Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Marie Cline.
Sharon Marie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been singing … and acting … most of my life. I was a quiet introverted child … and my mother thought it would be good for me to be in some community theater and music groups. It was a way to draw me out… and get me to express the things that she knew were inside of me. I think this was where my journey of connecting with the heart and allowing it to lead your way actually began. My core motto is Navigate with Your Heart. Meaning that if we choose to have a close relationship with our core values, our world values and our healthy relationship to our feelings, those feelings can lead and inform our choices. It sounds simple, possibly trite to some, but the instinct and intuition of our feeling nature is POTENT — powerful, full of potential, and innately wise. Learning to TRUST that high-frequency nature, our “Heart,” and finding the fortitude to actually let it guide our experiential journey is an art and a skill… And is a skill that I got to exercise this through my pursuits as an artist.
I studied music and acting throughout school. Sang with a professional Opera Company in Jacksonville Fl (where I grew up) in high school, as well as performed in vocal groups throughout the city. The more I learned… the greater the experiences were, the more the fire light inside me. And I carried on this interest in College where I studies Music and theater. For my graduating thesis, I created a night club act— Studied great jazz artists, and shared their music… That’s how I got introduced to the depth of Jazz. And it grew from there. When I moved back to Los Angeles after a couple of years of regional theater, singing and acting my way through Florida, I started out “sitting in” as a guest artist on other people’s sets in the club scene. Meeting great accomplished jazz musicians, learning as I went… learning about the interplay between musicians. Learning how to communicate and hold my own… and really just playing music with such accomplished musical giants was a huge experience. Very informative, very evolving, and very joyful.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are several challenges and obstacles. Firstly, because Jazz is not popular music. Not everyone is familiar with it. Or not everyone gets it. This is changing. But it has been a challenge to engage a wide audience. You gotta make it fresh, engaging, and authentically you. Being able to do this takes one knowing themselves. It takes one having the grounded sense of self to not get swayed into the “trend” or what’s current. To really be true to yourself instead of being swayed by what others think you should sing or how you should perform. But to truly lead with your heart here. And also it takes a focus and patience to allow your audience to find you. And stick with you. Because they dig what you are sharing. Truly. Authentically.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Im a soulful Jazz Singer. with a fresh contemporary sensibility That is how I categorize myself. However, how I show up on the bandstand is to create an experience for my audience. With my audience. So I connect deeply. I communicate and share honestly between each song and with each song I share that evening. And, if I do my job correctly, each person leaves with a Lighter heart. Refreshed, inspired, joyful, sexy…. touched… That is my goal. And Im very goal oriented. So, I reach my goal 🙂
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
PodCasts Navigate with Your Heart
Making Space
Abraham Hicks
Authors:
Joel Goldsmith
Wayne Dyer
Contact Info:
- Website: sharonmariecline.com
- Instagram: @SharonMarieCline
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharonMarieCline
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmariecline/
- Twitter: @DivineMzCline
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonMarieClineExperience
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sharon-marie-cline
Image Credits
Craig Allyn Photography Except for the last one with the Microphone — Alisa Banks
