Page 64 - Poze Magazine Volume 81

4) Your children played a huge role in
encouraging you to return to music. How
does their support impact your confidence
and creativity as an artist?

Stefanie: Seeing my children’s drive for
life and their passions has literally
reignited a brand new flame within me.
As my children watch me songwrite, sing,
and perform, not only do they realize
Mom is pursuing her dream, but I feel as
though it’s encouraging them to pursue
their dreams even harder because it
goes to show that passions never die.
You just have to keep going and try not
to push it aside because it will always
creep back up. It’s so important to
encourage your kids to do a little bit of
what they love each day. Their
motivation and encouragement make me
want to continue writing and creating
forever. I want to turn the pages and
create new ideas and songs from their
life experiences and show them that a
song was created based on what they’ve
been going through personally, and that
makes it so neat.

5) Motherhood and music are both deeply personal journeys. How do you balance the two, and in what
ways has being a mother influenced your songwriting?

Stefanie: It definitely is a balance, and I make sure to use the time when my children are in school or
activities to go full force. I don’t ever want to take away time with them or be distracted when they’re
around, unless I’m involving them in my songwriting. It’s important to be fully present with your kids.
They’ve got a lot to say, and their little minds go through alot. I never want to discount their feelings or
be unavailable for them if possible. Sometimes they’ll be in my music office, and I’ll ask for their opinion
on my sound, lyrics, or ideas. My children have helped create different stories for me to write about and
have shaped new chapters. They’ve been the main reason I’m turning pages. Once you create a family
and have children, there’s a whole new aspect to writing because you take on their feelings as well.