We were lucky to catch up with Sink Lindsay recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sink, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Music in film and TV has always inspired me. I vividly remember “Pirates of the Caribbean” having me in a chokehold as a pre-teen, thanks to the score. And growing up as a dancer, music has always been the backbone of so many art forms I love. It does so much heavy lifting to shape the emotion behind storytelling.

I worked at Starbucks through film school, and being a singer-songwriter wasn’t even on my radar. Then one day, a regular—a wise yoga teacher—asked me about my career goals and said, “I think the world needs to hear your voice. Have you ever thought about singing?” I brushed it off at the time but jokes on me—a year later I was starting to collaborate on music projects. Funny how life works. I owe her a great deal of thanks.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Sheesh, I fell into music a** backwards! It’s a story I love sharing actually because it reminds me how unexpected journeys can lead to fulfilling destinations.

I started uploading cover songs and vocals over published instrumental tracks to Soundcloud, unaware it wasn’t exactly legal (she’s a rebel folks!). One track featured an instrumental from Beats Antique, a fusion band I’m a big fan of, and it caught the attention of a producer who loved them too. Together we created an electronic project (Bassline Drift), signed with Gravitas Recordings, and eventually got to open for Beats Antique on tour—a full-circle moment.

From there, our manager pitched us to music publishers, and we started creating “trailerized” remixes of our songs, designed for sync. Soon our music was landing placements on Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Apple TV, and more.

That pivot laid the foundation for me to start building a sustainable career as a singer-songwriter on music for film and TV. I’ve been incredibly lucky to collaborate with amazing producers and sound designers like Dubkiller, Deadly Avenger and Si Begg (and some exciting others that are still under wraps for now!).

Mind you, this has been a 10-year journey. It’s true what they say, it takes 10 years (if not more?) to “make it”, and I don’t feel I’ve made it yet.

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

Let’s face it—this career path isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s been a tough road, and I’m still on it, grinding to reach the point where music is my full-time income. That’s taken an unshakable belief in my purpose, support from my team, and endless hours of sweat equity.

I’ve traded desk jobs for service industry gigs (and yes, the older generations definitely said, “Girrrl, we do not approve”). I’ve worked across a bunch of industries, dealt with setbacks straight out of a soap opera, skipped groceries to pay for music workshops, and crashed on friends’ couches in LA just to make it into songwriting sessions. It’s not always the most glamorous or wise path, but it’s been necessary to keep pushing toward my goals.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I’m a big believer in artists supporting artists. My goal isn’t just about building a sustainable career for myself—it’s about helping other creatives do the same.

Songwriters are the backbone of the music industry, powering its multi-billion-dollar ecosystem, but most barely see a fraction of what their work earns. Right now, songwriters make about 4.65% of the total revenue from their songs, and that’s divided between every writer involved. We can set a new standard by demanding more equitable policies in music and streaming. That starts with greater transparency and legislation to ensure fair pay for all creatives.

Creativity thrives in a culture that truly invests in it—where the people behind the art we love can live, work, and dream without the constant weight of financial uncertainty. I want to be part of that change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sinklindsay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinksink
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinksinkmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelalexandralindsay/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thinksink

Image Credits

Judd Weiss