We spoke with Susan Aquila about taking control of her career, writing her own music, and new release, ‘I Took It For Me‘.
Susan! This song is such a fierce anthem – finally trusting your musical intuition and writing your own stuff after all these years must feel incredible. Tell me about that leap of faith!
Out of hardship comes lessons learned and new beginnings! I have been looking for my own musical voice and soul for a long time. It was anger and heartbreak after another failed attempt working with people who just wanted to use me, to control me and to ride my coattails that I decided to trust myself, knowing that I had the abilities to do this all along.
You’ve toured with McCartney, Billy Joel, Led Zeppelin – that’s insane! How does stepping into the spotlight feel different after being the electric violinist in the background?
It’s a completely different feeling being out there all alone. There is more pressure to make sure you don’t mess up, but the most wonderful part is that you can freely express yourself and connect with your audience. When you are a sideman for an artist, you are in a supportive role.
What were you listening to when you wrote this? The sound is so unique – that punky angst mixed with pop energy.
Actually, it started as a hard rock song and a really angry one at that! LOL! But then I realized that I wasn’t angry anymore, that I was so joyful and free. The pop setting fit much more naturally for my voice and the emotion. I worked with the best producer, Drew Yowell, who was really responsible for creating the bed of sound, the nuisance in the phrases and the punky vibe that suited me as the artist.
This whole thing about the toxic business partner who put his “dirty fingers in every corner of your life” – wow. Was it cathartic writing a song basically telling him to walk out the door?
Absolutely! Not only that, but it felt good to believe in myself and trust that I had everything I needed to move forward and that I would never again put myself in an abusive situation.
I love how you’re blending your violin with all these rock and pop elements. How do you even approach creating that sound?
I’ve spent many years learning and discovering a lot of the soundscape of the electric violin. Having that skill set really helped. Beyond that, there was a lot of trial and error on finding the right violin sound for this song.
The video is amazing – you just have this natural swagger, and Queen Victoria the chihuahua is adorable! What’s it like embracing this rock goddess side of yourself?
Thank you! I was really having fun and embracing the joy of the song. I was owning the message of the song from my soul. I’ve grown musically and personally and am enjoying newly found confidence.
You mention falling deeper in love with writing the more you do it. That creative awakening after suppressing it for so long must be pretty powerful.
More than anything, it is really exciting. I wake up each day and can’t wait to get to my violin, work on new songs, and create my new show. I find it energizing!
What does it mean to you to have fans support this new direction, especially as you’re claiming your space among the powerful women in music?
This has been the best part! I have never received such an outpouring of love and support before. The fans mean everything to me. As an artist, the goal is to express yourself and to bond with other people who feel that way too. Amazingly, I have such contact and love from my fans.
Any final thoughts for your fans out there?
Yes! Hang with me for this journey. New music, new music videos, a new show, and touring are on the horizon! Thank you, and I love you!
Watch the music video for ‘I Took It For Me’ below, and find out more about Susan Aquila and her music online on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
