Life & Work with Sarah Maddack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Maddack.  

Hi Sarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In high school, I dabbled in a few different creative outlets – theater, choir, improv, etc. But I didn’t start writing songs until I realized I had this incredible opportunity to make people laugh and… cause a ruckus. 

For our final “Spring Sing” concert, seniors each had the chance to sing a solo. I decided to write a Backstreet Boys parody, roasting our high school principal. 

It went insanely well. Everyone laughed at all the right parts, and it was the hugest affirmation to my tiny adolescent heart. That was my first silly song of many. 

Fast forward to college. I went to Indiana University Bloomington, and the most formative thing I did during college was door-to-door sales, believe it or not. For five years, I worked with a company called Southwestern Advantage, cold calling and selling educational books and programs to parents in their homes. It helped me pay for expenses during school and gave me a ton of confidence in my work ethic and willingness to get out of my comfort zone. 

The company had a video contest every year – and I spent HOURS making silly songs and music videos about what it’s like selling books door-to-door. So random, but these videos were my PRIDE and JOY. 

In 2019, I decided to move to Nashville to pursue my music career, while I continued doing sales for a different company. 

2019 is also when I became personally addicted to TikTok. My goodness. I was powerless over its genius algorithm. For months, I kept seeing other creators and telling myself, “I could do this. I could totally do what they do”, but I didn’t post a video until January 2020, as a New Year’s Resolution. 

I posted 190 videos, and none of them really took off. I was just having a blast doing it. 

Then one day, I found a slug on my rug. I thought, “That’s so random. I need to make a song out of this.” 

So, I sat there and wrote the “slug song”, and rapped it to the slug, and that was my first viral video. 

I had stumbled upon my niche – silly, wholesome songs and raps about random things or daily life. It made so much sense, and I kept posting until I hit 1 million TikTok followers…on the very last day of that year. 

Throughout this process, I got to work on the business side of things. I quit my 9-5 in October 2020 and started working for myself. 

I started creating rap-based ads for brands, social media consulting, and started a custom song business called “Gift Rapping”. 

Along with posting silly songs and videos for my audience, I’ve been running my business ever since, and it has been such a fun and meaningful adventure. I am so grateful to God that I get to wake up every morning and do what I love. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?

Definitely not a smooth road! I feel like now I’m at a place where I truly know what my genius zone is, but I didn’t always.

I spent years trying to be a singer/songwriter and pop artist. While I have a lot of confidence in my ability to write killer songs, silly or serious, being more of a mainstream artist who sings my own mainstream pop songs was just not clicking with me. I made a few EPs and learned so much from that process, and while I spent thousands of dollars and hours doing it…it was worth it!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a silly songwriter, wholesome rapper, and ridiculous video-making human!

I am known for not taking myself too seriously, being able to make a song about anything, and making others feel loved.

I get so much joy from consulting (helping small creators/artists/brands grow their social media followings), but I am most proud of my GIFT RAPPING business!! My goodness, it is so rewarding to write songs about PEOPLE to celebrate them and make them feel special.

If people want to surprise their spouse or family member or friend or whoever with a SONG ABOUT THEM,(!!!), I email them a template to fill out about that person, and I make a rap out of it. I film myself rapping it, and they can use it however they want to!

The reaction videos I get of people laughing or crying are the BEST.

It’s my favorite. Clearly.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you’re a creator who wants to collaborate or make videos together for TikTok/Instagram, or have questions about social media consulting or Gift Rapping, you can DM me on Instagram or email me at [email protected]!

Pricing:

• 250.00 for a custom rap about a friend or loved one!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @sarahmaddack
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCphDP2Bly1v8UBCvvQadvCg
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahmaddack?lang=en

Image Credits
Nicole Renard Photography