- Story by David Wylie Photography by Darren Hull

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Imagine walking down the aisle to your very own personal song.

Kelowna born and raised songwriter Sandy Zeleznik wants to create a unique memory capturing a major milestone: your wedding.

鈥淢arriage is an amazing thing. It鈥檚 a happy time, a life-changing event,鈥� she says. 鈥淵our own song is a keepsake for life, just like pictures, just like video. I put my heart and soul into it.鈥�

Sandy has written hundreds of songs, and has been honing her craft for years.

The first wedding song she wrote was for her niece. Personalized songs became a thoughtful wedding gift she gave to those near and dear.

Sandy knew she had found a unique niche in the competitive music industry 鈥� adapting couples鈥� vows and how they met into professional demos that rival radio songs.

鈥淎fter I wrote my first wedding song, it brought joy to me and a sense of passion; it was such a wonderful feeling,鈥� she says. 鈥淪ome things just seem to come into trend. A good friend sang me down the aisle when I got married. I never thought to have a personal wedding song back then.鈥�

Sandy says she writes music as therapy and, along with weddings, has also written songs for funerals. One was even picked up by MADD Canada for a candlelight vigil.

鈥淚t鈥檚 funerals or weddings. I choose weddings,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 like to make people cry, I guess: tears of joy or sad tears. I鈥檓 an emotional writer.鈥�

She鈥檚 also versatile and enjoys crafting funny songs

as well.

鈥淣ot all wedding songs have to be slow and emotional; there can be some great humorous songs for the reception,鈥� she says.

Chasing her childhood dream of writing songs has been a long time coming.

Sandy married and had kids, raising them and helping her husband, James, run Jazel Homes in the Okanagan. But music never went away. With her kids grown, she now has more time.

鈥淚t was always in the back of my mind,鈥� Sandy says. 鈥淵ou hear about people who are artists and they get a little bit more time when they鈥檙e older and they can pursue it. The dream can come true. I can take my song-writing to the next level and I can put everything I have into it. When you love something, it鈥檚 not work.鈥�

Sandy specializes in pop and country songs. She now writes every day in some way, whether it鈥檚 at the piano, with a pen and paper or in her head when inspiration strikes while she鈥檚 living life.

Recently, Sandy recalls, the house she grew up in was torn down to build townhouses, and she was there to watch the demolition.

鈥淲hen that house came down, you would not believe the memories that came back. It鈥檚 like when someone dies,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ot a lot of people see their house that they鈥檝e grown up in torn down.鈥�

She adds: 鈥淥ne such memory was when I started singing at five years old. I sold tickets to all the neighbours for five cents. They all came to see me. I had a little tape recorder and I was standing on these round grey concrete stairs. I had a skipping rope for my microphone and I sang to the Partridge Family,鈥� she says.

鈥淪hortly after witnessing the house being demolished I wrote a song to that memory.鈥�

The hard work has been paying off. Sandy has been making gains in the music industry. She鈥檚 had songs picked up by indie artists, met with publishers, and has co-written with writers from Nashville, Vancouver and Kelowna.

鈥淵ou have to have a lot of patience,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here is magic in song-writing, like anything artistic. Some people get to pursue their dream when they鈥檙e young. I had to wait until I was a little older. There is a time for everything 鈥� whether you鈥檙e young or old. You can pursue your dream at any age. It鈥檚 a tough gig, but I鈥檓 in it for the long run. I want to make someone a wonderful song.鈥�

Her personalized wedding songs have been well received, with people saying they rival some of the songs currently on the radio.

鈥淚 was very humbled by that,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t just brings so much joy to people.鈥�

She says the songs are perfect to accompany the bride down the aisle, a first dance and as a wedding video soundtrack. To use a song on a video that鈥檚 posted to the internet costs a copyright fee that can be exorbitant 鈥� depending on the song.

Some of the songs are recorded by professional studios in Nashville, where she hires world-class musicians and singers. She says she likes to be in the studio when her songs are being recorded so she can make sure her personal flair is reflected in the final recording.

Others songs she records herself. She plays on her grandma鈥檚 old piano, on which she learned to play. She also has a newer piano and two keyboards.

One of her highlights was writing a song for her son鈥檚 wedding: 鈥淚t was an honour to do their song; I had a few tears writing that one,鈥� she says.

Sandy and James just celebrated 30 years of marriage.

鈥淚 haven鈥檛 done one for us yet because I鈥檝e been too busy,鈥� she laughs.

She is now working on an album of personal stories.

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