Artist Spotlight: Sammi Rae
Artist Spotlight: Sammi Rae
Sammi Rae live in Nashville, TN #ArtistSpotlight
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Recorded, Edited, Produced by Chaz Mazzota + Nashville Pop
Check out the interview below!
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An Interview With Sammi Rae
Tells us about the song you are performing for the Nashville Pop Artist Spotlight. What is it about?
“Renter’s Economy is a song I wrote driving home from BNA after a tough year. I got stuck behind the construction traffic at 5am and just started verbalizing everything that I felt like was a problem in my life. Naturally, that manifested in the form of a song. At it’s core, I suppose it’s a song about the struggle of finding yourself, deciding what you stand for, and what influences you’ll allow in your orbit. Being in my early 20s has been a tug of war between triumph and failure, and this song explores that feeling of not knowing what’s next and the desire to find out. Crying In The Sears Parking Lot can be summarized nicely by that meme of the dog surrounded by fire and it’s captioned “this is fine.” Seriously though, it’s about finding bits of joy wherever I could in the midst of life happening around me. I like to think the added touch of longing for better external circumstances comes across to the listener as well.”
What first got you into music? How did the journey begin?
“There was never a day that I decided I wanted to do music, I just always have. Every book, TV show, video game, clothing item, etc that I liked as a child was always music related. I was a big fan of music class at school and I loved nap time because the teachers would play classical music while the other kids slept. I started playing piano, guitar, and ukulele after my first concert which morphed into writing songs immediately. By middle school I was playing at coffee shops and I had a YouTube channel where I posted my originals. My friend group at the time was so supportive and to this day come to shows and talk about my first set of songs I shared with them. I credit them a lot with building up my confidence as a performer. High school was where I fell in love with recording. I volunteered at the local elementary school helping out the music teacher (shoutout Mr. Adams) and he gave me access to his studio set up in his office at the school. That led me to a college career in sound recording technology, not to mention freedom to put my songs out there in a professional way. I kept learning new instruments, went to so many concerts, took theory classes, put out my first couple of songs, and eventually made the jump to Nashville to be a musician full time. 4 years later, I’m still here with a few award nominations, a couple records, and hundreds of shows on the calendar. It was a natural path for me since all I ever wanted was to do music.”
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
“No matter the project I’m working on, I maintain that the music I write is always deeply personal. I don’t have a method to making music, so whatever I’m going through at the time typically spills violently onto the page. I’ve always been a lyrics first instrumental second person, and it shows in the way my records are structured around the lyrics. My songs tell the story of my life, kind of like a journal in a way. I’ve always admired artists who don’t shy away from the truth in songs no matter how unflattering or ugly or idealistic it might be, so I try to be as honest as possible when I write. In one word, I guess I would describe my music as honest.”
What does your music represent?
“Oh, I don’t know how answer this one without sounding cliché. I suppose my music represents life through an unreliable narrator’s lens.”
What is your creative process like?
“I have over 500 voice memos in my phone from random ideas that just pop into my head. Songwriting has always been a very natural process for me and once I sit down to write, songs usually come out like a run-on sentence that I edit to make more efficient. I use simple chords most of the time and I really invest in who I choose to produce records with because they influence so much of the sound. I come in with a million little ideas and the producers are the ones who sort through all of that and make the magic happen.”
If you were to open for any 3 artists, who would they be?
“Taylor Swift, Panic! At The Disco, The 1975”
What is the best advice you’ve been given so far in the music industry?
“No one has any clue how to “make it” anymore so you might as well make the art you’re passionate about and your audience will find you.”
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
“I think I would be raising babies. I’ve always said my two loves in life are music and children. Almost all of my part time jobs growing up revolved around caring for kids. Someday, when I’ve retired from my public music career and my own kids are grown, I would love to be a foster parent.”
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
“Having a healthy outlet is pretty cool, but there’s nothing like watching your song touch someone else’s life deeply in a healing way. I’m reminded of why being vulnerable in my creativity is so important every time I get a message from someone saying my song has helped them through a part of their life. It’s so special to have that connection with the folks who listen to my music.”
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives such as yourself?
“Pay us. No, actually. Music is so undervalued in today’s society. It takes thousands of dollars to make a record and then thousands of streams to make a single dollar back. Venues often ask if I’ll play for exposure instead of money. Some make you pay production fees, so you start every show at a loss. The best thing average people can do to support artists is to buy merch, buy tickets, buy the songs, buy any type of physical thing the artist is selling because the business side doesn’t pay. We all have bills and most people can’t live off of music. The more the fans support with their dollar, the more that artists can put that money back into the music. It’s appreciate more than you know. Also, just sharing the music is impactful (and completely free)”
Social Media
Nashville Pop: @nashvillepop.us
Sammi Rae: @sammieraemusic
Chaz Mazzota: @itschazmazzota
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