Super Mom Feature #1: ANDREA NIXON

I am starting a segment that will feature the SUPER MOMS that surround me! The local mamas in the local music and entertainment industry who are inspirational, empowering, ambitious, entrepreneurial and make a difference in our community AND they are also busy moms! Call it a THANK YOU, call it what you want - but these fabulous females in our local #YEG community deserve a little recognition from a different perspective. These moms ooze energy and motivation and have kept me believing in myself during my sometimes overly chaotic, too much to handle, kid raising days. Its time for me to give back and share their work and projects with you all!

First up - ANDREA NIXON. She'll sip on her tea in a crowded bar while munching on hot wings and still be able to talk your ear off about her business plan for sticking to the road she's paved out all by herself, the road that has led to so many successes this past year. I sat down with her at Second Cup for a good way past due catch up!

Though crazy busy, it seems to have been the most successful year yet after the recent release of her debut album "Diary of a Housewife." She always has a wildcard up her sleeve when one of her goals doesn't quite come through, whether its getting a local business involved, cross promoting with a small town or creating ways to improve awareness to causes that she's passionate about. She's nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year with the Association of Country Music of Alberta in 2017 for her "Song Without A Name" single and I'm looking forward to fitting in the fun annual drive to Red Deer for the ACMA's with my friend in January.

I thought it was fitting for Andrea to be my first feature Super Mom as she's one of my closest friends. She'll promote the heck out of the dollar deals at McDonalds and bring her slippers to your house. She's the most positive, driven person I know and its true that you have to surround yourself with like minded people who bring out the best in you. She does exactly that for me. Andrea has made so many people in the local community feel like family, even introduced me to a few and where ever she goes or whatever initiative she has up her sleeve, it's always for the greater good.

Photo Credit: Candice Ann Marshall

Being a busy mom, life throws us curve balls once in a while and in the days of drowning in self-doubt we all need a friend we can lean on, someone who can bring us back to our strongest place, mentally. That's why I am thankful for our friendship. When my life is upside down and a little wonky, or when I'm dealing with toddler tantrums at the most inconvenient time, she always manages to bring me back to my happy place and makes sense of the madness.

I am very proud of Andrea. She has stayed true to herself, doing what she wants, her way - AND it's working. She's accomplished more than most in 2 years and is making music her business. She never stops trying to obtain those hard to reach goals and knows it comes with sacrifices. Picked as one of the 12 artist for the Project Wild Development Program though didn't place as one of the top 3, she has so many good things to say about the career changing experience and is grateful for being part of it. Her Province wide Radio tour for her #SirenStories awareness initiative also just came to and end. She personally visited victims of domestic violence while raising awareness for the cause and it was something she really cares about, so plans to take it to a whole other level next year - lets just say a video series may be in the works! While she is now in Calgary finishing up her Music Entrepreneur Program with Coalition Music, she is looking forward to is getting home to be with family for the holidays.

I'm lucky enough to be a friend that sees all sides of Andrea. She's as normal as they come. Trying to balance everything like we all are, she's now working full time as an independent musician. Before our two youngest started Kindergarten we used to do weekly play dates. We'd make pancakes for the kids and have a good old singsong. We found our voices mesh well together so often talk about our future duo band together, we even have a name picked out! Here's us singing together (video link above) if you missed it a while back!

If you want to catch her at her next show or see where she will be performing check out her website at ANDREA NIXON. She will be performing for New Years in Spruce Grove and just announced she will be performing with her band for ROGERS HOMETOWN HOCKEY in Airdrie December 16 & 17 which is fantastic! You can also stream her ENTIRE ALBUM HERE and if you haven't already heard her stories in her songs - YOU SHOULD. He live show with her incredible band sounds just like the tracks! She has a toe tapping show that will take you back in time or to a place that makes it feel like home.

Thank you Andrea for being the friend you have become. There should be more out there like you and I am truly thankful to have you in my life.

www.AndreaNixon.com

www.Facebook.com/AndreaNixonMusic

www.Twitter.com/AndreaNixonSong