Interview: Savannah Conley
Nashville singer/songwriter Savannah Conley grew up outside of Nashville to musical parents and started writing and performing music from an early age. Although it took her a while to find her own relationship with music, one that wasn’t tied to her family or anything else, music has always played a significant role in her life. A confessional and introspective singer that spans different genres with her sound, she compares her songwriting to journaling, putting her feelings into her songs with the hope that others would find comfort in them too. With a quirky and edgy feel, her music utilizes different instruments such as the upright bass and ukulele. She was awarded the John Lennon Songwriting award at just nineteen years old, released her debut EP at twenty-one, and receive acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone and NPR, saying Conley's music resonates with listeners would be an understatement.
She released her first EP, 18th and Portland, the tracks of which caught the interest of several industry professionals. One such person was producer Dave Cobb, who signed her to his label Low Country Sound, an imprint of Elektra Records. She soon thereafter released her debut major-label EP Twenty-Twenty and has since released two other EPs-2020’s Surprise Surprise and 2022’s Best I Can. She has also toured as support for artists such as Anderson East, Samia, Jade Bird, Briston Maroney, and Brent Cobb and has opened for Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlisle, and Ben Folds. Today sees the release of her debut full-length album Playing The Part of You is Me, a stirring distillation of the pleasures and problems of growing up. With themes of love, doubt, grief, and hope, it aims to provide anthems for a new generation facing these feelings. She has released 3 singles ahead of the release-” More Than Fine”, “Don’t Make Me Reach”, and most recently, “I Love You”. Make sure to connect with Savannah Conley via the following links to receive all album news and tour dates! Photo Credit: Sophia Matinazad.
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You were born and raised outside of Nashville to musical parents and have been writing and performing from a young age and started recording at the age of 7. What can you tell me about your childhood and your journey into music?
Savannah: All of my earliest memories have to do with music. I don’t know a world where it isn’t the center of everything, to be honest. That being said, it took me a while to find my own relationship with it. One that wasn’t tied to my family or anything else.
You said that as a teen, you were not a fan of country music but loved British indie rock. What was it like to grow up in/around Nashville and not be a big fan of country music? What kinds of changes have you seen Nashville go through over the years, with regard to the ever-expanding genre of artists the city now houses?
Savannah: I have always been a fan of old, classic country. Even some from the ’90s. But, the country stuff that came after that was just not it for me. Honestly, though, there were so many genres around me all the time. I didn’t even really notice how genre-specific Nashville was until I was much older. By the time I was like ten-ish a lot of indie bands had started popping up all over and there was a thriving DIY scene.
You have talked about how having grown up with parents who were professional musicians, you found the need to find your own route to a passion for music and your own way to connect with music as an art form. What was that journey like for you and in what ways did it lead you to a rediscovery of the sheer joy of music?
Savannah: Writing has always been really special to me. That was something that was never exactly fun, but always necessary. Still is. I think when I started going to shows in basements as a teenager I was like oh… it can be like this?! People didn’t care at all what was right or what was wrong. It was amazing.
You went to Belmont University where you studied to be a teacher, while also juggling part-time jobs and music gigs with your coursework. What can you tell me about that time in your life and how your mother was the person who helped you to commit to pursuing your dream?
Savannah: That was a period of time where I was avoiding music altogether. Dumbest rebellion ever. It just felt too vulnerable. But, I had quietly playing shows again and was also working an insane amount at odd jobs. So, my mom called one day and said that I had to pick one, school or music and we both knew what it needed to be.
You have been described as a confessional and introspective singer-songwriter. Have you always been drawn to that style of songwriting, of tying your life experiences to songs? In what ways has music helped you to navigate and endure the highs and lows, the hardships and joys, of life?
Savannah: Yeah, a lot of the time I wish I could write more creatively like about someone else. Maybe someday, but right now it’s pretty much in lieu of journaling.
What can you tell me about the early years of your music career and were there any especially important lessons you learned that you have carried with you over the years?
Savannah: It was a pretty wild start. I signed a major deal when I was 20 and started touring really heavily. The deal came about six months or so after I had decided to quit college, so the transition was crazy. I definitely learned what to take seriously and what to not. Also that sometimes it’s not being a bitch to stick up for yourself or your ideas.
How would you see your evolution, both personally and as an artist, since starting your music career?
Savannah: I slowly got more comfortable committing to my decisions and sticking with what I know to be true about myself and my core.
Since the release of your 2021 EP, Surprise Surprise, you have said you have shifted your perspective with regard to making music. What can you tell me about your experience of being a woman in the music industry and operating from a place of being scared of being deemed "hard to work with" if you were too vocal about direction and decisions? What was the catalyst that made you decide to take off the kid gloves and become more involved in advocating for yourself?
Savannah: I mean I think I just don’t care what people think anymore. I have to trust that I am a caring person when it comes to the big picture/life stuff. I really value having fun, so I like to create a work environment that is fun while still sticking up for who I am. It’s hard but worth it.
You will be releasing your debut full-length album Playing The Part of You Is Me on May 12th. What can you tell me about the album's title, as well as the writing and recording process for the album? Having talked about how each of your releases is a reintroduction of sorts of where you are in your life at that time and where you are headed, in what ways does the new album reflect where you are in your life now? What would you say the theme of the album is?
Savannah: The title is kind of open to interpretation. Make it mean what you want. As far as the recording process and presentation, it was all extremely intimidating and rewarding. Still is. It’s strange to put a diary on display.
Last month you released the first single from your album, "More Than Fine". How would you describe the message of the song and what made you decide to make this the first single? What inspired the idea for the music video, which was filmed in a French chateau?
Savannah: The whole song is based around posturing. Fake it til you make it baby. As far as the visuals go, there is something very darkly romantic to me about the record as it is fleshed out. What is more romantic than a French chateau?
You just released the second single from the album, "Don't Make Me Reach", and have said it is the song you are most proud of and excited about off the record. What can you tell me about the song and what makes it the most exciting for you, as well as the accompanying music video that was shot on a beach in France?
Savannah: It was the rawest writing moment I had had in a long time. The whole song came out in about ten minutes, and it’s always a surprise to me when that happens. There was just something about that one that felt very pure to me. The video is 100% mine and the director Jacqueline’s Coldplay ‘Yellow’ moment.
Along with your upcoming album release, what's next for you?
Savannah: Touring, summer activities, walking my dog, writing, watching vampire diaries, etc, etc.