Meet Amanda McCarthy from Londonderry, NH and Nashville, TN

There’s a reason Amanda has won the New England Songwriter of the Year Award, was a top 10 finalist at the Great American Songwriting Contest, and had a song on the Grammy Awards nomination ballot. This artist can craft a song. Like many young women of her generation, it all was made to seem attainable, watching Taylor Swift. Everyone knew Taylor wrote her own songs, it was as clear as the curls in her hair. But there were other, deeper factors that lead this singer to be an award winning songwriter.

Most people know that through tough times, often comes great art. As a teenager, Amanda McCarthy picked up her guitar and “dove in,” when faced with adversity. Being a teenager, in itself, is enough to drive one to write their way through the pain and awkwardness. Just ask Taylor. There was plenty of fodder with which to work, in the teenage life of Amanda. There was also plenty of inspiration from the Disney Channel to Avril Lavigne. As a young adult, McCarthy found Aerosmith, Garth and Kelsea Ballerini. Put the pieces together, and you have quite an eclectic puzzle. You also have an intelligent songwriter with a strong voice. Meet Amanda McCarthy.

Amanda Music
Push play to hear “Don’t Stop Me”

It’s a song Amanda wrote with her friend Ty Openshaw, before moving to Nashville. She said, ” Funny enough, what we wrote the song about initially revolved around a situation in his life. But when I moved to Nashville, and I started playing this song at rounds, the song grew to mean a lot to me and my complicated relationship with my hometown that I had just left behind. I love my home state of New Hampshire, but growing up in the specific town I’m from, I carried a lot of mixed feelings due to trauma, lack of support in school, and always feeling like my music career was never taken seriously even as I was seeing success in Boston and NYC. Moving to Nashville was a huge step in my healing and leaving those feelings behind, which is why this song is so special as my Nashville debut, the first song I’m releasing since moving here.
McCarthy McAnswers
From: New Hampshire / Massachusetts

Grew up in: Londonderry, NH

Now lives in: Nashville, TN

Current single: “Don’t Stop Me”

What lead you to music: I’ve loved music since I was a young child. The progression was natural – Barney, to Disney Channel Stars, to the likes of Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift. I even “wrote songs” from the age of six. However, after dealing with some traumatic things when I was 15, songwriting was the only thing in life that made any sense to me. That’s when I picked up a guitar and really dove in, because I wanted people to hear what I wrote rather than me singing to a karaoke track at events. I knew it couldn’t automatically fix everything, but it has helped me process many life events over the years.

How old when you started: 15

First country song you learned: Our Song by Taylor Swift

Instruments played: guitar, piano, ukulele, hand percussion

How would you describe your sound: My sound always comes back to country as the center, but I’ve never felt like I’m JUST country. I also draw influences from pop music, and both classic and modern rock. Just like life isn’t one color or emotion, I believe that music is the same way and that songs should be given the treatment they deserve without genre restrictions. But country music is what showed me my love of songwriting and authentic storytelling and that’s something I always hold on to, no matter what other genres I may dip my toes into.

Who inspires you: Taylor Swift, Steven Tyler/Aerosmith, Kelsea Ballerini, Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Kalie Shorr, Lauren Weintraub

If you are a band, how did you get your name: I tried playing around with band names and stage names, but at the end of the day I’ve always just settled on being “Amanda McCarthy” because I can only feel authentic if I’m being me.

Awards/accolades: Locally, I have been named a nominee and/or winner in the New England Music Awards, Limelight Music Awards, and Worcester Music Awards. Nationally, I have been named a winner and/or finalist in the Hollywood Music and Media Awards, Great American Song Contest, YEP Nashville Awards, NYC’s Coffee Music Project, SongDoor Competition, Atlanta’s ISSA Awards, and more. In 2016, my song “Elephant in the Room” was on the nomination ballot for the Grammy’s and I was told it made it to the top 20 before being cut from the ballot.

Dream duet partner: Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, Hunter Hayes, Taylor Swift

All- time favorite country song: Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks – which I also have a cover of up on Spotify.

First country concert: Taylor Swift

What songs do you like now on Country 1025: Hole in the Bottle by Kelsea Ballerini, H.O.L.Y. by Florida Georgia Line, I Bet You Think About Me by Taylor Swift and Chris Stapleton, Something More by Sugarland, Hurricane by Luke Combs

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing: I’d probably be doing full time what I currently do on the side – which involves web design, graphic design, coaching and helping other musicians explore their goals in an authentic way.

Day Job: I am blessed to be a full time musician.

Most proud moment: I am proud of myself that I made the decision to move to Nashville, despite all of the odds stacked against me. I even made the move during the pandemic, but I just knew it was time. And it is hands down the best decision I have ever made.

Crazy thing that happened in your music career: I was playing a gig in NH when Steven Tyler walked into the bar I was playing at. I was on my last song but I decided to play one more song, and I played a cover of “Angel” by Aerosmith. It gained a lot of press attention across NH and MA, and almost hit national news outlets but that’s when the pandemic set in. Despite that, it is hands down one of the greatest things to happen to me, especially seeing as he came up to me after the show and complimented me on the performance.

Other things you like to do: I love traveling, designing album art, writing poetry, and being near the ocean.

Fun facts: *I am a human GPS. I know how to get everywhere in ways that continuously wow my friends and family. *I am known among friends and family for making very “visually appealing” salads of different varieties, and would consider opening a salad shop later in life. *Many people think I like social media because I’m on it often, but the truth is, I probably wouldn’t have any of it if I wasn’t pursuing music! I love living a quiet private life and being disconnected from technology when I am able to be.

Mantra: “Life is not one color or emotion, and neither is music.”
Amanda McLIVE
Please visit www.amandamccarthy.com/tour for the most current updates.

See Amanda McCarthy live here:

Wednesday April 27: Hard Rock Cafe Foxwoods (Ledyard, CT) – 6 pm

Friday April 29: Sawbelly Brewing (Exeter, NH) – 5 pm

Friday April 29: NashBar (Boston, MA) – 10 pm

Saturday April 30: Urban Lodge Brewing (Manchester, CT) – 6 pm

Sunday May 1: NashBar (Boston, MA) – 6 pm

Tuesday May 3: Stomping Ground (Putnam, CT) – 8 pm
Amanda on Demanda
Follow Amanda on social media here
Amanda Moments
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