I will sing when there is no song..

We just had a weekend of 3 shows in 3 days. Thats optimal booking in good circumstances. It turned out to be a tough weekend. Why you ask? Well, it was a chicago show, an Oshkosh, WI show and then MI near Detroit. It seemed that bad weather chased us around. We took the van to save some money, so we were doing the driving ourselves each night, which is tough when youre 18, brutal when you're all a bit older. Haha. On top of drives though, we had quite a bit of snow, rain, freezing rain...just not safe conditions with a van and huge trailer. We did make each show thankfully, and made it home. With a few hitches and all pretty much exhausted. After our show saturday, we all trudged into a Tgifridays to have dinner before we took off. We were quite the sight! We were as tired as we were hungry..

My hubby was sick last week and I caught whatever bug it was the day we left for the weekend. So on top of all the blahs, I was feeling royally blah. Burning throat cold stuff. By the last show my voice was completely giving up. I would go for higher notes and it would just settle on something lower or not come out at all. So frustrating for a singer. Wanting to give my all vocally as much as connecting with the crowd is a big deal to me, so when I feel limited its tough. The crowd was a couple thousand girls, all ages, there for a girls conference. Crazy, loud, fun crowd...if you were there, thank you for being so great when I wasnt quite myself. :-)

So I know I've mentioned that I'll start giving some stories behind the songs and all, gearing up for my album release. I thought I'd start with the first song that is allready released on itunes on the compilation Now Hear This.

The song is called Lean. My husband, Nick and I wrote it with a writer/friend named Sarah Hart. When we sat down to write, my heart felt heavy. I was thinking of the tough years my husband and I had struggled through recently. I was thinking of people so dear to me who have had businesses fail, dreams seemed to be lost, disappointments for so long...and just barely holding on. Still wanting to say I believe there is a purpose for pain and struggle. I believe God is Who He says He is even when He seems distant. Even when I can't see Him coming to my rescue. So many thoughts went into this song. The idea of literally leaning on the cross. Just dragging yourself to the foot of the cross and laying it all there, crying out to God to give you the strength for the next step.

I grew up singing hymns...I love them! I love the reverance and the way they were written and sung. So I thought of the hymn, Leaning on the everlasting arms. One of my favorites. So the bridge of the song is some of that, with the melody changed just a bit.

"i will sing when there is no song, in the dark, Lord your light is strong.." you know even in the process of writing and recording this album I have had times when my heart felt broken, my spirit felt so heavy and hopeless, it was hard to choose to worship. To choose to write about God, when some days it really felt like He had disappeared. To believe I will understand one day and be okay not understanding right now, just trusting. To sing when there is no song. I feel like thats what this album is for me. Choosing to write songs of worship when my heart really wanted to say there was nothing to sing about. That I have been disapppointed for too long, in too many ways, that God hasnt come through when I needed Him. Oh but He is there. He is in the moments we dont choose to hear or feel Him. He is in the people around us who carry us through. He is in the sermon that is exactly what we needed to hear. He is in the song on the radio that makes us cry. We may not always understand how He is with us, or the ways He takes care of us. But like the air around us, He is constant and always there.

"your love is nothing less than a lamp unto my feet, so I can see.." its kind of a funny idea that brought this lyric to me..we have these stone steps in our yard that go to the backyard. When I take the pups outside I walk this path. We have lights in front and one in the backyard, but theres a spot where its prettty dark on the side..I've stepped on the stones enough times during the daylight that I remember the feeling enough to take each step in the dark. Some nights though, I still wonder if I'm about to slip off, twist an ankle or something. But my foot always finds the next step. (totally makes me think of that indiana jones moment when he has to take the step of faith on the invisible walkway..anyone with me??) each night I do it, I would think about faith and how so many times it feels like we are asked to take blind steps of faith and just trust that where our foot falls will be a safe place.

Much more to come...album releases june 7th. I will keep you posted on anything new until then!!

I am so excited to release this whole album to you! I would love your help in spreading the word. If you like my blogs or twitterings, please tell your friends to follow and tell them about the album.

Much love friends, I am off to rest for the night.

T

Take a breath, take a step

Well, I must say 2011 has had an interesting start. I think in all my adult years, 1 thing I have learned. If you try to make some prediction about what you think the New Year holds...well, lets just say, You'll be surprised. I am every year.

I'm not sure what the mood of 2011 has been for all of you. For Nick and I, its been a perfect mixture of disappointment in some areas and yet feeling so at peace and hopeful in others. I sometimes wonder, does the bad cancel out the good when theyre both in your life at the same time? I would say that it can. But that its our choice. We can decide not to let the tough places in life keep us stuck..and we can choose to feel what we need to feel. Move through the healing that you need but allow yourself to move on.

Have you ever gotten used to hurting and eventually found that you werent sure how to function if you moved on? Haha. Sounds crazy but it happens. My first broken heart..I was sad for so many months, and eventually my amazing sister who had been so patient with me, so understanding..told me it was time to smile again. Well, she actually did an interpretive dance to "beautiful day" by U2. Twice. A small part of me wanted to laugh. A bigger part of me had been so mad at the world and any happy people in it for so long that I was mad at her for trying to break my unsmiling phase. But she got through to me. It was time to move on.

So I called the boy and I told him to stop calling, because being his "friend" definitely wasnt helping me move on.

That was the moment I chose not to be the victim anymore. Sometimes we feel safer in a place we're used to, a job that might make us miserable, with someone who doesnt know how to love us, with friends who take and dont know how to give..but moving into a new place, a new job, being alone without that person, is scarrier than just being miserable and staying where you've been. Sometimes the best advice is just that its time to move.

Yesterday the first song from my album released..on a compilation of new artists called Now Hear This. The song is called Lean. My husband, Nick, and I wrote it with a friend and talented writer named Sarah Hart. We have 2 or 3 covers that will be on the album, the rest are songs we wrote with several different writers. We had the meeting this week, picked our 10 songs, decided on title. The album will be called The Road. Release day is 6/7/11. I'll make sure to blog more until then..to share behind the songs stories and more of the process. We are so excited, to say the least!

We had my photo shoot for my album a couple weeks ago. Our friend and talented photographer, David Molnar, shot for us. He did an amazing job! We had a great day, and had fun doing it. My friend and hairstylist, Renae Morton, did hair and makeup. Renae owns Lucy Pop salon here in Nashville. She's done my hair for years and even did my wedding day hair. Love her! My sister helped me with styling that day..accessories, shoes, decisions I didnt want to have to make. My friend, Grace Stevens helped me with styling/shopping ahead of time. We had quite the fun day together. She made me her little china doll, and we played dress-up in forever21's dressing room. I'll make sure to share some of the shots when I get them back..

If you want to follow my twitters, I am @superchicktrish...

Thanks for coming by..I love your thoughts and comments, so keep in touch! And my artist facebook is under Tricia Brock.

Stay warm and safe wherever you are..I think Nashville got snowed in tonight. Which means theres half an inch of snow on the ground, and everyone will raid stores for water, bread and soup. Haha. Oh, living in the south. We're a hot mess, Nashville.

Much love--T

P.s. i have a new favorite flavor out of Baskin Robbins 32 flavors...my dad helped me discover it. Its Gold Ribbon...chocolate, vanilla and little bits of caramel in there. Ummmm wow. Yes. Try it. Its happiness in a pint. Goodnight all.

Happy new Year!!

So where did you all find yourselves this New Years Eve? I got to be with my husband at one of his shows with Stellar Kart..It was in Tipp City, Ohio..so not all that far fom where I grew up in Indiana. It was the first show I got to see Nick play with SK, and of course lots of teenage kids with lots of energy, (I felt old), and apparently even in late December the dresscode for girls was short shorts and boots. I felt like I was in LA or something. Haha. My parents came with us, my favorite nephew Josiah and my super cool cousin Alyssa, who is a violinist and you will be seeing and hearing much of in the near future..and everyone says we look like sisters. ;-) it was a great night! Good ole Bob Evans for dinner before the show. Have you had their chicken and noodles?? I mean I'm not sure any Grandma could do much better. And love to see my Nick onstage of course.

Well I've slacked writing over the holidays so I just wanted to say hey and hope you all had a fun, safe and happy New Year! I feel so blessed by the people in my life. And it was cool to get to bring in the new year with some of my favorite people. Every memory, every moment we share, every funny story we have to tell, every emotion we have together..those things are more valuable than any gifts we can give or receive. And we can remember that and live that all year long. (and maybe people like me leave up our Christmas decorations way longer than some think is ok, to keep the cheer spreading a bit longer..) lay off me people.

The next 2 weeks we are working on the last of vocals and finishing touches and we will turn in my record. Every song I sing and get done just gives me this feeling of peace and of good to come. I know these songs are changing me as we write and record them, and I believe theyre going to bring you some joy and some peace in the places deep inside where you need it. Worship is a beautiful thing. I'm excited to lead all of you possibly into a new place this year. And honored.

Much love--

T

what's your vote??

Here are 2 shots from my shoot yesterday with David Molnar. We have weeded these down from 200...would love your vote on which one we'll use as the first shot for my solo record. This will mainly be used for the Now Hear This compilation my single will be on soon.

We're busy at work in the studio. That and Christmas shopping and wrapping. I think I might like buying gifts for people as much as decorating. Hope youre all enjoying the season, sipping hot cocoa and listening to as much Christmas music as your ears can handle..it all just makes me so happy!

Here we go...

drumroll....



do you like the 1st or 2nd?? just leave a comment! Thanks guys! Merry Christmas!

Oh the many hats we wear...

We had a great show this weekend in Lafayette, LA...we took our new(new for us, but used van)on its first roadtrip. Sometimes I enjoy roadtrips. It reminds me of the old days..when we rarely got a whole nights sleep in a hotel bed. When we didnt even always get a shower(for the members who like to regularly shower, that is..), and if we did, sometimes it was a flying J truck stop, not a hotel, because tours like Festival Con Dios were routed so badly and most nights were a solid drive so there wasnt time to sleep in a hotel, drive and get there for set up and soundcheck. Makes me tired just thinking of it. But we were all young. I think we might fall apart at the seams if touring still looked like this.

Pretty uneventful trip, other than how frightening it is in some of these tiny southern towns to pull up to a gas station...sometimes between the other drivers and the workers, it for sure feels like walking into the Twilight Zone. Much worse when I have a mohawk. Then I feel slightly afraid for my life. Our drummer, Chase, said at one point as we pulled into a truck stop..."sometimes the south scares me." haha, I would say I'm more amused than scared.

We pulled up for our early morning soundcheck to things running hours behind..but what started as a frustrating day turned into a nice one. the volunteers at Surgefest were so sweet, so helpful! I love when the people who are the heart behind these shows know that we like to get to know them, that its okay to talk to artists, ask questions, as long as you arent a crazy stalker. Then we are probably going to avoid you. ;-) Its been a long time since I met one of those. We played with Group 1 crew, KJ 52, seventh day slumber and Jeremy Camp. Nice day. Great crowd! The sweetest people working in catering who just loved to feed people and made us feel quite at home. And it was in the 70s. In December. Nice change but I must say I like my seasons..and winter is a favorite!

This week I'm working on details for my photo shoot. Sifting through my own stuff, shopping for some looks I want, talking hair with my hair stylist..all fun stuff! The shoot and everything about it will be a different side of me than my fans have seen with Superchick. Fun that I get to show the different hats I wear. I love the feel of Anthropology. The sort of vintage skirts, dresses, tights, boots, sweaters and things..a side of fashion I dont get to explore a lot, but now I can. The softer side of Tricia is what you might expect. This month will be busy. We're working on final vocals as each song gets done, or mostly done. My favorite part of this process is when it all comes together, and I can perfect the vocals with the music all there. :-) Superchick is about to start working on our new album, so this winter will be lots of sangin and writing for me. Exciting!!

I found myself sitting in my house today feeling thankful. For the little things. For a warm house, for my snuggly, sweet dogs, for a job I almost always love(chuckle, chuckle), for new and old friends, a husband who is everything the wrong guys who broke my heart in the past were not, for hope, for things to look forward to and people I love to experience all of it with. My friends, the Hammitts, from sanctus real, had a baby boy a couple months ago who was born with a rare heart disorder. They just recently got to take him home..they were featured on abc talking about this journey and I watched the clip today. To see these friends sharing feelings and emotions I can't imagine having to go through was so hard for me. Matt said something I'll remember. I have said the same thing but in different words many times. He said sometimes you have to choose to trade in pain for a purpose. Interesting way to say it. They said they didnt know how long they would have Bowen, so if they could share his story and God's faihfulness then they gave his life purpose. So much of life is our response to what happens to us and around us.

I'm off friends. Maybe bed early. But I doubt it. Have a great week! I'm crossing my fingers for a good snow here in Nashville.

If you wanted to hear the Hammitt's story. Have tissues close at hand.


http://abcnews.go.com/t/video/index?id=12239549&fromVideo=true

Romanced by the season...

Winter is here! And with that, the holidays are here in full swing. My favorite time of year. I am the picture of a girl who loves Christmastime. The smells, candles burning, food we cook together, decorating with lights and garland, Christmas movies, Christmas music my Grandpa used to play like the Rat Pack. People tend to be nicer, more generous, we spend more time with family and friends we love, we're reminded of what really matters(not meaning gifts or Santa). If you ask any of my friends, they will say I'm obsessed. That I start listening to the music too soon, decorate too early and leave all the decor up way too long. Well, if the spirit of Christmas makes me feel that happy inside, I figure why limit myself to 1 month? I'm going to draw it out as long as possible. And some lights I consider "decorative", so they just stay up all year long. I feel no need to apologize. I have gone so far as to decorate my car. I have an FJ Cruiser. It has a rack on top that we string lights around, and we have an outlet in the back so we plug it right in, hit the button and the lights are on. You wouldn't believe how it makes people smile when we're driving, the lights go on, and even the grumpiest of men, for about 3 seconds forget they're grumpy and they crack a huge smile and usually even tip their hat to us, or maybe a little wave. I have gone one step further and will admit I have decorated my dogs..ok, well I mean I put antlers and bells on them. Its almost like decorating them. They love every second. Maybe not. But it makes me happy.

Our friends David and Tammy Molnar are photographers and out of the goodness of their hearts they threw a Christmas party/take pics for all their friends' Xmas cards party..it was early so that people could get their cards out if needed. I didnt even attempt this year. No time. Maybe a Christmas picture email will go out if I'm lucky. =) Here are a couple shots of the Baumhardt family. All of us of course. Theyre amazing and it was a hard nights work, and we so appreciate it! It was a great excuse to dress up, see friends, make new friends and get started on the Christmas cheer!!





A friend of mine, Tenley, and I were writing the other day about the wonder of Christmas. She said a friend of hers put it this way...that she was being "romanced by the season." Last Christmas, our pastor, Stan Mitchell, spoke about just that. He talked about seeing the wonder in his kids eyes when they first learned about the real meaning of Christmas. When they still believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy, when they're willing to just be in awe of things, holding no emotions back. This time of year, I think some of us allow some of that wonder to seep back in. It's such a beautiful thing to allow yourself to talk about memories and things that bring up emotion, and just to let it show. To get caught up in this season by allowing yourself to be captivated and romanced by the idea of this baby in a manger, who's name is Jesus. What a beautiful thing that He came so humbly. No Hilton Inn and Suites, no catering room, no first class seat. So unassuming. Always knowing His purpose, His calling would be to save the ones who would later bring all the prophesies to life.

"And from the weight of mercy's cross. You whispered words that saved us all.
So love could be the only song, you hear.Oh, you hear."--

Lyrics from one of the songs on my worship album. And every time I sing it, or hear it, I get that same feeling inside. Love is what motivated every choice and every sacrifice. It's what saved us. Just four words were all that was needed. "Father, please forgive them." The story feels new to me every year. Love. Grace. And if we could live in the wonder of this all year long, I am convinced this world would be a better place.

We are home for the Holidays. I love to be home, to be at church on Sundays, to be settled in our house for long enough that I really feel settled. For any of you who havent travelled consistently at some point, each trip I get back from, I feel like laundry and cleaning needs to start all over. It gets old after a while, and being home long enough to make the house feel lived in is so refreshing for me. I need those times to refuel for the tours and times my house feels more like a familiar hotel stop...

We are hard at work on my worship album. Deciding title this week. Planning the photo shoot for next month, talking ideas, style, hair and makeup...you know, the fun, girly part of releasing an album! I thought it might be fun to keep you all posted on that process and how its going and how it al works. This is my first shoot not as a whole band and just as a solo artist. It's all almost like the first time because the process has been so different for me.

My family came here for Thanksgiving..they got to visit for the whole week. We had such fun times! Movie nights, dinners at some favorite spots, girl shopping outings, the boys(Nick and Dad)were doing some deer hunting when they could. Decorating my house together, Mom cleaning and organizing things in that way only Moms can, Dad fixing things for us. I guess without getting super mushy I just have to say that I love my parents so much. They are amazing people and have been the example that has made me so excited for the day that I'm a mom too. Memories we make and time together just feels like a blessing after knowing I could've lost my mom to the heart attack last year..we definitely hug longer.

I pray the holidays are a romantic time for you this year. I pray you laugh harder. Let yourself be awed by the moments you're in. And if this Christmas season is a sad or painful time for you, like some have been for me. I pray you surround yourself with people who love you and hug you longer.

Much love----T

Overwhelmed in a good way

So our month run of tour is done, and we're back home for an almost 2 week break. By break, I mean I'm home and not playing shows, but I went straight into working on our demos with Nick, and today we're tracking drums. We're at a studio in Franklin called Dark Horse. Its a beautiful studio that reminds me of sort of a cabin mansion...yea, hard to describe. We're doing drums in a little cabin off of the main studios..very quaint and cute. We're way out and theres just land and adorable things like a tire swing in the tree right outside..such a cool place to stay and do a whole record, and you can live here if thats how you choose. We're just doing drums here, and then the rest we will probably track at our house. Our friend Joey Sanchez is playing drums for the record. 1 song down and its sounding great! Really excited. Street date is may 3, 2011. We have worked with some amazing writers and put together an album that is personal and vulnerable for me, and I guess I couldnt have asked for anything else in the process.

This tour we're on has felt like this time of reminders for me. Through so many little things, I feel like God's been reminding me to be thankful. That my attitude affects my situation so much, instead of letting circumstances dictate my attitude. I know I have so much to be thankful for and that it outweighs the things I can be frustrated with in life. But its so easy to talk about the negative, to focus on what we need, on what we've lost, on the people we struggle with..but to see what we have allready, all the little times each day that God makes us smile, and to appreciate the relationships we have. When I do focus on the positive, sometimes I am overwhelmed by Him, and ashamed that I ever spend a day whining to Him with the breath He gives.

I have met so many amazing, strong and broken people on this tour. A woman who is a recovering addict, a family who says they are in church bc of our music, a girl who says we were on her bucket list, a girl who lost her brother to suicide bc of bullying...a girl says we saved her life when she was ready to kill herself, a woman shared that beauty from pain helped her through her husband leaving her. I felt like every night God was sending someone to remind me that He will use us, normal and broken and not perfect people, if we will move ourselves out of the way enough for people to see Him in us.

I got to see a friend one day I was in Texas last weekend. She is one of the strongest, most Godly women I know. She is one of my prayer warriors, one of the first people I think to ask when I need prayer. She just had a baby a month ago and had some complications and has been bedridden and in so much pain since the labor. Her baby is good and healthy, but her recovery has been so discouraging and long road for her. I know she believes she can be healed and will be, but has wondered why it hasnt happened yet. She wants to enjoy this newborn time and be able to change diapers and take him on walks and be fully immersed in him right now. So we were talking and her emotions came and she shared her hurt and discouragement..so like shes done for me so many times, I encouraged her in the woman she is and her faith, and just shared some thoughts on why maybe God would be asking her to slow down...the next day she woke up healed of her pain. And she said she believes that my words were what she needed to believe and be ready for healing. My point in the story is the reminder that in our words there is power. There is life or death. There is love or hate. Inspiration and life or discouragement and negative thoughts. And why do we waste these breaths on even speaking out anything other than what could give life and healing and encouragement? The power is not in us or our words or eloquence, but in the One who hears our prayers.

Ok lunch was just delivered..thai food to the rescue. I am so on a thai kick right now. I can get obsessive with food and then I overdue it. but not yet with thai...