Makayla Lynn prepares for a busy summer of performances.

BELNAN: Just when Makayla Lynn Parry thought she couldn’t be busier—she is.
The 11-year-old singer—with such touching songs like “The Jokes On You” and “I’ll Push Myself”—had a busy summer of 2011 with her first CD release “I’ll Just Keep Being Me” plus performing on the kitchen stage at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival for one day at the festival held on P.E.I.
This summer, the Elmsdale District School student—who will be moving on to Riverside Education Centre in Milford next year—is booked for all three days of the Cavendish Music Festival, scheduled for July 6-8, featuring Alabama, Dean Brody, Jessie Farrell, Lauren Alaina, Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flatts, and Aaron Pritchett among others.
Besides that, she also has performances scheduled for the East Hants Relay for Life from 8-9 p.m. at the Enfield/Elmsdale Lions Den in Enfield; Windsor Daycare Society where she will open for Jason Macumber at Avondale High, set for 7 p.m. She is also scheduled to perform at a private party for the Tall Ship, The Silva.
But before she has all that fun, she’ll be on hand at the CD release of her second album, “The Music In Me” on June 16, at Shooters Restaurant in Enfield from 2-4 p.m. She will be singing a few sets, as well as signing autographs. Admission is $5 for adults, children are free.
Makayla Lynn said the title of her CD is actually the name of one of the songs.
“We were going to call it, One Girl, One Guitar, One Dream, and then I decided I wanted to add some piano to it,” the ever-confident singer said. “We couldn’t have called it that, so we decided to go with a song that was on there. It kind of explains my music, and what I can do. It has the guitar and piano, so it’s pretty much the music in me.”
She said the eight-track CD—produced at Denmark Recording Studio in Halifax—features all new songs that she has written personally.
“I think their different from my first CD because they’re better as I’ve grown, and experienced more, like last summer all the stuff that has gone on,” she said. “It gave me more stuff to work with.”
Makayla Lynn will be using the June 16 CD release as a fundraiser for her trip to Toronto, and then Nashville, TN., Oct 20-29.
In Music City USA she will grace the stage that big name songstresses Carrie Underwood and country/pop crooner Taylor Swift has. One of the locations she will be performing at in Nashville is The Listening Room (Oct. 25), The Commodore Grille (Oct. 27), and Richard’s Cafe on Oct. 29. Other spots are to be announced.
In Toronto, she is one of the top acts during The Discovery Series at Hugh’s Room on Oct. 23.
“I had no clue,” said Makayla about being surprised with news of the Nashville trip. “I knew we were going to Toronto for a few days, and then I thought we were just going to fly home. When my sister (Madison) and my mom made a map and showed everything that I was going to do, it was exciting.
“A friend of mine told me ‘it’s not going to sink in until you pass that state line that says Nashville.’ I still don’t think it’s sunk in yet.”
Makayla Lynn said she can’t wait to get to Nashville.
“Everywhere you look it’s all about music, everything,” she said. “That’s the kind of place, my dream to be in. It suits me.”
She is taking the second CD down to Nashville with her and will be passing the demo album out to whoever she can—including recording agencies.
She’s also excited to be performing on all three nights of Cavendish, something she’s looking forward to.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “Last year I knew I was playing one night, but to get the chance to play on all three is really exciting.
“It’s like this summer is going to be even more exciting than last summer.”
Fans, friends, or those just wishing to show Makayla Lynn their support are encouraged to drop by the CD release for “The Music In Me” on June 16, from 2-4 p.m., at Shooters Restaurant in Enfield. Admission is $5 for adults, children are free.
phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com