Meet Dayna Shereck!

When I first met Dayna a couple years ago, I was captivated by the way her smile draws you near and her eyes assure you of her attention. She has an open heart, a spicy sense of humour and a penchant for adventure that all inform her warm way with words and melody. Dayna has been gracing the streets of Nashville as one of the finest. She was a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition for 2012 and 2013 and put on the NSAI “Ones to watch” list. Isn’t she just a charm to watch? 😉

This is the lyric video to The Door, written by Dayna with Marcum Steward and vocalist Andrea Goodman. Enjoy!

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Dayna answers…

What is your career?

I am songwriter, that I would say is my actual career. Though I also do some freelance writing, and some facilitating and I tend to gravitate towards anything driven by communication.

Greatest challenges and Rewards?

The greatest challenge in pursuing the road of a professional songwriter, is that there is no real road map on how to be successful, everyone gets there a different way. It’s not like you can graduate and then take your certificate to a publisher, it’s all abstract and magical, with lots of risk involved and not any guarantee. Though one of the greatest rewards for me, is the magic of writing a song, and knowing that anything is possible, that song could get cut this year and change someone’s life. There are so many things in life that just “are what they are”, but a great song, in the right hands, has the capacity to be so much more. In writing songs, I have found an outlet that helps me deal with day to day life, but most of all, the relationships that I have built with my various collaborators have been very special. They are all unique and wonderful in their own ways, and I have learned so much from them personally and professionally.

Advice to Others?

When I wrote my first song “Faultline”, I was so naive to the entire music business, that I operated, as if I had written the only song in the world, that everyone needed to hear. I remember running into a musician friend who said “no one makes money from music, do you know how many people are out there trying to make it” and I just closed my ears. Lets face it, there is a ton of competition. I was told recently that Nashville has between 60,000-80,000 songwriters in town at any given time, all pitching songs, writing, performing, those numbers are enough to send you right back on the plane home. So my advice would be focus on the personal belief you have in yourself, never stop believing in magic, because to get a song cut or placed, the stars definitely need to align. Enjoy the journey, the small successes along the road, and build genuine relationships with people, don’t be afraid to show who you are.

5 years ago did you expect to be where  you are today?

I never imagined 5 years ago that I would even be a songwriter. I had never played an instrument or even thought of writing a song. I was working for a not-for-profit organization, I was also trying to make a relationship work, which was causing me lots of emotional upheaval. I started hearing melodies in my head, and became very distracted by them. I had a good friend teach me a few chords on his guitar, and I must of written 10-12 songs almost immediately. Part of me believes the songs were almost gifted to me by a higher power because becoming a songwriter actually changed my life for the better at a time I needed it the most.

Where do you want to be in 5 years?

A big question, but a good one. [Why, thank you, Dayna! ;p] I want to bring a song into the world that will be remembered, that someone at home will rely on when they want to feel better. I want to make music every day. I have a great group of songwriters that I collaborate with now, and I want to continue that process. In 5 years I would love to be in a position where I can write for tv and larger film projects as well, and have ongoing work all the time. I am also making my own small EPK to come out in 2015. I wouldn’t consider myself a performer but would like to work on getting more of my songs into film, and creating my own sound might help with that.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

That I am a true romantic, I put a lot into my relationships and a high value on the people in my life. I’m an only child, and was raised by mother, who is a painter, and come from a family of creatives. I wish I could say I am a complete flower child but the truth is I worry about the future a lot, I guess what gets me through is knowing in my heart that this is the path I’m supposed to be on.

What makes you laugh?

Irony. There is nothing more comical than real life. Sometimes I laugh to myself, that a city girl from Toronto, ended up in Nashville, Tennessee. Life is full of twists and turns, and just when you think you know what’s going to happen, life can change.

What is your favourite quote?

“When words fail, music speaks” -Hans Christian Andersen

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Want more Dayna? I know you do. Visit www.SongsByDayna.com and get your fill!

Wishing everybuddy an inspired and musical day!
Love Kat 🙂

Sunday Dec 7th-Smiling Budda,
961 College St. Toronto 7pm $5

It’s only a few times a year I get to toast Santa’s Sack within season! Come see Arlene Paculan join me on this festive tune! 🙂 xo

For one evening, 8 artists will be teaming up to kick off the Christmas season with cocktails & carols 🙂 AND all for a great cause: NEDIC (The National Eating Disorder Information Centre)! http://www.nedic.ca/ So please come out and show your support!

Each artist will be putting their own personal style into your favorite Christmas songs and also playing some of their own original Christmas songs 🙂

Admission: $5 at the door (all goes to NEDIC)

So come out to ‘The Smiling Buddha Bar’ on Sunday, December 7th @ 7pm! It’s a great opportunity to:

#1. Enjoy some live music!
#2. Get into the Christmas spirit!
#3. Do something good for charity!

Hope to see you there!!! =)

ARTIST LINE UP:
The Willows
Georgian Bay
Arlene Paculan & Kat Leonard Music
Chris Rouse
Candice Sand
Brian Corbett
Julia Bentley
Jessica Speziale

Sure hope to see you there!

🙂 xo