Can you take us back to the beginning? What are your earliest memories, and how do you think they’ve shaped who you are today?
My earliest memories are ones of either listening to music, either live or recorded. Music was the earliest thing I remember about being alive, and my parents taking me to see Les Miserables was definitely a defining moment!
I also had a moment at my grandparent’s house when I was about 5. I had just heard “Will You Be There” by Michael Jackson in the film “Free Willy.” I walked over to their piano and played it note for note, and my grandparents were really impressed! I knew from that moment on that I wanted (and needed) to do something in music.
As you reflect on your life, are there any key moments or turning points that stand out to you? What made them significant?
Going to University to study jazz on saxophone was definitely a key moment for me. Another big turning point was making the big move from Canada to London (UK) with my partner (and writing partner).
I started gigging properly during and after University, and after gigging in function bands and doing my own shows for a few years, I came to a point in my career when I looked at my life in Vancouver and said “wow, I’ve done every gig this town has to offer.” At that moment, I knew that I needed to go to a bigger city to continue my growth as an artist. Alan (my writing partner) was at a similar stage in his life, and had an opportunity to do a one-month run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. When he invited me to join him and relocate to London, I said yes; it felt like the perfect opportunity had landed in my lap! Within a month, I sold my car, quit my day-job, gave up my apartment, put my stuff in storage, and bought my very first one-way plane ticket!
Who were the most influential people in your life, and how have they impacted your journey and development?
Were it not for encouragement from my extraordinary high school music teacher Jeremy Hepner, I might not be here. He opened my eyes to what a career in music could actually be, that it was even possible. And frankly if Jeremy hadn’t caught me at that time, I probably would have gone into some other career altogether, and been a very very unhappy person.
In my last year of highschool he said to me “you don’t pursue music, music pursues you.” He went on to say that you can either do it now while you’re young, or find out that you have to do it later on, when it’s a lot harder!
What challenges have you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
The most challenging thing about being an artist (especially an independent one) is just trying to survive and make more art.
With record inflation, staggering financial inequality and a massive cost of living crisis (plus the fact that streaming does not pay), it’s almost impossible to make a living as an artist right now. Even the costs of gigging and touring are economically prohibitive. I work a few day jobs to be able to pay for rent, food, etc and also to pay for things like production and mastering costs, and other musicians to play on tracks. Working day jobs really makes it much more difficult to allow creativity and inspiration to happen. And even with those multiple jobs, it is quite a balancing act. It’s frustrating because I have so much music inside of me, so many more songs just dying to get out into the world, but the financial reality is that this can’t happen on a regular basis.
So to answer your question, I haven’t quite overcome these challenges yet, but I’m hopeful for the future because I totally believe that cream rises to the top!
If you were to pick a theme or a lesson that runs through your life story, what would it be?
Every time ego gets in the way, it gets in the way of your path to connection with others. Music (and any art form) is at its best when the artist has one foot on the ground, and one foot in the divine. When ego or pride gets in the way, that connection to the divine is severed. So when things feel like they’re going really wrong, or a song just isn’t coming out right, I take a step back and remind myself what I’m doing this all for: connection.
Are there specific accomplishments or milestones that you’re particularly proud of, and why do they hold such significance for you?
Releasing my first album “Happily Ever Now” really was one of the most wonderful moments I’ve had as an artist. My writing partner and I spent years writing these songs, which are full of craft, integrity and honesty. It really is an incredible feeling when a band plays those songs for the first time! That moment when everything comes together in the right way, at the right time, with the right elements to create something that is a part of you, and a part of the universe as a whole.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the next chapter of your life story? What legacy do you want to leave behind?
My biggest aspiration is to just be able to make a living as an artist so that I can continue to create and release music.
The current system of remuneration for an artist is unsustainable. Purchasing music directly or becoming a patron to an artist, cuts out the middleman.
If I have to work a bunch of day jobs just to survive, that leaves me very little time and mental capacity to create new work.
Composers and artists like Mozart and Beethoven were financially resourced through direct patronage. Maybe it’s time to look at that system again.
The legacy I’d like to leave behind is finding that connection to the divine and to others through music, and then getting out of your own way so that it can work through you.
If you would like to listen to (or purchase my music on iTunes or BandCamp), check out https://linktr.ee/sandramaelux