Today we’d like to introduce you to Lurleen Ladd.
Hi, Lurleen. We are so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
While I have a strong background in business and nonprofits, my true calling was music. I didn’t realize this until I was in my late 30’s. Even with this realization, I further hesitated out of self-doubt, not to mention a life full of work and family priorities. But more hesitation meant a growing sense of being “too late” to an industry that prized youth. I was committed to working hard at music, and I did so for years, but that wasn’t enough. I was still stuck with doubts about being “too late.” I didn’t realize that I was isolated. Despite having a full life with family and friends, I was cut off as a musician and an artist. Like many female artists, I suffered from the “go it alone” mentality. Being new to music, I wrongly assumed everyone else had all the answers, and I had to figure it all out by myself. I needed a breakthrough and to shift my thinking. That shift came through connecting with other women and their stories of creating and performing music. Although each one faced struggles, she persevered because music brought her joy. Knowing I shared the same commitment to music provided much-needed context. It changed my “too late” thinking to the knowledge that I was, in fact, “right on time.” Wavemaker’s was born from my appreciation and need for connection with other female musicians 40+. While it’s obvious that a successful musician of any age needs to build fans, sustaining a career through ups and downs requires peers to provide support and shine their light on the path ahead. Wavemaker’s mission is to change the music industry for Women 40+. If that seems audacious, it’s because it most definitely is! Society and the media, in general, commodify youth and give the not-so-subtle message that women don’t belong in music after a certain age. Wavemakers encourages women 40+ to start a career in music if, like me, they hesitated out of fear, had competing priorities, or just arrived at the knowledge that now is the time. We equally support the women with lengthy careers in music who bring experience, wisdom, and deep strength to the Wavemaker’s’ mission. How will we make positive change? By connecting female musicians, elevating the stories and music of female musicians to their audience, and engaging the broader community with stories of women going against the grain to pursue their dreams.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a musician, I struggled with being an adult beginner, leading to performance anxiety. I had much help and support through this from Austin vocal coach Merrily Garrett working with her, and the camaraderie of her students helped me recognize my strengths and build my confidence onstage. As an organization, Wavemakers is trying to change the music industry. It is resistant to change, competitive, ageist at times misogynistic, and grappling with seismic technological changes that create instability for its members. We know this is a struggle, but are here to make waves against the status quo.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The drop-down menu above is a perfect example of my career path. It forced me to choose between business and creative. So I went with creative because that is where my heart is, but that doesn’t negate my first career as a social worker, which informed the rest of my business pursuits in health care, co-owning Tru-Skin Dermatology, the founding of the nonprofit The Shade Project and co-hosting The Dr. Dan radio show on KLBJ. Public health and outreach are and always will be core values. I bring the breadth of social work, business, and nonprofit experience to my music and the vision for Wavemakers. I released my first album last year and am currently finishing my second one. Wavemakers had its first industry and artist panel in March, hosted by Antone’s and sponsored by KLRU, among many others, and a showcase of amazing female musicians 40+. It was a great start to kick off our mission of change.
What do you think about happiness?
Music makes me happy. I am writing songs, working in the studio and performing. For me, there’s nothing like it! I especially enjoy co-writing, where one idea builds on the next. It’s dynamic and unpredictable, like playing the White Elephant Christmas game. You don’t know what you’ll get when it starts; some weird things may appear, but there’s good stuff to be had if you’re lucky. And ultimately, the song is the prize.
Contact Info:
- Website: Wwimusic.com and lurleenladd.com
- Instagram: wwimusic
- Facebook: wavemakerswomeninmusic
- Linkden: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wavemakers-women-in-music/?viewAsMember=true
Image Credits
