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

Suzy, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Am I happier as an artist or creative? Yes. But that is sort of an unfair question and answer. While I have only been a songwriter/vocalist for a few years, most of my 40+ year career was spent as a creative. The only jobs I ever had that I wasn’t a creative, were in high school and right out of college. I was a waitress at a small diner and then worked in data entry in the student financial aid office at my former university.

After that my all my “regular jobs” were in advertising and public relations. I spent most of my career as a writer, graphic designer and event planner. While it wasn’t my dream of being a singer, it was using and honing my creative talents. By the time I started writing songs, I had written pretty much everything else except maybe a book or screenplay. So, it wasn’t so daunting to take on another role. And I have experience in dealing with the news media and also placing ads and those are skills that an indie artist needs to have. I also spent about 10 years managing a musical theatre company as well as being their production manager. Also, skills that have come in handy as I work on building a career in music.

So, if you find yourself as a creative or artist needing a regular job, see if you can find things that use the creative skills that you already have, and you will be a lot happier.

Suzy, 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?

“Rock and roll is about pushing boundaries and breaking rules. I don’t fit what most people think a metal singer looks like and that’s ok. You don’t have to conform to what others think to follow your dream.”

Suzy grew up an artsy kid in a small town full of jocks with the same 80 students in her class from 1st to 12th grade. Her musical education consisted solely of “piano lessons from little old ladies who were taught by other little old ladies.” Needless to say, there weren’t many opportunities for Suzy to rock. Finally, at 21 and recently married, Suzy found herself in Houston, Texas with new musical opportunities. However, discouraged by her family, Suzy stopped pursuing music, and went the conventional 9-5 path, climbing the corporate ladder in PR and Marketing.

Years later, it was her son who encouraged her to find her musical voice. “It wasn’t until my son started singing that I even thought about it. He literally would sing along with the radio before he could talk,” she recounts. Unlike her experience with naysayers in the past, Suzy fostered his passion for music by managing a theater company that put on full scale Broadway musicals with children, many of which her son starred as the lead. Eventually, the support came full circle––inspired by her son’s interest in her voice, Suzy recorded an EP of cover songs for him as a gift. It was through this process that, in her 50s, she had the epiphany that she owed it to herself and the world to take back her life and chase her dream.

“Not pursuing music when I was younger was my biggest regret in life. I’m here to show the world that it’s never too late to change direction and become the person you’ve always wanted to be.”

Now, in her 60s, Suzy continues to push boundaries, defy convention, and inspire fans to do the same. Despite many obstacles, Suzy has self-released two critically acclaimed EPs “The Best Revenge” and “Suzy.” She’s performed at legendary venues, such as The Whisky in Los Angeles and the House of Blues in Las Vegas. She regularly attends the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, sharing the stage with bonafide rock stars such as Cheap Trick, Simon Kirke, Joe Vitale, Paul Stanley, Rob Halford & members of Judas Priest, Steven Adler, Buddy Guy, and Nancy Wilson. Despite her busy lifestyle, Suzy is still actively involved in Cruefest Hollywood, an annual charity concert that raises money for children’s cancer in memory of Vince Neil’s daughter.

In an attempt to differentiate herself from the other Suzy’s and make it easier for her fans to find her, she decided on the band name, Suzy and the Substitutes!

The name came about because aside from her songwriting partner and producer, Norman Matthew, the musicians who play on the recordings aren’t the same ones featured in her videos or who play LIVE on stage with her, so the Substitutes felt like an appropriate fit.

One thing is clear––all are welcome in Team Suzy Music. “Metal music is different because the people who listen to it are the most open minded, non-judgmental, caring people you will ever meet. Most of us are misfits and outcasts so we are very accepting of others and are a real family if you will,” Suzy expresses. For anyone that’s ever felt out of place or wants to reinvent themselves at any age, Suzy welcomes you into the family. Rock on!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Well, it’s not so much something I had to unlearn but something that I had to change my way of thinking about. Most of us go through life thinking that the word NO is final. It is the end of things. That if you are told No that you have to stop what you are doing.

What I have learned through all the ups and downs and starts and stops of my adventure in music is that NO is NOT the end of the world. It just means that you need to change direction or look for another path or choice. Back when I was working on my second EP, I was talking to a fairly successful drummer about the people playing on the songs. When I told him one name in particular, he was impressed and asked me how I got this legend to play on my songs. My reply was I asked him. Throughout that EP and the one I am currently completing; I have asked a number of musicians to play on the songs. Some are very well-known artists. So far, I have not had anyone turn me down when I asked. But if they had said No, then I would have just asked someone else. The idea that because one person said No, meant that I would stop working on the song is crazy.

So many people are afraid to ask the question, because they are afraid that the answer will be No. They don’t realize that if they DON’T ask the question the answer is already No. So, IF you ask the question and the answer is No, then you aren’t any worse off than you were before you asked the question.

Realizing this one thing is so important to going anywhere. If the answer you get is No, then find another person to ask the question. Also, sometimes the answer might be No to that question, but they might offer an even better choice. Once I was trying to put together a band for a gig opening a show and I asked a friend who played guitar if he would play the show. His answer was No. I wasn’t able to get together a band for that gig, BUT that friend is also someone who directs music videos. And while his answer to that question was No, he turned around an offered something even better. He offered to do a music video for me instead. The gig was as an opening act very early in the evening. It would have been fun but there would have maybe been 10 to maybe 20 people there at best. The music video is on YouTube and has had way more views than that and can be viewed for years to come.

So, “No”, No is not the end of the world. In fact, in can be the beginning of a totally different world.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is having a positive impact on people’s lives. Even people that I have never and will never meet. My songs and music videos will hopefully be around for years and years to come. It is so rewarding to get a message from someone who heard your song, and it helped them get through something. or have someone come up to you and tell you that they played your song at some event they had., or dozens of other ways that music/songs impact people. Songs can help people get through rough times or celebrate the good ones. Sometimes a song reminds them of that time in their life when they discovered that song, or maybe there is something in the song that spoke directly to them. So, I have to say that having an impact on so many people’s lives is the most rewarding part.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://suzyandthesubstitutes.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyandthesubs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzyandtheSubs/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJcB67LUSiF-bOtgAParqaQ