profile

The Next Octave

As an award-winning singer/songwriter, I’ll show you how to turn your struggles into songs and rise above life’s challenges with the healing power of music.🎶🎸🎹🎤🎧✨

Woman writes in her notebook outdoors by the water.
Featured Post

Unlock The Song Within 🎶 (Coming soon!)

Weekly Newsletter 9.11.25 Unlock The Song Within 🎶 (Coming soon!) Hi Reader, Exciting news! 🎉 In the coming weeks, I’ll be opening enrollment for my very first online group program, The Song Within — an 8-week journey into authentic songwriting in the age of AI. Lately, I’ve been sharing a lot about how I use Suno AI in the production phase of completing a song. But let’s be clear: authentic songwriting is still at the heart of it all — it’s what leads the ship. 🚢✨ 💡 This is for you if you’re...

Ai text with glowing blue circuits and lights

Weekly Newsletter 9.5.25 What If Songwriting Could Heal and Sound Mainstream? 👀 Hi Reader, In continuation from last week’s newsletter, I’m excited to share a sneak peek of what can happen when authentic songwriting meets AI production. With tools like Suno AI, songs can now sound like mainstream radio releases without the steep costs of traditional production. I’ve been experimenting with the program, and the results have been nothing short of mind-blowing. To be clear—I’m still writing 100%...

Recording software on a computer screen.

Weekly Newsletter 8.29.25 What’s Holding You Back from Getting Started?! (The future of songwriting is here!) Hi Reader, Often in life, we hesitate to try something new, only to discover once we finally do that we wish we had started sooner. For the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing why songwriting can be such a powerful tool for healing, touching on both the physical and emotional benefits. (If you missed any of those newsletters, you can catch up here). Today, I want to shift gears and...

Someone is holding a notebook with writing lyrics.

Weekly Newsletter 8.21.25 ✨ Finding Your Voice Through Song Hi Reader, In today’s busy world, it’s easy to get swept up in responsibilities, deadlines, and constant noise. But without a healthy outlet for self-expression, all of that energy builds up and often leaves us feeling stressed, disconnected, or creatively unfulfilled. That is why having a creative outlet like songwriting is so powerful. Songwriting is more than putting words to music. It is a way of processing emotions, telling your...

A pile of money sitting on top of a pile of coins

Weekly Newsletter 8.14.25 From Silence to Song: My First Release in 8 Years (Out soon!) Hi Reader, I still remember the moment I decided to take singing lessons again, years after graduating from Berklee College of Music. Back when I graduated, my voice teacher told me, “This is just the beginning. Keep studying after you leave here.” But life has a way of pulling you in different directions. I had to find a full-time job to stay in Boston, and I was also managing some medical challenges. I...

Young woman listens to music, gazing at the view.

Weekly Newsletter 8.7.25 Feeling Drained by Life Lately? (Songwriting might just be the relief you need!) Hi Reader, Let’s be real: life is a lot right now. Whether you're going through a personal hardship or just trying to stay afloat in the middle of everything happening in the world—global uncertainty, unrest, constant change—it’s easy to feel anxious, unmotivated, or emotionally drained. But you don’t have to hold it all inside. Songwriting is a powerful way to process your emotions,...

Woman waving during a video call on her laptop.

Weekly Newsletter 7.24.25 A Lesson Learned in Graduate School (Why do we keep telling the same story?!) Hi Reader, How many times have you told the same story in your life?But more importantly—have you ever thought about why you keep telling it? I’ll admit, I’ve told some stories more than once (okay, more than a few times!), sometimes even to the same person—who kindly reminds me, “You already told me that!” 😂 I still remember something a professor in graduate school once said that stuck...

A woman is working on her laptop headphones on writing music.

Weekly Newsletter 7.18.25 ✨ Discover the Healing Power of Your Voice ✨ Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like something inside you is ready to be released—but you’re not sure how? Trying something new can feel a little scary. But it can also be exactly what your soul needs. That’s where Songwriting for Healing comes in. You don’t need to play an instrument or have a music degree.Just bring your feelings, your story, and a willingness to explore something new. In a private 1:1 session, I'll guide...

A black cat peeks out from behind a curtain.

Weekly Newsletter 7.10.25 🎶 What Happens in an Online Songwriting Session? (Let’s pull back the curtain…) Hi Reader, Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to write a song during an online session? Whether you're brand new to songwriting or you're looking to sharpen your skills, I want to give you a sneak peek into what happens when we meet on Zoom to create music together. Here’s what you can expect from our time together: 🎧 1. We Start with YouWe’ll drop into the space with a brief...

Microphone on a stage, ready to perform.

Weekly Newsletter 7.3.25 Feeling Stuck? Let an Instrumental Track Inspire Your Next Song (The art of toplining!) Hi Reader, Have you ever heard a beat or instrumental track and immediately felt a melody bubble up in your chest? That’s the spark of toplining—the art of writing lyrics and melody over an existing musical track. Whether you're a seasoned songwriter or just stepping into your creativity, toplining is one of the most freeing and fun ways to craft a song. I personally love toplining...