It’s not often you meet a native Montanan in California, so when my family and I met  Adey Garner at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley, I felt an instant kinship with her.   “Get out!” was her response as she slapped the table and twirled around. “I’m from Kalispell!”  Her excitement at hearing that we were also from Montana made us laugh and put us instantly at ease.  As she continued to speak openly and emphatically about her new life in the Bay Area and her musical ambitions, I got a strong sense that I was in the midst of someone very special.

About a month later, I got around to listening to a few tracks of her music on her Myspace page.  Moments later I was on the phone with her setting up an interview.

Not only does Adey have serious musical talent, but she also has one of those charismatic, passionate, full-of-life personalities.  While interviewing her, I was increasingly amazed as words poured out of her with such clarity, introspection, and a wisdom beyond her 24 years.  Ironically, she also has a playful child-like quality– full of laughter, energy and enthusiasm.  Adey told me that as a little girl she lived in her imagination and that she strives to be that little girl everyday– self-assured, yet curious and fascinated with the world around her.  As I continued to listen to her talk about how she came to believe in herself as a talented musician and stop listening to the voices of self-doubt, it made perfect sense to me that she was getting back in touch with little Adey. The little, yet confident, I can do or be anything I want, child that’s in all of us.  Well, that little girl is expressing herself in many new ways as Adey has taken up painting and also has very creatively designed the cd cases and inserts for her new demo.  Undoubtedly Adey will continue to transform as a musician, songwriter and lyricist in exciting ways.  Success? She says she has already found it by loving her life and the person she is.

“I love my life. I am so provided for and entranced by the unfolding beauty of existence. The universe conspires to fulfill my dreams, and everything on this path is an opportunity to fully awaken…I am incredibly inspired by this everyday manifestation of perfection, and the musical expression that is displayed through me was created to be shared. My intention is to create music and to come together in peace and celebrate the beautiful talented artwork surrounding us.”  ~Adey

Adey is clearly a woman who will influence many people in her lifetime, and I couldn’t help but feel I was watching a star in the making.

Life lessons from Adey:
Get over yourself.
Don’t be afraid to be more childlike. Listen to the 5 yr old in you.
Believe that you are luscious!
Happiness is in the journey, in the moment, not the destination.
Be the biggest, best you that you can be.

I first met Priya Assal at a New Year’s Eve party in San Francisco, 2007. At the time, I noticed all this cool art on the wall but didn’t realize until months later when I was there (for another party), that she was the artist. It was that night that I really took a closer look at the paintings and started to notice some themes I hadn’t noticed before. Most of the paintings (around 20) hanging throughout the house were of powerful female characters. Each one was very unique and had a distinct “personality” but nearly all had one thing in common, one eye open and one eye closed. This intrigued me so I asked Priya about it. She didn’t reveal what it meant right then. Instead she took me upstairs and showed me a book of photos of other paintings she had made. She remained silent as I looked them over and commented on them. Days later I was still thinking about those paintings and the possible embedded meanings. I looked up her website and was blown away by additional work I hadn’t seen and the writings that accompanied each collection of paintings (which I highly recommend you visit and read yourself).

I would say this quote best represents Priya’s current path in life. And she is well on her way!

“The goddess archaetype is fully grounded in her Self and freely expresses her true nature. Her unshakable commitment to be remarkably great, is what gives her power to inspire others to be their fullest expression of themselves.”

Her openness about her desire as a woman to be in touch with her true self and to find the confidence and freedom to fully express who she is resonated deeply with me. To be who you truly are at all costs, I believe, is one of life’s biggest challenges. Thank God(dess) that there are people like Priya in this world to keep inspiring us to remain true.

Oh, and you’ll have to watch the video to find out what the one eye open, one eye shut represents! Enjoy!