AUGUST WAS A HEATER 🥵

2,678,400 seconds went by in the month of August, and I swear I lived in every one of those moments. Without rushing, without disassociating, and without spiraling out, August was pure joy. From playing weekly at our Hotel Vegas residency to traveling home to shoot commercials and videos, to celebrating my favorite person, to finishing a 5K that we trained for all summer, and ending with my favorite release EVER, there were so many moments that made me feel ALIVE.

As much as I’d like to share them all (who knows, maybe in 2025 I’ll start a podcast and release these on Spotify 🤔), here are the highlights:

FIRST! Let’s talk about the fact that we had a residency at one of our favorite venues in ATX, and we came together as a team to really establish ourselves in a new city. That alone was a huge challenge, but we did it and tackled every obstacle that came our way. After all, we moved to Austin, Texas, during the slowest, hottest time of the year.

I was honestly nervous at first because, like every artist, I did my best to get the word out about our live show that we were oh so excited for the world to see. I found myself sinking into anxiety every week, wondering if people would come. It was tough at first to battle the blazing sun and people’s desire to be in cold air, but nevertheless, people showed up! Not only did they show up, but some even came weekly. I’m forever grateful to everyone who bought a ticket each week to see the same show. 😅

BUT was it the same show?

Every week, the lingering thought of “living in the moment like it’s forever” became more and more prevalent as we prepared to release what I think know is our greatest song to date. From the live reviews to the new duo set, pushing through even though Edward was on the road to recovery with his wrist, to realizing that five years spent building in New Orleans led to this moment, we naturally gave our absolute best every night. I was surprised to see that people didn’t come just to hear music or even just to go out; they came and kept coming back for an experience. I can honestly say this residency elevated my view of what I do and reaffirmed what I’ve always thought my music and artistry would be: something of connection. Where we share moments, sing songs together, and take a moment to breathe and BE, without consequence.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED 💪🏾

Next step: PUT THIS SONG OUT INTO THE WORLD.

"Stop Overthinking" was easily the funnest song I’ve ever put together. It’s the first song that I stayed completely patient with until the end. It’s the first song that I’ve ever written that I can listen to over and over again on repeat. It speaks to me and reminds me of home, center, and being grounded where I am safe. It’s a song for the overthinkers, underachievers, overachievers, the ADHD(ers), and your typical neurodivergent forced to fit into a strange, box-shaped world.

The last night of the residency was packed, and people knew the words. I’ll never forget being given an art piece inspired by an experience a friend and I shared at a show.

In between the shows, we continued with the normal “routine” things like running as a family and team, working on music, finishing this release, and more.

There were several times I was tempted to spiral out.

But I think that’s why I wrote "Stop Overthinking," as a reminder and mantra for every time the spiral started and I found myself wanting to give up.

I’m learning the hard lessons right now, but one thing that stands out is that it’s really about keeping one foot in front of the other and understanding that sometimes the path you choose in life is a less-traveled, bushy mess. That doesn’t mean it’s not the right path. Grab your nearest hatchet and hack down those thorns because once the path is open, you can come and go, and others can now find their way through your experience.

Guess what? THAT MAKES FOR GREAT COMMUNITY ❤️

Austin is a fast-paced, tough city, but this summer reminded me that I am resilient and to make every moment count. Things are now rolling, and we have a full fall schedule. Thanks for being on this journey with me. Make sure to check my Instagram stories & TikTok for the day-to-day happenings of LeTrainiump trying to “make it.” and make sure you stream “Stop Overthinking” ato remind yourself that its all in your head. YOU GOT THIS ❤️

Glad you’re along for the ride 🫶🏾

WELL HOWDY NEIGHBOR 👋🏾🤠

Dear Austin, TX,

The train has arrived. Sorry for my silence. Moving a two-kid family from Louisiana to Texas turned out to be much harder than I anticipated. Nevertheless, it feels good to finally be here.

For years, we have been traveling back and forth, playing shows, attending meetings, and serving the community through Tankproof. We have been dreaming, hoping, and believing that one day we could pursue music professionally. And that day has finally come.

On May 31st, we spent 12 hours packing our two-bedroom loft apartment with a skyline view in New Orleans. It was a challenging task, especially with a broken elevator and a thunderstorm raging outside. We had to carry everything down three flights of stairs. It was painful, but we knew that once we hit the road, it would feel like progress. We loved New Orleans and miss it dearly. It played a significant role in shaping who I am today, and even YOU knowing who LeTrainiump is. However, I have been dreaming for years about taking this band to the next level, and people have suggested that moving to the live music capital of the world would do us the most good. We’re finally here!

It is now 5 am on June 1st. I’ve been awake for 24 hours, and we’re just starting our journey to our new home. I am tired, hungry, and this U-Haul doesn't have cruise control. But then, I open an email that changes everything. We have landed our first residency as a band in ATX.

It hasn't been all smooth sailing since we arrived. Our guitarist, Edward, broke his wrist, unexpected bills came up, and there have been unfulfilled expectations. However, we decided to focus on the moments when the sun shines through the clouds. Like when we came back to New Orleans and played to a packed room at Siberia, headlined our first theater as an acoustic duo, and landed a show at Stubbs booked by C3 (the same company that books ACL, Bonaroo, and Lollapalooza 😱). Now, we are finishing the summer with a debut residency at Hotel Vegas, performing every early Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm. It feels like we were on the runway, and now we are finally soaring. This move may have been one of the most challenging things I have ever done, but when I look back at the pictures and memories we have made, I realize it has also been the most rewarding decision of my life so far.

We are really doing it 🥳. It is really happening for us, and I am grateful that you are here for the journey. I would like to believe that life will be easier here, but in truth, it is even harder. However, I am grateful that I can still do what I love, with the people I love, in a place I love, every day of my life. I remind myself every day that I CAN DO HARD THINGS, and so can you. If you have a dream that feels unattainable, let me be the proof that you can make it happen.

And if you don't believe me, stay tuned and follow my Instagram page and stories to see everything about this month and summer. I assure you, I am telling the truth. And if you find yourself in ATX on a Thursday around 6 pm, come and experience a show for yourself. I guarantee it will make you a believer in my journey, or you can have your money back 😉

With Love,

LeTrainiump

ARIES SEASON: Record-breaking Listeners, Unforgettable Festivals, and Beachside Celebrations [APR 2024]

😮‍💨 Woooo, let me tell you about April! April was amazing and reminded me of just how much I'm loved! The festival season kicked off, the weather was perfect, and I felt a sense of new growth sprouting within me. But that's not all - this month, we broke 2000 monthly listeners on Spotify across the world! Can you believe it? It's been a tough journey, but we doubled our number of listeners, which means that over 2000 people are now actively listening to my music and enjoying it!

That was only the beginning, I started April off by getting ready for the French Quarter Festival, a yearly festival held on the riverwalk in the French Quarter here in New Orleans. I love this festival because it’s not only stacked with rising local talent but for the past two years has fallen on my birthday weekend. That means partaayyyyyy 🥳 & good hangs. Playing the festival this year was different as we introduced my son to festival life while being surrounded backstage by all of the people who make me feel my absolute best. Never would I have thought that I would have a backstage area and an entourage of friends who keep my kids occupied and document our day. My heart was full but nothing compared to the karaoke birthday party we raged at that night. From all of my pockets of friends that I’ve made here in New Orleans over the past 5 years and new fans that showed up with cupcakes and party favors, this was by far the best birthday party I’ve ever had. From start to finish it was a blast. I’m terrible at karaoke but something about watching my friends scream lyrics together brought me absolute joy.

As an artist, it's so important to have fans and followers who not only listen to your work but become an active part of your journey. You create, they listen, you give a live experience and they come out and you connect in real life. I’m proud to see all the hard work, the connection, the reaching out, sharing all my new music, and sharing each monthly blog, start to sprout and show me that you guys DO love what I’m doing. People all over the world are loving my music, connecting with my story, and showing up to my shows. It's a dream come true!

That night ended on a high and we woke up and decided it was time for a break. We packed our SUV with toys and snacks and made our way to the beach. This getaway was a reminder that no matter how busy life gets we celebrate our wins as a family, for our family. I’m all about “showing up” and “doing the hard work” but I also believe that there’s a time for everything, even play. Being out there in the sun, hearing those waves crash, going from the arcade to the restaurants, to the pool, back to the ocean, everything about this trip was regenerative. It’s TOO easy to get caught up in the everyday hustle and flow, especially when you work for yourself, you can't forget to schedule moments of play to bring yourself back to life.

April reminded me that all the hard work, the early mornings, the healthy eating, the writing, producing, driving countless hours for opportunities, SHOWING UP and playing shows are all worth it. I'm building a world that people love and want to be a part of. And for that, I'm so grateful!

Thanks for being a part of my journey ❤️‍🔥 click here for listen of what's coming 😛

LeTrainiump Takes SXSW [MAR 2024]

YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHO I MET IN MARCH 😱 What a month! So we're gearing up to play our final show of 3 in Austin, Texas, I’m on stage staring out reminiscing about the time when I used to drive out here (ATX) and try to get on showcases and perform in front of fresh eyes and open ears. In my past attempts, we may have gotten 1 unofficial show and ended up at a couple of events to network, but this year was different.

With pure determination, my team and I set out to make this the busiest SXSW we've ever had, with 2 big unofficial showcases and a St. Patrick's Day show I'll never forget. Spoiler alert: we nailed all of it. Coming off the success high of the On-running event, we took the first week of March to finish our EP (out April 17th) and prepare for the week ahead of us. We arrived in Austin, and the first event we attended was the Recording Academy Bloc Party. If you've been following me from the beginning, you know that it's a huge dream of mine to be on that Grammy stage one day, and here I am at a legit industry event. We met so many new people and saw so many familiar faces, and that was just night one. Later that night, we met two people in another line, and it turns out they were already fans of LeTrainiump. It really encouraged me to know that there ARE people out there listening and paying attention to my journey.

Next, we nailed our first showcase and then attended the BMI brunch. To my surprise, there were familiar faces there too! Being in a space where literally everyone around can potentially change your life is exhilarating and quite freeing, considering how hard it is to make your way in this industry. We finished the night with yet another showcase where we received a standing ovation for our set while it was being broadcast on the radio.

Sunday night was our last and final show of our SXSW run. It was an ugly day, raining off and on, and I was steeped in imposter syndrome. I was depressed the whole day, and if possible, I would have talked myself out of the show. We played Cheer Up Charlie's, and I had no reason to worry. This is one of my favorite venues in Austin. There's always a crowd, and if not, at least my fans would show up. No worries, right? Before we started the set, I did something I usually never do and just sang. I let myself be free to enjoy my night. After all, we just had quite possibly one of the best industry weeks a new up-and-coming artist could have. We nailed the set. There were people from front to back. The rain was no longer a factor, and then it happened. I looked to my right, and there he was, BILLY FREAKING PORTER (ya know, the 2x Grammy + Tony American ICON Billy Porter 😏). My jaw dropped, and he called me over to talk. There were a lot of words exchanged, some of which I don't remember because, after all, I was staring at a living legend. He told me he had heard our sound check and followed the music and came to the show. He stayed for our whole set and encouraged me. He said it was my spirit that drew him in, and he enjoyed it.

*PAUSE 🥹

See, validation doesn't matter much to me, but here is a great with all of his accomplishments telling me I have what it takes to make it where I'm going. I took every word (that I remember) to heart, and my confidence grew 5 stories higher that day. I wish I could say that was the end of the blessings of March, but it only got better from there.

We came home to New Orleans with more fire than ever and finished the month prepping for our next releases. We also played a festival that was not only broadcast on the radio but also on the news. I got offstage to multiple tags on Instagram of my performance on the local news. What a month!!!

March taught me the importance of showing up and sharing my gift. And let me tell you, things just keep getting better. April is my favorite month, and I can't wait for you to hear all the new songs dropping on April 17th.

For an early listen of our upcoming release “Like We’re In A Movie” [CLICK HERE] and for a peak into my SXSW experience [CLICK HERE].

I Ran My First 5k with On [FEB 2024]

So boom, there I was, a mile into my wrong turn, knowing I had to finish the race. But before I tell you how it ends, let's go back to the beginning. *Cues rewind noise* I still remember the morning I woke up in Spring 2023 and said, "Today is the day I become a runner." Naturally, like the motivated fire sign I am, I rolled out of bed and set a course to the park. When I say "rolled," what I mean is I set an alarm for 6am and told myself, after snoozing it about 5 times, that if I can just get out of bed, then I can get up and get going. So I did just that. I arrived at the park, tightened my shoelaces and shorts, and whipped out my Couch to 5k app. I showed up with commitment, and the journey began.

About 3 months in, I decided I needed more, I was lonely, so I started waking my 3-year-old up and to tag along with me. The first few weeks of running were easy, but the last 3 were the worst. Add a toddler in a wagon trying to jump out after 20 minutes of seeing the playground over and over again, and you'll understand why finishing every run was like winning a championship game.

After completing my first 5k in training, I was sure that I could increase my numbers, and when the day would come to run a real 5k, I'd be ready, and quite possibly even place. That was not the case, though. Fast forward to February 2024. I just finished week 6 of running for the 5th time, but this time with my wife, son, and daughter when I get the call that we'd be doing a brand deal with On. Yes, that's right, On, like the first running shoe I ever bought, like the shoes my mother-in-law paced around the house in, like the really comfortable running shoe that looks like "Q C" rather than "O N," and I about lost my mind.

See, I've never spent more than $50 on shoes, and buying this specific shoe made me feel like I could enjoy being on my feet again. The run was set to be at the end of February, so naturally, when I got the news, I started training harder. I survived Mardi Gras with one of my first headlining shows here in New Orleans, followed by an extremely successful release to preview my upcoming EP in April. The fact that we broke 2k streams on "Falling Again" in 2 weeks alone should have foreshadowed that the rest of this month was going to be a celebration.

My family and I drove to ATX for that last week of February, knowing this is what we've trained for. There were about 210+ people in attendance, and when the run started, my pace was already set. I watched droves of people run past me, and despite being slower, I never got discouraged. About halfway in, I found myself running alone, not at the end but nowhere near the head of the pack, and then it clicked with me: "We all have to finish." As soon as that sank in, I realized it was never my job to try and keep up with anyone around me. It was only my job to finish the race non-stop because I knew I could. That led to the thought that "your race is your race. YOU have to set YOUR pace," and I kept repeating that over and over every time I wanted to give up. Trust me, I wanted to give up.

Austin is not like New Orleans, whereas there are hills there, there are more flat surfaces here. The hills were actually hills, and they hurt every step of the way, but I had my mantra, and I was sticking to it. About three-quarters of the way, I decided to run with a friend. We took turns motivating each other until he was ready to stop, and rightly so. This was not, in fact, what we trained for, but like the overachiever I am, I ran faster, I pushed harder, and kept going.

After reaching the 3-mile mark, I hit a crossroads, and what seemed like reality and fatigue mixing caused disorientation. Though I persisted, I made a wrong turn, and it wasn't until I was about a mile and a half in that I realized I was lost. I had no phone, no sense of direction. I was tired, it was dark, and i was in a city I still barely knew. Everything in me could have given up, but I figured, hey, I already ran the 5k, might as well see the sights, and I did just that. I ran next to someone and got directions, and slowly, at my own pace, I made my way back to the start. I fought tears and so much negative inner self-talk the whole way back because not only was the pizza gone at the finish, but I finished dead last. I was embarrassed, to say the least, but again, I'm a fire sign, and motivation comes easy for me.

I realized that I made a wrong decision, and instead of walking and taking it out on the world around me, I turned it into an opportunity to grow. When I finally stopped, it felt like the world was moving under me, and I realized I ran more than a 5k, and that instantly made me feel like I was unstoppable. I'm extremely proud of myself, and so was my team.

My life changed for the better in February, and I now know that I'm better for it and can never go back. This career has made me want to quit several times, and even writing this right now, I have the urge to give up, but I'm reminded of that last mile in the run. I wanted to stop so bad, but I wouldn't be nearly as proud of myself now if I had. I have to keep going, even if no one shows up, even if only 10 people listen, even if I feel isolated and lonely. It will all be worth it if I stay consistently putting one foot in front of the other. I will and so can you.

Until next month, friends, thank you for being on this journey with me ✌🏾