By Thomas Sellers Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cyrena\nWages is glad to be back home around people she loves and doing what\nshe loves. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\ndaughter of Millington natives Wilson and Deborah Wages has always\nhad a passion for creating music even before earning her her\nbachelor’s in Music Performance\/Music Business from Belmont\nUniversity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before\nall of the chaos with COVID-19 hit the world, Cyrena moved back from\nNashville to the Memphis area. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\ntwo-time Miss Memphis winner and former first runner-up for Miss\nTennessee has been at work in the studio creating music. Now Wages is\nready to release a song that speaks to her love of music and home\nwith the solo track \u201cRiver Bends.\u201d \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m\ninspired and clear right now,\u201d Wages said. \u201cHistorically,\nanalysis paralysis has been my middle name. For the last 10 years, if\nthere was a way to talk myself out of releasing music, I\u2019d find it.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut\na new chapter (solo project) and some real perspective (corona\ncrisis) have motivated me to trust my gut, express my heart, and make\nart that is true,\u201d she added. \u201cPSA, if anyone else experiences\nblocks like this, check out a book I love called “The War of\nArt,” by Steven Pressfield. Make your projects, break the cycle\nof self sabotage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over\nthe years Wages has earned fame and recognition with her\ncontributions to education through her pageant duties and work in the\ngroup \u201cThe Lost Wages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\nwrote \u201cRiver Bends\u201d this time last year with my brother, Houston,\nand Jesse Cole,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI was living in East Nashville,\nwaiting tables and hustling. I\u2019d work until 3 a.m. every morning,\nbarely sleep, wake up and go to co-writes (the phrase coined for\nMusic Row songwriting appointments) and then go back to work. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\nfelt like I had taken a nice beating over the years from the pursuit\nof this \u201cdream,\u201d like so many of us feel from time to\ntime,\u201d Cyrena continued. \u201cI kept thinking about moving back to\nMemphis, to gain some perspective and remind myself of why I started\nplaying music in the first place. So I did and I wrote this song\nabout it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRiver\nBends\u201d will start being available on Friday April 24. \u201cRiver\nBends” will be released on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and most\nall digital music platforms. Visit cyrenawages.com<\/a> and\nlinks will forward you to the right place. Keep up with Wages day to\nday shenanigans on her Instagram, @cyrenawages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s\nbeen a beautiful roller coaster,\u201d she noted of her music career. \u201cI\nthink that\u2019s probably just how it goes, if you\u2019re doing it right.\nIt\u2019s not easy to relentlessly pursue something that\u2019s inherently\nsubjective. But I feel like things are starting to come together for\nme, in the world and in my mind. I\u2019m very lucky to love\nsomething so much and I\u2019m grateful to get to pursue it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wages\nsaid despite the world slowing down to adjust to the coronavirus\ncrisis, 2020 is her time to increase her workload and get more music\nout to the public and her developing fan base. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\nwas initially concerned that releasing work during this time was\ninsensitive,\u201d she acknowledged. \u201cCertainly, nothing can mitigate\nhow much people are hurting and how high global anxiety is. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen\nmy perspective shifted,\u201d Wages concluded. \u201cThis is the purpose of\nart and entertainment. We all need something to grab onto. If ever a\ntime for things to be made out of nothing and shared with the world,\nmaybe it\u2019s now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look\nfor Wages to hit the stage near Flag City once gathering regulations\nallow. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n