Shine On, Amanda Machon
"I can’t navigate your eggshells scattered on the ground, So I’ll just take a breath and dance around." - Tiny Circles by Red Light CamerasThere are many things in this world that make the corners of my heart crease into a smile: when you can see both ends of a rainbow straddling the Albuquerque skyline; stepping onto the peak of a mountain after a grueling hike to the top; discovering an artist who pours all of themselves into a project. As expansive as these things are, it would be a mistake to forget that each was preceded by a period of darkness: the storm that came before the rainbow; the moment while hiking when I convince myself I am not strong enough to continue; the anguish of vulnerability the artist moves through to create the final product.
I would argue that it is the moments of struggle that connect us as human beings. As the storm rages and the thoughts swirl dangerously, we all must face fear, exhaustion, and doubt. We must feel it fully before we are able to look up and, like resilient hobbits, make the choice to persist. There is a tiny space that exists between resignation and perseverance. It is imperceptible. Blink and you’ll miss it. We often pass through without realizing it but were we to pause and focus, we would understand that this space is filled with light. This space contains an incredible amount of energy and that energy is Amanda Machon.
“I have always been sunshine,” she says to me, smiling widely, throwing her arms out to the side and her head up towards the sky. She sits in a yellow sweater sipping turmeric tea across the table from me. I have only known her for about five minutes, but, laughing in response, I wonder if I have ever heard a more appropriate statement.
Amanda Machon is a New Mexican force of nature. The lead singer of Red Light Cameras, Amanda was voted Best Front Person by NM Entertains magazine. The band itself was voted Best Musical Rock Band by NM Entertains and, several times over the past years, Best Local Band by Albuquerque the Magazine. She is also the host of Absolutely Albuquerque, a TV series that highlights favorite spots in Albuquerque. The accolades and the titles confirm the talent that Amanda shares with the world, but they really only provide a glimpse of her depth.
Although born in California, Amanda has lived in New Mexico since the age of six. Being raised in a Filipino family meant that she grew up singing and performing during holidays and other family celebrations. It was the joyful norm of her childhood. Amanda’s mother enrolled her in singing lessons from an early age. By the time she graduated from East Mountain High School in Tijeras, she had experienced classical vocal training as well as lessons in theater and drama. She got her first gig playing with a band at the age of 15, and she has been performing professionally ever since.
When I ask if she ever aspired to learn an instrument to go along with her vocal talent, she levels her gaze at me and sets the record straight:
“I am my instrument. No accessories necessary.”
Amanda’s love for using her voice goes beyond the arias and scales she learned in classical training. She attributes her joyful attitude to her singing instructor Jam. Jam’s classroom had mirrors on all sides. There was nowhere to hide during lessons. You had to, quite literally, face the music. This physical directness was tempered by Jam’s insistence that Amanda needed to get out of her head and have fun. With every single song. When Amanda struggled with a song, Jam would inquire as to whether she was having fun. If the answer was no, the song disappeared, never to be mentioned again. While the technical aspects of singing were not to be ignored, the element of fun must always be present.
The joyful aspect of singing is what Amanda carries with her wherever she goes. Her advice to all aspiring musicians is threefold. First and foremost, you must have FUN. You have to love the music, she says. The music business can be challenging and it will not always love you back. You have to love it enough for both of you.
Second, music is to be shared. This applies to every practice and every performance. The joy created by music is an act of equal opportunity. This means you provide the same level of enthusiasm whether you are performing to a sold out venue or to the few people who trickle into an event. You cannot know each person’s story or struggle. If a person shows up, they deserve to experience 100% of you. Music is joy so go ahead and share the joy!
From singing to herself in a room full of mirrors to giving an audience everything she has, Amanda is a solid believer in the power of authenticity. Her last piece of advice is to be you and to be happy being you. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to shine your light. You are worthy exactly as you are.
While Amanda thrives as a performer, there is another aspect of her life that allows her to radiate just as brightly. When Amanda is not on stage, you will find her helping others to rise. She does not believe in guarding her secrets to success. She is quick to answer others’ questions and to coach new bands. She particularly enjoys working with the Rock 101 Band League students on topics like stage presence, song choice, and band dynamics.
Due to her warm personality, it is easy to look at Amanda Machon and to think that she has always shone with bright intensity; however, as is true for all of us, Amanda got to where she is today by persevering through her own journey. She describes herself as being a late bloomer and an ugly duckling. While we know her to be full of enthusiasm, this was not always described in a positive way. She was implored to be a bit less outgoing. She was often told she was too much. Couldn’t you just make yourself smaller to make us all feel more comfortable? You can imagine how difficult it would be to resist this type of negative pressure. The desire to belong is strong in all of us and changing who we are to achieve this can be a tempting path.
There is a critical moment during Amanda’s journey, similar to the storm before the rainbow. With heaviness swirling all around, she had to choose between fitting in and being fully herself. Although we know in which direction she moved, it does not diminish the import of that decision. There was a tiny space between resignation and perseverance, almost imperceptible. In that indistinguishable pause, Amanda felt the light within. She heard the song in her heart and so took one step forward. She had a choice and she chose to follow the light of her own making.
And so Amanda leaves us with one more truth. Consider the negative comments that people share with you. What if those characteristics are not your weaknesses but, rather, your greatest strengths? What if you are meant to shine in exactly those ways? In that moment when you are facing doubt and exhaustion, pause and look for Amanda. She will not only show you the path, she will walk it with you.
Amanda Machon is indeed sunshine. Intense, generous, and compassionate, her warmth awakens the joyful potential within every person she encounters. I smile back at her across the coffee shop table and feel the corners of my heart crease into a smile. Shine on, my friend.
Learn More!
Amanda Machon
Red Light Cameras
Stream Absolutely Albuquerque on the Very Local app.
- Danielle Parker