Diandra Interviews: Sallie Ford Is A Candid Creative

I think I am in love with Sallie Ford. Maybe, because I just finished reviewing Mary J Blige’s Strength of A Woman, but I am enamored by ladies that wear their heart on their sleeve and embroider it with music. Ford is refreshingly candid about her struggles with feeling and thus being the best version of herself. In my interview with her, she opens up about the curiosities, cares, and chaos that come with being a creative artist while, sometimes, having no idea what it means to be human or you.

Diandra: You have used journal entries for lyrics to your songs. If there is one, brief journal entry you could write now, with the potential to be a song, what would it be about?

Sallie: I would write about my amazing night I spent in New Orleans a week ago. It was magical. We had a night off and drove from Nashville. My friend was with us who knew the spots to go. We ate jambalaya, gumbo, drank on the streets and went to a bar with live music. I’m in love with that city.’

Diandra: You have spoken about the difficulties and, at times, the loneliness of being a creative artist working through the music business. How do you feel the industry helps and hurts the artistry of music?

Sallie: I think now is an especially hard time for musicians. Even that TV show “Nashville” talks about how money for music is diminishing. I definitely struggle with feeling strong enough to continue when things get hard. I guess that my last album talked a lot about that. I’m still working through it and try my best to continue.

Diandra: What is one music style you really would like to incorporate in the future of your music, and name one artist that you would love to collaborate with that, for some reason, people would not expect?
Sallie: I would love to explore soul music and play with horn players. It would be amazing to one day work with the producer Mark Ronson (who produced “Uptown Funk”).

Diandra: You have talked about getting healthy spiritually and physically throughout the making of Soul Sick, which is something so many people would like to do but do not have the will.  What do you think gave you the will to match your want of being healthier? Was it a person? Was it a moment?

Sallie: After years of touring with my first band, I dealt with extreme body image insecurity. I didn’t know what to eat or how to love exercise. I went on vacation with one of my best friends, Diane and finally had a melt down and she said she would do anything to help me work through it. We were living together at the time and so when we got home we started eating better and exercising together and she made it so fun. She took me to this small local Portland gym called Lloyd Athletic Club where I started taking classes and fell in love with hip hop dancing. This all timed out with when I broke up with The Sound Outside. It was a hard time and after getting healthy I still felt shitty about myself so I decided to go back to therapy and started writing Soul Sick.

Diandra: A lot of Millennials and people suffering from anxiety have really held Soul Sick as a discussion/ alleviation of stress and depression. What song do you think most speaks to people on these subjects, from your album, and why?

Sallie: I guess all of the songs speak about that, but for me I think “Romanticized Catastrophe” is the song that concludes my concept and hopefully gives a ray of hope. I talk about how I’ve changed and how I was. I hope others can relate with the album content.

Diandra: You mentioned that the album was very organic to write because it was personal and what you were feeling. What are a few topics that you find difficult to discuss in music or wish to attempt to approach in the future?

Sallie: I have thought about speaking more about gender and sexual fluidity. I don’t really know how I “identify” but I know I don’t JUST like men. I am attracted to all types of people and I’ve thought about writing about that.

Diandra: What are three, random facts about yourself that if people do not know then they really do not know Sallie Ford?

Sallie: 1. I like to mix genres and am inspired by all eras of music
2. I’m sort of a hippy. I love recycling, natural products, organic foods, smoking weed and reusing things.
3. I’m not really into partying. I try to sleep well on tour every night and often refer to myself as a “grandma”

And that, ladies and gentleman, is Sallie Ford. A young woman that shows the nuances of courage. While some believe bravery is being fearless, I believe it is knowing how to stand even in fear. It is scary to not know or like who you are, and it takes a brave person to change and better that. Virtues are simple endeavors that take a grand step in the right direction, of which Soul Sick is one of Sallie’s. For More Information on Sallie Ford Click Here.