Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Gardner.
Hi Allie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Music has always been my passion because it’s the universal language of love. I’ve seen it work magic time and time again.
My parents called me opera baby when I was a kid because from the high chair, I’d serenade them as I stuffed my face. I wasn’t a prodigy by any means, just a normal kid who loved to sing. I grew up playing the violin, messing around on the piano by myself and my playing brother’s guitar which I stole and still have (Sorry not sorry, Nate) and of course, always singing and writing songs. Instead of a journal, I’d write a song every night before bed. I was lucky to have very supportive parents who, though not musicians themselves, constantly looked for opportunities for me to develop my talents and learn.
There were some key moments that served as waypoints to get where I am today.
The first was meeting Dean Kaelin. As an insecure pre-teen, I stopped being so willing to sing in front of everyone. I was afraid and limited by my vocal technique. Dean Kaelin, teacher of David Archuleta, Jenn Blosil, Julianne Hough and others, is arguably the best vocal coach in the State of Utah. He gave me the knowledge, skill and confidence that I needed to not give up on my singing and to pursue it as a career. After years of training, he later mentored me to become an International Voice Teachers of Mix Certified Vocal Coach and train my students to have that same confidence he infused in me.
Next, was meeting BJ Johns. Before I met BJ, I had broadway in my sights and no one was going to stop me. Singing was all about me, me, me. Bj taught me that singing could be used to bless people, not just impress people. He shifted my career plans from a me-focused career, to an outward-focused one. When Bj sings, you can’t ignore him. (partly because of the decibel level 🙂 ) While his song may not always be in tune, you can feel his passion for every note. Bj has Down Syndrome. You will never meet someone else who loves as purely as he does. I worked with BJ and other individuals with special needs throughout my high school and college years. We’d put on musicals with a group called the “Campus Club”. They are the inspiration behind my personal motto, “Bless, Not Impress.” which I repeated to myself before every single performance as a part of BYU Noteworthy (2017-2019), and continue to repeat before every performance today.
Perhaps the most pivotal moment of them all was serving as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the México Cancún Mission in Quintana Roo & Yucatan. Every day I had opportunities to share my love for God and my love for people through music. I watched it change hearts and minds over and over again. For the first time in my life, really, I felt like I truly belonged somewhere. I can’t even begin to describe the depth of the friendships I made with the people there. They taught me so much and I just hope someday to be half the person they already are. Still almost eight years later, we are in close contact. When I came home from my mission, I decided that I would record music in Spanish and Maya for my newfound family in Mexico to enjoy. I didn’t expect my YouTube videos to go viral and be seen millions of times all over the world or for it blossom into a huge online community of true friends from all over the world, opportunities to sing and serve all over Latin America, and to live my dream every day as a professional vocalist.
Now I spend my days writing and recording music and videos in Spanish, Maya and many other languages, traveling all over Latin America to do “Sing & Serve” Tours – comprised of concert experiences, humanitarian projects, and personal visits to people who are in special need of encouragement. Recently, i’ve opened these experiences up to others who would like to travel, sing and serve alongside me. In the past year I’ve been to Panama, Mexico (x2), Peru, and will be headed to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico and several states for Christmas and other concert events. I love to partner with non-profit organizations and businesses to create events & creative works that raise funds & awareness for good causes. I also work as a vocal coach, music career mentor, public speaker (both here in the States and abroad), voice-over artist, hired vocalist, entrepreneur and event host. Every day is a completely new adventure, and I’m loving the ride! My goal is to simply use my time, talents and energy to make the world a little kinder, friendlier and more joyful place.
I think it all can be summed up pretty well in the lyrics to my most recent song, true stories of some of my followers & friends down south:
Guille never married, just took care of her sick parents
she’s proud to show her favorite bucket where she washes clothes
she’s rich because her house of bricks at least isn’t made of tin
and she’s got a mini-fridge and a stove
Jorge is devoted to feeding his family
after dad got hit, killed by a car walking home from a bar
all he wants is to study, have a job and his own family
but instead he’s got a hammock, a dirt floor and a scratched up guitar
And Evita taught me that God gives and God takes,
we live just for today and for what we have we give thanks,
and every time I’m onstage I wish you all could see
the ones that you should be applauding, are the ones who inspire me.
Luci is ecstatic cause she finally has enough cash
to buy her son, Yero his very first real toy.
Still cooking over fire, sometimes just burning tires
what she has she gives to others who have even less
It’s been three weeks and Darla and her baby are still walking
all the way from Guatemala running from a drug cartel
just a backpack and a machete, it’s her against the world
living on a prayer just hoping she can find a place to call a home.
And Evita taught me that God gives and God takes,
we live just for today and for what we have we give thanks,
and every time I’m onstage I wish you all could see
the ones that you should be applauding, are the ones who inspire me.
I have a home. I have a car. I know i’ll never starve,
and yet how often do I really think to share?
Oh, I hope and pray with all my might, that when the time is right,
that maybe, just maybe, somehow I could be half the person they already are
And Evita taught me that God gives and God takes, but starting today
i’ll give all I have and then give thanks,
and every time I’m onstage I wish you all could see
please just see
the ones that you should be applauding
are the ones who inspire me.
© Allie Gardner Music LLC 2022
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Many of my friends who have successful music careers had family members or connections to show them the way. Not growing up with a musical family or connections meant that I’ve had to learn by trial and error. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and have had to “just keep swimming!” and frequently, “fake it til you make it”. While I’ve enjoyed great success and much of the best the music industry has to offer, I have also had to deal with a lot of the negative sides of the creative industry – the bullies, the internet trolls, the negative influences, narcissists, the back biters and everything in between. I have had to fight a hard mental battle to maintain my self-worth, values and vision. I have had intense financial struggles, embarrassing, epic failures, bad deals, scams, sketchy situations, burnout, mental health struggles and physical health problems.
I feel like I’ve reached a point though where I’m grateful for each and every experience I’ve had, both good and bad. It has made me dig deep, work hard, learn boundaries and rules of engagement and has helped me empathize and relate to others who are going through similar experiences. I’ve learned that hurt people hurt people, and that healed people, heal people and you’ve just always got to be the one to build people up, support people both in front of and behind their back and you go far.
There have been many times I have wanted to quit – but I’ve never allowed myself to quit on a bad day. If I ever decide to quit, it has to be on a good day. Some of the highest of highs have come as a direct result of my lowest lows. It has been worth the battle to see the impact that the projects I’ve been involved in help so many people individually.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I would say my specialty is creating content and experiences that make you feel. Whether the message is connecting people with a higher power, connecting people with each other or connecting within themselves, the things I create are there to uplift, educate, entertain or inspire the people who listen, watch or participate in them. As an artist, my intention is to empower people to believe in God and in themselves, to help them know that they’re not alone and that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to. As a public speaker, it’s to inspire people to build bridges of understanding between countries, cultures and religions. We are more alike than we are different, and we can benefit so much from being curious instead of judgmental. As a vocal coach, it’s to encourage my students to learn the technique and skills to be an excellent vocalist and performer that allows them to forget themselves and focus on giving the listener the best experience possible. I give every ounce of effort and energy to each hired project I commit to whether it’s an event, an arrangement, a voice-over or any type of performance. I am most proud of the fact that I don’t do anything halfway. Whatever I am doing, my full energy, attention and heart are “all in” on it. I’m not afraid to take risks and to dust off and try again after I inevitably fail. I fail forward. I am proud that I develop personal, close relationships with my follower friends, my students, my clients and my colleagues. When talking with my husband about my day – he can never distinguish whether the person I am talking about is an internet friend from some random country in Latin America, a colleague from the music world, a student or just a normal friend. I just genuinely love people and think about them in whatever life circumstances they may be in. These relationships are the most rewarding part of my life.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
My door is wide open. I am always looking for new friendships, partnerships, mentors, collaborators, co-writers, students, fellow travelers, causes and experiences. Don’t be afraid to drop in on any of my social media accounts (@alliegardnermusic) or my email allie@alliegardnermusic.com and make the connection. If you’re reading this and you think we should know each other, don’t be shy! Pop into my inbox and say hello. 👋🏻 I’m excited to get to know you! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow along (or join in!) on my adventures.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alliegardnermusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/alliegardnermusic_
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/amgmusic101
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/alliemgardner
- Other: www.tiktok.com/alliegardneroficial
Image Credits
PepperFox Photo (Main photo)
Gallery Photography (Bj & I at my wedding)
Allie Gardner Music LLC (Choir & Concert Team Panama tour 2021, Service Project Panama 2021, Album recording session, Mission Photo in Tulum, Mexico, Engagement photo to Zach Policky, Mexico with a group of friends, music video screenshot ‘Gentle Savior’)
