Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Speace.
Hi Amy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started playing professionally in acoustic clubs in NYC like The Living Room, The Bitter End, and the Sidewalk Cafe. A few years later, I got a manager who encouraged me to get out on the college circuit and start doing short tours in NY State. He introduced me to some artists who had a following in different cities, so I would open for them for no money but for the experience.
With the help of a few generous fans, I financed my first record, “Fable,” which came out in 2000 to great reviews in Time Out New York and I started going to music conferences. At the SXSW conference in 2005, Judy Collins’ manager heard me. At the time, Judy was starting her record label and I was signed on the spot. Judy put out my first international release, “Songs For Bright Street,” on her Wildflower Records label and I was touring with her and opening shows for Ian Hunter and Alejandro Escovedo in the UK.
I put out one more record with Wildflower and then was signed to Thirty Tigers in 2009, I moved to Nashville to take part in the songwriting community and I changed to a Nashville-based manager. I had been touring full-time for a few years by now. In 2020, my song “Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne” won “International Song of the Year” by the Americana Music Association (UK). I am at work on my Fall 2024 release, “The American Dream”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Money has always been a struggle. I started in NYC, playing NYC clubs, and I’d have to have a day job (or two) to pay the bills and my student loads. Even with touring full-time, NYC is expensive and I could never make enough money to not have a side job. In 2009, I moved to Nashville, where the expense of living was much lower, so I could rent (and eventually buy) a house and pay all my bills through my music.
Also, I sit in between genres a bit: Americana/Folk/SingerSongwriter. I’ve been told by many industry reps that I’m kind of out of time. I keep going because I’ve built a large international following and I keep making a living and getting better and better. So far I’m here to stay
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a singer and a songwriter. I primarily consider myself in the singer-songwriter/folk world. I’m most proud of the fact that I make a living from my art.
What sets me apart? I think my songs do. I stand behind them. It took a while, I listened to my first few records and there are some good songs and some cringe-worthy songs, but I think moving to Nashville was like a master class in writing and I got better and better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amyspeace.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyspeace
- Facebook: Facebook.com/amyspeace
- Youtube: YouTube.com/amyspeace
Image Credits
Neilson Hubbard
