This is the first time I've participated in fawm (spellcheck wants to make that "fawn" LOL) and I'm excited to be here. I've been songwriting for almost 10 years and producing songs for about 5 years (still on a learning curve). A couple years ago, I did a song a week songwriting challenge for a year, and of the 52 songs I wrote, maybe 7 or 8 I eventually used, so I know that writing a lot gets you through the muck before you find the gems.

I co-write with, as well as produce and manage a southern rock artist (www.kristikelli.com). More recently I've been trying other genres including pop, rock, adult contemporary, and R&B. I'm in a songwriting collective here in the D.C. area getting some work writing lyrics for top-lining, which I've found is just as rewarding as starting a track with lyrics first. Plus, I've absolutely discovered the joy of co-writing (I love what Shelly Peiken wrote in her book that co-writing is best explained as "song sex.")

I've been a member of TAXI music for about five years, and have met a lot of friends and mentors - I've also learned at the TAXI conference and other classes that contemporary songwriting is very different today, so I'm ready to ditch some old habits (no more metaphors and be more conversational and direct!!).

I mainly work in ProTools, but switch over to Logic with MIDI-heavy songs. When I'm songwriting however, there's nothing like the speed of Logic's little brother GarageBand.

My other interests in the past include DJ-ing in Latin clubs when I lived in Denver, CO (Salsa, Bachata, even some Kizomba - love those rhythms). I also have done some community theatre when I was younger.