Today we’d like to introduce you to Alannah McCready.
Hi Alannah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, TN but am originally from Blaine, MN. I grew up with my mom, dad, younger brother, and all of our dogs! I could not be more blessed or grateful for my amazing family which now includes my sister-in-law and nephew who is the absolute light of all of our lives. My parents have always been and continue to be the biggest supporters of anything my brother or I choose to tackle in life and I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Growing up I played hockey as the majority of Minnesotans do as well as sang in choir and musicals which was definitely not a combo anyone had seen before, at least in my hometown. I always knew I wanted to sing professionally someday and I thought I’d also play hockey along the way because why not? In high school, I would perform in musicals and choir as well as sing the national anthem in my goalie equipment before playing in the game. I get asked a lot if the number of sports and music I did in high school hindered my social life as a teenager and my answer to that is no because from a young age, I knew what I wanted to achieve and I knew there would be time for a social life once I got there.
After graduating high school I was fortunate enough to play D1 Women’s Ice hockey at the University of Wisconsin – Madison on scholarship but unfortunately, that meant putting music on the back burner for a while. In my years at Wisconsin, we were able to win 2 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey National Championships which have become core memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. I journaled a lot in college which I didn’t know at the time would end up being some of the first songs I’d ever written and end up as part of my first album. So in a way, I was still doing music even if it was in private. I am beyond grateful for my college experience because I think it plays a major role in how I live my life today as an independent artist.
After college, I moved to New York and did PR for a sports management company where I managed the day-to-day lives of NFL players. I loved my job and New York but as soon as I got an opportunity to go to Nashville and record music for the first time I jumped on it and didn’t look back. I recorded for the first time in 2012 in Nashville and it just felt like home. I spoke with the producer afterward and said “do you think I could do this for a living because I think it’s what I’m supposed to be doing”, he agreed with me and that reassurance along with knowing I had the support of my amazing family and friends was all I needed to quit my job and begin doing music full time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything worth doing/having comes with a smooth road. Haha. As I mentioned before I always knew I wanted music to be my life and there may have been a few years along the way where it wasn’t my main focus because of hockey and college but I also think that our journeys are our own and we should make the most of them. I am a true believer that your life is what you make it and it doesn’t have to have just one path to get to your destination.
Everything I experienced and went through now plays a role in my artistry and I am thankful for every memory, heartbreak, and laugh that has contributed to my story. Our industry is a roller coaster every single day and you have to be mentally tough enough to know how to handle winning as well as losing while staying true to yourself. In my opinion, it’s all worth it in the end because I get to do what I love every single day and I couldn’t be more thankful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Since becoming an independent artist in 2013 I have released 2 full albums and 1 EP and I couldn’t be prouder of the music I have written and created. I currently reside in Nashville and regularly play live shows and writer’s rounds. I think my road to music as an athlete first sets me apart from others in my industry. I get asked all the time how my athletic career plays into my music and, to be honest it helps every single day. As an athlete at a high level, as well as an independent musician the mental aspect, is very similar.
In both cases no one is going to do it for you, they require self-motivation, mental toughness to be able to handle the highs and lows of the industry, and the will to be the best at your craft you can possibly be. I am very blessed to be able to write, sing, and perform every single day as my career and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I couldn’t be prouder to be a woman in country music.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
In order to be remotely successful in this industry you need to be able to stay mentally tough throughout the ups and downs. One day could be the best day of your career and the next could be the worst and being able to stay strong and navigate both of those days without getting overconfident or too discouraged is the most important thing. Also, do not let anyone put you in a box.
Especially as a woman in country music, it can be very easy to allow the outside world of our industry to make you think you need to look or sing a certain way in order to be successful but that’s simply just not true. There is room for all of us in our genre and being your most authentic self as an artist is the most important thing.
Contact Info:
- Website:alannahmccready.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alannahmccreadymusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlannahMcCreadyMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lanamccready
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlannahMcCreadyMusic
Image Credits
Alex Berger – Weird Candy Agency
