Meet Annie Lynn | Singer & Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annie Lynn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annie, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I actually find it extremely hard to give up on anything, and find it easier to keep going. I always have. I’m the most dedicated, loyal person, and love to work towards something and finish things. I don’t like giving up at all. Not just on projects I work on, or curiosities I’m following, but anything. It’s hard to give up. But sometimes giving up on one thing opens a new door and you have to trust yourself and walk right through that open door.

I quit volleyball my sophomore year of high school part way through the season. It was super hard because I’d trained at a University of Wisconsin, Madison volleyball camp the summer before. I had really worked up my skills and made the Junior Varsity team. But the next fall I joined the drama club instead, auditioned and got the lead in the play “You Can’t Take it With You” playing Alice. The next fall I got the lead role as Nikki in “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” as well as parts in the spring musicals. This was really the start of me doing something completely different. I found out I was not only good at it and liked it, but felt momentum in a direction I wanted to keep going in. But I do remember being so scared to tell my coach I just didn’t want to sit on the bench anymore. I thought I was good enough to play and it was embarrassing to be the only one not playing at games. Well, I didn’t tell her all of that, but I wanted to. It wasn’t just about the game, but how it made me feel while being there. I felt like I could be having more fun, and it wasn’t fun. Up until that point, I remember thinking I’d never quit anything before. Just by the act of quitting that day, it taught me I have a choice. I can choose whether to keep going, or to quit.

If you’re going to pick something to keep going with, sometimes it means you have to quit something else. And whatever you pick, I think its gotta have an element of fun. If it’s no longer bringing you some joy in your life, I guess I just start to question it.

To help me keep following my journey in songwriting I send out “Annie’s Adventure” every other Friday. It’s a pen pal letter (personalized email) I write to Annie Lynn Club members. It’s a way to share the ups and downs on my quest to keep going, and to connect with folks who are interested in hearing about it. I love writing people back if they reply too, and always encourage others to follow their own dreams, and to “Make it an adventure!”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love to write and tell stories to entertain and inspire others, whether it be a song, a story in a blog post or one of my “Annie’s Adventure” pen pal letters. I’ve always loved music and performing, but also come from a family that valued it too. So it’s in my roots, and comes from a place that feels personal and like it’s been a part of me from a very young age. I try to create from that place, pulling from my past and present to make something completely unique.

I come from a family where I was told not to sing at the dinner table, but cranking the family room or car stereo up was totally acceptable. My Dad would turn up the car radio in the garage to finish a song he was enjoying after his 30 minute commute home from work. He was a CPA for a packaging company that made labels for things like Pringles. He’d be pounding the beat on the steering wheel as I looked out from the door I’d crack open, mom cooking dinner in the kitchen. Was he coming in yet? Big smile on his face. He always wanted to be a speech writer he told me, and considered having a career in music. Dad was in multiple bands when he was growing up, a super quick study on practically everything, including guitar and piano. My Dad and I’ve sang together since I was a little girl and in more recent years we’ve learned things like how to record our music together.

I remember my Mom, a special education teacher, with her arms up in the air imagining she was conducting a classical orchestral piece while making dinner, enjoying it with her eyes closed and completely immersed in the moment. She was in choir in high school, once made a record. My Mom, who always said she wished she knew how to play piano, paid for me to take piano lessons from the lady across the street for five years. I practiced on our old upright player piano that had ivory keys. I later took violin for a couple years, flute for one year, but I hated playing that. I once faked my way through an entire band concert pretending to play my flute! I didn’t have piano recitals, but I did have dance recitals. I took dance for 15 years from elementary school all through college. When I added acting to the mix, I learned what the term “triple threat” was. I liked knowing how to sing, dance and act. My parents supported me pursuing a career in the arts. I owe a lot to them for letting me trust myself and follow my own path.

I dreamed of being on Broadway. I had to design my own major in college though called “Music Theatre” because I wanted to study musical theatre but there wasn’t a degree in that where I was attending. This is when I really began developing my entrepreneurial skills, coordinating three departments including the theatre, dance, and music schools. I remember thinking my skills and interests didn’t quite fit into anything that was being offered, so I was going to pick and choose what I’d study. Some things I couldn’t get around though and music theory was required, which I almost failed! (More recently as I’ve been studying songwriting I’ve learned there are ways to write music without worrying so much about music theory in the more traditional sense. I’m not alone that some people just need to approach music creating differently. I fall into this group.)

It’s not always been easy, and I’ve definitely taken breaks here and there as life happens. But I do know that when something is so much a part of who you are you can’t ignore it. It’s going to want to show up in some capacity. Like a little tug on your shirt saying “Hey, remember me? Give me some attention.” For me, I try to stay curious and see where my creativity wants to take me. To make life an adventure, and not take myself too seriously. It’s sometimes the unexpected and bumps in the road that make the best stories.

There’s a picture of me when I was a little girl in an inner tube, floating down a river in Wisconsin with my arms up in the air. I made it the cover art for the acoustic album I offer Annie Lynn Club members access to. I picked it because it just really shows my motto: “Make it an adventure!” in action. It’s the screen saver on my computer, and I look at this picture whenever I need a little reminder.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think local, state and national parks and gardens are some of the best places to feel peaceful and regroup with oneself or enjoy the company of others. Any place to just walk and let your mind wander, or listen to the sounds of nature is so renewing and needed in our busy lives.

I’m also a fan of libraries! Remember Reading Rainbow? I struggled with reading as a kid, and even as an adult from time to time. But more recently have rediscovered reading. I mostly like non-fiction. But I just think libraries are one of the best inventions ever! How cool is it to be able to check out books and other resources for free! I once borrowed snowshoes from my library, which was totally fun. There’s a virtual reality headset I haven’t tried yet, and have you ever tried audiobooks? or large-print?! There’s so much to explore at local public libraries.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe a lot to Mr. C, my high school drama director and mentor who more than once pulled me aside and said “kiddo, you’ve got it. You’ve got natural stage presence. Believe in yourself, be in the moment, and make magic! Keep going with performing, don’t give up.” He saw something in me I felt in myself but never had anyone else see in me quite like he expressed it. By him taking the time to talk to me, really look me in the eye and encourage me to keep performing, it made a huge impact on the path I’ve taken. He made me feel like I could do anything! He attended my graduation party, other productions I was in after high school, and kept in touch when I moved away to college in Minnesota to study and perform music, theatre, and dance professionally in the Twin Cities area. He passed away a few years ago, but I think of Mr. C often whenever I need encouragement. I’m grateful that his words still move me forward.

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