Daily Inspiration: Meet Marley Russell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marley Russell.

Hi Marley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am very lucky to have grown up surrounded by music and I have my parents to thank for that. I guess I could say I started out in the womb going to concerts, but once I started showing interest as an early teenager, my dad started taking me with him to shows. Around this time, I had started playing violin in middle school orchestra because I wasn’t interested in sports and felt a connection to the music. After I got into high school, my world began to open up majorly. I was interested introduced to new styles, techniques, genres, etc. and began taking fiddle and guitar lessons. That is where my path to today truly began. I started playing open mics, going to Everett’s in Suwannee to pick some tunes, and joining my friends when their band played at a local coffee shop. Towards the end of high school I had written a few songs and felt comfortable enough on stage to book some solo gigs around town. Then the dreaded questions started to surface, “What are you going to do? Where are you going to college? What are you going to study?” I knew by that point I couldn’t see a life without being immersed in music, I just wasn’t sure on how to make that a reality. As he started my love for music, my dad found out about East Tennessee State University and their Bluegrass, Old-Time, & Roots Music Studies. After a visit, I knew it was the place for me to learn and grow. I graduated from ETSU last spring (May 2024), and moved back home to Georgia where I’ve been playing gigs, recording music, teaches students, and seeing where the music takes me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most things in life, nothing worth doing is ever easy. We as people struggle to change and grow without facing challenges and adversities. I’ve had many moments throughout the years where I’ve really questioned my choice of pursuing a music career. Overcoming my own mind has been the biggest hurdle. I’ve struggled through the years with mental illness. Constantly critiquing myself, doubting myself, and not feeling good enough were big things I had to face and deal with to progress in my career. I had a late start to learning bluegrass fiddle music, which there is nothing wrong with, but I felt that my peers in college were all leagues ahead of me. It was hard to feel like I could express myself musically and be accepted by a lot of them. It took a lot of time and me stepping back from the environment to realize, I don’t want to sound or be like anyone else, I want to just be me. After graduating and doing the mental work, I’m in a place where I’ve never been happier and more thankful to be surrounded with music in my life. I feel uplifted by my students, inspired by band mates, and most importantly, am confident to be myself with music and on stage.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I dip my toes into a lot of aspects of the music industry. First and foremost, I am a musician. My weekends often look like loading up the car with my instruments and gear to gig around town, either solo, duo, or with the Halem Albright Band. I have a lot of fun with solo shows since I can try out new material and mess around with my pedals. One of my favorite things to do during gigs is to set a loop with my guitar in the middle of a song and start improvising with fiddle on top of it. During the week, I’m teaching lessons at Music on Main St in Lilburn, GA and few other students who I go to separately. Getting into teaching has been inspiring for me, I get to encourage young musicians and share what I’ve learned along the way. I’ve learned a lot of new music and been able to dive back into classical violin. When I have time between teaching and gigs, I work on the production team at the Buford Community Center where I’m all hands on deck: set-up/tear-down, production assistant, spotlight operator, etc. The most exciting thing in the works for me is my debut EP. Working with Levi Lowrey at his home studio, Nebari Studios, I recorded 6 tracks and am gearing up to release this summer.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
This question is one I always have to sit with for a minute. There are so many things big and small that make the list for me. To start with the simpler things in life: my sweet cat Samson, the night sky full of stars, going to concerts and dancing with my friends, standing on a mountain looking at nature’s beauty, a good dirty chai latte, all things The Lord of the Rings, laughing with my boyfriend and family, my mom and I saying the same thing at the same time, and crocheting and reading a fantasy book on a rainy day. I mean this list could go on. I think we often forget to find happiness in the small and simple things in life. I also find happiness when I connect musically with other musicians, whether on stage or just hanging out jamming together. It makes me really happy when my students have a breakthrough with something they just haven’t been able to understand before. Seeing friends, family, and fans smiling and dancing at my own gigs. There are certain moments when I’m listening to music where I get overwhelmed with joy, like Jerry Garcia soaring with a guitar solo or a lyric that reminds me to just listen to the music play. I used to be in a place where I couldn’t see the happiness or joy in anything, my music journey has taken me out of that and opened my eyes to everything big and small that fills my life with happiness and joy.

Pricing:

• Private Lessons (30 mins) – $50
• Private Lessons (1 hour) – $75

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marleyjaynemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marley.russell.334/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marleyjaynemusic
• Other: Marleyjaynefiddle@gmail.com