Artist Spotlight: Namie Louder
Meet the Pennsylvanian artist with an honest approach.
Hi Pal,
Welcome to Artist/Band Spotlight. This is a newsletter where I have short introductory conversations with artists and bands on the Christian music scene.
Bio: Namie Louder is a Singer-Songwriter from Pennsylvania. Born and raised in the small city of Johnstown, his roots grow deep in close friends, family, community, local coffee shops, and honest conversations with God. Whether he’s working on a new record, leading worship, or attempting to make a joke, he does it all with a heart and passion for Christ and loving others. He wants his music to spark light and hope in a place where you only see the dark. He currently lives in Johnstown with his wife and two cats.
Q: Hi, can you talk to us about your inspiration and motivation for creating music?
I think music has always been there for me, ever since I was a kid that part of me has just always existed, and I don’t think I realize just how much until I look back and think, “Oh yeah, I guess I did memorize an entire Disney soundtrack, you know, or I guess I did have the Michael Jackson Free Willy songs on repeat.”
Basically, at any moment in my life, you could ask what I was going through and I could tell you the exact song I was listening to that day or for that week.
Music was always there for me, and I wanted to do the same thing for others. I wanted to create songs that people could listen to, no matter what they were experiencing and hopefully, it will always be there for them.
I wanted to give them hope, and joy and make them feel like someone cares and someone’s there.
Somewhere along the line, I fell in love with Jesus. So, my inspiration as a songwriter and my creative process has changed because now, I am not just writing songs about my wife or the things I’m going through. God is also drawing my attention to things that I think need to be talked about more — not just in my life but in Christianity in general.
Having conversations with Him and not being afraid to talk about having anxiety and doubts while still having faith at the same time or dealing with thoughts like, “I don’t feel like trusting God today so what do I do with that?”
I couldn’t ignore that calling anymore and so I had to create music, for people like me who needed to be told “It’s okay, you’re not alone, you are loved” and that’s the main idea behind every one of my songs.
No matter what you’ve done, you are loved so greatly and sometimes you just have to get out of your own way and feel it, and that goes for me too. So, these songs are for all of us, me included.
Q: How would you describe your sound and your creative process?
I think my sound has changed over the past couple of years, but I finally landed on some solid ground that I’m pretty excited about. While I’m very much a singer-songwriter, I sometimes lean heavily towards folk, because I love folk, and also towards pop, because I love pop.
I think at the center of it, no matter what, all of my songs are going to be acoustic guitar-driven because that’s just what I love. I think it’s a very honest and vulnerable instrument and that replicates what I feel in my music. I want my songs to always be honest, open conversations — whether that’s with myself, God, or somebody else. I always want it to be open and honest.
When it comes to writing, I always start with a chorus and ask myself some questions, “Who is this for? What’s the main topic? Who is it going to help? Is it for the church? Is it for other people? Is it for myself? Am I just venting? Is it telling a story?”
From there, I work my way to the middle of the song, and I work my way out. Sometimes the song gets completed and they find their way out into the world, sometimes they stay locked up in my head for a couple of months, and then other times, they don’t get done at all.
I think no matter what — whenever I’m writing — I try to just have fun with it because this is what I love doing and it’s supposed to be fun. I try not to put too much pressure on it because then it might just end up being something I hate. So, I always go into it trying to have fun and to remember that I love doing this.
Q: How has 2023 been for you so far musically and what can folks expect from you for the rest of the year?
I’ve had a great year. I’ve had a good number of singles come out, and a new song
Here I Am
just came out in September. I’ve been really excited about that song because it’s so close to my heart and it means a lot to me to see everybody connect with it in such a great way.I have another song coming on October 20th called
Love Symphony [Editor’s Note: Obviously, it’s out already, give it a listen]
. I think that’s going to be the last one for the year because I’m going to be headed into the studio to work on another small album.Hopefully, at the start of next year, I’ll be able to put out the whole album instead of just some singles. I’m excited about that and to see what happens next.
I’m always just looking forward to the challenge of growing and learning as an artist and trusting God that this is what I’m meant to be.
Here are some final thoughts from Namie Louder.
Thanks to Namie Louder for taking the time to meet us.
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