Bluegrass darling Sonya Isaacs opens up to Suite101 about her singing and songwriting career. Sonya talks about being nominated for yet another prestigious "Female Vocalist of the Year" award by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), as well as her family, husband, and being a mother to a newborn six week-old baby.
Sonya Talks About her Music Career
Sonya Isaacs reveals that her musical influences include "Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, as well as artists from other genres of music such as James Taylor, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire."
Sonya is one of the most sought-out harmony vocalists in the genres of bluegrass and country music. She is featured on harmonies and background vocals on the latest records of such acclaimed country music stars as Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Terri Clark.
"I love getting to sing harmony on other artists’ records. It’s so much fun to sing," Sonya says. "In the past, I have sung harmony vocals Dolly Parton, Reba, Trace Adkins and so many amazing artists. It’s a dream come true to get to do that."
Sonya Talks About her Husband Jimmy Yeary
"My husband, Jimmy Yeary, and I have been married a few years now and he actually just joined our family band, The Isaacs, to play banjo and guitar. He’ll be touring with me, which is awesome, since we get to be together as a family," she says.
Sonya continues, "This is so great for our family, since he is so talented and he adds a lot to the stage and our program, and we write a lot of songs together. He’s had success writing top songs for such acts as the Rascal Flatts. It’s neat that we get to do this together!"
Sonya Talks About "I’m Gonna Love You Through It"
On co-writing Martina McBride’s latest single "I’m Gonna Love You Through It," along with her husband, Sonya remarks, "it’s exciting! It’s doing so well. It’s a very personal song. It’s my mother’s story about her battle with breast cancer, and the support that her family was able to give her through that. It’s also about how important it is to have a support group when you go through something like that. It’s a song of praise for the people that help you get through something like that."
Sonya Talks About her Nomination in the 2011 IBMA Awards
"There are so many great singers out there and it’s really an honor to be one of the Top 5 nominees for Female Vocalist. For the IBMA to acknowledge us each year is really amazing," she says. "I never win though," she laughs.
Sonya Discusses her Proudest Accomplishments
"The friends and fellow artists that I have made through the years with my country career and with my family, and really having their support. When artists ask me to sing on their projects, and when they become friends with me and my family. That really makes me feel the most proud. Also, being able to play at such venues as the Grand Ole Opry," Sonya shares.
Sonya Talks About Being a New Mother and Having a Music Career
"It’s tough," Sonya says with a laugh. "We have been out on the road for the past few weeks, so it’s challenging to get anything done around the house when you have a newborn, and also we’re not getting a lot of sleep. Singing is a bit more challenging, especially when you are exhausted and when you physically don’t feel like doing it. My family is really supportive and they’ve been a big help to us out on the road."
Sonya Discusses her Alternate Career Choice
"I love traveling and planning, so I would like to be a travel agent. I would really enjoy that," she says.
Sonya Offers Advice for Hopefuls in Bluegrass
For hopefuls that wish to go into bluegrass music, Sonya recommends they are "realistic about the market and how hard it is. Don’t quit your job unless you have an established career, or are on your way of having one. It’s a tough business to write sings and to be an artist. On the other hand, if that’s your dream and if you have talent and you know you do, then go for it. You need to be really honest with yourself about how talented you are. Everybody’s family tells them how great they are, since they usually biased usually; however, if you start getting friends of friends requesting you and wanting to hear your music, then you’ve got something."
"Fortunately, the bluegrass, gospel and country industry are always looking for new talent. Even publishers are looking for writers and artists are looking for great songs. There’s always a demand out there. It’s very important that if you have the talent that you do pursue it, if that’s what you want to do. It’s also important to pray about everything! That way, we always have a happy and peaceful life."
For Sonya Isaacs, success means "being content with what you have, and always having a desire to reach out and do more. Being happy and having peace."
For more information on Sonya Isaacs and her family band, The Isaacs, please visit their official website.
Many thanks to Sonya Isaacs for granting this interview!
Source
- Telephone Communication with Sonya Isaacs. September 8, 2011.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
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