Sugar and spice and everything nice. snips and snails and puppy dog tails, these are the things that come to mind when ten year old singer, Haley Marie Barthel, tells her story.

“According to my mom, I have been singing forever, like before I was even talking! She told me when I was about 18 months old we were at a wedding reception. My mom was in the wedding party, so I was hanging out with my grandma. When the band started playing, I pushed my way onstage and tried to take the microphone from the lead singer. I finally gave up and just danced with the band. I don't remember this, but my mom has pictures!! I guess that's when my parents knew I wanted to be onstage!”

“I have a mom and dad; they are cool and a not so cool little brother. He is as crazy about football as I am about singing, so we don't have much interest in each other! My parents both work doctors, so I have a nanny; I wish they stayed home but, oh well.”

”I play guitar. When I was five, I got my first guitar, but it was from a toy store, so it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. I couldn't tune or play it so I gave it to my brother who destroyed within a week!! Next, I got a totally cool purple Daisy Rock guitar when I was 7. I started taking lessons and I realized it hurts your fingers to actually play! I am left-handed, but play the guitar right handed. My parents finally figured out I was really into guitar so they gave me a Les Paul electric guitar for Christmas this year. It totally ROCKS!! I haven't had piano lessons, but apparently I can play about anything on the piano by playing the notes until it sounds right. My mom says lots of people have told her I have perfect pitch. I guess that’s so?”

“When I was six years old I tried out for the Seattle Girls Choir. I was supposed to be in a little kid group but they moved me up a level. I was in Seattle Girls Choir for three years.. I moved on from there because I didn't like blending my voice and usually sang too loud. I learned how to read music, although not sure I remember everything. I also learned I don't like choir music that well. Right now, I am looking for a vocal coach who sings pop music. The first one we tried was an opera singer that was not for me! I am in my school's musical and have practices twice a week. It is an all girls school so I am playing the part of a boy.”

“I also love to swim and ski. I get up early Tuesday and Thursday mornings and swim before school! I swim year round including the summers. When I am swimming for fun I can stay in the pool for hours, too bad I'm not a mermaid. I get up early every Saturday to go to the mountain to practice running gates, for those of you who don't know what gates are, it is what you ski around when you ski race!! I'm not a fan of ball sports, although I tried basketball this year. Kind of confusing if you have never played before!! When I am out riding on my scooter, I make up songs in my head, maybe I should actually remember them and write them down, I think they are good.”

“I went to iPop! In LA 2008, which really started things. I lost my voice from screaming too much, but, luckily, some people heard me sing before I ruined my voice. I then got connected with Jason Davis in New York who hooked me up with Anthony Krizan (songwriter and producer.) We talked on the phone and once he got to know me, he wrote three songs for me. Anthony thought it would take two days per song, but I learned them and recorded each song in less than a day. They called me lightening quick! It was totally fun. I wish it took longer. I guess now I am waiting to see if people like the songs.”

“I sing all of the time.. I sing in the bathroom, in the car, pretty much anywhere. It drives my brother crazy!!”

Haley Marie is currently working on more material and says excitedly, “I think music is fun! I need music to relax myself. When I am happy or excited, I usually listen to music and sing as loud as I can with the music. Music is a part of me; it is just inside me. It is as important as food and water. I am ready for anything!!”