My Nashville Adventure — Part One: The Retreat
I’ve just come back from one of the most full-on, inspiring, and slightly chaotic trips of my life - Nashville. This was no holiday. I went for a songwriting retreat, co-writes, and a chance to soak up the city that breathes music on every corner.
To set the scene: I’d barely stopped moving before I left. I’d just finished touring the country with Jenny Mitchell (which was incredible - Wellington even gave us a review), and the day before flying out I was speaking on an NZ On Air panel about building community for musicians. Feast or famine - that’s my career.
On Sunday the 25th, I said goodbye to my kids and family, hopped on a plane from Christchurch to Auckland, then Houston, then Nashville. I was running on adrenaline, excitement, and the occasional “what the hell am I doing?”
Day One: Planes, Panic, and Prayers for Luggage
The Houston-to-Nashville connection was brutal - I honestly don’t know how I found my way through the terminal in time. I made the flight, but my AirTag politely informed me that my suitcase hadn’t. Sure enough, I landed in Nashville bagless.
Thankfully, past-Katie had packed one spare outfit. Unfortunately, it was a dress that didn’t match my sneakers. So there I was, in the land of country music, praying my bag would turn up before I had to face too many people.
I finally made it to the hotel shuttle that made its way to my hotel for the night, collapsed into bed, skipped dinner, and just downed a glass of water. Jet-lagged, hungry, and too tired to care.
The next morning, Nashville redeemed itself. I woke up, had the biggest breakfast of my life, and within half an hour - miracle! - my phone pinged with an alert that my bag had arrived at the hotel. I nearly cried into my coffee.
Day Two: Retreat Beginnings
With my luggage crisis solved and my dignity restored (goodbye sneakers-with-dress combo), I met two fellow retreat-goers, Marie and Derek, and we set off together. We arrived far too early, so we killed time at a Mexican restaurant - guacamole and corn chips, simple but exactly what I needed while my body tried to figure out what time zone it was in.
The retreat was set in Nunneley, about an hour outside Nashville. Think quiet woods, a pond with a jetty, and wildlife galore.
I’d paid a little extra for a private room. Best decision ever. My cabin, however, came with a warning: “That’s the party cabin. It’s got a pool table.” My heart sank. But luck was on my side. I ended up sharing space with two incredible women: Justine (originally from France) and Julia (from Texas). We bonded instantly over tea, chocolate, and late-night chats.
That evening, all 25 attendees gathered to introduce ourselves and set intentions. Mine was simple: be open to the experience. We capped the night with dinner - including the most heavenly banana pudding (seriously, I need to learn how to make this) and then shared songs around the fire. I chose Straight Talkin’ Woman. It’s not the most delicate display of songwriting, but it leaves no doubt about who I am.
By the time I curled up back at the cabin, chatting with my new friends until 2 a.m., I knew I was in the right place.
Day Three: Walking, Writing, and My First Song
The retreat’s rhythm kicked in: group walks, big breakfasts, then sessions with Andrea, who led us through songwriting techniques. We got into free writing, something I’ve tried but never really got it but something finally clicked. I spilled thoughts onto the page, no censoring, no editing. Out of that came the bones of a song I eventually finished - fittingly, while waiting at Nashville Airport for my flight home.
That afternoon, we broke into groups for our first co-write. I was paired with Wendy and Charlene, which was perfect since I’d already chatted with Wendy earlier on the walk. Writing with strangers could’ve felt awkward, but the ground was already warmed.
That night I let myself step back a little - an early night instead of more socialising. Sometimes recharging is just as important as showing up. Must be getting wiser…
Day Four: A Pause and a Pulse
By Day Four, the mix of jet lag, new faces, and constant writing was starting to catch up with me. We kicked off the morning with an hour of yoga. It wasn’t anything too intense - just breathing, stretching, and giving ourselves a bit of space. Honestly, it was exactly what I needed. My body had been holding all the travel stress, and that session helped me reset.
Later, I jumped into my second co-write of the retreat, this time with Judah. That one was a real highlight for me because I got to play cajón. Drums were my first instrument. It was simple, it was fun, and it reminded me why I love collaborating in the first place.
Day Five: A Masterclass and a Campfire
This was one of my favourite days. Our guest speaker was Beth Nielsen Chapman - a legendary songwriter whose wisdom could fill entire books. She drilled into us two things I’ll never forget:
Keep lyrics conversational.
My sense of humour belongs in my songs.
I’ve always struggled with balancing “serious artist” with the fact that humour naturally sneaks into my writing. Hearing Beth say, “That’s your voice. Lean into it,” was a turning point.
That afternoon I co-wrote with Melissa (from Estonia) and Derek (USA). The song that came out of it had Melissa singing the bridge in Estonian - beautiful. We performed our co-written songs for the group. I felt proud of leaning into writing without a guitar in hand (something I never do at home).
Later, Julia and I went on a supplies run. (I’d forgotten my toothbrush - was using a little travel one that had given up the ghost - plus we needed snacks and beer for campfire hangs.) I tried a White Claw for the first time - very American of me - and that night I found myself singing Johnny Cash around the fire, as you do.
Day Six: Low Spirits, Big Goodbyes
By the last day, the mood shifted. Retreats do that - you start with excitement, then dig into deeper stuff, and by the end everyone’s raw. We’d had conversations about loss, illness, and mortality. Heavy, yes, but honest.
Goodbyes came too soon. We hugged, swapped contacts, promised to stay in touch. Whether or not we do, the impact of those few days is stamped on me.
I jumped in Julia’s truck with Charlee and Justine and we went on an adventure…
And that’s where I’ll leave this part of the story. Next week I’ll share what I got up to while in the heart of Music City itself.
My Nashville Adventure — Part Two: Neon Lights in Nashville
After the retreat wrapped up, I caught a ride into Nashville with Julia, Justine, and Charley. We grabbed lunch, swapped stories, and talked through what we each planned to do next. It felt strange leaving the calm bubble of the retreat and driving into the heart of a city.
Playing in Nashville
I’d originally planned on seeing Sheryl Crow that first night, but by the time I tried to buy tickets it was sold out. Lucky for me, Justine suggested heading to an open mic at the Commodore Grille. I thought, hell yeah!
I performed Do You Think of Me? and Straight Talkin’ Woman. Afterwards, Jimmy — the guy running the night — came up and told me I was welcome back anytime. That was it: I’d ticked “play in Nashville” off my list.
We also checked out The Local where we got to see a huge line up of amazing artists. It’s actually unbelievable how many talented musicians are playing their hearts out every night.
The Hummingbird and the Tattoo
The next day, Justine and I headed to Pride & Glory Tattoo. But first, a little backstory. I’ve always wanted to see a hummingbird. If you’ve got my Moving On EP, you might have noticed one on the CD. At the retreat, I told everyone at breakfast one morning, “If you spot a hummingbird, yell my name and I’ll come running.”
Sure enough, one afternoon Jonathan came racing up the stairs shouting for me. We bolted outside and saw one in the distance. Later that day, while I was sitting with friends, a hummingbird flew right past us. I cried. It was one of those small, unexpected dreams come true.
I’d promised myself that if I saw one, I’d get my first tattoo in Tennessee. And I did. Rayne, the artist I’d hoped for, was available, and she inked a fine line hummingbird on me. It didn’t hurt a bit, and I still feel a bit like a naughty kid for finally doing it. For me, it isn’t just about the bird — it’s a reminder of resilience, and proof that I can do hard things.
The Grand Ole Opry
That same day I met up with Steve - a friend I’ve known since the old Sellaband days but had never met in person. Together we went to the Musicians Hall of Fame and then to the Grand Ole Opry that night.
I didn’t expect to get so emotional, but the Opry was a full-on experience. Tanya Tucker was a surprise performer and she was phenomenal. Then Don Schlitz took the stage and played The Gambler, which he wrote at just 23 years old after dropping out of college. Hearing it live, played the way he originally intended, was incredible. I filmed the whole thing just so I can go back and study the chord progression.
And then Vince Gill closed the night with Go Rest High. I sobbed. Sitting there, hearing songs that shaped me performed by their creators, was overwhelming in the best way.
Johnny Cash, Broadway, and a Mechanical Bull
The next day Steve and I visited the Johnny Cash Museum. I spent a ridiculous amount of money in the gift shop, but no regrets. Seeing his guitars, awards, and personal items felt like stepping into history.
That night I went on a nightlife tour - basically a Broadway pub crawl. I’d booked it before the trip, not knowing I’d make friends at the retreat that I could’ve gone with. We hit piano bars, honky-tonks, and even Coyote Ugly where people were dancing on the bar and doing shots. At one point I found myself on a mechanical bull, singing a Shania Twain song, and somehow stayed on for the full 40 seconds. I did in fact have a skirt on so there was no way in hell I was falling off. Broadway is madness, but you can’t come to Nashville and not see it.
Photo Ops and The Listening Room
The following day I had a photo tour booked in The Gulch, which I’m so glad I did. Some of those shots are my favourites from the trip.
Later, I met up with Justine and Charley, plus Piper Butcher who had just flown in from Australia. We had lunch, wandered the shops, and soaked in my last full day in Nashville. That evening, Justine and I went to The Listening Room. Sitting in that space, hearing incredible songwriters sharing their work, I realised I could absolutely be up there, too. We finished the night with a whisky at Morgan Wallen’s bar and a final rooftop view over Broadway. It wasn’t goodbye, just “see you later.”
Heading Home
On my final morning, I did some panic shopping for the kids before heading to the airport. As I sat waiting for my flight, I put the finishing touches on a new song - a fitting end to a trip that had been all about creating, connecting, and stepping out of my comfort zone.
This was truly the trip of a lifetime. Thank you so much for being part of the journey with me. I can’t wait to share what comes out of it.