Savannah Nider was born and raised in Pawnee City, Nebraska, a small town in the southeast corner of the state with about 900 people. She grew up passionate about family, sports, speech, and of course… music. At a young age, her big voice turned the heads of some prominent industry figures. At 15, Savannah was given the opportunity to work along side Geno LeSage, Steve Cox, and Kenny Royster who were involved in the careers of Grammy award-winning artists including Collin Raye and many others.
After moving to Nashville in early 2019, Savannah began to make musical connections that would launch her career. Joie Scott, a well-known songwriter in Nashville, influenced Savannah’s songwriting ability and co-wrote her first song “Until Always,” which she performed at her own wedding. She was also introduced to Bryan Cole, a talented producer out of Pittsburgh, PA who took a special interest in Savannah’s unique story, sound, and powerful voice. She recorded her latest EP, produced by Bryan Cole and Grammy Award winner Steve Marcantonio, in November of 2019 with her family and friends watching the magic outside the studio glass.
This small-town girl with the big voice is making waves on the international
scene, reaching #1 on the iTunes country singles chart in South Africa with “We Are Us.” She feels nothing but humility, love, and support from her family, both here and gone, and will use music to make them proud.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Savannah about the new music, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
You’re from Nebraska and record country music. Are the two related in some way? Has your locale influenced the type of music you make?
I think they are somewhat related. Due to growing up in the Midwest, I was heavily exposed to country music and that is why I love it so much today. Also, country music is very popular in a small town and I am glad that I was exposed to it at such a young age.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
At a very young age, I always knew I had a special gift and that gift was singing. I also grew up in a musical family. I grew up watching my dad play in his band every Saturday for over 15 years. My brother also writes songs, plays the guitar, and sings. Therefore, growing up around music constantly has influenced me to keep going with my own music.
How is “We Are Us” different than previous releases? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
“We Are Us” is different because of its message and impact on the outside world. When you hear the phrase, it can mean anything. It could be about your family, pets, loved one, etc. This is one of the reasons why I love it so much because it has a different impact on each person and that has always been my overall goal with my music from the start.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
One of the challenges is that there are thousands of musicians that are equally talented. It is very difficult to find and promote yourself in your own unique way. This is something that I have been working on. I want show everyone that I am different and specifically show that through my vocal talent and music.
What was the last song you listened to?
The last song I listened to was “Courage” by Celine Dion. I absolutely love this song because of her powerhouse voice and the impact the song has on my emotions. She is one of my favorite artists and always will be for many reasons.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
When I was younger, I would have preferred CD’s because that was when I was obsessed with listening to the same person over and over again. Now I prefer MP3s because it is important to be exposed to a variety of musicians and music in order to find your sound and set yourself apart from everyone else.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I prefer Spotify because it is easy to navigate and it has everything you need when it comes to music.
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I have a music website called savannahnidermusic.com and I can also be found on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @savannah_nider My current single “We Are Us can also be located on all digital platforms (spotify, Pandora, youtube, amazon prime, etc).
Anything else before we sign off?
My biggest goal as a musician is to not only show my musical talent but to also let my humble personality shine as well.
