“I want to start a movement to let anyone who is being bullied feel that they are not alone” With Pop Star, Savvy G
If I could start a movement, it would be an anti-bullying movement. I was bullied for years and it was one of the roughest parts of my life. I didn’t have that many people that I could rely on for help either. For those that are going through bullying, I want to let them know that they aren’t alone. I want to bring it forward in people’s minds that what you say can leave a lasting impact on another person. Ultimately, I would love to eradicate bullying and for people to just be a lot kinder to one another.
I had the pleasure to interview Savannah Garza. “Savvy G” is captivating the attention of teens all over the nation on the ‘Boys of Summer Tour’, ‘Teen Nation Tour’, and ‘High School Nation Tour’, where she appears as a special performer alongside the biggest names in social media and music. With the recent release of her EP “Last Tears” and swiftly rising to fame as she works with top players in the music industry, including producers/engineers for Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, Savvy is taking the music industry by storm. With a natural charisma on and off the stage, she is here to discuss with you her new EP produced by the legendary Andrew Lane (platinum-accredited records for High School Musical and Hannah Montana), and the next moves in her blossoming career.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Thank you so much for having me. I was introduced to music at a very young age by my parents. No matter what we were doing, there was always music playing. I would always sing along and hum to the car stereo. Eventually we started going to concerts and I remember being in awe of all the performers and told my parents that I wanted to do that as well. So at twelve years old, I competed in the National American Miss Pageant and enrolled in a school of music called Rockstar Academy. This really solidified my passion for music and desire to perform. Shortly after that I started taking vocal and guitar lessons, and the rest, as they say, was history!
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?
So many interesting things have happened to me that it’s crazy difficult to pick! However, one that sticks out to me, is the opportunity to perform at Roland Studios. They reached out to me and invited me to take part in their ‘Roland Sessions’. It was a full and professional live production (lights, video, musicians, etc) of me performing the songs off of my EP. I’m the only unsigned artist they have ever had do this. It was such an honor for me, as I have been using Roland products for years before.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I made funny mistakes all the time when I was first starting. From background tracks not working, to my microphone not being plugged in, to tripping and falling on my face on stage, I’ve been through it all! I think that’s an important part of growing. Now I know to always be prepared and that it’s okay if I do embarrass myself sometimes. I’m human! As for the tripping on stage though, that might never change haha.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m working on a plethora of projects that I’m very excited for! I’ve been in the studio a lot recently, writing and recording a bunch of new material. I’ve been really experimenting with my sound lately and I can’t wait for everybody to hear this new side of me. Also, because the holidays are my favorite time of the year, I have been working on a fun project due around Christmas *hint, hint*. In addition, I’ve been delving into the acting world and you may see me on the big screen soon!
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
There are so many interesting and intriguing people that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and interacting with. Jared Leto once pulled me on stage at a Thirty Seconds to Mars concert and we had a nice chat in front of five thousand people. I got to sing for, talk, and funnily, watch Russ Regan’s OWN documentary with Russ Regan (signed Elton John, developed Beach Boys, & Neil Diamond). I had the chance to sing backup for Demi Lovato multiple times, with millions of people watching on their television screens. BTS congratulated me and told me how great I did. You could say that I’m pretty over the moon due to meeting some amazing and kind people over the years.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
It’s very easy to get burned out in this industry. I’ve watched many people and many of my close friends get overwhelmed and tired. I think it’s important to always keep things fresh. With whatever you are doing, try to keep things new and exciting. Change up your music style, cover somebody else’s song, create a very different music video, etc. Do something that you have never done before and your fans, and your mind, will thank you. Also, it’s okay to take breaks. Breaks and personal time away are actually really healthy for you and can keep you fresh.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could start a movement, it would be an anti-bullying movement. I was bullied for years and it was one of the roughest parts of my life. I didn’t have that many people that I could rely on for help either. For those that are going through bullying, I want to let them know that they aren’t alone. I want to bring it forward in people’s minds that what you say can leave a lasting impact on another person. Ultimately, I would love to eradicate bullying and for people to just be a lot kinder to one another.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
- Nobody is an overnight success. It may seem like a bunch of artists come out of nowhere and suddenly their music is on the radio. However, that’s not the case. What you don’t see is the years of work, failure, and rejection that artist may have faced leading up to their break. A lot of people don’t realize all the work that goes on behind the scenes, they just see the finished product. But, if you do put in the work, you can get there. It just takes some perseverance!
- It’s not just about the music anymore. Along with great songs, there’s a multitude of others things you have to have to be successful in this industry. You have to have an image, social media, it would be great if you played an instrument, dance/choreography, public appearances, a band, and a massive team supporting you to do all the behind the scenes work. It can be very overwhelming and busy at times.
- You need a good support system. Tying into #2, having a good support system is everything. From styling, to producing, to managing your schedule, there is a lot that goes into being an artist. Having people to help you navigate the industry is one of the most important things.
- It can be expensive. Everything costs in the music industry. And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING. From speakers, to clothes, to session time, to music videos, it can all add up. In order to fund your music endeavors, sometimes you have to have another job as well. That’s where the generalization that every waiter in LA is also an artist and hence the term “starving artist”.
- You need relationships. Networking is one of the biggest and best things you can do as an artist. Talk to anybody and everybody! You never know what could happen or who you could meet. All of the best opportunities that I’ve had has been because I knew a certain somebody.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”
Something that I’ve come to realize over the years is how much hard work goes into being in a creative field. Success is not guaranteed, so you need to guarantee your success. For example, because I was working hard and trying to make this really happen for me, I had so much more opportunities than I would have had I just sat there hoping somebody would take notice of me. Sending emails, making phone calls, forming connections, doing all the stuff that nobody wants to do, has given me many experiences that helped further my career.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My parents have been the biggest help in supporting my career. If I did not have them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. From going on tour with me, to being my own managers, they have done it all. I’ve been so blessed and lucky to have two people support me the way that they have.
Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
There are so many people I would love to meet and just have a chat with that it’s so difficult to pick one! I would love to have lunch with Phil Guerini, VP & Music Strategy at Radio Disney, as my producer Andrew Lane knows him as well. I think that would be a fun collaboration! I’ve always wanted to become a part of the Disney family and I respect the company so much and all they stand for. It’s been a childhood dream of mine to hear one of my songs played on Radio Disney!
How can our readers follow you on social media?
All of my social media is @savvygmusic and www.savvygmusic.com
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!