ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DEC 13, 2015
It was January, the year 2001.
My brothers old barely in tune nylon string guitar sat in the corner against the lemon coloured wallpaper meeting the high plastered ceilings of our old “haunted” federation style home. It had been my closest companion for almost 12 months and despite the terrible tone and the fact that every cat and dog in the neighbourhood would run and hide under the bed when I would play I had somehow found my bliss.
Welcome to my weekly Monday blog.
Blogging is brand new for me, so I’m going to ask you to help me along the way. I’m also an Aries, so my tendency to start something and never finish it is quite astounding and true to my nature, but here goes.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Katrina Burgoyne. I have spent more than half of my life obsessing and chasing opportunities with my greatest love and passion music.
Over the years my believers, friends and champions have shared some pretty exciting moments on this journey with me. Video blogging on youtube use to be my primary tool. Bringing all of my supporters to Nashville with me in 2009. You had a front row seat in recording my debut album. Together we walked the red carpet at the golden guitar awards. We shared the making of my debut video clip, tour with Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, on the road antics and my favourite a Christmas on Hamilton Island.
We celebrated my album making the top 10 on the ARIA charts, 3 top ten singles, 2 Golden Guitar nominations, Winning an APRA Professional Development Award, Independent Artist Of The Year and more.
Then in 2012, I quietly ducked out the back door, stopped reaching out, took some time out to play in the ever so humbling dirt and figure out who I am and what my purpose is in life?
As I read through my list of accomplishments; all I see and feel is the ego of my 22-year-old self! Over the past few years, I have stripped back my layers, dived into the ever so confronting path of self-awareness and found my soul's purpose!
I have always felt a calling to be heard! In the simplest form, I want to change people's lives through music. I want to leave my fingerprint on your heart, I want to lead you out of darkness, want to challenge your perspectives, show you your beauty and encourage you to be the best version of yourself, and I want to evolve together!
Growth, overcoming rejection, passion, faith, love, self-belief and following your dreams will all be major themes for this blog. My purpose is to connect and empower people who are struggling to find their strength, voice and purpose.
My greatest passions are photography, drawing, spirituality, personal growth, psychology and of corse music. They will all be incorporated into this blog along with my own story, which I am really excited to share with you.
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey!
Let's enlighten one another!
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THE STORY OF A FRIZZY HAIRED DREAMER
The Tomato Festival
Me at 14 years of age. Photo was taken by my step Dad "Gary"
With a book already full of original works and my brand new upgraded steel string guitar nestling on my lap, I was practicing for my first “Tomato Festival” talent quest. “Goodbye, goodbye oh mum don’t cry” I bellowed over my heavy rhythm hand that was loud enough to drown out the wailing of an untrained and untamed voice.
I bundled up my guitar and headed to the lounge room where my Mum and step Dad would unsuspectedly be sent to “practice performance jail”.
“Mum, could you please take me down to register for the Tomato Festival Talent quest today?” Said the pushy confident ram that I was
Piped up from behind the recliner chair, the TV went to mute and my step Dad sat up tall and asked “What are you doing in the Talent Quest?”
Knowing full well that my step Dad was concerned I had outgrown my tights and was too old now to look “cute” dancing to Shania Twain dressed in leopard print (Yes that happened). I replied, “I’m going to sing a song I wrote”.
My sarcastic (and very supportive) Step Dad said, “Well I think you better play us this song before you perform it” with a smug look on his face “I know people in this town, I won't have you embarrass me.”
After a personal rendition on “Goodbye” (where the title repeated 24 times). Finally, I got the approval to enter into the talent quest with an “I didn’t know you could play guitar and sing”.
My brand new guitar had a shoelace tied around the nut to hold the strap on correctly as I stepped up to the microphone. The whole town of Gunnedah had come out for the annual festival. Children played on the grass and adults enjoyed a beer and the summer sun as they talked amongst themselves, but I felt like all eyes were on me. I had never sung in public before, my teeth chattered. Nerves always affected me. “Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye, …………..” my legs finally no longer shaking just in time to play the last chord.
And the winner is….. KATRINA BURGOYNE
The whole afternoon my step Dad carried the trophy around with him, shouting to all his friends “Look what “we” won”.