Ro Myra

Although RaShelle "Ro" Myra fell in love with music as a child, she spent years running from it. Instead, she took a safer route with more reasonable aspirations.

One day, she finally decided enough was enough, kicked off her shoes and headed off the beaten path. Now, she's preparing for the release of her upcoming, self-produced album "Nowhere, Nebraska."

Growing up in Kimball, she immersed herself in music as much as she could. When she began taking piano lessons, her teacher Pat Randolph exposed her to classical music.

" I got into band as soon as I could, playing sax," she said. "I always wanted to play in an orchestra."

There wasn't an orchestra program, unfortunately, and she's never lost the desire to learn to play the cello. A lack of string-related opportunities weren't her only disappointment.

" I remember being around 6, maybe, and finding out a few of the modern artists I had actually been listening to had not composed their own tunes," she stated. She stated she felt jipped. "I have actually been composing songs ever since I could write, granted, they probably weren't great. I want to believe they have actually enhanced."

She imagined performing her songs on that level one day, but growing up in a village, she felt the only way out was college.

" I didn't know you could be self-taught," she said. "I didn't know you could be an artist and you might still do something excellent with your life without going to college."

She went to the University of Nebraska where she studied piano efficiency and rapidly recognized it wasn't what she had pictured. Although she has a deep love for classical music, she was tired of playing the work of other composers in a practice room with bad acoustics for 8 hours a day.

" I wished to play my music," she stated.

Still, she treked forward getting scholarships and fellowships and acquiring college credits.

" I made money to get two masters degrees and two undergrad degrees," she said. "I was falling under things that I was proficient at, however not necessarily something I was born to do."

She spent some time mentor, signing up with Teach for America and operating in urban schools and continued to study.

As she neared the end of one of her degrees, she found herself with cash she required to utilize by the end of the semester. She 'd completed what she needed for her degree, so she chose to take a few of the "most absurd classes."

Among them were swimming and music composition. Through her composition classes, she was gotten in touch with a author who had actually when been provided a life-changing opportunity to study under a popular author at Yale. He was expected to pay it forward and he chose Myra.

" I didn't know you could be self-taught," she stated. "I didn't understand you could be an artist and you might still do something fantastic with your life without going to college."

She went to the University of Nebraska where she studied piano performance and quickly understood it wasn't what she had actually thought of. Although she has a deep love for classical music, she was tired of playing the work of other composers in a practice space with bad acoustics for 8 hours a day.

" I wished to play my music," she said.

Still, she trudged forward requesting scholarships and fellowships and acquiring college credits.

" I earned money to get 2 masters degrees and two undergrad degrees," she said. "I was falling under things that I was proficient at, but not necessarily something I was born to do."

She invested a long time teaching, joining Teach for America and operating in urban schools and continued to study.

As she neared the end of one of her degrees, she discovered herself with cash she needed to use by the end of the term. She 'd finished what she needed for her degree, so she decided to take a few of the "most absurd classes."

Amongst them were swimming and music composition. Through her composition classes, she was gotten in touch with a author who had once been given a life-altering chance to study under a well-known composer at Yale. He was anticipated to pay it forward and he selected Myra.

She has also composed pieces for TELEVISION and film and has actually become part of 48 film festivals. Ultimately, she intends to just create for TELEVISION and film, partly due to the fact that she values the relationship that noise and visuals can have together.

" I'm working with a great director today for making a video," she said. "There's something actually effective about a visual paired with sound."

The video is for a song on her new album, which is set to launch next spring. The album features Joshua Grange, a pedal steel player who has actually carried out for Sheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams and Darren Garvey, a drummer in Colorado-based Elephant Revival. It is available for pre-order at bit.ly/ ROshop1.

She'll be launching a few of the songs on the album as songs. The very first, "She's not the Road" is readily available to "pre-save" now, that includes an entry to win a signed vinyl of the album when it is released. To do so, visit bit.ly/ ROnottheroad.

The Americana album concentrates on growing up in a small town, through the viewpoint of a younger Myra. She was inspired by the tip of Anne Lamott in her book "Bird by Bird" to start writing from her earliest memory.

" I believed, what if I did that with a record?" she said. "I feel like you can be a lot more authentic in some ways if you can view the world through the eyes of a kid. I felt like from that viewpoint, I new song might access the most authentic tunes possible."

She stated the album was cathartic and she hopes others will gain something from listening.

" I have actually constantly just wished to leave the world a little bit better than I discovered it," she said.

She's returned in other methods-- teaching, social work, running non-profits-- however music is the way that feels right.

" I have a desire to help or health, and I have actually seen my music do that," she said. "I have actually had individuals I 'd never anticipate-- difficult cowboys-- come up to me after programs with tears in their eyes saying 'That tune hit me.' If I could have that influence on that hardened cowboy, who I didn't believe might cry, possibly it can help heal other individuals."