We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sandra Villacis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sandra below.
Hi Sandra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When Chris Brown started my artist Career.
Back in the day I used to be a an aspiring artist.
And ofcouse at the time just as everyone else my favorite artist was chris brown. Because not just his great music and goofy demeanor he had the best stage shows and dance moves I had ever seen since Micheal Jackson.
Absolutely when he went on tour I collected all my last pennies to go and see him live. Since he did not perform in my country Estonia I had to fly out to Sweden.
I was either underage at the time or just turned 18 ( and when it sounds grown up in todays world – trust me back then it wasn’t or for sure I wasn’t)
I went alone. I had purchased the meet and greet tickets because it was my birthday and even after saving money for a while my family helped me to buy the meet and greet tickets.
The meet and greets are normally quite fast. You get to meet him and take a picture and he will sign some merch for you.
Few girls went in before me that had won the meet and greet from a radio show.
And then it was my turn. I was super stoked – thats my favorite artist!
Walked in he was super nice, took a picture – then he asked me if I was coming to see the show. Or maybe if I was excited to see the show. WELLL WELLL WELL… since I was either 17 or 18 at the time and the venue was 21 and up. I mentioned to him that I will do my best to try to get in. I was wearing a blazer and everything making myself look a bit older hoping that they wont ID me. (trust me I looked like 13)
when I tell you Chris got so mad. His first reaction was why is his performance venue 21 and up when EVEN HE HIMSELF wasn’t 21. And obv his fans are same age or younger. The thing that came out of his mouth was literally “How are we supposed to sell out”. His tour manager kindly responded “Chris we sold out in 10 minutes”
He was stunned. And the next moment he ordered his whole backstage crew to babysit me so I would be able to go see the show.
Absolutely insane. I not only was backstage I was able to eat from the crafty and saw all the dancers.
After that moment I decided to move to America the way I always dreamed of and try out as a singer/songwriter.
He inspired me to do things like that to other people. Perhaps it was nothing for him. But I was a random girl amongst others who he assigned his whole team to babysit.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I write music! My main focus is to be able to express myself via my arts but also be watchful on what I put out there. If someone listened to my stuff will they get inspired, motivated is it any way helpful?
Or am I just throughing whatever out there with no meaning whatsoever.
I have always wanted to be a singer songwriter, but at an early age I wasn’t sure if that was for me because I didnt sing like Beyonce. And that really held me back. I could hold a tune but my craft wasn’t developed and we couldn’t afford singing lessons. So ive always tried to find my ways around it – think ok perhaps choreographing and dancing is something for me. Not realizing that music always pulled me in and all the time I kept on coming back to it. Few years ago I finally allowed myself to be what ive wanted to be since I was a child and it immediately took off. It was like a last puzzle and now everyone can enjoy the full picture. It’s so bizarre how all the doors open when you finally walk your path. Opportunities, abundance, even LOVE.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Every time I go through something thats called “the dark night of the soul” I wrote a song that was named hurt me already so I could get some work done. That’s not released dont go looking for it but as context – sometimes the darkest times in our lives can help the birth of the most beautiful art.
And that can be done not just in the crafts but also in life.
I remember being dumped from what I thought was MY PERSON about 8 years ago. I remember how hurtful it was. If he wouldn’t have done that I would have never be musically where im at today, I would be unhappy because I was in that relationship and I would have never met the man im with today. So when something feels very bad, low and heavy – sometimes it’s for the better. it just doesnt feel like that in the moment. But being on the other side and looking back – weirdly enough im GRATEFUL for those moments.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Consistency and a great product. For musicians dont expect to skip your 10000 hours. Even if you have a hit or a singel that goes viral. Recreating that moment still takes work and then it trickles down to skills not luck. And keep on going. Keep on writing – make it a habit. And keep on pushing. Obsession beats talent so be obsessed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/svndramusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SVNDRA
- Other: tiktok – svndramusic
Image Credits
Marita Brigitta Andrei Ozdoba