Meet Aubrey Lynn Hendricks

We recently connected with Aubrey Lynn Hendricks and have shared our conversation below.

Aubrey Lynn, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my parents. I’ve seen them both walk through struggles that seemed impossible to endure. They always kept going, kept trying, and never gave up. They raised me and my siblings to strive for excellence in anything we ever attempted to do. They raised us to be independent, self sufficient, and tough… that being said, I’m sure my Mama would tell you that stubbornness has a lot to do with my resilience, too.

I have always had a love/hate relationship with my strange method of learning things the hard way. I hate the amount of failures it can sometimes take to achieve success, but (as I have gotten older) I have learned to embrace the lessons and experience gained from my mistakes. I always approach a challenge in my life with this thought in my mind: “I will find a way, or make one.” I think that’s why I absolutely knew that I could make it through Marine Corps boot camp. I’m sure there were some people that doubted I could actually become a Marine when I enlisted, but the deep rooted, unwavering grit that has carried me through all of the trials and tribulations of my life kept my will strong. All I had to do was keep my head down and keep going. I trained in Parris Island, South Carolina through Christmas, New Year’s, and my 21st birthday. It was NOT easy for me, but there was no way in hell I was going to come home without claiming the title of “United States Marine.” Those thirteen weeks challenged me mentally, physically, and emotionally more than I had ever been challenged in my adolescent life.

A few years after becoming a Marine, after travelling the world and serving in Okinawa, Japan and also in South Korea, I got orders to rotate back to the United States. The last duty station on my contract was Camp Pendleton. I came home on leave for about a month before driving my brand new truck from Texas to California. (Dad wanted me to have a reliable vehicle since I would be on my own that far away from home.) I didn’t know at the time that buying a truck and taking a Westward road trip with him and Mama would be the last thing we got to do together. Three months later, my Daddy passed away.

The strength I witnessed then (and still witness to this day) in my mother to continue living her life without him has been the most important lesson of my life. I have to keep going like she has. When I became a mother myself, I asked her how she could get anything done with the babies in tow… her reply: “You just do it.” So, when I face tough times, I think about her and her wise words. That’s where I get my resilience from. My mother, my father, the Marine Corps… they’ve all instilled resilience in me by showing me how to get back up when I fall and teaching me to never give up, no matter what.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m an Original Texas Recording Artist & Entertainer based in Blue Ridge, Texas. I was named Entertainer of the Year in 2014 by the Academy of Texas Music, 2013 New Female Vocalist of the Year by Texas Regional Radio, and the 2017 / 2014 / & 2013 Female Vocalist of the Year by BigStar97 Music Awards. I was also a featured vocalist on my first #1 single “Whiskey & You” with the concept collaborative Chapter 11.

My current project (multi-disc, by style/genre) “Chameleon” is being recorded with Award Winning Producer Dustin Hendricks at WarRoom Recording Studios in Blue Ridge, Texas. This body of work has produced 1 Top 20 and 2 Top 40 singles from the 1st EP (Dressed in White). Another EP in the series, “My Face Turns Red” produced a Top 30 single with the song, “A Pillow, A Blanket, & You.”

“Chameleon: Dressed in White” (Country) was released in May 2014. “Chameleon: Black Hole” (Rock Concept) was released in Sept 2017. “Chameleon: My Face Turns Red,” (Love Songs) was released in 2020. In June 2023, I released the 4th disc of this project, “Chameleon: Hendricks Purple.” This highly anticipated album is comprised of original country songs written by myself and my husband, Dustin Hendricks. It also includes a cover of the infamous Dolly Parton song, “I Will Always Love You.” My current album release has already produced 2 Top 100 singles with the songs “Layin’ Down Low” & “If I Had A Dollar.” It has also received a Top 5 Finalist nomination for Music Video of the Year at the Texas Country Music Association Industry Awards with the video for “If I Had A Dollar.” My current radio single “It Don’t Make No Mind” is making waves and the official music video was released in early February 2025.

This ambitious, multi-disc project will also include a 5th and 6th disc of my original singer-songwriter songs (“Chameleon: GreenRoom”) as well as an album of blues songs (“Chameleon: Into The Blue”).

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities, skills and/or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are:
1. creativity/songwriting ability
2. critical thinking
3. knowledge of industry practices.

Being able to generate new and original ideas is a key quality of a singer/songwriter, as well as being able to improve your songwriting through receiving constructive criticism and evaluating your own work. Learning how to network (with other musicians, booking agents, producers, etc.) while also promoting and marketing your music are important areas of knowledge that are necessary to put you on a path to achieve your goals.

My advice to anyone that may be early in their journey of music would be to hone in on their craft. Practice, practice, practice…and never stop growing and evolving in your creativity. Be open to opinions and suggestions from outside perspectives, and learn the best ways for you to personally navigate the music industry.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

My passion for music comes from my father. He introduced me to an eclectic world of singing, songwriting, and performing at an early age. He coached me on how to be a showman & entertainer by watching him and how he carried himself on stage. He also encouraged me take risks vocally and motivated me to learn to play instruments to accompany myself and my writing. When I lost him in my 20’s, I was on a lonely road of figuring out what my talents and skills are and how to develop them. Then I met my husband…

Dustin has been most helpful in helping me find my sound. He taught me how to control my vocal dynamics and pushes me through challenging moments in songwriting. I’ve learned so much about composition, arrangements, chord progressions, guitar playing, and audio recording from him. He is my record producer, my band mate and my very best friend. He is an incredible creative partner that I love making music with and I am so grateful to be on this journey by his side.

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