Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Elyse Saunders

Elyse Saunders shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Elyse, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Most days start with a tall glass of water and a good coffee while I catch up on emails and tackle my ever-growing to-do list. I’m in the middle of festival season, so a lot of my time goes into show prep — rehearsals, organizing merch, practicing my sets, packing, unpacking, and making sure everything runs smoothly.

I’ve also been promoting new music across Canada, the US, and Australia, and we just filmed a music video for my new single “Heartbreak Rodeo,” which comes out at the end of August — right in time for its release to Australian radio.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, I try to make time for nature walks, quiet moments with my cats, and hanging out with my husband. It’s full, but it’s the kind of full I’m grateful for.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey, I’m Elyse Saunders — I’m a country recording artist and singer-songwriter. I love getting creative in the studio and playing around with sounds, but what really drives me is sharing music that lifts people up and leaves them feeling inspired.

I’ve always loved performing. Back in high school, I had the chance to open a hometown festival in front of 10,000 people, and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since. Since then, I’ve been lucky to share stages with some incredible international artists, see my songs land on commercial radio charts, and receive a few awards along the way.

I’m an independent artist, so I’ve learned to wear a lot of hats. It’s been a journey, but one I’m really proud of. Right now, I’m focused on reaching more people, building my team, and continuing to put out music that makes a difference — both here at home and around the world. I’ve been building some exciting momentum internationally, and I can’t wait to keep that going.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was humming, moving, creating, performing, and recording myself just for the fun of it. I’d sing around the house, make up songs on the spot, and even create my own pretend radio shows on an old sound recorder. I didn’t think about how it would look or where it would lead, I just knew I loved how it made me feel. That version of me was fearless and free, and she’s still at the heart of everything I do now.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me how to trust my instincts and follow what truly feels right for me. It gave me the strength to believe in what I do and to keep building my own lane in a busy, often overwhelming industry, even when others told me I couldn’t.

It showed me how to stand up for myself, lead with intention, and stay grounded in my vision. I learned resilience, what really matters, the kind of people I want to keep close, and how to recognize my own worth.

It also taught me so much about myself. It lit up the areas I needed to grow and pushed me to continue creating with heart, and from real life experiences.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what matters most to me is staying true to who I am, creating with purpose, and making people feel something real. They’d say I care deeply about connection whether that’s through music, conversation, or just being present with the people I love. They know I work really hard for what I have, but also that I value the simple things in life… quiet time in nature, moments with my husband and cats, and surrounding myself with people who are genuine and kind. At the core of everything, I think they’d say I’m driven by heart and I really do care.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I’d stop second-guessing myself. I’d stop overthinking, overexplaining, and giving energy to anything that doesn’t truly align with who I am. I’d let go of guilt, stop people-pleasing, and make space for the things that really matter.

I’d pour my time into the people I love, create the music that’s been sitting in my heart, and go after everything on my dream list. I’d live fully, chase every bucket list moment, and say yes to the things that make me feel alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elysesaunders.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elyse_saunders_music
• Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/elysesaunders
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Elyse_Saunders
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElyseSaundersMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/elysesaunders
• Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@elysesaunders

Image Credits
Adaptive Group + Codi McIverson + Daniella Mitchell