Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Lucas.
Susan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Developing and diving into my artistry began in my childhood, where all great dreams are born. Growing up, I was constantly singing at the top of my lungs around my house in the suburbs of Camarillo and making up songs and stories.
Creativity was highly encouraged in my home as my dad loved to write music and my older sister could play the piano, which left me as the singer. If you fast forward to my teenage years, I began to teach myself to play piano and started writing songs almost every day after school of my junior and senior high school years. Although, while my interest in writing and singing were starting to develop my home life was falling apart.
In my junior year of high school, my mom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and suddenly every reality I knew was turned upside down. During her illness and right after her passing I realized that the power of a song can heal your heart as well as the hearts of others. Music became my outlet of honest communication with myself and on the larger level with the world.
So, at 19 years old I decided to drop out of college and move Los Angeles with only my determination to succeed, lyrics, and dreams… and the $20 travel size keyboard a neighbor had sold me. Initially, the city proved to be a difficult challenge but my passion of being an artist only grew. So between the long hours of multiple days jobs, spending as much time as possible in the music studio and learning from some amazing mentors I met along the way I began to truly develop my defining sound as an artist.
In 2017, I decided to teach myself guitar (as traveling with a piano was a challenge) which further developed my sound and songwriting. After one month of having my baby Taylor, I began playing every coffee shop that would let me in and slowly found my way to bigger venues in LA such as The Mint, Space1520 with Urban Outfitters and The Study LA. Fast forward about another eight months later in the summer of 2018, and I met some amazing key producers (Marc Solomon, Matty Margallo and Shaun Day) who quickly elevated my base sound to help make my visions fully come to life.
This past January of 2019 I released my first single DETAILS across all streaming platforms, a record that centers around a personal revival of youth and falling in love with life again. My next single is set to drop in April and I cannot wait to keep sharing my stories while continuing to perform all around the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County area. This is just the beginning of my music career and I couldn’t be more grateful and excited.
Thematically, my music tends to focus on vulnerability and the relationship to oneself and others whether it be about love or heartbreak or a conversation you wished you had but maybe missed. Losing my mom was the hardest lesson to receive especially at 17. Her passing taught me that we aren’t in charge of how much time we have but that we are however held responsible for making our time count while we are here.
Being an artist is about committing my life to creating music and telling stories that last longer than I do in hopes that my music connects people. I hope that my songs inspire you to fall in love again, to have more vulnerable conversations and allow growth through healing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Staying true to my artistry has had many challenges. I’ve had to confront the voice in my head that says I’m not enough many times and replace it with a growth mindset that nurtures my process. Living in LA, I have had five jobs at once just to make rent and bills, but I feel like that is the hustle for many creatives.
Overall, the challenge is to not talk yourself out of your own dreams no matter how difficult a phase of life might seem. My personal belief is to stay stubborn and focused on creative pursuits because this work is greater than my fears of failing or of not being “good” enough.
A wise mentor once said, “do all the work, trust it and then when it comes time to share your work with the world drink a cup of f**** it and go. It is our jobs as artists to feel for the rest of the world, grant yourself the permission to tell stories that the world needs to hear.” I have always found that incredibly powerful and it helps me keep perspective in my process.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am an Indie Soul Singer Songwriter based in Los Angeles. My music is recognized for it’s sultry and soulful tones that highlight emotional vulnerability.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Releasing my first single that I wrote and then produced with The Sonic Writers and producing my first Vevo music video with the guidance of Theo Hyppolite helped me realize that I am capable of releasing music without a label.
It set the tone for being a businesswoman in my industry and established an empowering independence to continue to invest in my vision the way I want to see it done. I learned and recognized that I don’t need to wait for anyone else but me to get my art into the world on a true professional level.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.susanlucasmusic.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanlucasmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanlucasmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanLucasMusic
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/susan-lucas-4
Image Credit:
Naomi Shon, Austin White, AymeFoto, ForesightPhotos, Jonathan Eloi Lantienge
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