Sereena - Music That just comes to me - there is no inpiration - there is no genre

Sereena

“Music that just comes to me - there is no inspiration - there is no genre.”

Source: Sereena Facebook page

Breaking News: Sereena’s debut EP 1of 3 will be releasing the week of May 1, 2017. That’s right next week! This will the first of three EP’s released over a six month period. The three songs on 1 of 3 are “Love You Again”, “Oh Sweet Faith”, and “Coachella”. Check out this video teaser of the song ‘Love You Again’. While on YouTube so make sure you subscribe to Sereena’s channel.

Since Sereena’s birth in Greenville, Ohio she has been singing. She has no idea when it started or why it happened, it was just something that Sereena did. Her early performances were captured on home video, he earliest was at the age of one, performing and singing from her high-chair.

After college Sereena, at the age of twenty two, moved to Nashville.

“I had no idea what I was doing. I had no job, no money, and no experience. I was so ready.” Source: except from Sereena Elizabeth Website

Sereena admits she struggled emotionally and didn’t sing for the first two years she lived in Nashville. Life took over and she became a salve to money. This slavery taught Sereena about herself. Sereena’s music depicts the trails and errors she faced then and facing now.

I emailed Sereena and asked her since the bio on her official website was so short if she wanted to add some to it. Her answer was that of honesty and brilliance.

“I wanted that bio to be very simple. It covers my life for the most part. I'm just a confused, twenty-something who is chained down by thoughts and fears of what others think. Every day I get stronger and more confident. Every day I get closer to my dream! Every day is also a struggle. Not trying to be poetic at all, just trying to show you where I'm at right now in life. I know a bio is more about your past and how you got to where you are, but I'm still climbing the steep and dangerous mountain. I'm not there yet.”

At this time Sereena doesn’t have any solo gigs book. However you can find her playing at writer’s nights across Nashville. Also she is in the process of planning a release party for August to celebrate the second EP drop. Stay tuned to Live Laugh Love Nashville as we will keep you abreast of the specifics once they are announced. The easiest way to keep track of Sereena is to use one or all of the links below.

• Official Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

[Writer’s Note: If you search for “Sereena” and she doesn’t pop up search for “Serenna Elizabeth”]

Besides Sereena writing songs and singing them she is a photographer, capturing life through the lens of a camera is a passion of hers. Sereena got her first camera around the age of ten. It was an immediate love. She could catch so many shots of so many different things. The sky was literally the limit with her camera. She tells Love Laugh Nashville:

“It has always been a hobby of mine but I have just recently picked it up on a more serious level. It’s a great way to meet new people, form relationships, be creative (actually have prints to touch versus the music that you hear) and help people create memories.”

Since then Sereena has participated on photo shoots with friends a couple times but just recently started thinking she could actually do this for a living. Sereena purchased a professional camera and headed out, shooting anything. Sereena started taking photos every day and eventually got hired to do her first wedding, newborn shoot, musician shoot, promo shoot and band shoot.

Sereena is the owner of Phocused Photography. They shoot weddings, musicians, fitness, babies, families, brands and food. You can find a sample of Phocused Photography’s work on their Facebook Page, along with all the contact info needed to book them for all your photo needs.

Breaking News: Phocused Photography has a special running until May 31. The 3 for 2: When you pay for two shoots you get the third free! For more details visit the Facebook Page and/or contact Phocused Photography.

Written 4-24-2017 by Joseph Clay for Live Laugh Love Nashville - Music Monday Feature.

Pet Wants Nashville: Shawna Cohen

Type ‘healthy food for dogs’ or some derivative of the subject into any search engine, and you’ll have several million links for your browsing pleasure.

When Shawna Cohen looked for alternate options for Enzo after a bout of undiagnosed health issues, she stumbled onto the ideals of cooking actual, whole food. Finding some success led her to educate other pet parents on the benefits of homemade food. She quickly outgrew her home kitchen and needed something on a bigger scale.

Opening a store would mean sharing her passion and mission for healthy living on an even larger scale. Enter Pet Wants. Ready for a big adventure, Shawna packed up her life in New Mexico and headed to Nashville.

I recently interviewed Shawna, intrigued with Nashville’s new and hip residents:

I read on the About page of your website you learned of Pet Wants and decided to leave New Mexico to come to Nashville. Why Nashville?

The one and only reason I chose Nashville was because it was the only city I knew someone in and by that, it really was just one person!

I had lived in Phoenix, Arizona and South Dakota and did know people there, but knew I didn't want to live in either of those places again - so Nashville it was!  After doing research and seeing what a dog- friendly city along with so many events and festivals for dogs made the choice even easier!  Also, learning what was happening in East Nashville with all the renovations and being the new and up-and-coming area of Nashville and such a welcoming pet community, I knew this would be a great location for the store.

I love that you have a delivery service for your products. You are quite possibly the only shop in this area doing this.

When I was in the midst of trying to figure out how to start a pet food business, delivery was something I wanted to incorporate. I knew it would be a great convenience and incentive for people. The delivery service is part of the Pet Wants Model. We had a choice of doing just a mobile delivery service or retail store with delivery.

Being that I'm the only Pet Wants in Nashville, I can deliver anywhere I want. My limit is about 40-45 minutes – about a 50 mile radius.  As it is now, I go to Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Hermitage, Madison, Inglewood, Smyrna, Bellevue, Green Hills, West Nashville, East Nashville, and any areas that are close to those cities. I will expand the area even more as business progresses.

A lot of pet parents (myself included) may think that good, whole food for our pets is priced high. But your prices are in-line with the major national brands. How are you able to keep your prices so low?

Our prices are just below the most premium brands and obviously higher than the lowest so we try to stay comparable without devaluing our premium ingredients and most of all, the freshness of the food.

What helps us stay competitive is that Pet Wants is its own brand of food that is manufactured specifically for and sent directly to us right from the plant rather than going through other distribution companies. 

It is a small, family-owned manufacturing plant that doesn't manufacture pet food for too many other companies. 

Being that it is made only once a month with limited ingredients cooked in smaller batches allows the ingredients to be fresher and most of the ingredients, with the exception of our proteins, are locally sourced as much as possible to cut down on costs.

Being a part of Pet Wants is also about the passion of our pets and being able to provide a superior product at an affordable price.

Shawna is warm and inviting. Her passion for healthy living for all members of the family shines through. She resides in Nashville with her first love, Enzo, and Shelby, both Husky mixes rescued in New Mexico.

Pet Foods Nashville is conveniently located at 962 Woodland St. and is open seven days a week. Food for cats and dogs, as well as a variety of supplements, bones and treats are available.

Find her online and Facebook.

Written 4-13-2017 by Heather Clift for Live Laugh Love Nashville - Feature Friday

Frisson Soft Serve

Live Laugh Love Nashville would like to take a moment to introduce you to one of our newest businesses, Frisson Soft Serve! We are excited to have them around town to keep us cool on the upcoming Summer days!

Nashville has everything from hot chicken to hockey, but there is one thing missing, soft serve gelato! The idea for Frisson Soft Serve was born when Caila Singleton and her partner realized there was nothing in Nashville like their favorite ice cream spot and had a serious craving for some soft serve. Once they experienced their first incredibly hot and humid summer here in Nashville, they realized they had to give Nashville a fun, tasty way to beat the heat. They took their delicious, soft serve gelato cones and roll them in different kinds of toppings to make a one-of-a kind heavenly experience.  Frisson is bringing delicious gelato that uses fresh, uncompromised ingredients to Music City! Their cones have a unique twist. First, they serve their gelato soft serve style. Second, they take an assortment of delicious toppings and layer them on the cone. That's right. Sundae meets cone...you really can have the best of both worlds. Don’t just take our word for it though...take a trip over to their food truck and taste for yourself the most unique frozen treat in Nashville!

When the idea for Frisson Soft Serve first began to formulate in this duo's minds, they knew their focus was going to be on the Nashville community. They wanted to bring an experience to Nashville that is just as unique and incredible as the people that live here. However, that was not enough.

As anyone in the food industry will tell you, quality is the key, so they set about trying to find the best-tasting mix out there. After much searching, they finally found it. A minimal ingredient, artisan gelato mix that could be made in fresh batches of any flavor they could dare to think of! They were ecstatic, but it still wasn’t enough.

The dream of Frisson Soft Serve is to be built by the community for the community. This company wants to implement outreach programs, be able to partner up with local charities, support the Nashville Humane Society, go to community events and so much more. They also desire to expand their menu to include customers with dairy allergies and those who are vegan. They can do this by collaborating with local bakers for vegan cones and purchasing another machine so they can sell vegan options and frozen yogurt.

They need your help to get Frisson Soft Serve where they know it can be! Attending local events, supporting charities and expanding the menu takes a lot of resources. Frisson Soft Serves' ultimate goal is to be able to afford a new machine so they can focus on expanding their menu with 100% dairy free, vegan and frozen yogurt options. This expansion will allow them to reach a larger customer base and with the added revenue they can attend more events, do more charity work and support more local businesses.

Falling short of that goal, they will use the funds to connect with local charities (such as the humane society), attend more events, experiment new menu options for customers with allergies and vegan preferences and implement charitable activities (such as the “pay it forward” program) so the Nashville community can get involved.

https://ifundwomen.com/projects/frissonsoftserve

Join Frisson Soft Serve for their Grand Opening event on Sunday, April 2nd at the Shops at Porter East!

In the meantime, check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and be sure to visit their website!