New Column Published at RivetingRiffs.com

Coming Into My Own: The Process of Life and Music
By Gina Sicilia

I'm on the cusp of a new age.

As I write this, I am walking steadily up that one way, up hill, rocky, gutter-filled, potholed road.

In a little over a week, I will be turning 23 years old. As I walk closer to that new age in my life, I look back fondly on how far I have come in such a short period of time.

With every gig that I do, every song that I write, and every new observation I make about myself, about others, and the changing world around me, I am inching closer and closer to finding my own voice. At this point, I'm quite there yet, but am closer to settling gracefully into that big, comfy, worn-in leather chair of knowing who I am, and being who I am.

When I was younger, I wanted to be a star by the time I was sixteen. Ha!! In my foolish head I believed that to be any older than sixteen in the music business was too old. Of course, I was living in a world dominated by Britney Spears and Britney Spears wannabees. For sure, that unhealthy reality took its toll on me.

My reality check came the day that I turned sixteen and was still singing in just one empty venue, my bedroom, for no one, but the Mariah Carey pictures which I had taped to my wall.

Alright, I'll admit it without shame, I have been a life-long fan of Ms. Carey. She had a very big influence on my singing. Even after the Blues came a' knockin', I was still listening to Mariah CD's and emulating her voice, and it's seemingly endless range, power, and technical genius.

Anyway, back to the present, I now understand, and LOVE the fact that things in life only get better with time, age, and experience.

I mean, if, right now, at this very moment in time, I was the very best, smartest, most experienced, most mature person that I could be, how boring would that be?? It would be very boring. I revel excitedly in the idea that, with each day, I will continue to grow and evolve as a singer, artist and human being in general.

The process of planning my second album has been an eye-opener for me. Though I hope to have the record out by summertime, I am still at the writing stage. I am learning very quickly that I need to simply be the person who I am. I shouldn't force anything. I have to accept my writing as being something that is wholly me.

If I sit down at the piano with the intense desire to write something I feel I should be writing (according to me!!), and something totally different emerges, something better, something that is me, I can't get frustrated and ask myself what is wrong is wrong with you Gina?. I have to embrace and respect what I write.

If I don't have respect for what I am writing, I am insulting the essence of who I am, and I am suppressing my inspiration. When this happens, my heart and mind are closed, with everything that I write becoming forced and sounding like stale cardboard.

Each song on my next release will be 100%, organically, Gina Sicilia. I have gradually come to accept the fact that I must embrace myself as an artist, otherwise I will not be mentally, spiritually, or emotionally successful.

I love being young, and I used to be afraid of getting older. I am no longer afraid of having birthdays, however, will I joyfully embrace forty or fifty, in the same way that I am now embracing twenty-three? Who knows? I sure hope so.

I think the key to achieving embracing a certain age is in doing the best you can, making the best decisions you can, and living the best life you can, all while you are still in your youth.

Doing so is imperative to saving yourself from harboring any toxic, heart-eating, regrets as you get older. Without regrets you will have no reason or desire to return to a younger time in your life (Unless you want wrinkle-free skin again, but that is a whole other column and a half, and I'm quite positive I have zero expertise in that area!).

I am determined to live a regret free life. At twenty-two, I have zero regrets and do not intend on having any for the rest of my life.

Back to reality.

I'm still groping around, searching for those colorful puzzle shapes, that will piece together and render me a complete artist.

As I lay cuddling with myself on a soft leather couch at home, it's comfy, but it will only become comfier as I settle into that place of knowing exactly who I am.

I'm happily awaiting that day. For now, let's see what twenty-three will bring me!

Gina Sicilia for Riveting Riffs ©

Gina Sicilia is a 22-year-old blues & R&B artist, who resides in Philadelphia. She was recently nominated for a 2008 Blues Music Award under the category of "Best New Artist" for her critically acclaimed debut CD "Allow Me To Confess." The record has been receiving enormous radio play and has made a overwhelmingly positive impression within the Blues world. To visit Gina's website go to www.ginasicilia..com or to purchase Allow Me To Confess visit www.amazon.com All Gina's columns are accessible from the main Blues music page of Riveting Riffs