Meet Jamie Floyd of Nashville, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Floyd.

Hi Jamie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in West Palm Beach, FL as the daughter of 2 professional musicians and got my first record deal and publishing deal at 11 years old. I started traveling back and forth between New York and Nashville to record and write until my deals ended shortly after September 11, 2001. I was pursuing country music as an artist and could’ve continued with my record and publishing deal at that point, but I didn’t want to abandon my style and genre and become a teen pop artist when the label pressured me to change to keep my deals. Even as a teen, I knew myself well enough as an artist to know that path wasn’t in alignment with who I was or the music I wanted to make. So, I lost the deals, graduated high school a year early and went to work at a local health food cafe. Between my gigs and that job, I saved up and moved myself to Nashville in 2003. I went to Belmont University briefly and ended up meeting so many dear friends & colleagues that I work with to this day. Upon moving to Nashville, I pursued my career as an artist and discovered I was a songwriter–signing my second publishing deal in 2007. Six publishing deals later, I decided to become my own independent publisher and the majority of my success as a songwriter came about after that decision. In 2015 I became known as the Grammy-nominated waitress, earning my first Grammy nomination while waiting tables. I was also releasing music for the first time and writing songs that were being recorded by various major artists in both pop and country music, all as an independent. My first EP “Sunshine & Rainbows” was critically acclaimed and around 2016 both my artist and songwriting career really began to take off. My career as a writer expanded into film and television around the same time, when film exec Marianne Goode came into my life and recognized I had a real ability as a project writer of original music for film/tv scripts. I worked on my first film because of her, Dolly Parton’s A Country Christmas Story, and I ended up writing the theme song and another in the film recorded by R&B superstar Brian McKnight. After the success of that, Marianne placed my music in other films and on major network shows. She is a champion of mine to this day and I also credit her for kicking off my career as a theatrical composer–she brought me my first opportunity to write for a musical in development for Broadway, in 2018. It was then that I discovered my storytelling and songs translated to live theatre. I’m currently a full time independent artist & publisher, and this has been a whirlwind of a year so far. I had had my 3rd Grammy-nomination earlier this year as part of Madi Diaz’ album “Weird Faith.” I also was honored to write the theme song for the MAHA Inaugural Ball with Broadway star Carrie Manolakos. We were invited by RFK Jr. to attend the inauguration and the ball, where Carrie performed (and released) our song, “All Eyes On Us,” in January, before I headed to the Grammy’s to attend the ceremony for the first time! I’ve released new music over the last couple of years (my single “Sad Girls Do” was recognized as one of Spotify’s All Genre Best Independent Releases of 2023) and I’m currently working as the composer on 2 new musicals in development: “The King’s Wife,” and “Killin’ It: A Howdy Horror Murder Mystery Musical.” There have been so many highs and lows over my last 21 years in Nashville and I’m still finding new dreams to chase both as an artist and a writer!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t know that a “smooth” road to Nashville exists, if it does, I didn’t take it. But as one of my favorite songs “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful,” written by my brilliant friend Cyndi Thomson, says: “but the struggles make you stronger/and the changes make you wise/and happiness has its own way of taking its sweet time.” This is so beautifully said and very true for me. The one thing I have never let go of is the belief I have in myself that no one’s “no”‘or rejection has been able to shake. That and my ability to tap into a resilience that allows me to continue to create during the darkest times. If I look at the struggles as a whole over my career, I actually can see now, they have enriched and deepened my writing and performance and helped lead to so much happiness in my career and life. Without all of them I would have missed out on so many dreams that have come true. So I cherish every heartbreak ultimately, both business and personal. When they were happening, the pain was brutal, sure, but they are my greatest treasures and several morphed into my favorite songs I’ve written.

I think the biggest obstacle I’ve run into is greed manifesting in people disguised as champions along the way. I’ve had incredible friendships, collaborators and career-long business relationships develop and mostly I’ve been very fortunate. But as an artist, it is almost impossible to avoid greed and its ability to burn its way in when you’re vulnerable. Artists are sensitive and very open people–at times I’ve extended my trust and openness too quickly or too freely and learned the hard way. Again, the easy way doesn’t always lead to the inspiration, so I think I’ve been gifted with exactly the amount of pain I needed to find the success I’ve had so far. I can remember a time during one particular ongoing heartache, and I had a mentor say to me: “how lucky are you, say thank you– you called your teachers and they came.”

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to say I’m a non fiction writer! Over my songwriting career so far, I’ve had the unique opportunity to write for so many extremely different areas and genres and disciplines. I think that’s my superpower: I can tell a story musically, effectively, intensely and truthfully– whatever scenario or genre or circumstance or timeline I’m given. And I will not rest until it’s right. For example, I recently was engaged to write the music and lyrics for an entire new musical, in a week! I’m happy to say I pulled it off–I get asked to do projects like this very often I think because I’ve really worked to have a reputation for making things happen at a high level creatively, regardless of the ask and on whatever timeline the project is working with. I really have cultivated a fearlessness when it comes to new projects. I dive in and I give it everything I have. I believe all the experiences I’ve had over the years have prepared me really, for anything.

I am known for my big hair and my sad songs! When I perform live I really take everything to the very edge. I go back in time and I relieve every word I’ve written and I think any audience I’ve played for would probably agree they could feel that from me live. I can instantly tap into my most vulnerable places whether I’m writing or performing and I do not hold back, for better or worse. I think people expect that from me, that I say it *ALL* in my songs.

I’m most proud of not giving up and having success as an independent artist and songwriter on my terms. I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by family and close friends who have walked with me and made it possible for me to keep going through it all. I have made a conscious effort to drive myself to make things happen. As a result several career moments have happened for me that typically don’t for artists without labels, publishers, companies, teams, agents, managers and more in play. Sometimes I think about how early I stared and how I’ve been working toward my goals nonstop since 11 years old. I’m happy this has been my path and at the same time, it really makes an impact on a person. There’s always a new obstacle, as in any business or dream, and my health and my heart have taken on a lot to keep everything going.

I think the songs I write and my work ethic sets me apart. I’ve really learned everything I know creatively from being surrounded by the best of the best here in Nashville in my most impressionable years of growing, up until today. I continue to channel the best of everyone who’s impacted me, written with me, and performed with me, into the way I sing, the words I write and melodies that I make. I think I have a vulnerability and intensity in my personality that makes its way into my art and I hope whoever is listening, can’t miss it.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have a 2nd degree blackbelt in Shorin Ryu Karate. And I have trypophobia !

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.officialjamiefloyd.com/
• Instagram: @jamiefloyd
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamiefloydmusic
• Twitter: @jamiefloydmusic
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/jamiefloydmusic