We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Louise recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

When I first started playing guitar, and became more familiar with it, I had wished I’d believed in my ability to play earlier on. Though now I believe there’s a reason for the timing of everything. It is true that it’s never too late to do what you love, because it’s better than not doing it at all.

Stephanie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! I’m Steph Louise, and I play rhythm guitar, sing, and provide a whole lot of sass in the band the Ramblin’ Sweethearts. I got into this industry due to my lifelong love of music; starting out as a punk rock & rockabilly teen who attended all the shows, to eventually learning guitar so that I could also be part of creating the music I love.

My talented husband JP plays lead guitar and also sings in the band, and our incredible members Jordi (on the stand-up bass) and Joey (on drums) are who complete our sound.

What I am most proud of with this band is the support and encouragement we show each other, which in turn creates a buzz from others who also enjoy what we’re doing. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my creative endeavors is that it’s so important to be surrounded by the right people, and for that, I feel lucky all of our paths crossed! It’s exciting to see where our shared love of playing music will take us.

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

The most rewarding aspect is witnessing others genuinely enjoying our sound. There’s no better feeling than watching folks get up and dance, sing along, and showing their support. From the people who regularly attend shows, buy merch, share our band and gigs on social media; to being regularly booked by some of the finest establishments and promoters in San Diego.

Also, a frequent yet immensely endearing compliment I’ve received is how inspiring it is to see a woman playing music (especially from other women and kiddos coming up to the stage to tell me after a gig). If I can motivate even one person to get out and do what they love, then that’s the greatest achievement.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I do feel like there can be a lack of appreciation for creative types, even though artistry is such a pivotal part of many cultures. What would our world look like without art?

It would be great to see creatives supported and encouraged early in life; more funding for arts instruction in education systems would be a great start, as we’ve seen ample evidence proving how beneficial music is for children’s development. The benefits extend to all stages of life, but I believe offering more of an emphasis toward artistic direction in schools would help better support artists long-term.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theramblinsweethearts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theramblinsweethearts
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ramblinsweethearts

Image Credits
The Sacred Wild Photography, Mike Basso Photography