Daily Inspiration: Meet Keturah Allgood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keturah Allgood.

Hi Keturah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My journey has been a long and winding path. I am from Brevard a small town in the mountains of Western North Carolina right outside of Asheville. These ancient mountains hold a plethora of talent.

Due to their relative isolation for years, most of my family members had to learn how to entertain themselves. I grew up surrounded by music and storytelling. It was infused in my bones.

I started rhyming and writing songs at a ridiculously young age. My mom loves to recount the story of myself and my uncle, who is also a songwriter, riding in the back of the car going to the Worlds Fair in Knoxville Tennessee.

I couldn’t have more than. 4 or 5 years old at the time. She said we were having rhyming contests the entire way there and back. I’m sure I drove her absolutely insane when I was growing up. My aunt put me on a stage when I was about 7 and that was it! I was bitten by the music bug and I can’t seem to get rid of it! I am now 44 years old. People will say that I am far too old to be entering the world of the Nashville music industry.

I would say you are never too old to follow your passions and pursue your dreams. Success doesn’t happen overnight. I have been doing the hard work behind the scenes for over 25 years now. Creative souls are uniquely challenged and blessed all at the same time.

Sometimes we find it hard to fit into the boxes that our society wants to cram us into. I say forge your own path in this world. Live every day with love and give it all you can. Never take no for an answer. Shine your light and love yourself enough to believe you are worthy of a beautiful life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! Smooth roads are boring! There’s nothing better than a good old dirt road filled with potholes and winding curves. I have found that those are the ones that often lead you to the most beautiful places. Being an artist is not for the faint of heart. You have a calling deep within your soul that you have to pursue.

Unfortunately, there are no well-laid-out paths to get to a place where your art starts providing an income. It’s a constant struggle to answer the calling of your soul while still surviving financially. Covid really highlighted this for many independent musicians.

I, like many of my contemporaries, had been performing and playing as much as possible for years, and then all of a sudden we were hit with the awful reality that our industry was going to suffer enormous loss. For the first time in over twenty years, I had to go try to find a job working for someone else. I was absolutely terrified! I had no idea if anyone would even hire me with a resume that consisted of “late-night bar gigs” as the main highlight!

I was lucky to get hired at a factory around the corner from my house. I became a forklift driver overnight! I am actually still there. I now work 4 12 hour shifts a week there and then go on the road Friday through Sunday attempting to get back into what I actually do.

The world changed overnight for artists and it’s going to take some time to navigate this new paradigm we have found ourselves in. But like I said smooth roads are boring so strap yourself in and hang on for the ride… it’s going to get bumpy but I assure you that it’s going to end up at a glorious destination!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would call myself a performing songwriter. I think both things hold equal places in my heart. It was difficult during Covid to do live streams because for me the energy of an audience is so imperative.

It’s hard to do what I do without that interaction. I suppose I am most known for my motto: love-kindness-compassion. I truly believe that if you live every day in the pursuit of those three things you will find joy and boundless blessings. I am a very strange being in this world.

If you ask my mother what the hardest part of raising me was she will tell you it’s when she realized how different I was. I just simply refuse to believe that everyone isn’t worthy of redemption. We can choose to live in fear or live in love.

Most people will say I am naive but I will choose love every time.

I became an artist with Charlotte Avenue Entertainment in Nashville in 2020. We recorded a record at Omni Sound studios. The first single is set for release in August of this year and the full record is due to be released in April of 2023.

I do have a record coming out this fall entitled “Shine”. No release date yet but folks can be on the lookout! I am an artist on the rise with Charlotte Avenue Entertainment. The record was recorded at Omni Sound and produced by Will Gawley, Pat McGrath and Michelle Robertson.

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is that you have to believe that you are worthy.

You can’t rely on other people for validation. You have to look inside of yourself and give yourself the love and grace that you would give others. It all starts with a spark inside of your soul.

That spark can grow into a glowing light and that light has the ability to change the world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Keturah_allgood_official
• Facebook: @Keturahallgoodmusic

Image Credits
Ken Voltz, Cris Wheeler, and Michelle Robinson