Lynn Skinner shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Lynn, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What battle are you avoiding?
Thank you for this rather intimidating, extremely important question.
In all honesty, I continue to resist my natural ability to sing and compose. Although I’ve written dozens of songs, performed numerous concerts over my decades-long career, and taught others to improve their singing and writing skills, I often avoid giving myself the time and space to regularly noodle at the piano or scratch lyrics on a sheet of paper.
Perhaps I’m one of those who can create something so easily, I take it for granted or simply don’t practice appreciating these gifts at a deeper level. The consequence of this pattern is that I’m not as engaged in more public performances and don’t have as much to offer as a songwriter.
As I continue to recover from spinal surgery a year ago, I have had less energy and more time to reflect on my life, my choices, and what creative passions are surfacing from a deeper place in my heart.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a professional vocalist, voice coach, writer, mentor and aspiring photographer.
Several years after receiving my BA in Music, I started Vocal Eyes Music® in the mid-eighties. I wanted to weave singing, teaching, creativity, wordplay, and music into a unified whole.
I love the power of connection. I’m drawn to those magical moments we all feel when we experience something that genuinely moves us. Bringing a sense of honesty, awe, versatility and play – rather than expertise – into my work allows me to show up with greater vulnerability and humanity in a variety of contexts.
Whether I’m in a classroom, concert hall, funky nightclub, recording studio, working with a nonprofit group, or coaching someone in search of greater confidence and flow through music or spoken expression, I do my best to inspire and integrate this amazing force of sound and communication we know as the voice.
During the pandemic, photographing the natural world gave me a sense of wonder and peace. I have continued to take snapshots of landscapes, clouds, flowers and seasonal transitions. This kind of living beauty is in attunement with my heart in the same way music touches me, and brings me great joy and fulfillment.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Fear, shame, misunderstandings, judgements, assumptions and isolation are all culprits of breaking the bonds between people.
When we believe in someone or something and our level of trust diminishes, relationships may destabilize. This often leads to a shutting down of access and connection between people, whether two individuals or an entire community are impacted. Relationships become more complicated and the loss of a bond is more likely.
If restoration and healing is possible, it requires us to exercise courage and leadership by first identifying the breakdown and how it is affecting us. By exploring the sources and history of the break, we might be willing to summon the curiosity, desire and confidence (both personally and collectively) to acknowledge the elements that played a role causing this rupture.
Honesty becomes a superpower, even if the dynamics have changed.
Investing in reconnection is a great way to work together, listen to one another and move toward reconciliation.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. I had just released a recording of all original music. It was a wonderful, soul-enriching experience.
The band I put together for the recording had already performed the first ‘release party’ concert, and I was looking forward to many more opportunities to bring my new music to a live audience with these wonderful musicians.
Just a few days after our first concert, one of the musicians said to me, “My heart isn’t in this any more.”
I was completely shocked and had no idea this person had felt that way.
There was really nothing to say.
Because they were so core and pivotal to the group, I realized the momentum for this project abruptly shifted.
I withdrew from the music scene for several months, completely disappointed and disoriented. I questioned whether this performing life, always a challenge and not easy for me, was really worth it. I was burned out.
I was in limbo for more than a year until I had regained my resolve to take on a new project.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
For the first decade of my professional career, the public version of myself was trying her best to be good, accepted and successful. I wanted to belong. I often made choices driven by these needs, and sometimes regretted my business and repertoire decisions.
The longer I played music with others and performed in various venues and communities (locally and nationally), the more I began to listen to my inner voice. I gained confidence. I learned how to recognize my truth as an artist, and stopped performing in places where people weren’t there to appreciate the music. I chose, quite consciously, to collaborate with musicians who shared my love of music and weren’t simply in it for themselves. I now select rich and inspiring material with a relatable story more than crooning something to show off my chops.
I have grown into consistently celebrating my real self and embracing my life’s work, which has informed my offstage persona, as well. I no longer feel the need to perform or impress. I show up, and let the chips fall where they may.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I would build greater access and connection to the internal and external presence of beauty that surrounds us in many shapes and forms.
Singing, teaching, words, visual art, inspiring conversations, music, collaboration, lasting relationships and the lessons of love have shown me how to appreciate the beautiful power of the moment through our human interplay with each other and the world. The grace of nuance, the temperament of tone, the sensuality of shapes and the elegance of space are all there for us, if we chose to pay attention to them.
Life is all about the endless cycles of tension and release. Beauty reveals this in extraordinary, timeless ways.
Every moment touched by beauty is immortal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lynnskinner.com
- Linkedin: Lynn-Skinner
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.skinner.338/
- Youtube: @lynnskinner9619
Image Credits
The personal photo was taken spontaneously by Lynn Skinner, in selfie mode, at home.
Lynn Skinner took all the nature photos, too.
