We were lucky to catch up with Roy Saunders recently and have shared our conversation below.

Roy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

It was a huge risk to embark on pursuing music full time. I had known for a long time that this is what I wanted to do with my life. To take the leap of going full on into the business is a very scary one. Luckily i have a huge support network of friends, family, and fellow musicians who helped me along the way and to make the transition. It was a big jump to sign on with my artist development company ProMotion but, one of the best i could have made. With hard work and their help my career has really gained a lot of momentum.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started playing music as a hobby and had a few bands as weekend projects since I was 21. in 2013 i moved to Savannah Georgia and created the group Escaping Fate with Jay Morelock. We started gaining traction in the “Low Country” and I started to realize this may actually be a thing. We played together until 2016 when i moved back to Atlanta. I took a year off from playing and was very unhappy with life due to it. in 2017 I started playing solo gigs around town. 2018 I had my first out of state show as a solo artist in Birmingham, Alabama. After that i knew this was the dream I had been searching for and i was off to the running’s. since I have consistently played throughout the South East and as far north as Ohio. Recently i signed a deal to tour nationally starting 2023 with the hopes of some big festivals as well.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of my profession is the impact that music can make on peoples lives. especially when it is my original music. is is fascinating to see peoples interpretations of the meaning s behind some of my songs. sometimes it is nowhere near what I wrote the song about and I think that is really cool. its music it can and should be taken however the listener relates to it. It isn’t a right or wrong thing, its all about the music making you feel the way you need it to to get through whatever is going on. Happy or Sad. I’ve had people take some of my saddest song and see them as positive songs.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In this industry you have to be very resilient and have thick skin. When I first started out playing in Atlanta I had close friends and mentors in the music industry that told me I was not good enough and would never make it. I have had night where I have played to rooms with nobody in them. I have had times that people have said some really ugly things to me about my music. That kind of thing will happen but, if you have the drive and determination to keep driving on the reward is so much greater than I ever could have expected. With all those things I have pushed through I have gotten better and stronger. I’ve played bigger rooms, opened up for bigger acts, and now have 8 songs out on all streaming platforms while also touring around the South East.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.roysaunders.com
• Instagram: @roysaundersmusic24
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/roysaundersmusic
• Youtube: Roy Saunders Music

Image Credits
Photo Credits: ProMotion LLC, Bryan Graham, Jennifer Bauer