Amanda Cooksey
Interview conducted on March 15, 2021
By Dan Locke
Amanda’s music is about love and life through her eyes. Her story began in Orlando, Florida, where she began writing her own music through smart melodies and clever lyrics at the age of 12. She moved to Nashville and graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelors’s degree in Business. Amanda mixes country and pop through her musical inspirations that include Adele, Colbie Cailat, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Taylor Swift.
Amanda is currently working hard on the music, through writing and collaborating with Nashville songwriters, including some grammy award-nominated songwriters. She opened for Michael Ray in his hometown of Eustis at Boleros Cigar Bar with other talented songwriters. Amanda’s heart is much like her work ethic. She is a music philanthropist and volunteers with iTunes for Tots to help Make a Wish and Sutton House. She hopes you become a fan and a friend.
You were born and raised in Orlando, FL. What is your upbringing?
I am very close to my family. My parents have always been supportive of my music career and my brother is one of my best friends. I actually go home to Florida pretty frequently. My brother and I love playing video games and visiting Universal Studios/ Islands of Adventure.
My grandparents on my mom’s side are originally from Italy. They are super loud and hilarious! We have pasta dinners with them almost every Sunday. My family on my dad’s side lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and Georgia. They are super quiet compared to my mom’s side. It’s been cool to have two totally different family dynamics. It keeps life interesting!
You started to play piano, and taking vocal lessons at the age of six. How did his help you discover in your love of music?
The first instrument that I learned to play was the piano. I grew up learning to play classical pieces and eventually started learning some of my favorite pop songs as well. During this time, I also started taking vocal lessons, but was super shy. The only time I sang in front of people was at church and it was usually with another person. Since I was constantly surrounded by music growing up, I felt inspired to start writing my own songs. It started out just being words in a notebook that eventually turned into me teaching myself chords on guitar, so that I could play them. I think that’s when my passion for music truly started.
How did you start to write music?
When I was younger, my mom used to buy me CDs to listen to on my CD player. I vividly remember listening to Wham!’s “Last Christmas” on repeat (lol). My mom also bought me an iPod shuffle and downloaded popular 80s/90s songs onto it that I fell in love with. I was constantly learning and listening to music until it led me to start writing my own songs in a notebook that I had. I came up with melodies to the songs and started learning them on guitar and piano. I started playing the songs I was writing for my piano/vocal instructor at the time, Ron Feldman, who would critique them. He encouraged me to keep writing and I continued to fall more and more in love with the craft.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My first guitar actually belonged to my dad. It was a small, acoustic Yamaha. My dad taught himself to play guitar and when I started taking an interest, he let me borrow his guitar. I eventually ended up buying a Guild when I started getting more serious about music, but the Yamaha is still back in Florida!
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model?
I love my Guild guitar! It’s a D-140CENAT made between 2000 to 2014.
Describe your music.
My music is a blend of pop melodies with the cleverness of country lyrically. I’m really inspired by Walker Hayes, Breland, Hardy, Taylor Swift, Julia Michaels, and Ariana Grande so you might hear some of their influence in my music.
What was your first performance at like?
The first performance of me playing piano and singing by myself was in front of 500 people in middle school. I was sooo nervous. I was really shy and this was the first time I was alone on stage with just my voice and a keyboard. The performance ended up going really well and people encouraged me to continue to pursue music. This is definitely where I realized that music could be more than just a hobby for me.
What makes a good songwriter?
To me, being a good songwriter is all about speaking from the heart and not being afraid to be honest and vulnerable. People want to be able to connect to your stories. If you can make someone feel all the emotions through a phone screen without being right there in front of them, you know you have a good song.
What was it like to work as creative assistant for Demolition Music Publishing in charge of social media and the music catalogue?
I absolutely love my job! I get to listen to music every day which is a dream. It actually has helped inspire ideas for my own music! I also love all of my co-workers. Our owner, Jon D’Agostino, made it his mission for the company to feel like a family and everyone working there is super dedicated to their craft. It’s nice to work with people who are so like-minded.
What is the process of writing your music?
It’s different every time! Sometimes I go into a write with a cool hook or title. Other times, I’ll go in with a melody or chorus idea. It depends on the day!
Tell me about your latest release “In Denial”? With “In Denial” like “What His Name” you did an animation first. Are you going to release another video for “In Denial”?
I wrote “In Denial” about that period after a breakup where you don’t want to believe it actually happened. You want to think the person is going to come back the next day and you’ll make up and carry on with your lives. Two years ago, I went through a really difficult breakup and channeled all of those emotions through music. My co-writers and I had such a great time writing this one and creating our own kind of paradise where ignorance is bliss.
I did make my own lyric video for “What’s His Name?” I think I’ll keep it a surprise as to whether or not there’s another lyric video coming soon! ☺
Before “In Denial” you released “What’s His Name”? Is there a story behind that song?
There is! “What’s His Name?” is actually about the same breakup as “In Denial.” I wanted to write “What’s His Name?” for anyone going through a heartbreak. I wanted it to be a song people could dance to with their friends to hopefully forget their ex for a little while. It was such a therapeutic song to write because it helped me forget the hurt, I was going through at the time. One of my co-writers on the song, Michael August, actually had the idea for the title. We were talking one day, and he couldn’t remember what someone’s name was so he kept saying, “what’s his name?” The rest is history!
How do you stay healthy while performing?
I grew up running cross country and track since third grade. Unfortunately, I have arthritis in my hip so I am unable to run like I used to, but I still do HIIT workouts. I also am a big believer in taking care of your mental health. I’ve struggled with anxiety for a long time and make sure to journal and mediate whenever I feel anxious. All of this definitely keeps me healthy while performing!
What is you’re feeling about streaming music?
I definitely have mixed emotions on streaming, but it’s the way of the world right now! I think that it’s a great tool for people looking for new music. It’s actually how I found my love for 50’s/60’s music. There are so many different playlists you can listen to that expose you to new artists and sounds.
Digital vs. vinyl?
They are so different so it’s hard to choose! When I’m on the go, it’s nice to be able to listen to my music wherever and whenever, but I do have a record player that I love. I have some of my favorite albums on vinyl. There’s just something really calming about listening to music on a record player. It’s a different experience all together.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
This is super random, but when I first started listening to country music, one of the first artists I was exposed to was Jake Owen. I fell in love with his song “Green Bananas.” I think it popped into my head because I’ve been working on taking life one day at a time, which is what the song is all about. It’s also one of the first songs that inspired me to write country music.
In high school you were involved with organizations like Make a Wish, Ovarian Cancer Alliance and Tunes for Tots. Was that the reason you started your own non-profit called Manda’s Musical Hope
I started Manda’s Musical Hope because a lot of people in my life have been affected by cancer. My mentor and piano/vocal instructor Ron Feldman actually passed away from brain cancer right before I moved to Nashville. He encouraged me to move to Tennessee and continue to pursue music. He always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. He lives on through my music, but I wanted to start an organization that could help fight this terrible illness. Unfortunately, I recently had to dissolve the non-profit as I had to commit time to my Master’s degree, working and music. I hope to continue to find ways to be involved in organizations fighting against cancer.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine? Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Honestly, quarantine was really difficult for me. I am an introvert, but I get a lot of my energy from being around other people. It took a big toll on my mental health, so I spent a lot of time doing things that I know make me happy like writing songs and watching movies. I think It actually helped me work through some anxiety that I might have already been dealing with through the stress of being on the go before COVID hit. I definitely have a better outlook on being isolated now and have been able to get back to a somewhat normal lifestyle in terms of staying positive and busy!
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I pray that this will help save music venues. I’ve seen a few popular music venues here in Nashville close in the last year due to the pandemic and it’s been really hard to watch. These were venues people would frequent often to listen to live music. Places that I would have never imagined closing after being open for so many years are now gone. SO many people’s livelihoods depend on these venues staying open, so I hope that these acts can help make a difference.
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
It’s really hard to picture a life without performing my songs, but I would probably still work in music, but on the business side. I work on the business side now and am able to listen to songs every day. It’s honestly a dream!
Are you ready for Deadpool to finally make it to the Marvel Universe?
I would love to see a Deadpool/ Spider-Man movie! I think it would be hilarious and is long overdue. I guess we’ll see what happens. ☺
What Is your superpower?
I think my superpower is telling stories through songs.
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