell phone number on the campaign trail: (615) 828-1193

Vision for Nashville:

• Targeted PreK for at-risk youth
• Bolster school choice options with a sense of urgency
• Develop a regional commute transit line with public-private partnerships
• Invest in neighborhoods outside of downtown
• Address unfunded liabilities
• Restore Nashville’s credit rating
• Believes dissolving the elected school board for a mayoral-appointed board would be more effective for students and schools

Why he’s running: “I have had successful experience starting and leading businesses, and as chairman of the Metro Nashville Board of Education, I worked with our board to turn around the largest and worst performing of Metro government’s departments. I am especially concerned about our spending and debt levels. I’m committed to shoring up our infrastructure to support a larger population and will do so in a fiscally conservative manner.”

To learn more: foxfornashville.com

My Opinion: A person on the school board that I highly respect has endorsed David Fox, which makes me feel like he may be the best candidate in terms of improving MNPS. He's also one of the only candidates that seems to be adding a bit of "vinegar" to the mix. Nashville's development isn't all sunshine and roses. Fox seems to be able to see the bad with the good, and want to do something about both. He's a top contender in my book.

BILL FREEMAN

Professional background: Commercial real estate professional who co-founded the full-service Nashville real estate company Freeman Webb in 1979

Age: 63

Years in Nashville: Nashville native

Favorite brunch spot: Marche, Table 3 or around his own kitchen table. (Apparently, his wife, Babs, is a great cook.)

Favorite place for a drink and live music: “The Bluebird,” he says, “hands down.”

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: Taking walks in the swath of woods near his farm in Bellevue, or attending the newest exhibits at Cheekwood with his wife.

You’ve heard: Freeman is the frontrunner, with a hefty ad spend budget

Vision for Nashville:

• Add and renovate bus shelters, update MTA with a user-friendly app
• Build BRT-lite lines around the city
• Assess schools by cluster, rather than district-wide
• Renovate older and crowded school facilities
• Implement community schools that provide wrap-around for students and families
• Develop affordable housing initiatives and retool incentives in the housing code

Why he’s running: “I want to give back to a city that has given so much to me and my family. I bring the years of experience that running a large company has given me. Being mayor isn’t a stepping stone to another political office, and I will give it my all.”

To learn more: freeman2015.com

My Opinion: We've all heard that Freeman is the front runner. Though he never went to college, Freeman has made quite a career for himself, developing car dealerships and real estate all over the city. There's a tough of "old boys club" here that I worry about — but at the same time, he was one of the most vocal supporters of a bigger, more regional transit solution than what the AMP provided. In terms of public transit solutions, I feel like Freeman has the best chance to make an impact.

HOWARD GENTRY

Professional background: Native Nashvillian and civil servant with experience as an entrepreneur, Metro Councilman, Vice Mayor and current Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk

Age: 63

Years in Nashville: Nashville native

Favorite brunch spot: “My youngest daughter just turned 7 and requested brunch at Waffle House,” Gentry says. “In fact, she requests that more often than not, so these days, it’s Waffle House.”

Favorite place for a drink and live music: Winners and Losers

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: The blueberry and açai smoothie at The Turnip Truck

You’ve heard: Gentry wants to bring the Super Bowl to Nashville

Vision for Nashville:

• Create an Office of Social Equity to ensure inclusion of all Nashvillians
• Conduct annual audit of Metro workforce to ensure diversity in Metro government
• Develop programs that wrap around students outside of the school day
• Initiate programs to alleviate poverty and increase graduation rates
• Expand job opportunities for working class and homeless

Why he’s running: “I know what it takes to get things done in the public and private sector. It has always been my belief that I should give of my time, talent and energy for my neighbors. I’m ready to wrap my arms around this city and solve our problems, day one.”

To learn more: howardgentryformayor.com

My Opinion: My biggest concern about Howard Gentry is his resume. He's held a lot of different jobs over the years, and I worry about him having the deep focus to be able to create 10-and-20+ year plans for schools and transit. 

JEREMY KANE

Professional background: Education reformer and founder of LEAD Academy, a charter school whose high school boasts two consecutive years of 100 percent college acceptance

Age: 36

Years in Nashville: Kane lived in Nashville during part of his childhood, and ultimately moved back to the city from Washington D.C. in 2003.

Favorite brunch spot: Pinewood Social

Favorite place for a drink and live music: He says, “For music, the obvious choice is The Ryman. I would listen to anyone play, as long as it was at The Ryman. To grab a drink, I like the hole-in-the-wall places like Betty’s in Sylvan Park, but I also love The Patterson House or Holland House. M.L. Rose is always great for a beer.”

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: 11.2-mile run route in Percy Warner Park

You’ve heard: He mortgaged his house to start LEAD Academy

Vision for Nashville:

• Make investments and secure partnerships to ensure every child in every neighborhood has a quality education and improve the city’s overall academic outcomes
• Grow and promote Nashville as a City of the Arts, by incentivizing entrepreneurship and properly funding school arts programs
• Generate continued, but sustainable, development by investing in parks and outdoor space
• Implement body cameras for all police officers for increased accountability
• Build a more connected network of roads, sidewalks, bike lanes and greenways

Why he’s running: “We are at a transition moment in Nashville’s history. We’ve had an incredible 30-year run that’s been defined by economic development in downtown, taking us from a quiet small town to the “It” city. The question is, where do we go from here? I think we need a mayor that is dynamic, one that has the energy to match Nashville’s. I want to be that leader that will put Nashville on the track for the next 30 years.”

To learn more: kaneformayor.com

My Opinion: Granted, Kane is the only candidate I've met in person — but I have to say, he's always impressed me—especially as an orator and educator. Interesting fact: Kane knows the Clintons (as in Bill and Hillary) and was the reason that Bill Clinton came to Nashville to speak to the graduates of Lead Academy. I think Kane has the energy to get a lot done. But I do wonder about his plans for transit. I was hoping he'd spell out something really specific on his website. 

LINDA ESKIND-REBROVICK

Professional background: CEO of Consensus Point, a Nashville-based technology company, and founding board member of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center

Age: 59

Years in Nashville: “I’m a lifelong Nashvillian and a fourth-generation member of the Eskind family,” she says. “I live in the Hillwood neighborhood, and have actually lived my entire life within a three-mile radius of the house in which I was raised.”

Favorite brunch spot: Margot Cafe

Favorite place for a drink and live music: 3rd and Lindsley

Favorite Nashville hidden gem: “Although a lot of Nashvillians visit Percy Warner Park, it’s an undiscovered treasure for many others,” Eskind Rebrovik says. “I walk the five-mile trail with a group of friends at least once a week. It’s a good opportunity to enjoy nature and exercise, and I hope more Nashvillians take advantage of it and our other parks in years to come.”

You’ve heard: She refuses to run negative ads

Vision for Nashville:

• Ensure that Nashville public schools are a cradle-to-career pathway for students
• Empower teachers and principals so they can do what is best for their schools
• Equip schools with latest technology
• Build a Metro government that is as diverse as the city it serves
• Deliver a transportation plan within the first 120 days as mayor, including adaptive traffic light signal controls, as well as a long-term strategy
• Expand biking and walking options for communities
• Increase affordable housing options for working families

Why she’s running: “My vision is to build a Smarter Nashville that is livable for everyone. I’m uniquely qualified to be Nashville’s next mayor, because I have management experience in large corporations, in an early-stage start-up and on nonprofit and corporate boards. Nashville has a nearly $2 billion operating budget; I’ve managed a billion dollar department for Dell. Most of all, I have proven ideas to solve our immediate, mid-term and long-term issues.”

To learn more: lindafornashville.com

My Opinion: Linda seems very approachable and friendly — and I really liked her delivery during the debates. She's got great corporate experience, but my concern is that technology can't solve all of Nashville's problems—especially not in the classroom. But I sure would like those smart traffic lights. 

So there you have it folks. All 7 mayoral candidates. Did you take the time to read it all? What do you think? Who will you vote for? For me, it's between Fox, Kane and Freeman.

What to do in Nashville: 2015 Edition

About once every few weeks, I get an e-mail from a friend asking the age-old question about the place we call home. I've answered the question before, but it seems like is Nashville changing constantly. There's always new restaurants to explore and  things to see—and some are better than others. Nothing is worse than traveling to a fun city, and ending up in a restaurant that all the locals secretly loathe. So if you're headed to Nashville anytime soon, here's the skinny on where to eat, drink and be merry. I've separated all my favorites into categories, narrowed (gulp!) them down, and included the neighborhood. I also went ahead and put these gems on a Google Map, so you can take these suggestions with you on the go!

HINT: If I'm listing the restaurant or venue, that means I've been more than three times, and have had a good experience (ie., great meal, great service, great value) every. single. time. There are plenty of places in Nashville that are worth a visit if you're a local and able to risk it. But not you, dear traveler. Not you. 

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BREAKFAST/COFFEE:

• Marche Artisan Foods (East Nashville) — This is the best place in Nashville, in my opinion. Arrive early (doors open at 8:30) and order, order and order some more. The daily tartine is always perfect, and I'm a huge fan of the croissant french toast, too (just get a half-order so you have room for the rest)!
• Crema (Downtown) — If you live in Nashville, you'll know why this goes at the top of my list. Perfect, smooth coffee every time (the latte is my go-to). On Fridays/Saturdays, Utterly brings by delicious macarons to sell. And don't miss out on the avocado toast.
• Barista Parlor (East Nashville or the Gulch)—not my personal favorite (plan to pay $5 for a slow-drip coffee), but it's a great atmosphere and good hipster-gawking, and the sausage biscuit is pretty awesome, too.

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PLACES TO WALK OR RUN:

• Percy Warner (Beyond Sylvan Park/West Nashville)— Drive to Bellemeade Blvd and park by the steps. Walk to the top of the stone steps and you'll see a little trailhead for a 2.5-mile round trip hike! It's gorgeous, and full of friendly hikers.
• Radnor Park (South of Nashville)
• Shelby Bottoms Park (East Nashville)
• Centennial Park (Midtown)

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SHOPPING:

• Shops on Fatherland/Idea Hatchery (East Nashville)—these cute shops are the best of local, all in two little shopping areas. LITTLE is the point. These small "incubator" shops have helped launch some of the best local retailers.
• Peter Nappi — if you have $300+ to blow, do it on a pair of these boots.
• Imogene + Willie — Imogene (eye-moh-jean) + Willie makes custom jeans that will make you want to throw out all your other jeans. (Check out White's Mercantile) down the road as well.
• Gas Lamp Antiques I + II (100 Oaks) — antiques for miles. And miles. Love it every time. Arrive fed and caffeinated.

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LUNCH:

• Hattie B's Hot Chicken (Sylvan Park)—Choose Mild, Medium, Hot, Damn Hot, or Shut the Cluck Up!-- no matter what, your taste buds will be jumping. This is the best hot fried chicken joint in Nashville. We love our hot chicken so much that every summer, we even have a hot chicken festival! So if you ask me, skip the barbecue and go straight for Hattie B's.
• Silly Goose (East Nashville) — cous cous and delicious sandwiches. Try the T-bird and the King Kong cous cous. Closed on Mondays.
• Germantown Cafe (Germantown)—love the miso salmon salad!
• Local Taco (East Nashville) — right across from the Idea Hatchery, love the fried avocado taco! Also, the interior was designed by my good friends, Regiven.

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LOCAL BREWS + COCKTAILS

• Bar 308 (East Nashville) — arrive after 9 p.m. or you'll be the only one in there (which I don't hate.) The Monkey's Paw is a great grapefruit + champagne cocktail. Everything they make is homemade and delicious. 
• Tennessee Brew Works (8th/Downtown) — these guys did a tasting at my house once! Now, the brewery is up and running and everything is super delicious. Take a tour, enjoy live music... have a blast!
• The Taproom (12 South) — awesome porch and beers on draft. This is where all the locals are.
• Pinewood Social (Downtown) — great drinks and mocktails, just prepare to spend $12+ on each. Great location and beautiful porch if it's a nice day!

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DINNER:

• Rolf and Daughters (Germantown)—if you don't have a reservation, plan to arrive immediately when doors open at 5:30 p.m., eat at the bar, or wait until 8 - 9p.m. for second service. We love to eat at the bar and order as much as we can stomach. We've never tasted a single bad thing.
• Burger Up (12 South)—our favorite place to be regulars. Two Lamb Burgers, Two House Red Wines. Done and Done.
• Lockeland Table (East Nashville)—wood fired pizzas, great cocktails, awesome value. Just a good ol' neighborhood spot.
• Two Ten Jack (East Nashville)— Asian flavor invasion. This place does Ramen like a pro.
• Josephine (12 South)

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DESSERT:

• Bobbie's Dairy Dip (Sylvan Park) — it may look suspect from the outside, but Bobbie's Dairy Dip is a Nashville establishment, famous for its specialty shakes and soft-serve treats. Cheap, awesome. Perfect after a hike at Percy Warner.
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (12 South or East Nashville)—Jeni's has more locations around the nation now than it used to, but the flavors are always changing so it's always fun to go see what they have in the freezer. HINT: Ask for a taste of an ice cream sandwich. They'll cut you a piece!
• Tempur Chocolate (Germantown) – this new spot has great truffles and an insane cup of hot chocolate.

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FOR THE MUSIC:

• Ryman Auditorium (Downtown)— original home of the Grand Ol' Opry. This is a place you must see a concert before you die, but unfortunately, most concerts sell out months in advance. Plan a trip around a concert you want to see, or simply pop in for a tour. (Tours leave ever 20 minutes or so.)
• Roberts Western World (Downtown) — the honky tonk to beat all honky tonks. Show up at 10 am, prepare to drink cheap beer, listen to some great bluegrass, and dance with the regulars.
• Country Music Hall of Fame (Downtown) — to be fair, I've never been to the hall of fame. But I hear it's a must-see, so I would feel remiss if I didn't include it. SOMEDAY...

Alright folks... so what did I miss? What did I forget? Those of you who have been here recently, what did you enjoy the most?

Nashville Indie Spotlight 2014 + GIVEAWAY

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've spent most of my time in Nashville intimidated by the music scene. Musicians in this city are so talented and so numerous, it can be overwhelming. And I don't exactly qualify as an "audiophile"; I was the kid in high school who needed someone to make me a mix CD so I would know what music was cool. Maybe you were that kid too. Now, we're both in luck. Tone Tree Music* just released the second annual Nashville Indie Spotlight, an album featuring 30 songs by 30 of Nashville's best independent artists, exclusively on iTunes. It's like Nashville made you a mix CD. Jackpot. Below, check out four Nashville Indie Spotlight artists I can't take off repeat. (HINT: RT any of my tweets about the album, you could score your very own digital download.)

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden

Track #3: Blue Hotel

 Photo via Emily B. Hall.

THE HISTORY: Kate Tucker moved to Nashville two years ago from Brooklyn. Before that, she lived in Seattle, where she met bandmates Wes Chandler, Matthew Thompson and Ethan Place. The band plans to release a Kickstarter-funded album and film project, The Shape the Color the Feel, in February 2014.

THE SONG: "I usually write songs with the guitar player, Wes Chandler," Kate says. "But this time we had finished rehearsal and everyone still felt like playing around. That song came out of the blue. We'd already recorded our record, but we loved it so much, we figured out a way to get back in the studio and get it on the album [The Shape the Color the Feel]."

ON LIVE MUSIC IN NASHVILLE: "My favorite place to hear live music in Nashville is The Basement," Kate says. "It's sweet and intimate and there's a great history there."

Trent Dabbs

Track #28: A Thousand Nights

WHERE YOU'VE HEARD HIS SONGS: Trent Dabbs' music and lyrics have been featured all across the tube: Grey's Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars, Hawaii Five-O, and many more. Recently, a song he wrote with Kacey Musgraves called "Undermine" played on ABC'S Nashville. His eighth full-length release, The Way We Look at Horses, came out last month.

THE SONG:  "A Thousand Nights' is about the reality of surviving in this industry or questioning your motives," Trent says. "It was an idea based on a brutal response to a question I asked many years ago. 'Does it really just take one song to make it?' The answer given to me was, 'I sure hope not because I have friends who have written thousands of songs and still not made 'it'.' As harsh as that answer was for me to hear it stayed with me for more than eight years now and it only made me work harder and understand that nothing comes easy. I thought it only made sense to put it on the compilation because its feels  like an honest depiction of where I am."

ON FOOD IN NASHVILLE: "The gnocchi at City House is my favorite dish in Nashville," Trent says. "I also love the 'fire burger' at Burger Up. It's off the menu, but I order it every time. It's perfect!"

Brooke Waggoner

Track #15: Squint

WHERE YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HER: Brooke Waggoner played piano at the 2013 Grammys with Jack White. She's toured all over the world, and also just happens to live in my neighborhood. Her vocals and classically-inspired songwriting are unmatched, as is clear on her newest album, Originator.

THE SONG: "[Squint] is my favorite song on [Originator]," Brooke says. "I wanted to write something that was throwback to jazz, without being overtly jazz. There are short verses and choruses, so it was kind of a 'less is more' song for me. The original song was recorded live, so for the remix, JT Daly (frontman of Paper Route) basically had to start over. I re-sang the vocals, and we re-recorded each of the instrumental strands. So it's not a traditional re-mix, but he took a song that started as this melancholy piece and turned it into something that feels huge and cinematic."

ON LIVING IN NASHVILLE: "I love how much is going on in Nashville right now," Brooke says. "And not just in music, but in the food scene and real estate and everything The city feels alive right now. It's been great to see our city grow and I love being around such incredible talent. Even when I'm having dry spells, I feel like there's enough going on that I'm constantly being sharpened."

Leagues

Track #30: Walking on Water

THE MOMENT I KNEW THEY WERE BIG TIME: Leagues' track "Walking Backwards," off the band's debut album You Belong Here, blew my mind when it blasted from my speakers during the 8th episode of Orange is the New Black. Lead vocalist Thad Cockrell acknowledges the importance of that moment. "As far as buzz or notoriety," he says, "its probably done more than anything else we've done, combined."

THE SONG: "We wanted to put something out there for people who have been fans for the last year but wanted to hear something new," Cockrell says. "Like a thank you for people who got on board early and supported us from the beginning." On the lyrics, he says, "Relationships are really tricky. There are these conversations that you need to have, that you avoid because of fear, but they don't really go away. That's what this is about."

WHEN HE'S IN NASHVILLE: "I find myself hanging out with friends as much as possible. When you get off the road, it's really easy to find a hole and isolate yourself, but the good thing about Nashville is that everybody has a lot of grace for the ebb and flow of going out and coming back and not needing to apologize for being gone. Because life does happen when you're going out. I love to cook for my friends, that's one of the things I love to do. I never make this same thing, but this morning I made sweet potato hash and eggs with avocado and a green taqueria hot sauce O make out of avocado, jalapeño and lime juice."

GIVEAWAY

To enter a random drawing for a digital download of Nashville Indie Spotlight, RT any of the tweets I've shared about Kate, Brooke, Trent, and Thad. Each RT equals one entry—so you can enter up to four times to win. The winner will be announced Monday... so get to tweetin!

*An earlier version of this post incorrectly referred to Tone Tree Music as Tree Tone Music. Trees don't make tones. My apologies!

Music City Ate. A lot.

This weekend, Nashville hosted a food and wine event called Music City Eats. And boy, did I.

I wrote a preview piece about the festival for Forbes. And thanks to the beauty of the "press pass," I actually got to attend!

(SIDE NOTE: There's no way I would have been able to afford the $500 all-access pass on my own. I'm sure we'll never know about actual ticket sales, but if the festival happens again next year, I hope it will be at a slightly lower price point, so that more people can partake.)

Under white tents armed with red wine, I had the privilege of tasting Roderick Bailey's tender pork shoulder; Sarah Gavigan's savory Japanese pancake; Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson's rendition of "eggs" and bacon, and Hattie B's throat-singeing hot chicken. The entire weekend was one delicious indulgence.

And I can't forget to mention Arnold Myint's Banh Mi. Good gracious.

While most people milled between the interior tents tasting and drinking, there were "demos" and panels happening in larger tents around the perimeter.

In the demo tent, an angled mirror and jumbo-tron displayed the chef's hands at work. In one demonstration, acclaimed chef Jonathan Waxman (pictured in purple below) butchered a duck, turkey, and a chicken with ease.

During the panels, the talent explored various topics, like Bourbon or Moonshine? or How do you Q? During the Southern Food Lore panel, Tandy Wilson scolded our generation for culinary laziness. And in What Would You Serve?, Jonathan Waxman discussed musician's favorite late-night snacks. Someone mentioned Velveeta. I'll be honest. There were parts I didn't love. Anytime you charge $500 for tickets and tout a long list of celebrities, some people (read: me) are going to feel awkward and out of place. At times, it wasn't just indulgent—it was grandiose. But maybe that was the point.

I also felt the event was missing a few of Nashville's most talented chefs. Sarah Souther at Bang! Candy, Scott Witherow with Olive & Sinclair, Evie Coates with Twelve at the Table, just to name a few.

But don't get me wrong. There were parts I loved, too.

High on the list? Meeting Dana Cowin—the editor-in-chief of Food and Wine Magazine—and realizing she is just as kind and thoughtful in person as she seems on television. Catching up with Jeni Britton Bauer, and learning that she offers a sabbatical to every employee who has been with her ice cream company for at least three years. Stopping by Roderick Bailey's tent, and marveling at how he's remained so humble amidst a spectacular year of hard-earned success.

But my favorite part was seeing local chefs that I admire have a place to display their incredible talent. They work so hard, and so often behind the scenes—and they deserved every bit of attention that Music City Eats provided.

And to have an event of that caliber right in Nashville's backyard felt surreal! Wasn't it just a few years ago that if you wanted a good burger and didn't want McDonalds, your only option was a sushi restaurant? (Disclaimer: PM's burger is still one of the best in town.) But I digress.

Food and Wine Magazine sponsored it; a large event company called C3 Events produced it; and Caleb and Nathan Followill devised it—and if you ask me... Music City Eats was a huge success.

Here's hoping for another taste in 2014!