Celebrity Travel: Go away with Maia Sharp
After living in Los Angeles for most of her life, musician Maia Sharp moved to Nashville, where she settled in with the city’s songwriting community. She has collaborated with a diverse range of artists (Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Keb’ Mo’, Art Garfunkel, The Chicks), but the singer-songwriter-producer said some of her most meaningful work has been with Songwriting with Soldiers. “I take brief road trips two to three times a month to work for them,” Sharp said. “(It’s) an incredible organization that pairs a professional songwriter with veterans, active-duty service members, their family members … to turn their stories into songs.” Sharp’s latest album is “Mercy Rising.” She stays in touch with her fans at maiasharp.com, as well as Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MaiaSharpOfficial), Twitter (https://twitter.com/maiasharp) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/maiasharpmusic/).
Q: This pandemic has made everyone think differently about how we spend our free time. How have you dealt with not being able to travel easily?
A: I'm one of the lucky ones who lives in a neighborhood that fits me so well that I can take a staycation and truly relax, if I flip that switch in my mind. I'm just a few blocks away from a large, protected park in Nashville, where I can recharge when I need to.
Q: Many artists have told me that they’ll never complain about having to travel for work.
A: I definitely have a running list of things I used to not appreciate that I now welcome. I'm starting to fly again for work and though I still don't love flying itself, I'm distracted from that discomfort by the excitement of just getting out there again and making music with other humans in the same room.
Q: If you had travel plans for 2020 and had to cancel, where were they to?
A: New York, where I co-teach the New York University Summer Songwriters Workshop. That trip was canceled but, fortunately, the workshop went virtual in 2020. And Modesto, California, where I was scheduled to open for Bonnie Raitt. That trip was postponed to this November.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: The north shore of Kauai (for) hiking. My favorites are the Na Pali Coast trail and Waimea Canyon. There is nothing like that clean, tropical air. I feel my body chemistry change when I walk off the plane in Lihue – like I already know I can completely unplug and recharge there.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
...continued
(c) 2021 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
