By Kelly Braun
kbraun@dailystandard.com ST. MARYS -- It's a new day to St. Marys singer Lori Triplett.
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That's what her first CD, "Dawn," is all about -- moving forward, the ambitious 21-year-old says.
Triplett in May released her first CD (10 tracks she wrote and her rendition of "Amazing Grace") and now has plans to move to Nashville, Tenn., to take a step into the music industry.
"It's time for me to try my wings out down there," Triplett, the daughter of Newt and Connie Triplett of St. Marys, says.
Her first CD has been gathering a lot of local attention. It's been played on local radio stations, for sale at local stores and has the community talking proudly about a local success. The disc, produced by Monastic Chambers in New Haven, Ind., is a mixture of easy listening and contemporary Christian music.
Triplett started taking piano lessons at age 7, but says she quit in her early teens as she became busy with sports and other school activities.
"But I kept playing on my own. I've always loved music and started writing my own music when I was in seventh grade. I laugh at those now," she says with a chuckle during a recent interview.
Triplett says she was really shy about singing her songs in front of people, until a friend moved away when she was 16. She wrote a song for that friend and let other friends and family members hear it. They were impressed and encouraged her to keep writing and singing, she says.
Two years ago she joined the Christian rock band Whirlwind, which earlier this year broke up when members Justin Mackey of Celina and Ben Rodriguez of Coldwater landed a spot in the Christian band Fusebox. Their new band, based out of Nashville, performs throughout the country.
Playing with the band helped gain exposure for Triplett, along with giving her experience on stage.
Triplett says she visited her former bands members in Nashville and knew it also was her time to give the music world a try.
This winter Triplett plans to make the move to Nashville. First she wants to complete one more semester at Wright State University-Lake Campus. She already finished two years at Bowling Green State University and plans to enroll at Belmont University in Nashville. Her major? Triplett laughs and says she is hoping to figure that out soon, but is leaning toward music and youth ministry.
Triplett says her parents have been supportive of her decision to focus on music, even when she decided to take a year off college to write and record. She also has been working at Bella's Italian Grille, Celina, and Minster Bank, St. Marys.
"Now they want me to get the ball rolling and they want me to succeed. They are trying to help me find my way," she says, adding that her dad is the best critic because he'll be honest about the songs she writes.
The ideas for her songs come from her life experiences and "the trials God has given me," she says. "It is all God. I give all my credit to the Lord."
Upcoming performances include singing this weekend at a Christian music festival in Larwill, Ind., at the St. Marys Summerfest pageant, at the Summerfest on Aug. 12 and 15 and at Bremenfest on Aug. 22.
Even with a busy schedule the next few weeks, Triplett says her focus still is on getting started in Nashville.
"I know I have a lot of room to grow musically," she says, adding that she's never had any formal voice lessons. "I'm excited for that and I want to just keep working at it." |
