New Brunswick singer-songwriter Apryll Aileen started spending a lot of time in Los Angeles more than 10 years ago to help build a career in the music business.
She had many moments that made her feel like she was making progress.
At Christmas, the Venice sign in the trendy beachfront L.A. neighbourhood is lit up red and green, and there is an outdoor event to mark the occasion. One year, amid fake falling snow, Aileen opened for acts that included Al Jardine of the Beachboys and Tom Petty’s drummer, Steve Ferrone.
“This is so cool,” she said. “I’m from Saint John, I grew up in St. Martins … and I’m under the Venice sign hanging out with some of the coolest musicians.”
Those were the early days of her network-building in Los Angeles and other major music centres, which she believes to be an essential part of building a successful and sustainable music career.
Now Aileen is seeing that work pay off. She recently became a voting member of the Grammy recording academy, a validation for independent musicians like her in a competitive industry.
“Music is really tough,” said the pop musician. “There are moments where you kind of just go, ‘Am I really on the right path?’ I needed something to show me that I’m on the right path, that music is for me.”
Apryll Aileen plays the family piano for her dog, Tucker, in Rothesay. » Read More
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