Meet Mandy Marylane | Singer Songwriter & Guitarist

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

Hi Mandy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am pursuing a creative career because being creative is a huge part of my nature and who I am. I want to live a life that will allow me to be able to create consistently. Creative careers are by far the hardest ones to make a living off of, but in my opinion, some of the most rewarding. It’s not about the money. It’s just about being able to create. Creation is literally life.

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 think what sets me apart from the others is my voice. It’s not any better, or any more trained than other singers out there, but if there’s one thing I know about it, it’s that you will never hear another voice like mine. That is one of the things I am most proud of when it comes to my art. Something else I am very proud of is my guitar playing, because I have worked so hard and come so far to be where I am. This part of my craft has never come easy to me, and it has taken a lot of discipline, dedication and courage to come this far and to continue to share my guitar playing with my audience. There will always be that doubt with guitar, of whether or not I’m good enough. I am proud of myself for continuing to play, regardless of those doubts. I’m so excited to see where all my hard work and experience will take me in the future. I know what I’m working on today, but what will I put out ten years from now? That is an exciting thought to me; that I will only get better. I think the road a musician or artist goes down in life is one of the hardest. In general, we are competing with massive amounts of content out there. We are often viewed as non-essential in the working world, and so, most of us have a hard time making a decent living off of our craft. We have to supplement our income with other jobs, and this takes away time from our music. But all of you reading this listen to music right? So you have a need to listen to music, and we provide that service. I wonder what would happen if all the musicians just stopped playing music. I think society would realize just how essential we actually are. We cannot stop playing music though. So no, it has not been an easy road. But it has and will continue to be the most rewarding thing I can do in my life. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along this road is that I should not pursue music for fame or for money, but simply to create and put music out there, because it is simply what I do best. I’ve learned that it is futile to overthink every move I make. Nothing is perfect and life almost never goes according to plan. Sometimes you have to relinquish a little control and just let yourself be. At the same time, you can’t forget about having some discipline. It’s important to find a balance. I want people to know that when I sing my songs, I’m not just singing for myself, but I am singing for all of you too. My experiences are yours and your experiences are mine. When I sing my songs, we share our pain together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend weren’t from Miami and came to visit for a week, I’d take them to all the historical places first, like Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and the Coral Castle. Then I’d take them to all the other garden attractions so that they can see and experience the natural beauty of south Florida. I’d take them to the Everglades and we’d explore the nature trails and probably take a ride on an air boat. I’d take them to Bar Nancy for some live music, great food and drinks, and a great time. I’d take them to Lagniappe, so that they can experience drinking wine in one of the most aesthetically pleasing bars in the city. I’d take them to Wynwood so that they can see all of the amazing works of art everywhere. We’d go to the beach probably every day, and at least one night so that we can night swim. Ever gone night swimming in the ocean? You can’t see anything around you. It’s thrilling!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to all the beautiful people in my life who have supported me and believed in me throughout my musical journey. Starting with my parents, a huge shoutout to Mom and Dad for bringing me into this world, and for always supporting my dreams, knowing that the path of a musician is not an easy one. I’d like to give a shoutout to Kelsey Blue, my musical partner in crime throughout the years, who I have learned so much with and grown with along this journey. A very big shoutout to everyone at Y&T Records, including Rich Ulloa, for helping me to achieve my goals in the recording studio and giving my music a place to call home. This next one is for someone who has been a true mentor to me, in music and beyond, who has guided me through my transformation as a guitarist, and pushed me to break limits I never imagined I could; Jose Adan, a very heartfelt shoutout out to you. I’d love to give this next shoutout to my friends and fans, and all those who loyally come to my shows and buy my music. You guys remind me that my music means something in this world, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without all of you. Lastly, I’d like to give a giant shoutout to all the things in life that inspire me: a shoutout to love, a shoutout to nature, a shoutout to passion and a shoutout to all things under the sun that spark that fire in me to create!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandymarylane/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicmarylane

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2uRWvePL68dnoNrMc6EiPw

Other: TikTok: @mandymarylane

Image Credits
Sunny Payne