Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Bantug.
Hi Amanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
There’s kind of a fun mixture of how I came into music. My dad played guitar in a local rock band in the 80s when he was living in New York and his side of the family is very musical, so it’s definitely in my blood. I also was obsessed with That Thing You Do and School of Rock growing up (and currently) and I think that’s what inspired me to get into playing instruments.
In middle school, I started exploring GarageBand. I had those old computer microphones, you know the one with the aux cord and it kind of looks like a headset? I would just record my guitar and vocals into that until my mom bought me an actual usb condenser mic. The rest is history though, I’ve been writing and producing music since then.
After one year at Georgia State, I dropped out and moved to Nashville for music. I lived there for 10 years and I think I made a pretty decent name for myself within the local scene. As much as I was asked to open for bands and be a part of some festivals in town, I just didn’t feel as championed as my cohorts and I was outgrowing the city. I love Nashville, though – no bad blood!
In 2020, I got laid off from my woodworking job and fortunately was able to collect unemployment, so I started treating music like my full-time job and have seen so much growth in my work since that. Late 2020, I started traveling to LA and NYC a bunch to start working with friends and artists. I did that pretty heavily for two years and then I made the decision to move to LA in July 2022.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nooooooooo. Haha, well yes and no. Nashville was really interesting because I was still growing up and music wasn’t really my main focus. So it felt like the ten years I was there, I maybe only was “serious” about it for 6 of those years, and even then, I had to work a full-time job and couldn’t give it the time I wanted. I definitely felt myself being jealous of some of my friends getting ahead with their music careers and I thought that my work was just as deserving to be heard, but I couldn’t get past certain points. But the time I could give to it, I came upon really cool opportunities and some recognition in town and I will always be grateful for that.
And then I turned 27 and that’s when shit gets for real. I don’t know if it’s your brain finally being fully developed or the experiences you accumulate by that age, maybe a combo of both, but that’s when I chose to really be accountable for myself. I was realizing that I needed to be a lot more responsible for myself and the desires I had and it takes so much discipline, honesty, and practice. I reached deeper levels of emotions I haven’t before and not to be cliche, but if it weren’t for music, I don’t know where else I would turn to for expression.
Now I’m turning 30 in a couple of months and all the struggles I’ve faced has helped me look at things much differently, and the goals that I have had are finally being met. I’m really proud of where I’m at and so excited for where things are going.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Honestly, I just love to play. Outside of my solo project, I’m a producer, and to me that means we have a natural gift for play. I have a willingness to say “I have no idea what’s going to happen but let’s explore” and I think with that kind of openness, something good is going to find its way to you.
I think what sets me apart from others is awareness. I had to go through terrible sessions growing up when I had to hire producers and learn that that is not the experience I want to have and I don’t want other people to go through that. So I learned it for myself and I am constantly aware of my own needs during my process, so I can imagine that my needs are similar to other artists when I’m working with them.
I also put in so much time to make clear intentions for my studio/space so that people can tap into their magic when we work together. Whenever I am working with an artist, I’m obviously there to serve them, and most importantly the song, but if the surroundings aren’t right, it’s going to be difficult to tap into it.
The thing I’m most proud of is Sheryl Crow tweeting about me in 2019 :p She heard me on local radio and gave me a shoutout and I thought, damn if a living legend like that likes my music, I think a whole lot of people are going to like what I do.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think this answer will continually change, but currently, it’s making music as much as I can. I think there’s such a practice of showing up every day (or when I can) to see what comes up. I think you can develop a non-attachment to your work when you just keep trying every day because creativity is endless. Well along with that, almost all of my mornings are tending to myself, doing my best to be healthy and connected.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bantug.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babybantug/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bantugmusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/bantug
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bantug
Image Credits
Aya Cruz
