Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Groom.
Hi Sharon, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Originally from Virginia. I am a singer/songwriter. I run “Wednesday Night Open Mic at the Universal Bar and Grill” every Wednesday and I also run a singer/songwriter showcase at the North End Hollywood called “Sunday Best”. Having run an open mic at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in the early 2000’s, I realized a few years ago, after working all kinds of different jobs to keep a roof over my head, that my strength is people and building community and as a singer/songwriter who has been in environments that were not as nurturing, I decided that I wanted to create an environment where people feel welcome, heard, valued and supported!
I started Wednesday Night Open Mic at the UBG a few months before the pandemic and of course, it got closed down just two months in, but I started it back up in mid-May as soon as we could get things rolling again. After a month or so, the manager at the North End Hollywood liked what I was doing and asked me if I would be interested in running a music event on Sunday afternoons, so I said YES and that is how “Sunday Best” was born!!! The universe brought this opportunity to me and I took it!! Our first show was July 11, 2021
I finished my debut record, “Two Blocks South of Normal”, right before the pandemic, which will be coming out in the next few months. I was out of the music scene for a bit, so this was a great way to get back out there and use my leadership skills to bring people together. I am also looking forward to playing shows out when my record releases!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not as smooth as I would like! LOL My struggles have been affording to live in this town and trying not to be afraid to do what I know deep down I can do. I grew up in Virginia, very sheltered and I guess you could call me a late bloomer! As a person with a passion for music, I was raised to go to college and get a “stable job” and it’s taken me a long time to un-program myself from that mindset and not to be afraid to do the things that I love. I just quit my job as a Cannabis Consultant, which I loved doing, to focus on Open Mic and “Sunday Best” because I believe in what I am doing!! It’s scary not to have a steady paycheck right now!! However, I am taking that leap of faith with the help of my partner, Bill Buffa @brightblueaudio (live and studio recording), who runs the sound for all of these events and my friend, Connor James Hanlon @connorjameshanlon, who helps me with Sunday Best and curates the “Sunday Best Hollywood” Spotify Artist Playlist, which features all of the artists that have played the “Sunday Best” stage.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a very eclectic singer/songwriter. I am SUPER proud of my record, “Two Blocks South of Normal”, that will be coming out in a few months! A lot of love and hard work went into it!! I had some really amazing musicians, string arrangements, a horn section, and even an accordion on this record. I can’t wait for you all to hear it!! You can find two of the songs that I released before the pandemic that are going to be on the record on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc. “Any Time Any Minute”, which addresses domestic abuse and the other song is called “Soldier Boy”, which I wrote for Veterans Awareness and released on Veterans Day 2020. It is an Anthem. We had a ten piece orchestra and I think it was a total of 168 tracks if I remember correctly! LOL The recording totally exceeded my expectations! My producer, Joshua Seth Eagan, did an amazing job. This record definitely took some time. Grandiose ideas are expensive!!!
People know me as a singer/songwriter and having a really great ear for melodies, harmonies, hooks and lyrics. I’ve written hundreds of songs that still need to be recorded!!! People don’t really know how to classify my music, but they like it and that, I think, is one of the things that sets me apart from others. I don’t have a genre and I am OK with that!! I would say I am a fusion of all types of music. Folk, jazz, blues, rock, pop, etc. with a southern flair!! I even have some electronic music that I am working on.
I have an appreciation for all types of music and I think that is why I enjoy hosting “Wednesday Night Open Mic at the UBG” and Hosting the “Sunday Best” showcase on Sundays. Everyone has a different point of view when it comes to music and I LOVE it!!! Such a variety!! A little bit of everything…
Both of these events that I run weekly are building a wonderfully talented and supportive music community!!! I am seeing people form friendships and getting together and collaborating and also going to each other’s shows!! Everyone is lifting one another up instead of being competitive and tearing each other down, which I have seen happen in this town.
I have been getting a lot of great feedback from artists that come to Open Mic and “Sunday Best” every week and they tell me that they feel welcome, accepted and that they feel at home and that they are coming back!!! That means so much to me!!! I am pretty omni. I get along with most everyone I meet. People always tell me they feel comfortable around me. I love people!!!!
I think it is important for people to feel accepted. Isn’t that what all of us want to some extent? No judgment, just love. To feel comfortable and at home somewhere, so that you can build your confidence and grow, is so important!! My goal is to create a collective of amazing and supportive artists that help each other grow and meet their best potential! We have fun! Seriously, having been to a lot of open mics…I have never seen so much talent all at once in one room! Running the “Sunday Best” showcase allows me to offer a stage to these amazing artists. Some people have never played a show before, some are just getting back to it after a long while or are new in town!!! I love giving all of them an opportunity to showcase their talent!! I am seeing these amazing artists evolve quickly!!! It inspires me!!!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Love. I truly love people! I can only be my true and authentic self when I am around others. When I meet people, it is really important to me to make them feel welcome and at home and to feel safe to be themselves. I also believe in encouraging people that are working on something that they are passionate about because not everyone has a positive and encouraging support system in their lives. I like to include everyone! As long as they are respectful and kind to others, they are always welcome! A lot of times, people just think that I am just a host and then when I get up in the middle of open mic, like everyone else, and they realize that I am just like them, an artist with the same hopes and dreams to do music full time. However, I also have a calling and a duty with my gift of community and that is to give back to the community and to give people a platform to be heard, just like I was given when I first started out.
Pricing:
- Wednesday Night Open Mic at the UBG – $5/person to sign-up
- “Sunday Best” Singer/Songwriter Showcase – $10 General Admission
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
- Website: www.sharongroom.com
- Instagram: @sharongroommusic, @sundaybesthollywood, @openmic.ubg, @brightblueaudio, @connorjameshanlon
- Facebook: @sharongroommusic, @sundaybesthollywood, @openmic.ubg
- Twitter: @sharongroom
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/sharongroommusic
- SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/sharon-groom
Image Credits:
Sharon Groom
