An Interview with Scarlet Tantrum: From Shy Beginnings to Emotional Powerhouse

By: Annah Marcelle, Singer-Songwriter
June 24, 2024

Meet Scarlet Tantrum: The Indie Musician Bringing Raw Emotion to Her Songs

Hey everyone! I’m super excited to introduce you to Scarlet Tantrum, an amazing indie artist I met in a Facebook group for musicians and songwriters. I was so impressed by her recent single "Paradise" that I just had to add it to my playlist, Indie Girls 2024, which features some of the coolest and most promising female indie artists out there.

Scarlet’s story is so relatable and inspiring, especially for us navigating the indie music scene. Even though she didn’t grow up in a musical family, she was obsessed with music from a young age. She was initially really shy about singing in front of people, but everything changed when she met a local musician who encouraged her to perform at an open mic. That moment was a game-changer for Scarlet, and she’s been rocking solo shows ever since.

Her music is all about being real and connecting with people on a deep level. Scarlet writes from personal experiences, pouring her heart into every lyric and performance. She wants her fans to feel the same emotions she felt while writing her songs, creating a powerful connection that reminds everyone they’re not alone.

In our interview, Scarlet talks about her inspirations, her first recording experience in Nashville, and her plans for releasing new music. She also opens up about the challenges of being an independent artist and how she pushes through them with determination and passion.

So, let's take a tour through the world of Scarlet Tantrum. She’s a fearless artist with a raw and uncensored style that’s sure to leave a lasting impression. Enjoy!

We all have a unique story behind how we got started in music and usually they are pretty cool. Tell us yours!

I didn't grow up with a musical family but basically since I was born I was obsessed with music. Any chance I could get to sing I would, And even when I couldn't sing I'd be humming. Music just spoke to me as a child. Growing up I was one of those kids that went through many different phases of hobbies/things I liked to do. Music always stuck with me while I was growing up. I was always super shy to sing in front of people, I was so shy that I couldn't even sing in front of my mom. Every year I did choir growing up, but my classmates never really knew I could sing. I always wanted to be a musician but I never thought I was good enough. I had so much self doubt and I beat myself up over every little thing.

When I was 17, I met Mary Stone. She's a musician from my local hometown. She spoke so kindly of my voice and my songs and she told me I was capable of pursuing music as a career. She started inviting me to perform at some of her shows and she really helped me get out of my shell and get comfortable on stage. Over time I eventually got comfortable enough performing to buy my own equipment and start doing shows on my own around town. I truly believe that if I didn't meet Mary I wouldn't be pursuing music. She really pushed me to go out of my comfort zone.

After playing more and more shows, I went from never thinking I was good enough to pursue my dream to having the mindset of “I'd rather fail trying than be too scared to fail that I never try” I don't want years to go by and I regret never pursuing my dreams. One day I decided to just take the jump for it. I quit both of my jobs I was working at at the time and I started booking shows for myself. Now I play shows full time for a living and I couldn’t be happier.

Your music is super personal and comes from your own experiences. Can you share a moment or something that really inspired one of your songs?

My latest single 'Paradise’ was inspired by an experience I had. There were people in my life that I was super close to but I didn't realize how toxic they were for me and how much they actually brought me down. The whole time they were in my life I was miserable and I didnt know why. When we broke off I was devastated at first, but I actually started feeling happiness again and I didnt have constant anxiety. I realized that the relationship I had with those people was causing that. Paradise represents that feeling of relief and happiness that you get when you finally move on from someone and you realize you were better off without them.

You talk a lot about being real and open in your music. How do you manage to tell your own stories while making sure your fans can connect with them too?

Music is the best form of therapy for me. When I write my music it’s to express myself and get my emotions out on paper. Most of my songs are initially just written for myself. Then I share my experiences and release my songs in hopes other people can relate and it can help them cope with life. There are so many songs that have helped me with tough situations and I want to have music that people can do the same for my songs.

You recorded "Paradise" in Nashville for the first time. How was that experience, and how did it influence the recording process compared to your previous experiences?

Being able to record in Nashville this past April was an incredible experience. My co-writer/producer, Britton Cameron is amazing at what he does. Since we met he's always supported me and my music. Getting to work with him was similar to what I've done before in local studios but it was a lot more in depth and a lengthier process. Since I don't live in Nashville we did a lot of work on the project through zoom and then I was able to travel to Nashville to record my vocals. Everything else was done long distance. Britton gets so creative in the studio, You can tell he really loves doing what he does. He has really helped me bring my songs to life, Whether it's just a co-write or production. We bounce ideas off of each other really well, sometimes he even thinks of ideas I wouldn’t ever think of. He is truly incredible at what he does and I can't wait to work with him again in the future.

Do you prefer the process of writing and recording music or performing live? Why?

I definitely love doing both but I would say the process of writing and recording is my favorite. Getting to hear my songs go from a voice memo of just me singing a song I just wrote with my guitar to a fully produced song that almost sounds nothing like the voice memo. Seeing it in a new form and watching it get better and better the more we work on it. I get to watch my songs come to life when I work with my producers and it's always a great experience.

This year, you plan to push yourself to release more original music. What are your goals and aspirations with this new wave of releases? How do you plan to overcome any challenges that may come with it?

I’ve been working hard since January to get my songs recorded and to get everything together to start releasing them. My goal is to slowly release them all as singles and then tie all the songs into an EP/album. I hope to release a new single every 6-8 weeks.

The challenges with releasing music is definitely going to be promoting it. It's a wonderful thing to have social media but being an independent artist in 2024 on social media is not easy. After putting in a lot of work to get my songs produced I'm going to have to put even more work and time into promoting them. It can be very draining and can affect my mental health but I'm really proud and excited about my next upcoming projects so I'm prepared to market them as much as I need but it definitely won't be easy.

Your songs touch on mental health and empowerment. How do you hope your music helps people who might be going through tough times like you've sung about?

There are songs that are very specific to certain situations in life. A lot of times people can feel alone and I think when they hear a song that they can relate to it gives them that sense that they aren't alone. It can help heal them and express themselves. Like I said earlier, music is my therapy and I dream of my songs being therapy for other people.

What's been the toughest part of your music journey so far? How have those challenges helped you grow as an artist?

Putting myself out there has been the toughest part with my music journey. As someone who struggles with anxiety It was absolutely terrifying when I first started pursuing this as a career. Sometimes I would be on the way to shows with tears rolling down my face because I was so anxious about if the show was going to go well and if the crowd was going to like me. I have gotten a lot better about not trying to please everyone because I know it's impossible. I try not to let the “haters” get in my head now. But even to this day sometimes it's not easy to step out of my comfort zone but I force myself to do it because I know that this is what I want to do as a career. I just keep pushing myself to do better and better even when i'm terrified to do so

You've got new music coming soon! What can your fans expect from your new stuff? How do these songs show where you're at right now in your music journey?

My next upcoming projects are the most vulnerable I've ever been when writing. I open up about struggles I've dealt with these past few years like low self esteem, betrayal, mental health, etc. My projects are written about deep topics and yet they are composed with very catchy and upbeat melodies. I think these songs showcase my growth in songwriting as well.

For new artists trying to find their own sound and make it, what advice would you give them?

It’s going to take time so don't try and rush things or beat yourself up if you feel like you're not doing the right stuff. Just stay consistent and keep pushing through. Don't be scared to try different things out too. You never know what works until you try it. Be present, be yourself, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there.