Allie Sandt: honoring stevie nicks
Emerging NJ-based folk-rock artist Allie Sandt is carving her own path in the indie scene. At just 22 years old she has made her mark with “complex and entrancing originals that mix folk, blues, and jazz together” (New Haven Independent) while finding her home onstage telling stories and joking with audiences throughout the northeast. Her singles “The Flood,” “The Right Time,” and “Ace” are a testament to her modern take on retro influences, with a satisfying balance between guitar-focused songwriting and her tongue-in-cheek storytelling.
Why this
song?
Landslide was one of the first songs I ever played live. I remember I covered it when I was in eighth grade at my first real “gig” at a community center in Ridgewood, NJ and over the years my version has changed a lot as a result of playing it at almost all of my cover gigs. With lyrics like “Even children get older/ And I'm gettin' older, too,” this song holds a special place in my heart.
Q: Are there any other female artists who have significantly shaped your musical style?
A: Absolutely! I discovered Joni Mitchell my sophomore year of high school when I first started
writing songs and she was a huge north star for my early days of writing. Nowadays, I listen to
Madison Cunningham, Chappell Roan, Sarah Gross, and Yebba to name a few.
Q: Did you approach this cover differently than your original music?
A: I did. While I usually spend months arranging and producing my original music as well as adding
a lot of instruments and sounds, I took a much more stripped back approach with Landslide. It
was the first time I recorded my guitar and vocals live– meaning I played and sang at the same
time and did the full song in one take to a little Tascam recorder. Later I added some harmonies
but the basis of the song is live! It was a fun challenge and I’ve always wanted to release
something acoustic.
Q: What emotions or messages do you hope to convey through your version of the song?
A: While Stevie Nicks famously wrote this about her relationship with Lindsay Buckingham, I hope
the voice in mine can be directed towards a younger version of ourselves. The way our dreams
change and grow as we change and grow is so interesting to me. “I’ve been afraid of changing,
cause I’ve built my life around you” can also be about the fear of going in new directions and
leaving behind what isn’t serving us anymore.
Q: What advice would you give to young women looking to make their mark in the music industry?
A: To my peers, I would say we need to stick together. Even now, this is such a male-dominated
industry. When I was in a touring band in college, my fellow singer Ali McQueeney and I were
often the only women in three-band lineups. It’s so important to uplift other female musicians
because representation is truly everything for women of all ages in the industry. When I see
someone older than me able to make a career out of playing the guitar, it is still so validating
and inspiring. Just do you as authentically as you can and people will listen.
