We recently connected with Claire Sully and have shared our conversation below.
Claire , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?
Towards the end of 2025, I had came across a rising A&R who works with major record labels and lands grand opportunities in distribution deals and marketing music. I had reached out to this A&R and marketing strategist who works closely with EMPIRE label asking questions and being curious to see if there was any way to land a distribution deal with EMPIRE which is one of the biggest independent record labels in the country. I had gotten a response fairly quick with details of what was offered, we had a few meetings, he had listened to my music and saw real potential in me as an artist and offered me a distribution deal with EMPIRE who holds a close partnership with Universal Music Group. I’ve got a team supporting me under EMPIRE and I’m beyond excited to release music this year. I also have my music producers who I’ve worked with in the last couple years, we just added a new member to the team. We’ve got Conner Hillman and Leo Cushane, Working with those two young men has been great. They’re able to capture my visions creatively and musically very well. My team is really made up of so many people. As an indie recording artist, everyone you choose to work with becomes your community, your support and part of your musical journey.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a pop recording artist and songwriter based in Boston MA, as well as a 2x GRAMMY considered artist, GRAMMY U member, Award nominated artist and entrepreneur. Some of my major acknowledgments include: signing a distribution deal under EMPIRE label, I placed TOP 10 in the World Songwriting Awards making me a finalist in the entire globe, I have collaborated with Warner Music Group affiliates, GRAMMY & Billboard producers, I’m a top 100 Genius Charting artist and songwriter, have co written with mega country star Kelsea Ballerini’s former tech, written with former American Idol contestants such as Mariah Faith and Evan Cole to name a few.
All this did not happen over night for me. I have a very similar story to country singer Ella Langley. She and I started up the ladder. I didn’t become famous over night. I started bar touring when i was 13. I’m originally from Europe. I was raised in Milan Italy, and when I moved to the States, music was my only friend. I started performing live with my guitar going from bar to bar in any place that would let me sing. I sang covers up til high school. I started really writing music when I was about 15, 16. I continued to perform locally at little hometown festivals, bars, events etc.. Then during my teenage years, I chose to get on social media. I’ve never owned a social media platform that was just for me and my personal life. My life’s been public since I was 14 because at such a young age, I knew social media was the key to getting the recognition I needed to be a professional singer and songwriter. Instagram was my biggest platform and i used it to build my fanbase and and create an online presence.
As soon as i got a feel for how social media worked, I started to develop very strong entrepreneurial skills and learned the creative side of the music industry as well as the business, I started networking with songwriters and other creatives around the country. I started releasing music and putting my original songs out on Spotify and Apple Music. I had experimented with many genres, as I’m very cultured and diverse. I tried pop, dance pop, pop country, Spanish Pop, EDM, and found that my heart really was drawn to pop and country music. Since then I try to release music that has a little bit of that cross over. As the years went by, my catalog grew and my connections did. I went from working with small indie artists, producers, to established names. I also had very strong marketing communication skills, and those two things are keys when trying to break into the industry. You have to know how to network correctly, and how to communicate well, or else, no one will take a chance on you.
I’ve absolutely faced rejection many times in this industry! However, every “No” became my biggest motivator. I worked 10x harder. I wrote better songs, I’d take my time in polishing my songs before releasing them or presenting them, I’d have my sister and close friends hear my demos before releasing anything to get a second opinion, I’d re record maybe 10 times before a final take in the studio, I did a lot to just get someone to see potential in me.
As my name started to get around, I knew i had to take the next step. Around 18, I started traveling to Nashville TN twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. I’d go into record label meetings with a solid project in hand that I believed in, and I’d have A&Rs listen to my work, praying I’d get offered an opportunity. I’ve had deals offered to me before, some I’ve declined due to timing, others, I’ve taken. The music industry really is an industry where, you really have to take every opportunity that comes your way because you don’t know if you’ll ever be granted such an opportunity again.
I’ve had a lot of doubts growing up and sometimes I feel, when I get acknowledged for an achievement, that I don’t deserve it. I didn’t grow up around the most encouraging family when it came to my dream of being a singer, and that’s just the truth, it was very challenging. I know there’s a lot fear surrounded with this industry or field of work, because it’s not normal or like your typical 9-5 job. A lot of my self doubt comes and stems from the way I was treated when I was recognized for my music. That just made me a lot stronger growing up, and now I’m starting to really change the way I feel when I get recognition by professionals in the industry. I’m in a “I deserve this’ mindset.
As I’ve sat back to take a moment of all the things I’ve achieved last year, I think I have many moments that I’ve gone “WOW I’m so proud of myself” One of my proudest moments was, getting accepted to become a GRAMMY U member, and getting into the GRAMMY U Mentorship program more than anything. I remember applying thinking, ‘If I don’t get in, I’ll quit music” I chose to apply because I thought being under mentorship under a Recording Academy member for 6 months was going to elevate my career, and I’d be able to attend and have opportunities that I never would have imagined, staying in Boston. Since then, I’ve attended many virtual webinars that have taught me so much, attended concert series’s during the summer, I’ll be going to LA at the end of the month to attend GRAMMY U’s first music festival called Soundstage! So really, I just take everything with a grain of salt, and counting my blessings. I know this is the beginning of a life long career, and with each day, something new comes my way.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Growing up, I didn’t have the most supportive or encouraging family to say the least.
I think a lot of the opportunities I’ve taken and were granted, were all because I told myself that if I didn’t take these, I’d be so unhappy. This field is very difficult to break into. Its 10% talent, 90% business. To those reading, or to any aspiring artist who maybe didn’t have that encouraging team behind you, one piece of advice i could offer you is “Everything you’re scared of is worth trying” My resilience comes from the negative comments I’d get from my father and his fear based mentality. My mother was always a little bit more open towards me pursuing a career in the arts, as she was someone who grew up around it. I learned quickly, not everyone’s going to like you, people will envy you, people won’t be happy with the career you choose, because nowadays, everyone has something to say. Growing up, I had to make do with what I had and where I lived. I didn’t have the family that I think believed in me enough to say :”let’s help you move out to somewhere where you can really make this your full time job and career” I had very little money, and I worked a side hustle to do everything I could to just get on a plane and fly to Nashville, meet people in my field, co write, and attend events. I look back at all the things I’ve done in just 15 years, and a lot of it – I had to put my dad’s hurtful words, and comments somewhere where I wouldn’t be reminded that this wasn’t going to work out for me. I do everything now on my own terms, I take every single opportunity that lands in my lap, and no longer think about the outside voices, and fears others have towards me. 15 years ago, if someone told me, I’d be an award nominated artist, a 2x GRAMMY considered artist, become a Top 100 Genius charting songwriter, become a Top 10 finalist for my songwriting at the World Songwriting Awards, be a GRAMMY U member, sign a distribution deal with EMPIRE label, I wouldn’t believe you at all.
All the negative turned into a positive
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is probably the feeling of connection with fans when I release music.
When I put music out, I want people to connect with my lyrics and my experiences! I find this sense of relief when I put a project out, I feel understood by other creatives and people who’ve maybe walked down that experience the same way I had. I think even just getting acknowledged by established producers, writers, names in the industry feels very rewarding. I get this little feeling inside of me that tells me I’m on the right path to stardom and pursing the right career path
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clairesullymusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairesully27/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claire.sully.617631/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9-3dqLatuKfx9fGOGxt7rg
- Other: Spotify/ Apple Music :
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/claire-sully/1338064961
