Angie Hart

Episode 9: This is Your Voice, Stop Trying to Escape it

I first met Angie Hart when we were working on a tour together. Songs That Made Me - with Katie Noonan, Melody Pool, Angie and me.

The tour was a flurry of rehearsals, press, shows, drives and flights and while it was one of the best tours I’ve been a part of there were also some really hard times.

Angie and I shared our stories and helped each other through the tour and, of all the things that stand out in my memory about that time, her gentle strength and kindness really hit me in the heart.

She shared that heart so openly in our chat for the Song Baker podcast.

We talked about distinguishing yourself as an artist from “the industry” (the episode with Melody Pool talks a lot about this too) and creating without thinking about how it will be received.

We talked about the difference between being willing to collaborate and learn from others vs assuming that whoever else is in the room knows better than you - and Angie shared one two of the biggest indicators for her, to help notice when she’s doing this.

One of my favourite parts of the chat was when Angie talked about the questions she asks before saying yes to an opportunity/offer:

Does it pay well?

Is it enjoyable?

Does it further my skills?

and maybe the biggest question of them all: “Is this how I want to spend my time?”

It felt like such a good reminder that we get to empower ourselves as artists (and people!) and make choices that are aligned with our own wants and needs.

This moved into a conversation about Angie’s journey of learning how to honour herself, her health and her work and how she looks after her mental health.

Honestly, her generosity with her experience and opinions after working for 30 years in the music industry was so enriching. I love her curiosity for her work, still! After so many years doing it! And how she’s always striving to stay true to whatever wants to be created.

What a legend. Ladies and gentlemen…….. you’re bloody welcome.