Singer In the Spotlight: Mindy Gledhill

 

If you like kaleidoscopes and dance music, then you’ll probably like the new Kaskade music video for “Eyes” featuring Mindy Gledhill—one of the most lovely women I have met in the music industry. Dance music is not usually her thing… actually, I’m not sure if I can pin Mindy to a certain genre. Her vocal quality is like a scoop of ice cream floating in strawberry soda—refreshing and delightful like an idyllic childhood summer—and her personal approach to people makes her beloved by all whom she meets.

My path crossed with Mindy nearly ten years ago in 2002. I was struggling to find entrance to Brigham Young University and took some open enrollment summer classes that would help grant me full-time status for a music degree. I enrolled for a few songwriting courses where I met Mindy Gledhill. Mindy was then, ambitious but not headstrong or haughty. Her talents didn’t seem to me much more developed than others in our songwriting class but she had the “it” factor. The combination of her enchanting voice, a gorgeous smile, and contradictory mannerisms of quirk and grace, she seemed to have the whole package.

 

Key players in the local Utah music industry soon picked up on her as well. Kenneth Cope—a well-known and revered Mormon musician—came to our campus mid-fall semester for a songwriting workshop. As is done many times during these events, panelists listen to aspiring musicians’ demos and offer criticism. Mindy’s brother-in-law submitted a song he had composed for which Mindy recorded the vocals. The song was beautiful underscored with deep rolling piano… I remember it now, but what is really engrained in my memory is Mindy’s ethereal singing. In my opinion, this is where music history started for Mindy. I wasn’t surprised (but only a bit jealous) that Kenneth picked her up for a record deal subsequently producing her first album “Sum of All Grace.” I’m not sure of the scope of its popularity but it put her on the map of music through the Rocky Mountain corridor all the way from Idaho through Arizona.

 

I had my opportunities to collaborate with Mindy but never went down that path. I soon left Utah for New York City to pursue another life (but only after I entrusted her with my beloved blue scooter). A few years later, thanks to Facebook, we reconnected and I have enjoyed watching her popularity grow. I’ve witnessed her morph from a solely Christian music artist to indie pop and now apparently the voice of America’s best DJ Kaskade‘s dance hit “Eyes.” Along the way her voice and message have reached countless ears due to what first drew me to her as a friend: an honest, non-judgmental heart with a message that says “come as you are.”

 

Yesterday I noticed the physical similarities of Mindy to my sister Karen who recently passed away. Karen also shared that “come as you are” approach. She always encouraged me to be true to myself. The moment I received the message about Mindy’s new Kaskade video I had an impulse, which I believe came from Karen, to pull out my roller skates and put “Eyes” in a playlist with my favorite dance and disco tracks.

 

So, yes. Yes, I DID make a pot of chili for dinner while roller skating to Kaskade’s “Eyes” featuring Mindy Gledhill last night. And in that spirit, I encourage you to get up and strut your stuff to the beat!

 

 

Mindy Gledhill’s Website: http://mindygledhill.com
Mindy Gledhill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindyGledhillMusic
Mindy Gledhill on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mindy-gledhill/id65177365

 

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