Lacey Sturm has put the hidden, broken parts of her past out in the open for all eyes to see in “The Mystery: Finding True Love in a World of Broken Lovers”, released October 4th via Baker Books. In this deeply personal memoir, Lacey walks readers through the struggles she faced as a child growing up without a father. She also talks about some of the traumatic experiences she encountered as a teenager and young adult, which led her down a suicidal path. Lacey offers readers deep, honest insights about her spiritual and emotional battles and explains how she found the “Mystery” of life to be her light at the end of the tunnel.
It was a special treat for me to talk with Lacey about why she wrote “The Mystery” and hear about how she manages such a busy lifestyle as a mom/wife/rockstar/speaker/author. I also got to chat with her about the significance of her tattoos, as well as her husband’s.
What inspired you to write The Mystery?
I remember I was standing in front of my computer and had seen something on the Internet that just triggered everything that I had gone through and how I barely missed surviving it. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of panic (which I describe in the book), like when a Mack Truck goes by and you almost get in a wreck and that feeling in your heart like you just barely survived. In that moment, I was looking at my son and my husband and my life – right then I fell on the floor and cried and just started talking to God. I said: God, if you can use this story and help someone not go through this or help them to heal from this, please do it. You can use it. Let me be brave and be able to say what You have done and You can use it.
It was just this one moment of conviction… I knew it was important. The same moments have happened with my music and going on tour. There’s just that moment where you know the truth and then all the shakiness and nervousness that comes after… well, you have that moment to hang on to.
You’re a busy gal. You have a family – you wrote a book in 2014, released your album last year, you’re involved with The Whosoevers, the RESET/PULSE Movement – you’re doing more work than five people combined. With all you have going on right now, how did you find the time to write this book?
When I look back and realize all the things that we’ve done, it doesn’t feel anything like it was crazy or busy. I felt like there were so many times we just stopped doing things. But then things would just happen. I’m just open-handedly saying yes to life but I’m doing it in a way that if I honor my priorities, the overflow of creativity just comes. If I turn my heart towards the business side of things, I have no more reservoir and I immediately start to strive and get crazy and I’m like… what am I doing?! I just have to turn my heart back to the simplicity of realizing that I’m a wife first and I’m a mom next – then out of that I have inspiration, creativity, and can have something to share. It’s all been pretty miraculous.
There is a bunch of cool artwork throughout the pages of The Mystery – who’s the artist?
Her name is Sherri DuPree. She’s a singer for Eisley, an Indie band from Dallas. She was in a band with her brothers and sisters when she was like 8 years old. They would open for us in Dallas and they became this cool indie band. She’s an amazing artist. Actually, the girl who did the artwork in “The Reason” was inspired by Sherri to do art in the first place.
I wouldn’t doubt that some of your fans will get a tattoo of one of those illustrations.
Yeah! I would like one. I’m thinking about which one I should get.
Let’s talk about your tattoos… In your book, you talked about the Beulah tattoo and described that experience almost like a wedding celebration…you threw a party and wore a white dress when you got it. Can you describe why this tattoo was such a big deal for you?
I had just come out of such a train wreck in my heart. As far as my romantic life, I was like, I am just taking my hands off of this, I’m not going to pursue romance in my life. Instead, I’m going to pursue life itself. My relationship with God was the most important thing and I wanted to surrender that completely. It was kind of like a non-Catholic nunnery thing… a moment of commitment – a day of commitment. I needed to learn and remember forever that my first allegiance and covenant forever is with God. That’s what Beulah means, it means “married”. So when I wore a white dress, it was sort of like walking down the aisle.
We noticed that you have a new tattoo on your right arm – a color tattoo – we haven’t seen any color tattoos on you ‘til this one. When did you get this? and why color?
I got it about six months ago. I love color. I’m weirdly changing my preferences about many things lately. I’ve been such a “always wear black” kind of girl. I never liked glitter or sparkles or any of that and all of a sudden I love glitter and sparkles! I’m obsessed with colors now and how they go together. I never liked flowers either, but now all of a sudden I’m always buying myself flowers [laughs]. I’m picking flowers everywhere I go! It’s so different. I guess this stems from something more philosophical. Like when we look at the birds – that whole thing (in the Bible) about seeing how they don’t strive or struggle – God feeds them. And how He clothes the flowers better than Solomon and all his splendor… for me, this is part of learning the culture of heaven – the culture of faith and joy and life to the full is actually beyond necessity.
What do you mean when you say “beyond necessity”?
I went to Rwanda after the genocide. I saw the kids only had one outfit to wear and they have no mothers and fathers – there are so many orphans there. Yet, they dance and play games and sing – and they find ways to give you gifts. Music and art are beyond necessity – laughter and dancing too. When you look at those kids, they are so full of joy and life and thankfulness. They find ways to have joy in the middle of having nothing. I think that flowers are like that. They aren’t necessary but they are beautiful. Beauty reminds us that there is life beyond what is necessary and that life is romancing you… hence the name of the album: Life Screams.
In ‘The Mystery’, you talk about meeting Josh for the first time and a tattoo of his that caught your eye. Can you tell us about that?
It’s a tattoo on his forearm and it’s inspired from old Catholic paintings. It’s the symbolism of the Pelican. In the tradition, the story goes that in a time of famine, the mother pelican will use her beak to open her stomach and let the babies eat her flesh and drink her blood – she dies and they live – this symbolizes Christ.
You talk about the significance of rainbows a lot in The Mystery – what does this symbol mean to you and would you ever get a rainbow tattoo?
Yeah, sure! To me it means that the old is gone and the new has come and that God’s not angry – He loves us and He’s going to fulfill his promises.
Will you be supportive if your sons want to get tattoos someday?
Well, let me just tell you, my husband has a story of his very first tattoo. When he was 12 years old, his mom went away for a weekend and his dad was like “let’s have a guy’s weekend” and asked Josh, “do you want to get a tattoo?”. So, Josh got this tattoo on his calf. His mom didn’t find out for two weeks! Afterwards, his dad was like “why did we do that??”. Of course, Josh couldn’t get it done in a studio because he was only 12, so they went into this guy’s trailer… this shady guy just doing tattoos out of his trailer. It looks ridiculous [laughs].
Did Josh get it covered up?
No! He loves it! It’s a symbol of him and his Dad’s guy weekend. So he says that when our sons turn 12, one day I’ll be away and they’ll have a “guys” weekend [laughs].
How would you feel about that?
I think they should wait until they’re old enough to think ‘I’m not going to regret this’. If they sneak away for a weekend – well, what can I do? [laughs] I’ll be fine with it.
What’s the story with your new company, Tattoo Alternative?
Tattoo Alternative is a merchandise line. I’ve done few interviews with people that I respect and love in the music industry as well as other influencers outside of music who have tattoos that are really meaningful to them. I interview them and I take the meaning of their tattoo and point out why I think it is beautiful and soul growing – from there, we create a merchandise piece based off of that tattoo. I am planning on writing songs to go along with each piece.
Any last thoughts or things you want to share?
My website is LaceySturm.com – go there to find out what’s happening with Tattoo Alternative, Music, Tour, and everything else!
Get your copy of “The Mystery: Finding True Love in a World of Broken Lovers” today at:
For more information on The Whosoevers and the RESET/PULSE Movement, visit the websites below:
