A.G Sully, my doppelgänger from Alabama

Pink Ipod: So I always start the interviews with the same question, which is : what is the first song you ever wrote ?

A.G Sully: The first song I ever wrote, I was 18 or 19. My parents sold our family home and I wrote this sad little guitar song called “Moving On”, and it's about us selling our house. We did like one last walkthrough in all those memories of that old house, and I played them the song.

PI: How did your parents react? Was it the first time that they saw you making music?

AGS : The first time I played them a song that I wrote, I think. They'd heard me sing, but I was scared of writing, for a long time.

PI : Do you have a specific song or album that you remember listening to as a child ?

AGS: I don't know if I have a specific album. I didn't grow up in an album family, I feel like. My distinct memory of music from childhood was 1) church, and then 2) my mom is a huge Elvis fan, and then my aunt, my mom's sister, is a huge Michael Jackson fan. So I feel like my time was split between Elvis and Michael Jackson, and I have really vivid memories of them both. I spent a lot of time at my aunt's house, she would play Michael Jackson music videos nonstop for hours at a time. I would just sit and cry watching him... Then, I would go back home and my mom would turn on live Elvis DVD concerts. So that was kind of more of my childhood, not so much a specific record, but just that obsessive fangirling in a way.

PI: Do you have that obsessing fangirling now?

AGS: Yeah. It first started with One Direction and Harry Styles for sure. I do have a Harry Styles doll at home in Alabama. I'm going to keep it as long as I can. Now, it's more like getting really into an artist and needing to know everything about them. Not so much in that crush kind of way, but more obsessive. Like, “how did they make this?” “Why did they make this?”

PI: And what has been the latest tunnel on an artist?

AGS: It's always Solange for me. I'm a huge Solange fan, she's probably my favorite artist of all time. Every time I open Instagram, it's one of her fan pages, posting a very niche video that I would have never found on my own.

PI: What is it about Solange’s music that makes you obsessed?

AGS: It’s very intriguing to me. When I first listened to her, I didn't like it. I don't think I understood it. I think it just felt like such a universe that I hadn't visited yet. But when it finally clicked for me, it felt like such belonging in a way. And now, when I listen all the way through to one of her records, it kind of feels like recentering myself, like coming back home. It feels like the music that I always wanted to make, and I just didn't or don't. And I think everybody probably has an artist like that.

PI: To talk a bit about your sound, I listened to your first two albums and then to your more recent singles, and it felt like you were maybe, both in your songwriting and sound, alternating between this deeply introspective side with some lighter, more nonchalant thought pieces. Listening to your last singles, it feels like you've maintained the eerie feeling, but maybe some of the darkness has lodged itself elsewhere. Do you agree ? How did that come about ?

AGS : Yeah, I just talked to my partner about that, because Dive In feels like the first ever truly pleasant or joyful song. And I think it just reflects where I'm at now. A lot of the music that I've made before has been inspired by some sadness or some wanting. And it’s not that I don't still deal with those things now, but I think overall my life right now feels very sweet. I got married half a year ago, which was on a whim. But up until that point, I'd been dating people and getting my heart broken and feeling alone and like working stupid jobs and moving a lot

(we all feel you A.G)

And now I feel kind of free from a lot of those things. I have this person that I can rely on, and maybe he's getting those feelings now. I can process those things with him rather than with a song. And now I just feel free to write stuff that feels good.
But I don't know, I still have those dark moments, those songs still exist. Maybe I'm just changing what I want to present.

PI : Was it hard drawing inspiration for these more peaceful/happy songs?

AGS : I think it felt like some breakthrough. Because when I first started making Dive In, I think the first rough draft of lyrics was about me fighting myself and had nothing to do with talking about a relationship or anything like that. And I tend to over complicate things and make everything more deep or more emotional or more dark than it needs to be. And I think I finally realized that I can just write this simple song that feels good. And that doesn't make me have less depth as a person. You know what I mean?

PI : Yeah, I really see that. About your writing process, you write your songs alone, right?

AGS: For the most part. I've written a few songs with other people, but in the past two years, I've been a little more isolated from other musicians. And so I've just been doing everything alone for the most part.

PI : When you write, do you feel like it's you yourself writing or it's a persona? Or do you ever like writing concepts, maybe something that is totally outside of yourself?

AGS: I don’t really. Sometimes I just feel like everything always feels so personal. I'm also just a sensitive person. So it's hard for me to detach and write something that doesn't mean something to me. But I really admire people who do that because I think that's so cool.

PI: Regarding what you said about being a bit more isolated from musicians. It looks like currently you produce almost exclusively yourself. I was wondering how that autonomy, whether it was intentional or not, shaped your sound in a new way ?

AGS: It's kind of changed my life in a lot of ways. It came out of necessity, because basically, I lived in Nashville for eight years. I had a whole community, every single person there is an amazing musician. And then I moved to New York a few years ago.I was really broke after living there for a while. I couldn't pay anyone to like produce for me. I had no money. And so I just was : “well if I'm going to keep releasing and writing, then I'm going to have to learn how to produce”. I was very resistant to it, because I think I hate to be bad at something. I’m scared of it. And then I met my partner, Bruce, and he pushed me to do it. He was like : “why don't you produce yourself, when you got to pay this person and then you have to pay the mixing engineer, plus $200 to master it. And then you have to pay for marketing and stuff. Why can't you do it?”. And I was like, “ Because I'm not this and this and this and this…”; and then and then I realized, wait, I can do all of those things. Like there's absolutely nothing stopping me. And I made ‘Sofa’, I made ‘Sink’, which I ended up taking to a producer because I wanted real instruments on it. But the demo for ‘Sink’ is what made me feel like, oh, I can totally just produce these songs. I guess when you work with people, the time for creativity is restrained. It's not endless. If I don't have the funds to pay you yet, then the song isn't coming out. And I don't want.

PI : How did you learn production?

I don't know. Trial and error. It's not as hard as I thought it was gonna be to make something sound good. I've asked Perplex Me a lot of questions. AI kind of taught me how to master, which I am not super proud of, but at the same time, it's really amazing place to be in because there are these tools that can help you learn things, but AI still sucks.

PI : I was wondering if there's any elements that you have a special attachment to, whether it's the writing, the producing, the performing also.

AGS: I really love performing. And that's also been a thing that I've been enjoying is playing alone live. I always used to have a band or like somebody accompanying me. And again, like I just booked shows and didn't have anyone to play with. So you figure it out and then it goes really well and it's great. But when it comes to the voice and the performing, it feels really personal.

PI: You're between many different genres, is there one that you haven't quite dived in yet and that you would like to experiment with a bit more?

AGS : Well, I haven't done electronic or like house music, but would love to because it's cool. But sometimes I also want to dig a little more into my Southern roots. I would never be a country singer, but I do really respect that writing, especially with old country. And sometimes I just want to add a little steel guitar to the song.

PI: On that note, how has growing up in the South, specifically in Alabama, shaped your sound? Obviously the songwriting is part of it. But maybe beyond that, like how did you build yourself within that environment? Whether it's rejecting it or accepting it, right?

AGS: There is a grit to the South, I'm happy that I have that. It's kind of muddy in a way. And for the longest time I rejected it. Ever since I moved away from Alabama, I always felt embarrassed I was from there because of the reputation that it has, for a lot of really true reasons. But in the past few years, as I've gotten a bit older and moved even further away, I'm starting to appreciate it a bit more because there's a lot of goodness in the South too.
I've been in Montreal for a few months and people aren't quite as friendly as they are in Alabama. Here in Montreal, people don't speak to you, like don't say hello or like pull the door or something. And that's such a big thing in the South that I think is so special. It feels very communal. It feels very warm and welcoming and even if it's fake, but I don't know, I'm starting to appreciate that I have this, I now realize it was kind of a unique upbringing.

PI: And how was it like coming from the South and then like having all these years also in Nashville and then moving to New York? I guess a lot of creatives are from New York or LA; how did it feel to be a creative that's a bit more outside of that network originally?

AGS: It felt really scary at first. New York really scared me at first. Being from the South and being in New York seemed to shock people, almost in a way that worked in my favor. It was not expected that I'm this small town Alabama girl but have this music or whatever. But that seemed to work in my favor, even though I did feel a bit isolated for a good year.

PI: I want to maybe look at ‘Sink’ which was the first song you produced yourself. And I did feel like, and tell me if I'm wrong, but there was a part of it that kind of connected to some of your older music. The piano seemed to connect to Space to Think, and then the song transitions into your newer sound. I saw it was also one of your favorite songs of yours. What parts of you did it connect ?

AGS: Yeah, I wrote that song in my first few months of being in New York. And I was very alone. When you move to New York you think it's gonna be everything when you get there. And I actually felt really lost for the first year. I wrote that song after taking an edible, and I don't really smoke that much anymore because I get really anxious. I kind of overdid it with this edible, and I was really high in my room, feeling like, what have I done? I've moved away from all my people, and I'm running out of money. I don't know anyone. The city is huge and terrifying, and I felt like I saw my old self, just reaching out and trying to grab her, and she just kept pulling away or something. I wrote the song on the piano that night, thinking : my old self is gone, but that doesn't mean that the next version isn't going to be great as well, if that makes sense.

PI: Regarding your inspirations, maybe, I was wondering about your non-musical inspirations. I guess edibles are on the list now.

AGS: Not even, oh my God. I just never lived somewhere where weed was legal, so I was like, I need to go get something, but it’s not for me anymore.

PI: I saw that you made Clay G. Sully, and it was this beautiful little animation, and I was thinking “oh, that's so cute”. What other mediums have helped you nourish your projects ?

AGS: I'm pretty crafty. I like to make some jewelry. My great aunt made jewelry, and when she passed I inherited all of her beams, her sewing machine and everything. When I feel drained musically or not inspired, it's nice to still create something. I also like making other videos that aren't pertaining to music. My husband and I do a lot of that, just like random little creative endeavors, because he's a painter a jeweler as well. It’s been really nice to have other little creative journeys that can take my mind off of music. When you do those things, it frees up the space to actually do the music. I think Joni Mitchell used to always talk about painting, and when she couldn't write a song, she would just paint about it.

PI: How has this partnership with your husband influenced your sound or some of the concepts?

AGS : I mean, it's just really wonderful creative energy to be around in general. He has also challenged me quite a bit to kind of think outside of the box I made for myself. He also has different musical tastes that have influenced me. I don't walk around and listen to the Beatles, but, he loves the Beatles, and so then I'm like, wait, the Beatles have amazing music. I forgot about this. I think it's also just having someone who is always wanting to help. When it comes to visuals and content, before I met him, I was always thinking I don't know what to do. I hate recording myself. I don't have any money to pay someone. He’s a really good match for that. He's helped me be a little more confident in front of the camera and explore new ways to present myself that aren't just a performance shot or something.

PI: Then it makes me wonder, what was that box that you were trapped in before?

AGS: I think I'm struggling with some insecurities in front of the camera, because it feels like we're in such a phase of time where everyone is just gorgeous online. I struggled with comparison a lot. Seeing people doing music seems to be so effortless in front of the camera or in photo shoots. Bruce has really helped me to see my quirky self as really beautiful. And it's interesting. I just felt like a normal white girl and he's helped me see that there are all these weird amazing little things that means that people would be interested in.

PI: Going to the more material aspect of it, can you tell me if you have a manager or label ? How do you go about putting your music in the world?

AGS : I am independent. I've had some friends help me get in there, but overall I'm pretty clueless and just kind of go off of feeling, if there's momentum I'll try to run with it and keep releasing and that's what I know to do. Hopefully the right person will come along and help me push it forward more.

PI : And are you able to live from your music?

AGS : No. No. Not at all. I'm very grateful like I’m in a situation now where my bills are very minimal being in Montreal. It's quite a bit cheaper to be living here than in New York. So we've just been kind of winging it, doing dog sitting, and just some random things here and there that have kept us fed and yeah, I've got time on my hands for the first time ever and that is really amazing.

Pi : I was wondering was there ever a time that you thought about quitting ?

AGS : You know, probably like once a month. Just very usual. I don't think I ever would or could. But you know, I think every single person gets discouraged and feels like it's unfair in a lot of ways. But it's really not about making it… What even is making it ? I think it's already a win to choose to try, a lot of people don't try and just do what is safe or what they think would be better long term or something. But I think we're already ahead in following our hearts.

PI : And I feel like that's also true regarding the way you make music. It feels like you were not afraid at some point to do something and change. Were you ever scared that people would not get into it?

AGS : Yes. I guess it's such a small level, it kind of feels like you don't have much to lose. And if people don't like a song, my whole career doesn't depend on it. It's not like Ariana Grande drops a really bad album.

PI : And I was wondering to talk a bit more about also some of your musical inspirations. So obviously Solange is at the top of the list, but if there's anyone else that you would like to mention that has inspired you, even like current artists, older artists, anything?

AGS : Yeah. Lately, I've been diving more into the trip hop world. I've been listening to a lot of Portishead, I'm always listening to Jill Scott. It's a lot of soul. It's a lot of R&B, but I also love the Jessica-Pratt-singer-songwriter world. Also Michael Jackson. I've been listening more to things that feel good rather than like listening to James Blake all the time, which is a nice phase to be in, but it does kind of put me in a weird space. I'm listening to old N.E.R.D, and realizing it makes me feel a lot better. I’m listening to D'Angelo all the time.

PI : You said that you like performing, do you have any special memory from a concert ?

AGS : My album release for Premonition of rain was really special. My parents were there and it was just really emotional. You know, I was just about to move out of Nashville as well. It felt like a goodbye as well. The past few New York shows that I've played solo. I played a few shows at this venue called Cassette, to feel like people were listening was very meaningful to me.

PI : If you had all the budget in the world to make any creative project what do you think you would make?

AGS : I've always had this dream of going somewhere really beautiful and far away, like Switzerland or somewhere in Asia and have a really big budget to get a small group of people, rent a beautiful cabin, and make an album in a month. Just to allow yourself to be in that creative world you know.

PI :Are there any smaller artists that you'd like to shout out ? Can be from any discipline.

AGS : Well definitely my friend Lindsey she goes by the name Hailes. I met her in New-York, she is an incredible artist and true visionary… She started on Broadway, she was a musical theater person. She left that and started doing solo stuff. Her way of creating or making things happen is really beyond me. She somehow is playing at the world cup now ?? Of course my husband's art I want to shout but as well, but specifically his jewelry : 911 07. It's amazing handmade silver jewelry. And then lastly, my friend Summer Joy, she's a natural artist, she has the most unreal voice I've ever heard in my life.

PI :My very last question, and then I'll leave you alone with your beautiful dogs, what is your favorite hat ? Because I think you have a hat collection, and a major one at that.

AGS : Oh my god, I do ! Okay well my favorite everyday hat is the plaid one that I wore in the last video that I posted. But my favorite is this one, I found it at a thrift store here in Montreal and there is this cool Russian thing going on.

(It was a really cool hat and the end of the interview! Hope you enjoyed it).