It's a busy time for Clovis-based singer/songwriter Heather Layne.

Her first national single, "Close Your Eyes," has been sent to country radio stations across the country. She's about to embark on a promotional tour in a handful of states. And she's aligned herself with Nashville-based Applause Records.

If you want to see Layne before she hits the road, she performs tonight at Courthouse Park in Madera as part of a Celebrate Recovery event hosted by Grace Community Church. Her free show is at 8 p.m.

Much of Layne's music is influenced by the 12-step recovery process. We asked her about that and more:

Describe your style of music and your influences? Country/Americana/adult contemporary. It's Christ-centered, 12-step recovery music. My early musical influences came from '70s to early '80s country and soft rock. Specific artists were Linda Ronstadt, Tanya Tucker, Alabama, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, John Cougar Mellencamp and Don Williams.

How did you get started in music? My life hit bottom about 10 years ago. I wasn't an addict or an alcoholic, but I had A LOT of issues I needed to deal with. I joined a 12-step recovery group, started working the steps, and songs just started coming because of the pain I was in. Playing my guitar and songwriting became my therapy and my connection with God.

Your song, "Close Your Eyes," recently got sent to country radio stations nationally. How's it going so far? Getting some spins? Yes! I am getting spins around the nation and overseas, so I am told by the radio promotion team that is representing me. It is still too early to know if the song has landed on the charts. The song has been promoted to more than 18,000 contacts in the music and radio world in the past week.

The next step is a radio promotion tour. Where is that taking you? My husband, who is my drummer and road manager, and I will be leaving for a three-week radio tour of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. We have 10 concerts booked on the tour as well as some interviews with radio stations along the way, which are being booked by my radio promoter.

What are you hoping comes from all of this? Because these songs come from a place of my own pain and brokenness, I have seen how the music has affected people in 12-step recovery, and people who are simply "struggling" with life. My hope from all of this is that more people will hear the music, and that the music would somehow comfort them and help them know they're not alone.

Where can people buy your music? My music is available on iTunes, amazon.com, cdbaby.com, my website, heatherlayne.com, and Majesty Bible and Gifts Bookstore in Fresno.

For more: Go to heatherlayne,com, myspace.com/heatherlaynemusic and on Facebook (search "Heather Layne").

Know a local musician more people should be familiar with? Send details to Mike Osegueda, mosegueda@fresnobee.com.