A conversation with Susanna Lee
Where can we find you right now and what are you up to?
My music is on all platforms & I’m excited to release my 1st album out into the world. I just had a long day of teaching but I have some real sweethearts on Wednesdays, I look forward to & seeing how good they’re getting at piano & singing.
How would you define success? What is your goal?
Achieving what I set in my mind's eye while benefiting financially. Being the best musician/person I can be & bringing people joy. Getting on bigger bills, getting paid what I’m worth.
As both a classically trained musician and a recording artist, how do you balance your academic background with your creative freedom in songwriting?
Knowledge & technique are very useful in any field & no different in music. Why would I not want to be educated or keep learning all I can about my craft. If you stop learning, you stop growing as an artist. My training gives more freedom to enhance my creativity.
What role did your time with the UT Longhorn Singers play in developing your voice and stage presence?
It opened an opportunity to be in front of large university crowds in different performance projects & incorporated show choir singing & dancing techniques.
Attending Berklee College of Music must have been transformative. What lessons or experiences there continue to influence your artistry today? You have to believe you can do it, show up & take forward action. Share what you do with everyone & everywhere you can.
Connections are important & I didn’t realize til after leaving Berklee that staying would’ve advanced me sooner had I focused more on that, noticing colleagues on major tv projects etc. Song style choice for voice type is also important. I learned recording studio & performance techniques there.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how do they show up in your sound?
Mariah’s “Dreamlover” song inspired the feel for “Lucky In Love”.
When I got the songwriting prompt “Goya” with the definition including the word fantasy, my mind went to her songs. Alicia Keys' song “Unthinkable” highly inspired another song on the album. I aimed to incorporate nice melodies with cool grooves which both of these artists do.
What do you think of AI in music?
I haven’t used it. If it's used to enhance & make an artist's work easier for them to make a living, that's fine, but not replace a human artist.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far—whether on stage, in the studio, or during your studies?
Our Highball video release show was 1 of the funnest shows. I had a lot of friends in the vid & the energy was ecstatic that night. That’s where the album release will be.
Tell us about your latest release, “Lucky in Love.”
It’s a feel-good song & mantra for manifesting luck in love & bringing in more love.
