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Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest finalist, Kelly Augustine, is no stranger to song slaying competitions. Recently selected as one of 32 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Finalists for the Kerrville Folk Festival<\/a>, this folk-American crooner is quickly making a name for herself within the songwriting community. The luminous lyricist graciously took pause for an interview, before traveling to Richardson, allowing us to ask the musician a short list of questions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival:\u00a0 What song inspired you to become a songwriter? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 Wow! There are so many songs that have touched me over the years and inspired me to be a songwriter. The music that first\u00a0inspired me was the folk music Bob Dylan was writing in his early years like \u201cBlowin’ in the Wind,\u201d \u201cA Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall,\u201d and \u201cDon’t Think Twice It’s Allright.\u201d Joni Mitchell’s album Blue was also very inspirational to me at that time, specifically songs like \u201cCalifornia\u201d and \u201cA Case of You.\u201d More recently Lyle Lovett’s songs like, \u201cSouth Texas Girl,\u201d \u201cIf You Were to Wake Up,\u201d and \u201cNatural Forces,\u201d as well as, John Fullbright’s \u201cForgotten Flowers,\u201d \u201cHigh Road,\u201d and \u201cSatan and St. Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n https:\/\/youtu.be\/kU7wBQ-lJY0<\/a><\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What inspires you to write?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 I’m inspired by injustice that I see in the world. I want to be a voice for those who feel alone and who feel like no one hears them. I want people to know how inherently valuable they are and that no matter how bad things may seem, there’s always hope. Nothing makes me madder than when people dismiss other people as being worthless or unworthy.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What typically strikes you first, the music or the lyrics? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 As a listener, the music is typically what first gets my attention but the lyrics are what keep me listening. When I write I usually write the melodies and the lyrics together.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 When did you learn guitar? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 I taught myself how to play in college. \u00a0I was classically trained on piano and still love playing the piano. I write on both instruments.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What is an interesting tidbit of information that makes you unique? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 I spent the last ten years practicing medicine as a physician assistant. When I had my daughter two years ago I decided to stay home with her and seriously pursue music and songwriting. I’ve always wanted to be a songwriter but didn’t really start trying to perfect the songwriting craft until then.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What song can make you cry? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cHigh Road,\u201d by John Fullbright.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What song can change your mood in moments? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 Lyle Lovett’s “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas).\u201d I grew up in Oklahoma, but went to college in south Texas, and spent some of the best years of my life, in Texas. This song resonates with me for that reason and is just a blast. I can’t help but dance around when I hear it- and I always want to be wearing a cowboy hat when I’m listening to it!<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 Favorite songwriters?<\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong> \u00a0Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, John Fullbright<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 Do you have any other hidden talents? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 I’m an amazing dancer. Ask my sister she can vouch for me. She’s seen my moves in the clubs.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What is the best live show you\u2019ve seen?<\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Red Rocks in 2014.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 If you could play with any artist, alive or dead, who would it be and why? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 Lyle Lovett. He is an amazing songwriter and I love his quirky persona. I think he’d be a blast to play music with. Plus, I’d love to meet and play on the same stage as all the incredible musicians in his large band. Oh, and I want to sing back-up harmonies with Luke Bulla while he kills it on fiddle.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 What obstacles do you face on this journey as an artist? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 Making time and space for myself to write as often as I need to and keeping my mindset in the place I need it to be for writing. As a writer, I live as an observer of the world around me and most specifically an observer of people and their emotions. It can be exhausting to observe as intently as required to get to the meat of what I like to write about. It can also feel emotionally heavy to carry the burdens of others but that’s part of the songwriter process for me.<\/p>\n WAMFest:\u00a0 Do you have any other talents? <\/strong><\/p>\n Augustine:<\/strong>\u00a0 I’m an amazing dancer. Ask my sister she can vouch for me. She’s seen my moves in the clubs.<\/p>\n Kelly Augustine will compete for one of four $500 prizes including the Michael Terry People\u2019s Choice Award on May 19, at 11:30 a.m. on the United HealthCare Singer Songwriter Stage in the Eisemann Center.\u00a0 Kelly is also set to perform on the CityLine Stage at 6:00 p.m. at the 26th<\/sup> Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Richardson.\u00a0 #WAMFest2018 www.wildflowerfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n https:\/\/www.kellyaugustinemusic.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kellyaugustinemusic\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kellyaugustinemusic\/<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wildflowerfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/2018-05-19.png\")
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