I was interviewed a little while ago for Feather Magazine, an awesome online mag for women in their twenties. It’s a super fun webpage with tons of beauty tips, fashion posts, health info., and of course entertainment! They just published my interview today, so check it out here!

Here is the direct link to the interview: http://feather-magazine.com/?p=4625

Check it out if you’re curious about how I got my start on youtube, my involvement with Disney, my Ariel obsession and of course, my music! Hope it answers some of your burning questions (What’s a question, and why does it, what’s the word? Burrrrrrn!) Some of my answers might surprise you. Or maybe they won’t…guess that depends on how well you know me! *wink*

I’ve been a busy bee lately, so I’ll update ya with other recent happenings here…some fyis, announcements, and a new youtube cover video!

FYI #1: To all my etsy customers (and would-be customers), I am so sorry for the bad news, but I have had to close all new custom commissions for the moment while I focus on current orders. I’ve become so busy at my etsy shop (SirensGrotto.etsy.com) that I am starting to fall a bit behind. Illness, recording and just general busy-ness have slowed me down a bit, so I need to do the responsible thing and put a hold on new orders while I catch up. I appreciate your understanding and patience with me during this time. I plan to open commissions up again just as soon as I can, but until further notice, that’s the skinny on my Etsy shop folks. Stay posted to the shop though-anything currently listed is still available (this includes wigs, costume accessories and lots of new general sale starfish accessories coming very soon!) Hopefully some of these items will hold you over until I am able to take on commissions again. And who knows, maybe something listed for general sale will catch your eye and you won’t need to place that custom order after all. Give me a chance to instill some accessory-envy in ya over the next month! (-:

FYI#2: I made a new youtube cover video in honor of Mother’s Day! This one’s for my mom (Love you Mom!) It’s a cover of one of her favorite songs, James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend” …watch here or at my cover youtube channel, www.youtube.com/TraciJHines

FYI#3: My birthday is this month! So if I disappear for a few days, I’m probably at the most magical place on earth celebrating! If you feel like getting me a present, buy Cause and Effect, my newest single, and support my music so I can make more! Then tweet me (@TraciHines) that you bought it, and email the dedicated email, CandEunlocked@gmail.com, with your receipt or screencap proof-of-purchase for the FREE bonus download! That would make me grin from ear to ear and be the best Bday present ever! Or, if you see me at Disneyland, come give me a high-5! (-:

FYI#6: Doe Deere and her gorgeous makeup line Lime Crime are awesome. Fact. My bestie/mermaid assistant Amy and I stopped by their new headquarters a few weeks ago for tea and a visit with Doe and the lovely LC team (which includes Cassie Wanda, Sasha and Mark!) Doe blogged about our day here if you want to take a gander!

(Direct link to the blog: http://www.doedeereblogazine.com/articles/when-unicorns-and-mermaids-collide)

FYI#5: DON’T FORGET to come out to the AMAZING Lil Rae Cakes Anniversary Event on May 19th! It’s Pee-Wee/Big Top themed and yours truly will be mermaiding it up alongside some wonderful friends, performers and of course, Jenny Rae, the famous crafty cake-baller herself! Click here for more info!

Well, that’s it for now, but I can assure you, much more to come soon! I’ve got lots more exciting news I can’t wait to blurt out…just waiting for the go ahead to announce it! Talk soon, and thanks so much for following my humble little website!

<3 Traci

IT’S FINALLY HERE!!! My brand new single off my upcoming album, inspired by the MASS EFFECT videogame series!

The CAUSE: You buy it on iTunes or Amazon mp3 (because you love me…or because you love Mass Effect…or because you love spaceships…whatever)

The EFFECT: You dance, sing along and explode awesomeness of out every fiber of your being.

Also, for a limited time, when you purchase the song you can email THIS dedicated email: CandEunlocked@gmail.com
And score a FREE bonus track as a thank-you for supporting the music! (offer ends when the next single is released).

If you prefer to get the news via video announcement, here ya go:

Can hardly believe it but iTunes is showing that it’s already shot up to my most popular tune on there out of all my releases to date! Either ya’ll really like Mass Effect, or we’re doing something right (or both?) Let us know in the youtube comments, here, my facebook, twitter, etc. what YOU want to hear, what you like to watch, listen to, read, etc. We’re listening! (HUGE thanks as always to my AMAZIZIZING producer/co-writer/musical-partner-in-crime Adam Gubman for making this track everything that it is!)

Sorry for my slight delay in blogging about this. I’ve been a busy busy bee! If you want to see what else is up with me, feel free to keep up on facebook, twitter and youtube (or my other youtube)! In other recent happenings, I posted a new youtube cover (of LIGHTS’ song Pretend), Stopped by the Lime Crime headquarters last week for some mermaid/unicorn fun, had a few photo/video shoots, (which I will be announcing/sharing with you soon), and played princess during National Princess Week, as per my usual character events.

Also, a quick reminder to any of you who haven’t yet sent in for the FREE Lovebird bonus track, send in STAT because the offer is officially ending this coming Saturday, April 28th 2012! The dedicated email for Lovebird is LBunlocked@gmail.com. Don’t forget to attach your Lovebird receipt or screencap proof-of-purchase to the email so we can hook you up!

I’ll leave you with one last promo shot from the Cause and Effect shoot…I’m not just a princess ya’ll. I got some kick@$$ up my space-suit sleeve.

Love you guys! Stay tuned for more music coming SOON!!!

<3 Traci

Click HERE to preview my new single, CAUSE AND EFFECT, inspired by the Mass Effect videogame series!

(preview clip will be available for a short time on producer Adam Gubman’s soundcloud until the full song is released on iTunes & Amazon mp3-coming at ya super SOON!)

Also, expect a special album-only release version of the song with additional arrangements from one of the composers of the Mass Effect series, Sam Hulick!

Hoping you guys love it as much as we do-so stoked about this song!

Back soon-

<3 Traci

It’s been a while since I posted a Disney cover video-I had a Rapunzel event yesterday and decided to bust out a short video after since I was already in costume and in the mood to sing! I was also in a very silly mood, and my good friend Lisa Fabio and I just couldn’t help ourselves…you’ll see what I mean when you watch it. (Also look for Casper’s cameo in the blooper reel!)

I credit most of my YouTube success to date to my Disney cover videos. Almost all of them were made in my living room, in my humble apartment on a mac laptop, and as cheesy as I felt/feel putting content out with my living room for a backdrop, I at least figured it was better than nothing at all. Some of my covers of popular artist’s songs got some play, but I think things really took off for me when I began posting videos as fairytale and Disney characters. Disney fan videos are everywhere, but at the time, I was one of the first (if not the very first) to post cover videos in costume. I had a blast making them, and it was really rewarding hearing about all the little kids who enjoyed watching them! But after starting my Etsy shop and becoming busy with more than my weekend character events and live performances, working a few odd jobs, writing music and now creating my first album, I’ve been a bit of a slacker about making my classic ‘living room videos’ …I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and I don’t like to do anything unless I can do it right…so for a while I just stopped. I’ve been working towards making better quality videos, and have lots of plans in the works for much higher quality videos coming up, but I’m realizing now that my account has appeared a bit abandoned, and after receiving messages and encouragement to make more, I finally just figured I’d post some stuff and of course, when the better quality content is ready, I’ll be even more excited to post that there too!

As much as I want to only post those things that I consider ‘professional’ quality, I realize now that this is where I got my start, and I don’t want to neglect that while I wait for the bigger budget opportunities to come along. I really only want it to be good for you guys, and to do the best job I can, and of course I want to improve, but I’m going to do my best to make more video content and put it out there and really make an effort to continue what I started, regardless. Thanks to those of you who have been encouraging me, and asking for more! (And if you like my Disney stuff, check out my original music too if you haven’t already-you might like that just as much! I sure hope so!)

I’ll be back soon!

<3 Traci

As most of you guys probably know, I own and run a mermaid themed Etsy shop, where I create and sell (mostly) mermaid inspired accessories, many of them designed for hair! (I also run my wig shop out of there, and sell a few princess-inspired costume accessories too). The mermaid stuff is my favorite though, and I love using natural elements directly from the sea to create my wares!

I never expected to be as busy as I am, but I am so blessed and feel so lucky to get to count this “job” as my Monday through Friday work! Long story short, last year around April 2011 I was creating more mermaid accessories for myself, to wear in a photo shoot, (I’ve always been crafty) and got inspired to try out Etsy.com. With encouragement from friends, compliments from strangers and inquiries online from would-be customers, I opened up shop! Right about the same time, I was on the usual job search, and finally made the decision to say goodbye to my signature red hair for a spell, and go blonde so it would be easier to get a part-time waitressing job to make ends meet. (Things were extra tight and with performing gigs mainly on weekends, we needed more income to make it work….and NO ONE wanted to hire a vibrant redhead. Go figure). No sooner had I bleached my hair, scored a job and started waitressing again, simultaneously my etsy shop took off and my poor tired back went out. I took it as a sign, prayed my heart out for strength, wisdom and courage, camped out on the couch for 2 weeks while I healed, and decided to make my new Etsy shop, the Siren’s Grotto, my sole Monday through Friday job solution. I haven’t looked back. (And I’m thoroughly enjoying dyeing my hair every color of the rainbow on my way back to red…..just because I can!)

I expanded my shop soon after that by adding all my most requested wig styles, and before I knew it, my etsy inbox was flooded with messages inquiring about custom work. Custom wigs, custom accessories, jewelry, and my favorite: special hair pieces for customers with a flair for the dramatic. I didn’t expect to be doing so much work by way of private commission, but I’m honored that so many of my customers choose and trust me to create something unique for them. Some of my favorite customers are my brides. It means the world that these girls have chosen me to design something for them that they will wear on what is bound to be the most special & meaningful day of their life, that will be held dear in photos for generations to come. The more I think about it, the more I am floored that I get to do this as part of my living. I recently got to create a bridal fascinator for a special bride who requested a fascinator all in shades of white (ivory and cream included). I’m so happy with how it came out, and thought I’d share some intial photos of it here! (I anxiously await the bride’s wedding photos, where I get to see her actually wearing it!)

My items have gone on to be featured in (mermaid!) magazines, on brides in their local newspapers and publications and of course, I’m still making items for myself for photo shoots and events. Who knows where they’ll end up next! It’s so much fun and such an interesting, no-boundaries ocean to explore! If someone would have told me as a little girl that I would one day grow up to be a mermaid, and outfit other lovely folks in mermaid accessories and fashion too, well…I probably wouldn’t have believed them. So…that’s my Etsy story, in case you were curious! Oh! And if you care to visit my little shop, just go to www.SirensGrotto.etsy.com or click the “etsy” link at the top of the site.

Till next time…

<3 Traci

P.s. If you contact me at my shop, please have patience! I'm so blessed to be busy, but it also means it can take me a little longer to get back with you! I usually am able to write back in 1 to 3 days. (Considering adding on some help soon to speed up the communication! I'll keep everyone posted!) <><