'Music has never been just a hobby, it's a way of life for me'

A musician from Ardcath was inspired to start a singing social club after revealing that she used music as a form of therapy to cope with the death of her mother when she was just a teenager.

Amie Grendon (30), was only 16 when she lost her mum Angela to Myeloma and amyloidosis, a rare form of blood cancer at just 56.  Brave Angela was one of only four people in Ireland or the UK diagnosed with the condition for which at that time, a cure had yet to be found.  

Songwriter, performer and wedding singer Amie is now determined to fulfil the dreams her mother had for her to succeed in music. 

“Music in my life has never just been a hobby or passion it’s just a way of life for me. I was born into a family and a home that was surrounded by music particularly coming from my dad PJ who has been involved in bands for 50 years.  

“I remember being a young child sitting on his knee and him teaching me tunes on the keyboard. It was Mam who decided to send me to piano lessons with an amazing piano teacher Ailish Behan.

"She took me by the hand at age nine and walked me into my first piano exam in the Royal Irish Academy of Music where I continued to go until I was 16."

Amie and Laura Colgan duet 

The Ardcath singer describes how ‘music brought an awful lot of life into the home when there was darkness.’

“Mam got sick when I was about 12.  Although we had to lose her, we believe she contributed to the medical breakthroughs that have been made since. 

“Although it was tough losing her at 16, I feel like I miss her more now being an adult. But I’m so lucky to be so close to my sisters, Deirdre and Karen, we perform together as well. 

“We really don’t talk too much about death.  Obviously in my lifetime, death has been a huge negative because we lost Mam but the amazing thing is that it brought a big love into our family because we got so much support.

“It sounds strange to say that mam passing brought me great things but it showed me such kindness in other people because when you lose somebody you really are depending on other people to try and get you through it. On the other hand, it also left us with an empty seat at the table.

 

“Songwriting is a way for me to put words on a page and allow my self to grieve or find happiness."

“In the times where things were very tough, I definitely suffered from anxiety and low mood. I probably only realised recently that grief creeps back in at different times. We expect people to go through a grieving process for a few weeks then for them to be fine whereas actually it’s just such a journey. I always felt like music was a place for me to go to express myself. 

The talented singer describes mum Angela as being her ‘number one fan.’

“Mam came to all my school plays and was always up the front at every performance. I was very shy but she always believed in me. I know she would be very proud that I am now working in my old primary school in Garristown teaching music.”

Her collaboration with creative four-piece band ‘Between Roads’ has allowed the music teacher to delve further into songwriting one of her biggest passions. 

“Songwriting is a way for me to put words on a page and allow my self to grieve or find happiness.  Anxiety and worry have always been a part of my life, for me, songwriting and performing is a therapy in itself. I don’t know what I would have done without music in my life.”

Amie performing at a recent gig in Whelans in Dublin 

The Singing Social Club was a way of encouraging others to explore or rediscover their love of music according to the Ardcath singer. 

“I set it up as more than just a singing club.  Group singing has amazing benefits that have been proven to release stress and anxiety.
“I’m seeing people walk in through the doors and walking out totally different people. 

“One lady who never sang in public before is now singing in front of the entire group. It’s about finding that inner voice, bring your singing voice or just that internal voice.

The talented singer says she was overwhelmed at the outpouring of support she received recently after posting a split selfie online, one half a picture of her in joyous spirits after a dream gig in Whelan’s and another of her in tears.

“We don’t usually show that side of ourselves on social media. But we have so many different faces. People always assume that because I perform on stage that I must be super confident but there is another more vulnerable side to everyone. 

“She was such a big encouraging role in my life, I feel like I’m nearly doing this all for her now."

“Being a singer on Instagram you are constantly comparing yourself to others. I have a love-hate relationship with social media. I think it’s important to put some realism into it. 

“I believe Mam is always guiding me along. When I’m about to say yes or no to a project and I hear that little inner voice, although it’s mine I think there is still a little bit of her going I don’t think you should do that Amie.

“She was such a big encouraging role in my life, I feel like I’m nearly doing this all for her now.

“It never really feels like she’s too far away because she’s so prevalent in the way we talk.  There are days, of course, like my sister’s wedding or Christmas where we really feel her loss.  But I feel like I have an extra superhero in my corner now.” 

https://www.facebook.com/Amie-Grendon-Music-143696589135140/