A Song of Grief and Growth
Singer-Songwriter Susan Anders on Art, Loss, and Finding Our Voices in the Digital Age
Life's profound moments often leave an indelible mark, and for artists, these experiences can become the crucible for their most impactful work.
For singer-songwriter Susan Anders, navigating the complexities of mid-career artistry has meant confronting personal loss head-on, transforming it into a powerful catalyst for creative expression. Her journey is a beautiful one, showing us how the deepest pains are often the catalysts for unexpected artistic evolution.
Anders brings a refreshing and unique perspective to songwriting, distinct from the world of poetry. While poetry meticulously crafts complete pictures with words alone, she explains that songwriting opens a different avenue where "plain spoken lyrics" can become profoundly evocative through the magical synergy with music. This pairing of words and melody often creates something far greater than either element could achieve on its own.
Anders’ own creative process is equally fascinating; sometimes she starts with lyrics, building a melody around them, while at other times, breakthroughs emerge during what she calls "musical morning pages." This involves playing "gobbledygook" on the piano for 11 minutes until an interesting idea takes root.
The alchemy of loss
Among the most striking aspect of Anders's story is how grief profoundly reshaped her artistic output. Following her father's passing, she found herself in an unusual creative flow.
She says the mourning stripped away her typical "filters and walls."
This raw emotional state allowed her to create from a more authentic and unfiltered place, resulting in her album Now I'm a Kite. This collection bravely explores themes of loss, aging, and transformation. The title track's vivid metaphor of changing from a "table" to a "kite" beautifully captures this period of profound transition, showing the listener that grief, paradoxically, can free us to reach new creative heights.
As Anders puts it, "My dad had to die for me to write it, and that sucks." It’s a stark reminder that our most moving art often emerges from our deepest pain.
Beyond the deeply personal creative process, Anders offers invaluable insights into the practical realities of making music in the digital age. She witnessed the Nashville music scene transform from a time when "you could write a hit song and buy a house" to today's Spotify-dominated landscape, where artists might receive a meager "3 cents" for their streams. Her pragmatic solution? Balancing teaching with creating music purely for artistic fulfillment rather than financial gain. This adaptive approach is one many mid-career artists must consider, as it highlights the sustainability challenges faced in an era when "people don't buy CDs anymore."
Our bodies carry our stories
Anders's background as a voice coach adds a fascinating dimension to her observations, particularly how psychological states physically manifest in our voices. She notes how trauma can lead to vocal constriction, recounting a student who experienced childhood abuse and was "gripping in his throat... pinching the sound out."
These physical manifestations serve as a potent reminder that our bodies carry our stories, sometimes limiting our expression until underlying emotional issues are addressed. Her methods for helping singers find their authentic voice offer a powerful metaphor for the broader artistic journey of self-discovery and expression.
As the landscape of creative expression continues to evolve, Anders stands as a model of artistic integrity and adaptation. Her commitment to crafting music that addresses her own generation—exploring themes of aging, loss, and accumulated life wisdom that younger artists might not yet understand—fills a crucial cultural gap.
As she wisely observes, "Taylor Swift is writing great songs for her generation... I want to talk about things that happen to us as we're older."
This intentional focus on creating art that speaks to life's later chapters underscores the profound power of authentic expression at any age, resonating deeply with those who share similar experiences and reminding us that inspiration can strike at any stage of life.
To explore her work and learn more about Susan Anders, visit susanandersmusic.com.
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