Meet Amanda Belair: Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Belair and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For a long time, I suppressed my creativity with a 9-5 job that had nothing to do with music. I thought that it was normal to spend 90% of my day working at a desk job that I hated only to come home and have no energy to devote to my craft. One day I woke up and realized that I was miserable and wasting my life. I was financially secure, but I had no real drive to wake up and do anything. So I decided to quit my stable job and become a full-time singer/songwriter (something that I have dreamt of doing since I was a kid). Working in the creative/artistic industry is honestly more difficult than any of my past jobs, but I now wake up every day with so much passion and enthusiasm to create. And I am actually excited to devote all of my time to my work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I seek to provoke creativity, love, and freedom within my music. The world is such a chaotic and at times overwhelming place. My music is a getaway car to the beautiful parts of life. I create feel good music that anyone can connect with. That “Dancing in your room with your hairbursh/Have to get up and move” type music. I am most proud of my songwriting, and the work that I have put into my career thus-far. I started out on my own from scratch. I researched everything myself, and worked my way into the Atlanta scene by attending open mics and songwriting competitions. I constantly asked questions and became friends with other artists who taught me along the way. I also sat and emailed venues for hours, and even walked into places of business to hand my card directly to the owner. Music careers are in no way easy. I have invested a great deal of time and money into my career, and I am still doing so. Creative jobs require you to show up every day, give it everything you’ve got, and expect nothing in return in the beginning. My love for creating music, and my support system has helped me overcome every obstacle. Without my passion, love for music, and sheer will to make this career work, I would have given up within a few months. I am still learning new lessons each and every day, but these are a few of my favorite lessons so far… -Everything is negotiable. -Know your worth -Hard work pays off -Always be your most authentic self I would like the world to know that working together is the way. I feel like the industry creates a competitive atmosphere, but we thrive when we come together. We have a lot to learn from one another, and there really is strength in numbers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Pre-Covid I would say walking the Beltline in Atl is one of my favorite activities. I love the outdoors, and I feel like there are so many incredible views along the Beltline. I am a huge fan of intimate show settings, so pre-Covid, I would have suggested checking out a show at Venkmans. It was at the top of my “favorite venues to perform at” list. I am still in the process of learning the in’s and out’s of Atlanta, but I will say riding on those electronic scooters at top speed during golden hour is magical. The North Georgia Mountains are also incredible, so I would book an Air Bnb up there for a few nights. I would also take them to check out a Cody Matlock show. He is incredibly talented, and his shows always have the best energy. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be this far into my career in only a few years without the constant support of my family first. They have been with me every step of the way on this roller coaster of a career, and continue to show up for me every day. I would also like to acknowledge my small group of childhood friends that have shown their support over the years. They have been attending my shows since the beginning, and I appreciate their love. There are also a few artists that I have met and worked with recently that have had a huge impact on my most recent progress. These artists are MoDre (my producer/mentor), Lucy Graves, Ariee, Zakaidia, Chris Ruggiero with Between Dreams, and Rederick (who was kind enough to point you in my direction) just to name a few. There are so many more, and I am beyond grateful to the tremendous support of the Atlanta music community. My circle continues to grow and we continuously lift one another up to new heights. I am also reading Alicia Keys’s new book “More Myself”. She has inspired me throughout my journey as an artist, and this book in particular has helped me in so many ways this past year. I truly am over the moon with the love, kindness, and support that I have witnessed.

Website: https://www.amandabelair.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandabelair/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theamandabelair
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamandabelair
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc4Um8IBLvNy_wAPppt6r_w
Other: https://soundcloud.com/theamandabelair https://youtu.be/8qHIxnfq01A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p7sLB4FmcQ

Image Credits
(first pic/personal photo) – Nikki Chattom (second pic/photo with sky) – Alan Stein (third pic/outdoor performance) – Robert Downing (fourth pic/between dreams in chair) – Marybeth Dinges (5th pic/hat and mask) – Alan Stein