Meet Rising Star, Scout Speer

Oct 05, 2023 at 09:55 am by RMGadmin


INTERVIEW BY CHRISTIAN DIAN HEADDEN

In the heart of the music-rich South, a fresh voice emerges. Meet Scout Speer, a captivating young artist whose soulful music weaves personal tales with universal emotions. In this exclusive interview, Scout delves into the roots of her musical journey, the trials that shaped her, and the vibrant local music scene. She shares her upcoming projects, dreams in both personal life and music, and the mentors who've guided her—a rising star in the Southern music scene.


If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Sad Song is actually a happy song about the ups and downs you encounter while going through a heartbreak. In the moment, it's so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you feel like that pain will never go away. Quickly, the pain does go away, and I'm usually left wondering what I saw in the first place. So far, every heartbreak has been a blessing in disguise, plus I get a song out of them.
Releasing your own music comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. Could you share some insights into your experience?
When I first got into music, I thought it was as simple as writing a good song and putting it out for everyone to listen. Now that I am actually doing that, I have found that it is not that simple. The greatest challenges are getting the song to reach the right audience and getting the exposure you want the song to receive. Although there are many challenges, the most rewarding feeling as a singer/ songwriter is watching people connect and relate to my songs. That within itself outweighs every challenge and is why I continue to love making music.
Williamson County is known for its vibrant musical culture. How has the local scene shaped your artistic vision, and have you had any standout experiences performing at local venues?
Growing up so close to Nashville and seeing the musical culture everywhere I look has definitely been great. Living in the place where all aspiring singer/ songwriters dream to move to and pursue their music career is really cool. I have had the privilege to play in some awesome local venues. I played at 3rd & Lindsley, Pucketts (Columbia, TN), The Mule House, and Interstate Music (Van Jams).
Battle Ground Academy offers a variety of extracurricular activities. Were you involved in any music-related clubs or activities that have influenced your career?
I was surprisingly not involved with anything related to music when I attended Battle Ground Academy. I was very involved with the athletic side of the house, playing Soccer and Basketball at BGA. Playing sports, obviously, didn't teach me much about music, but it did prepare me for the mental aspect of the music world. It's very competitive. You have to work hard and have that drive to never give up when things might get hard. In sports, you have to have a short memory in order to move past the last play you messed up so you can get back and correct your mistakes. In music, you have to forget about the missed chord/ missed lyric and make the best out of a mistake.
What's on the horizon for you? Any upcoming projects, collaborations, or live performances you can share with us?
Right now, I am trying to find my way while taking advantage of every opportunity that is being presented. We do have a lot of new music we are excited to release. I should have another single coming out very soon!
Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in the next five years, both in your personal life and music career?
In the next five years, I hope to be living in Nashville, singing and writing music. I hope I am fortunate enough to do music full-time as my career. As long as I am doing something with music, I will be happy. I put the rest in God's hands and just trust his plan.
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
If I could collaborate with any artist, I would collab with Colbie Caillat. I played her songs on repeat when I was a little girl in the car and could sing every word. Her songs were the first songs I learned to play on my guitar. From an artist's perspective, she is the reason I started music, so I think it would be cool to collab, for sure.
What's currently spinning on your playlist? Any artists or songs you'd recommend to our readers?
I listen to a lot of different genres of music. I always love me some John Mayer. I also listen to Chris Stapelton, Van Morrison, and Nora Jones. It's really hard to just pick a few I could go on for days!
Have there been any mentors or pivotal moments that have significantly shaped your journey as a young artist?
I have been extremely blessed with who I got to grow up listening to and being around in the music world. My two biggest mentors are Marla Cannon-Goodman and Deanie Richardson. They have helped me every step of the way, and have taught me so much about music. It is very safe to say that I would not be where I am today without those two by my side. My grandfather is also a huge reason why I started doing music. He told me and all of my cousins that he would give his guitar to the first grandchild who learned to play, so I immediately learned and eventually got his guitar.

Scout’s music can be streamed on all platforms including, Apple Music and Spotify. Keep up with Scout by following her on Instagram @scoutspeer.

Sections: Arts & Culture