Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sundi Jo Graham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sundi Jo, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I was around eight years old and visiting my dad for the weekend. It seemed like he always had the radio on, which sat atop the spice rack, and I heard the most beautiful voice I’d ever heard coming out of that speaker.

Dolly Parton was singing Silver and Gold, and it stopped me in my tracks. I immediately went home and begged my mom to buy me the cassette tape with that song.

I played her Eagle When She Flies cassette on repeat until I wore the tape out. To this day, that’s my favorite song, and that’s still my favorite album.

Something came alive in me that day, and I fell in love with Country Music. It didn’t matter what pain I was going through; I could lock myself in my bedroom, turn on music, and drown out the world.

From that moment forward, I knew in my heart that I would grow up and somehow be involved with music. I wanted to write songs and turn my pain into art.

I wish I could say I just started writing and everything turned out grand, but that’s not the case. I was so controlled by fear and shame that I just continued to sabotage myself in one form or another.

In 2001, after graduating high school, I moved to Nashville to pursue my songwriting dream. A few months later, I moved back home. My aunt was dying of cancer, and I’d had an encounter with a man in the music business that turned scary. I believe, to this day, I narrowly escaped sexual assault. It scared me enough to pack up my things and say, “This isn’t the right time for me.”

Unfortunately, upon returning to Missouri, I decided to push all my feelings down and party my life away. I convinced myself my dreams would never come true, and I believed that lie for many years.

Fast forward to 2020. I’d been writing songs again, but not with the goal of the world hearing them. I taught personal and professional development in multiple prisons, and when COVID hit, and the world shut down, I found myself at home with a lot of time on my hands.

I knew then that I had a choice: I could keep running from my dreams or actually pursue this scary thing called songwriting. I decided on the latter. So, I poured myself into learning more about the craft, found a songwriting coach, read books, listened to podcasts, and wrote, wrote, wrote. And, lo and behold, it turned out that I didn’t actually suck. Someone besides my mom said I was good, which always helps.

But then things started getting even more scary. You know how they say (I don’t know who “they” is) that when at least three people tell you the same thing you should probably start paying attention to it? Well, as I was recording worktapes, I started hearing, “You have a really unique voice, I think you should do something with it.” I blew it off at first. I never thought I could sing, though I always dreamed of doing it since I was a little girl.

But when people in the music industry started saying it more, I decided to start paying attention to it. It turns out that the ember in my heart never fully died; it just needed some fanning to become a full flame of dreaming again.

I decided to release my own project, a song that was very near and dear to my heart, and see how it went. The day before “Jesus and Time” came out, I had a full-blown panic attack in my bedroom. I cried. Actually, I sobbed. I couldn’t catch my breath. I said a thousand times, “This is a mistake.”

But then I got over myself and decided I would keep doing it, afraid. So I did. And I waited. I waited for people to tell me the song sucked. I waited for them to tell me I couldn’t sing. I waited for them to tell me to just stick with songwriting. And no one did.

I would love to say that was the end of my insecurity, but it wasn’t. I was meeting with a staff member of a record label one evening, intending to submit songs just as a songwriter. At the last minute, I decided to include one of my own to play for her, but I saved it for last, and I didn’t tell her it was me singing.

As I played the song for her, I wanted to throw up. This is a mistake, Sundi Jo. Why didn’t you pick something else? And I waited. I waited for the ball to drop. I waited for the look of disgust in her eyes. Instead, she bobbed her head along with the beat. And I’ll never forget what she said when it was over.

“Wow! I needed that song today. What a great reminder!” Then she said, “Please tell me that was you singing.” I hesitantly nodded yes and once again waited for the ball to drop. It didn’t. “You have such a unique voice, and I feel like I need to tell you that if you don’t release music as an artist, you’re doing the world a disservice.”

That rocked my world. I still don’t have adequate words to explain it. She wasn’t my mom. She wasn’t a friend. She wasn’t a coach I’d hired. She had no skin in the game whatsoever and had no obligation to tell me that I was good.

I got off that call, and I wept. I wept because I was 39 years old, and I’d been refusing to chase a dream because of my own fears for so many years. I was too scared to chase the risk.

I wept because I knew God had big plans for me, and I’d spent so much time in fear and insecurity.

I wept because I felt so much gratitude that it wasn’t too late for me.

That was about six months ago. I turned 40 in September and just released my third song while still pursuing songwriting as a profession as well. I’m just getting started!

K.T. Oslin was 44 when her career finally started to take off. That gives me hope that it’s not too late for me.

I still battle insecurity. When I step out on a stage to play music, I do it afraid. When I release new music, I do it afraid. Why? Because it’s worth the risk. Because we only have one life to live, and I don’t want to waste any more time.

I’m not dreaming about having a hit song on the radio. I’m not dreaming about a Grammy. But I am dreaming about making music for a living, and for the first time in my life, I’m realizing it’s an actual possibility, with determination and hard work and building the right relationships.

But I can’t just keep dreaming about it. I have to turn that dream into an achievable goal and then take the action steps to get there. Dreaming is a great start, but crossing the finish line takes action.

Here’s to taking the risks and doing it afraid!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Sundi Jo is an Americana/Roots Gospel recording artist, singer, and songwriter from Missouri. Imagine a voice that sounds like a blend of Lucinda Williams, Iris Dement, Anne Wilson, and Zach Williams, and you’ll find Sundi Jo. She brings a soulful style to her music that makes her unforgettable. Her voice and ability to write songs from the heart drive her passion to keep making music.

“I want to write and perform songs that people can really resonate with, really feel,” said Sundi Jo. “The world needs more vulnerability, and so does the church. I hope to provide that, along with some hope.”

Sundi Jo has a real, raw story of gritty redemption that her listeners can relate to. “ Her story will wound you, heal you, and help you see your story in light of a larger narrative.” – Jeff Goins, Bestselling Author & Speaker

BACK STORY

Sundi Jo was eight years old when she heard Dolly Parton’s voice coming out of her dad’s radio atop the spicy rack in his tiny kitchen, singing “Silver and Gold.” It stopped her in her tracks, and music clutched her heart from that day forward. “From that moment forward, I knew in my heart that I would grow up and somehow be involved with music.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Knowing I’m making a difference in someone’s life. Music is healing. It brings people together. If I can write a song that makes people feel something, that’s so rewarding.

And when someone comes up to me and says, “Wow, I can relate to that so much; it’s like you wrote it for me,” it gives me goosebumps.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I’d had a community of creatives to collaborate with, co-write with, learn from, get feedback, and even just get encouragement.

In 2020 when I was digging in and learning all that I could, I found The Climb Podcast. It’s been one of the greatest resources for me in learning about creating, the music business, songwriting, and more. It’s hosted by Johnny Dwinell of Daredevil Production, who focuses more on the business side of music, and Brent Baxter, songwriter and founder of Songwritingpro.com, which is an amazing place for songwriters to learn and encourage one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: sundijo.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sundijo
• Facebook: facebook.com/sundijo
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sundijo
• Twitter: twitter.com/sundijo
• Youtube: youtube.com/sundijo
• Other: sundijo.com/presskit patreon.com/sundijo tiktok.com/sundijo