Exclusive Interview: Amy Virginia Buchanan Spreads Hope with Her Music
Americana Lady
Posted On May 2, 2016
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New York City is a hotbed of creative and ambitious people from all walks of life. Singer-songwriter, actress and entreprenuer Amy Virginia Buchanan embodies what you would expect to find in the city that never sleeps — someone who has the talent, creativity as well as drive and courage to pursue what she wants to do. I had the pleasure to sit down with this multi-faceted artist who transplanted herself from Oklahoma to NYC to follow her dream. She talks about her new album, Not Us, which drops May 6th of this year, and how her songwriting process helped her overcome an extremely negative experience she had when she moved to the big city. Read on to learn more about this fascinating and brave young woman!
Americana Lady: Hi, Amy Virginia! How are you doing today?
Amy Virginia Buchanan: Oh, I’m okay. I got to play a kid’s story time this morning at The Food Book Fair, this great indie book fair my friends put on, so I’m a little beat, but in a great mood. (Kids do that!)
AL: I read that you’re originally from Oklahoma. How did the relocation to New York City effect your songwriting?
AVB: Yep, from Stillwater, Oklahoma. Honestly, I didn’t start writing songs until I got to New York. There’s something about the city. It’s energy. I’m never comfortable in New York. Never get too relaxed, which I think is great for creativity. I think you can always trace a bit of the Midwest back through my songs, they are folk songs at heart, but the city is what inspires me to create.
AL: Congratulations on your upcoming new album, Not Us! You wrote the album as a way to deal with your emotions after a pretty traumatizing experience — being sexually assaulted. How did this creative process shape you as an artist?
AVB: I’ve never felt braver than I am right now. I want to have real and big conversations about things that are scary. Things that actually happen, to so many people. I’ve never let myself be angry before, but I did that this time around. And I let myself be scared. And hurt. I gave credit to my negative emotions, which I’ve always struggled with, and the result was so satisfying. Hopefully that makes me a better, more honest artist.
AL: We are happy to premiere your song, “End of the Line,” on No Depression. While your lyrics depict pretty heavy subject matter, the music stays light and upbeat. What feelings did you intend to evoke from the listener?
AVB: Hope. That’s the big one. Horrible things happen to good and normal people. So it is easy to feel lost. But hope is important.
AL: How has your theatre education, particularly “clowning,” effected your songwriting?
AVB: Well, I learned to write for performance while in clown school, so it was pretty influential in my creative development. While writing, I always consider how I will perform something. What I want to say before and after I sing a song in front of people. How I will relate to an audience. Ultimately, what I say matters, and I want to relate to people. And that’s clown. Relating to an audience and finding ways to communicate a compelling emotional narrative. I want to tell stories.
AL: What are your plans for the remainder of 2016 music-wise?
AVB: I’ll probably play another show or two. But really, I just want to keep writing. Writing makes me so happy. I also want to spend some time listening. I’ve been in my own head for a while. I want to hear what other people have to say.
Take a listen to “End of the Line,” by Amy Virginia Buchanan from her new album, Not Us (out May 6, 2016):
For more info, visit AmyVirginia.com.
