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

Hi Sammie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Great question. I think risk taking is a huge part of being a creative, honestly.
For me it’s been less on One Big Risk, and more like a million Tiny Risks, over and over. Some feel riskier than others though, for sure.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write songs! I’ve always done this as a way to process my feelings (feelings are hard)- but I never gave myself permission to share, I guess. I think I was nervous because it felt so vulnerable. Going back to the risk thing… I started just taking little risks. One at a time. It started with playing for friends in my living room. Now I’m playing around Michigan, just released my first full length album called Plainsong, and have an album release show coming up at the Ark in Ann Arbor – an incredible venue- on June 16!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ohhh this is fun. Hmm. Probably the Hi-Lite in Marshall (where I’m from). It’s this little drive up place where they serve you in your car and they have the best root beer and fried pickles, and then we’d go downtown to the fountain and go to True North Ice Cream- it’s the best. We’d also have to see a show!! Definitely at a listening room like The Midtown in Grand Rapids, or 20 Front Street in Lake Orion.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout is to the Michigan Music Scene. Starting out as an artist is maybe kind of like growing a brand new plant before spring has really hit. You need a tender space for it- warmth, good soil, lots of water. I could not think of a more tender space to be a new artist than in this community. Everyone is encouraging and kind. Welcoming and warm. It feels like we’re all here to help each other, and that’s a wonderful feeling. Some MI people that really took time and energy to nurture me in particular are: Mike Lynch, Nicholas James Thomasma, Kyle Rasche, Adrian Bagale and his team at Northfiled Mandolins, Jen Sygit and her beautiful open mic at Moriarty’s in Lansing. There are honestly so many people.

Website: https://www.sammiehershock.com/

Instagram: @sammiehershockmusic

Facebook: Sammie Hershock Music

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbomOq5OuBkr1k0SjYb6ptA

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ZJ45Dy9U8Qp7slYMGgi5j

Image Credits
Dogtown Studio

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