- Story by David Wylie Photography by Darren Hull
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Imagine walking down the aisle to your very own personal song.
Kelowna born and raised songwriter Sandy Zeleznik wants to create a unique memory capturing a major milestone: your wedding.
香蕉视频直播淢arriage is an amazing thing. It香蕉视频直播檚 a happy time, a life-changing event,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淵our own song is a keepsake for life, just like pictures, just like video. I put my heart and soul into it.香蕉视频直播
Sandy has written hundreds of songs, and has been honing her craft for years.
The first wedding song she wrote was for her niece. Personalized songs became a thoughtful wedding gift she gave to those near and dear.
Sandy knew she had found a unique niche in the competitive music industry 香蕉视频直播 adapting couples香蕉视频直播 vows and how they met into professional demos that rival radio songs.
香蕉视频直播淎fter I wrote my first wedding song, it brought joy to me and a sense of passion; it was such a wonderful feeling,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淪ome things just seem to come into trend. A good friend sang me down the aisle when I got married. I never thought to have a personal wedding song back then.香蕉视频直播
Sandy says she writes music as therapy and, along with weddings, has also written songs for funerals. One was even picked up by MADD Canada for a candlelight vigil.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 funerals or weddings. I choose weddings,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淚 like to make people cry, I guess: tears of joy or sad tears. I香蕉视频直播檓 an emotional writer.香蕉视频直播
She香蕉视频直播檚 also versatile and enjoys crafting funny songs
as well.
香蕉视频直播淣ot all wedding songs have to be slow and emotional; there can be some great humorous songs for the reception,香蕉视频直播 she says.
Chasing her childhood dream of writing songs has been a long time coming.
Sandy married and had kids, raising them and helping her husband, James, run Jazel Homes in the Okanagan. But music never went away. With her kids grown, she now has more time.
香蕉视频直播淚t was always in the back of my mind,香蕉视频直播 Sandy says. 香蕉视频直播淵ou hear about people who are artists and they get a little bit more time when they香蕉视频直播檙e older and they can pursue it. The dream can come true. I can take my song-writing to the next level and I can put everything I have into it. When you love something, it香蕉视频直播檚 not work.香蕉视频直播
Sandy specializes in pop and country songs. She now writes every day in some way, whether it香蕉视频直播檚 at the piano, with a pen and paper or in her head when inspiration strikes while she香蕉视频直播檚 living life.
Recently, Sandy recalls, the house she grew up in was torn down to build townhouses, and she was there to watch the demolition.
香蕉视频直播淲hen that house came down, you would not believe the memories that came back. It香蕉视频直播檚 like when someone dies,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淣ot a lot of people see their house that they香蕉视频直播檝e grown up in torn down.香蕉视频直播
She adds: 香蕉视频直播淥ne such memory was when I started singing at five years old. I sold tickets to all the neighbours for five cents. They all came to see me. I had a little tape recorder and I was standing on these round grey concrete stairs. I had a skipping rope for my microphone and I sang to the Partridge Family,香蕉视频直播 she says.
香蕉视频直播淪hortly after witnessing the house being demolished I wrote a song to that memory.香蕉视频直播
The hard work has been paying off. Sandy has been making gains in the music industry. She香蕉视频直播檚 had songs picked up by indie artists, met with publishers, and has co-written with writers from Nashville, Vancouver and Kelowna.
香蕉视频直播淵ou have to have a lot of patience,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淭here is magic in song-writing, like anything artistic. Some people get to pursue their dream when they香蕉视频直播檙e young. I had to wait until I was a little older. There is a time for everything 香蕉视频直播 whether you香蕉视频直播檙e young or old. You can pursue your dream at any age. It香蕉视频直播檚 a tough gig, but I香蕉视频直播檓 in it for the long run. I want to make someone a wonderful song.香蕉视频直播
Her personalized wedding songs have been well received, with people saying they rival some of the songs currently on the radio.
香蕉视频直播淚 was very humbled by that,香蕉视频直播 she says. 香蕉视频直播淚t just brings so much joy to people.香蕉视频直播
She says the songs are perfect to accompany the bride down the aisle, a first dance and as a wedding video soundtrack. To use a song on a video that香蕉视频直播檚 posted to the internet costs a copyright fee that can be exorbitant 香蕉视频直播 depending on the song.
Some of the songs are recorded by professional studios in Nashville, where she hires world-class musicians and singers. She says she likes to be in the studio when her songs are being recorded so she can make sure her personal flair is reflected in the final recording.
Others songs she records herself. She plays on her grandma香蕉视频直播檚 old piano, on which she learned to play. She also has a newer piano and two keyboards.
One of her highlights was writing a song for her son香蕉视频直播檚 wedding: 香蕉视频直播淚t was an honour to do their song; I had a few tears writing that one,香蕉视频直播 she says.
Sandy and James just celebrated 30 years of marriage.
香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 done one for us yet because I香蕉视频直播檝e been too busy,香蕉视频直播 she laughs.
She is now working on an album of personal stories.
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