“Trina, you need to write choral music for films.”
“Me? No.”
This is the exact conversation I had with my husband in 2018. He is the type of person who is always thinking about the future, potential, and what is next in life, while I love nostalgia, memories, and living in the past. After further conversations with him, I finally decided to give it a try – write some choral songs and just see what happens.
Well, Covid happened and then a surprise pregnancy happened. Like many mothers during that time, I had to think about “what’s next” for our family. So I decided to stay at home, keep writing choral music, and quit both my part-time jobs.
I recorded choir music during a time when choirs were the most common superspreaders of Covid, people were socially distant, and singing behind masks or on Zoom. How did I do it? I sang both soprano and alto parts and asked a friend to sing both tenor and bass parts. We layered the audio of our voices to make it sound like a choir. I recorded five songs, and then I was able to get a sync licensing deal on Musicbed. Now, filmmakers can use my songs for their projects.
Maybe this is what I should be doing?
My new stay-at-home mom days with a baby were filled with new dreams of the music I wanted to write and the experiences I wanted to create. And I tell you what – it took a lot of time. I tried to use the little time I had … nap times, weekends, part-time childcare, and whenever my parents were in town to visit. Sunday afternoons, I would attend performances of the St. Louis Symphony by myself to find inspiration. When I was pregnant with our second child, I sang in a choir and had rehearsals every Tuesday night. While I couldn’t leave the house full-time, I tried to use the little time I had to make connections so I could pursue my dreams. I thought about my dreams every single day.
In September of 2023, I attended a launch party/performance of a new choral ensemble in St. Louis called Continuum Vocal Ensemble. Their vision was to sing innovative songs and perform in unique spaces. My friend said,
“Trina, you should send a song to their director.”
“Me? No, I couldn’t do that.”
Four months later, in February 2024, I sat down with the director and said, “Let’s make an album together. I’ll write the songs, you lead the rehearsals, we will record at Midtown Soundhouse and have a performance at my husband’s workplace – Bruton Stroube Studios.” He said yes, took a chance on me, and we did all of it. I wrote eleven songs, we recorded in the studio, and had a sold-out show. 125 people came to the performance, and we partied afterward.
And you know what I’ve learned from motherhood?
Sometimes, we won’t make progress as fast as we want to … like a toddler learning how to walk.
Sometimes, we have to do the things we aren’t excited about … like changing a dirty diaper.
Sometimes, we have to ask for help … like a child who can’t reach that toy on the shelf.
Sometimes, we have to follow our dreams … because we want to show our children that it’s possible for them to pursue their dreams, too.
I just released my debut choral album called “Whispers in the Shadows.” I asked for help, did some things I didn’t feel like doing, thought less about what people would think about me, acted, and moved on. I wish the album would have been released a couple of years ago, but sometimes good things come to those who wait.
If you would have told that new stay-at-home mom rocking her baby that all of this was actually going to happen … she would have cried happy tears. Well … she probably would have said, “no” and thought you were crazy. Then, maybe, she would have cried happy tears.
You can listen to “Whispers in the Shadows” now on Spotify or Apple Music.
