Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sudie Abernathy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sudie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Ever since I can remember, I always dreamed of living in Mexico City and making music there. Having lived overseas in high school, it made me understand that this dream can definitely be a reality. Once the pandemic hit, everything stopped. I had booked DJ gigs for months into 2020 at the beginning of the year and things were really taking off, I had no days off from work and I was loving it because it was all work I enjoyed to do. But then as we all know, everything, everyone, the whole world stopped. It made me realize if I didn’t plan to do other things in my life I wanted to do, specifically traveling, then it might get too late or feel like missed opportunities. I love Dallas, but I started feeling like I needed to branch out, and a change of scenery is always extremely inspiring and invigorating for me. I decided to start saving and planning to come to Mexico City. So I did. My platonic life/music partner planned to come with me. We agreed to go to Mexico City for 2 months to write music and really be present in life. I moved from Dallas to Atlanta in April 2021, to back in with my parents to save even more, 5 months before our departure. I hadn’t spent a lot of time with my parents because they lived far away and I was always working, so it was a big change from being without them to living with them again after 12 years. It was a really beautifully challenging experience and I grew a lot in those 5 months. Finally, the day arrived and Teddy and I flew into Mexico City. Not even 2 weeks into the residency we had made for ourselves in a beautifully rich and green Air BnB. It was really scary to leave my home for 12 years (Dallas), and then be in a new place for 5 months, and then go to a totally new country all within what seemed like such a short amount of time. I felt grounded in who I was, but I felt like I had no feet on the ground in terms of the future. I don’t know how to explain it. After about 2 weeks, I was totally and completely enthralled with this city. It has been one of the biggest risks I have ever taken in my life, and in turn, it has been one of the best things that I have ever done. I am still currently here in Mexico City, recording my first full length album in a studio that has made me feel so welcome and comfortable and so supported. I have never had such a loving, trusting and supporting relationship with myself in my whole life. I have truly become my own best friend through these experiences which has directly affected my ability to be the most genuine and honest in my art and my craft. It’s incredible! Another beautiful thing about this experience is that this energy has been radiating out and I have been so lucky to have the most incredible support system and love coming together.
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?
Collectively, I’ve been studying, creating, and teaching music for almost 27 years. As an artist, I create with the intention of expanding boundaries and extending my vulnerability as human being. That’s what I love so much in other creatives. We are ultimately alone in our own minds, but we are all going through it, so to speak, have our own journeys, but parallel to each other. We are all connected in ways we don’t even understand. Creative expression is one of the most incredible gifts we have as sentient beings on this planet and I intend to use that and share that through my art with others so we maybe don’t feel SO alone ALL the time. I also offer vocal coaching as well as songwriting, music production, music theory, piano, and performance. I am confident in the knowledge I can share with people who are interested in developing a really strong, uplifting and supporting relationship with their own unique voice (metaphorically and literally). My favorite thing working with others on their own musical journey is seeing people allowing themselves to truly be themselves and let go. It is MAGIC and transformative.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
These two books and podcast have been essential in teaching me how to unlearn, or at least work on dismantling my own imposter syndrome. Especially when you’re first starting out, mental health and your internal relationship is so important to being able to let creativity flow without your own judgement or just holding yourself back. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz Song Exploder – Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Specifically unlearning the idea that as a femme presenting person in this world, I need to make myself: small, apologize for taking up space, make myself quiet and reserved to be more likable and desired. It is so important to build a relationship with yourself to make sure you know you can absolutely be as loud as you need to be, don’t apologize for taking up space, give yourself permission to figure out what you like and what you don’t like, give yourself permission to make mistakes and know that you learn from them and that in and of itself is a win. When someone bumps into YOU, you’re not the one apologizing. These muzzles society puts on us is traumatic and we store that in our bodies and when you can actively practice working through those things, you are able to really let yourself be free to express yourself creatively.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sudiemusic.com
- Instagram: @sudiemusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sudiemusic
- Twitter: @sudiemusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ3luRCJCUR-atXZlem0p8g
- Other: https://lessonsbysudie.com
Image Credits
Karina Gonzalez (for the personal photo) Karina Gonzalez Anayancy Gonzalez Zack Huggins Donjuan Staples