Transparent Christian Magazine

I met Maureen Murphy a few years ago while she was singing backup for a friend.  I loved her voice and went to see her a few weeks later while she put on a blues/rock/soul show, and I was hooked.  Seeing her live is nothing short of a spiritual experience.

Recently we sat down to talk about her incredible passion for life, her impressive weight loss, new music and the amazing difference a year makes.

Transparent: Where did you grow up, and what led you to Nashville?

Maureen: I grew up on Cape Cod Massachusetts, in a small town called Falmouth.  I went to a Catholic church, so there wasn’t much singing there (laughs).  I sang a lot as a teenager, and I moved to Boston when I was 18 to go to Berkly College of Music.

Later, I moved to Harlem for a year, and sang a bit there, and it was a great experience, but I felt like I needed a change of pace.  I moved to Santa Fe New Mexico and lived there for 3 years, and that is where I really started singing ‘professionally’.  I sang often and did some cool things in Santa Fe.  There was a team of us that would do a Sunday Gospel Brunch that sold out every weekend.  People just loved it.  It was one of those ideas that comes along, and everyone gets on board… it was very successful.  I performed there on weekends, and I got to a point where I knew I wanted more, and Nashville was the next place on the list!

I moved here in 2003, and even though I have aspirations of doing music full time, I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be right now.  It seems that because I work Monday through Friday, I’m even more grounded and focused on music.  God is getting me ready (smiles).  He’s getting me ready for the stuff I’ve dreamed about.  There is preparation.  For YEARS I would beat myself up… “Why don’t I have this opportunity!”

I had this “lacking vibe” that I was putting out in the universe, but with all of the traction that I have been building, I feel like that vibe is gone and all of these amazing things are happening.  Regularly, it seems like I meet someone that I connect with and I go home thinking “wow, what a great person, and a cool appointment” and two days later, someone else comes into my life that is just as great and just as supportive.  It’s proof to me that I’m focusing and doing the right things, and putting the right energy out to the world!

Transparent: What is your weekly schedule like?

Maureen: I have regular gigs in and around Nashville, I work at the Hermitage Hotel from Monday through Friday, and I work out like a maniac.  I’m up to 7 workouts a week.  I try to get a couple in on some days so I can have a day off once in awhile.

Transparent: What prompted the workouts?

Maureen: It started almost a year ago in February.  I kind of got to a point where I had to make a choice.  I can either be miserable for the rest of my life or do something about my health.  I had met this woman when I was young that was a Reiki Therapist and I kept thinking about this person, and how I wished she could help me, because I didn’t know where else to turn.  I was having lunch with a songwriter in town and we were just casually talking over soup, and she mentioned that she had a Reiki Therapist named Dawn Cunningham. I called Dawn and met with her, and THAT day really changed my perspective on the rest of my life.

I started working with Dawn and she really helped me get my head right, with some energy balancing, and positive affirmations.  She helped to give me the strength to start believing in myself.  I was really abusive mentally to myself, and she gave me the tools to start to love myself, to understand that I am worthy (to be loved).  I tried other things to help me feel better, but medication didn’t help me.  I thought “well, I don’t have an infection, and this isn’t something that can be healed with a drug.”  What makes you healthy is eating correctly and working out.

I worked with her for a couple months, we met every 4 weeks or so.  Your body needs to process this type of therapy and counseling, and I was on kind of a hiatus from music at the time because I was having these negative health issues.  However, after I started working with Dawn, lots of opportunities started to present themselves.

The Lightning 100 Music City Mayhem opportunity lead to a 2nd place finish, there were 32 bands, and it was a music competition to coincide with the NCAA Basketball Tournament – “March Madness.”

There was a concert with the top 4 groups and Tom Hansen was deeply involved.  Tom works for Lightning 100, and also works with Marathon Fitness, which is in the same building.  The show was fantastic, the crowd was there for me, and I had an awesome band, and it was more than I could ask for.  I felt like it was my ‘return performance’ and it was fantastic.  Laura (Tom’s wife) pulled me aside, and introduced me to a guy named Joe who owns Marathon Fitness.  I could tell something was up, because she was acting kind of weird.  She said “Tom and I want to pay for half of your tuition to train with Joe for a month.”  My first reaction was “oh, my God, that’s amazing.  My mind was right, my heart was right, and that was the next step.  She said “we want to help get you started.”  I was blown away, and she was relieved (laughs) because she thought I might be upset or offended.

Meeting Joe was great, I could definitely sense that he was skeptical because I weighed almost 300 lbs, and I am sure he had seen lots of people like me that for whatever reason, didn’t commit.  We met and talked, and he told me what his expectations were, and I told him mine.  I said, “I’m ready now”.  He said “Ok, let me find a schedule that works for you and we’ll get started”.  Joe isn’t your average trainer, one of his top clients is Eddie George.  Two days later I got a call from Mario Kelso, who Joe had asked to work with me.  He left me a message, that said “let’s set up a time to meet.”  I went by a few days later and got started.

When we met, I still was under the impression that I would be working directly with Joe, when Mario said “I’m going to be training you” it was kind of shocking, but this was another experience that was a perfect fit.  This man has totally changed my physical health and also has complimented my mental health, and the crazy thing was, he had JUST moved back into town.

Early Spring 2009

I’m pretty convinced that if I didn’t have him, MY success wouldn’t be near where it is today.  My fight would have been a lot harder.  I think he was skeptical in the beginning too, but he has such a big heart and really wants to help people, and it didn’t take us long to establish a strong commitment to each other.

Mario introduced me to Crossfit .  It’s in an old warehouse and there really isn’t the traditional equipment there.  There’s no treadmill or elliptical machines, it’s all like medicine balls, kettle bells, and weights.  Crossfit is very community based, they have daily classes daily, and these people show up and we all do a class together.  I started meeting all of these people and  they were genuine, with a “we’re all in this together” mindset.

They welcomed me into the family.  It’s a totally different atmosphere than a traditional health club, with a family of people that is committed to making their lives better.  I don’t know what my success would have been with a gym membership at the YMCA.  I think “I have to be (at Crossfit), because we are committed to each other, I don’t want to let them down.”  It seems to be working… With this workout schedule and focus on healthy eating I’ve lost about 100 lbs since this time last year.

I want to be that person that keeps fighting and inspiring others to do the same thing.  No way would I have continued to be doing what I’m doing if I would have just joined a club.

Transparent: With everything pulling for your time, how do you recharge your batteries?

Maureen: I try to get to bed as early as I can.  I make sure I get enough sleep, if I don’t it’s hard to get up.  I get to bed at 10 every night if I can,  if I have a couple of hours, I’ll lay down earlier.  My massage therapist is amazing, and has an incredible soul, and I try to make time every month for an appointment.

November 2009

Performing music is another way that I rest and meditate.  It’s hard to explain but I’m in a different place when I’m performing.   In that performance space, there is freedom and a peacefulness that we all strive for in our daily lives, and I’m able to rest and rejuvenate and be inspired all at the same time.

Transparent: How has this transformation changed your performance?

Maureen: I feel physically stronger.  I can be more controlled when I sing, and have  more breath.  My confidence is different.  I’ve always felt confident on stage, but now offstage, I do.  There is a peacefulness that has been placed in that space OFF stage, and  people can see that now – I had it hidden before.   We did a show at 12^th & Porter in November.  The energy was pretty amazing, it wasn’t a made up thing.  People came out of that show like “Oh my God, what just happened!?!?!!”.  I know it is tied somehow to the exercise.

Transparent: What do you worry about.

Maureen: I don’t worry like I used to.  I can sense when the old self is trying to creep back in, and I’m really trying to stay focused.  I work on not getting caught in the past.  The routine of working out has been the easiest part for me.  The food and nutrition has been a struggle around the holidays.  Probably not like what you you would think though,  it’s the routine that has got me a bit out of whack.  I’ve been so disciplined and I didn’t let up, but nobody was at the gym during the holidays!!

I had these thoughts, like “I’m going to gain 50 lbs and everything is going to be destroyed.”  I’ve been reading a lot about ego, and the way that I see it is that there is this awareness that we all have about our past and our present.  I want to stay focused on my current experiences, and enjoy where I am right at this moment… Not think about what someone said in the past, not hearing the old voices, this negative comment saying “you’re not worthy” or “you’re not good enough, nobody loves you”.  That’s the old ego talking, and I’m infinitely more aware of the present moment.

Transparent: The amount of weight you have lost has been really impressive, and personally inspiring.  We live in such an ‘appearance focused society’ have you noticed people treating you differently?

Maureen: I’ve been kind of expecting that, but honestly I haven’t had anything really unusual happen since I lost the weight.  The people around me are great people and they always show me lots of love, that was never the issue and I didn’t do this for others anyway.

NASHVILLE’S TALKING

============================================

I first heard Maureen when Jon and I were dating. He took me to hear her perform. I remember being blown away, and she still blows me away, which is the usual reaction to anyone that hears her. I didn’t actually get up enough courage to meet her till about a year later. A voice like that can be intimidating to an aspiring singer, but after I met her she was quite the opposite. Maureen is such a sweet and down to earth person. We have become part of a music family that has since been created. Maureen’s vocals are powerful and soulful on a whole new level. She “takes it to church.” She is truly an inspiration to me, and I am blessed to call her my friend. Anna Ross (The Anna Ross Project)

Maureen is a rare talent and an even better person.  Her unique style pays tribute to the classic artists, yet she has defined her own modern and soulful sound.

Ryan Michaels (Ryan Michaels Band)

============================================

Transparent: What’s been happening with your music lately?

Maureen: January has been quiet which has been good, but I have a big show at 12 & Porter which I’m really excited about, I open for Ryan Michaels and I plan on doing that again.  I have a tremendous amount of friends getting married this year, so I’m going to be performing at lots of weddings!   I don’t know how or why, but I feel there is a record coming this year.  I don’t have a plan for it at this point, but I heard a voice the other day saying “you are going to be making a record this year”.  I’m really trying to focus on writing.  I had an old friend from college named William Keenan that I’ve been writing with.  He’s an amazing musician and singer, and he’s really focused on producing.  He’s leading his music ministry at church, and I’ve been helping him there as well.

Writing is very intimidating to me right now, it’s something I’ve just kind of put off.  I’m learning that lyrically, I’m not as strong as I would like to be, I am more into the melodies and music.  When it comes to lyrics I get intimidated when I’m around other artists, but the chemistry that William and I seem to have is great.  It’s almost like it’s not work, we are just being creative together, I get less intimated and I can just try to expand my mind.  When we’re writing, we usually just pick a time where we meet, and it’s more like hanging out.  We have two songs right now, and it always feels really great when we accomplish these songs.  It’s like getting a prize at the end of a writing session!

The first one is called “Haunted.”  And the second one is called “It’s Not Over”.    The haunted song, has like an R&B Feel.  I really want to do some radio friendly R&B stuff, that music really speaks to me.  The second song is a bit on the rock side, and it’s uplifting, with a really positive message about not giving up.

It’s hard to describe what happens in Nashville with music.  I feel that my circle is getting smaller and I’m connecting to more people, and it seems like this “2 degrees of separation” deal keeps happening, forcing me out of my comfort zone.  I feel like I’m on the verge of some exciting things, and Nashville is supportive of that.  There were so many life-changing moments last year, I didn’t have to work very hard at booking shows, and everything was almost just handed to me… It felt natural, the way it was supposed to be.  (Smiles)  I wasn’t a ‘cool kid’ when I was in school, but I feel like I’m at the cusp of that happening now.  (Laughs).

Transparent: What kind of music are you listening to?  What’s on your iPod?

Maureen: I have the new Alicia Keys cd and I love it.  She is so real, there is so much commercial crap on the radio, and she is still staying true to the music.  She has a real voice, you can hear mistakes on the record, and her songs come from a real place too.  They aren’t necessarily really profound to me, but they don’t have to be because they hold up.  She does a lot of charity stuff too and I really admire that.  I have also been listening to Keane.  They are from the UK  and have a similar vibe to Coldplay, I guess they are kind of artsy.  They write these very melodic pop songs, that are very melodic, and the lyrics are pretty awesome too.

Transparent: Some blues?  When I think of your music, I think of these rich blues songs.

Maureen: The blues is always there, too.  It’s in my soul somehow.  We didn’t listen to it growing up really… There was no Stevie Ray Vaughn playing at my house, but I think blues is a release for me… and not just for me, but for the listeners too.

Blues is in our collective blood.  It’s natural and it takes people away.  There’s a beauty in the pain that makes you feel good at the same time.  Maybe all music does that, but there is this extra special thing that happens with blues, and I can always get down!

“I Won’t Wait Around”  — Thanks to Lightning 100 for the Video

Transparent: How has God been blowing your mind lately?

Maureen: I used to go to Bethel World Outreach church.  I thought the music was really cool.  I went for about a year and then something happened and I just stopped.  I thought “I don’t need to do this.”  Up until recently God has kind of been a question mark, and I’m not really sure where I sit with that even now.

Recently Mario sent me a text message that said “I want you to go to church with me”.  He told me the time he would pick me up, and we were driving over there, and he said “we are going  to Bethel”.   That day it kind of clicked.  I thought “there’s something funny going on -  in the big picture”.

The message that morning was thought provoking, and powerful.  The service was about having a grateful heart.  It’s only been a couple of months and I’ve actually gone back by myself. I’ve been reading a lot about faith and things.  I want to be more open minded to it, and step outside of my comfort zone – again. (smiles)

For a long time I was not paying attention to God or my faith or what that means to me and it’s been a journey that I’m back on now.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

I called Maureen to tell her this article was going to be published, and asked her how she was doing. Her response was unforgettable. She said “I am absolutely amazing”.

I agree. – Jason

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Join me on Monday night (February 1st) at 12 & Porter to see Maureen perform with Ryan Michaels Band at 6:00.

Connect with Maureen on MySpace

Connect with Maureen on Facebook

Connect with Maureen at her new blog.

You can buy her latest EP “Won’t Wait Around” here.