Interview by Edwin Keeble, Photography by Trusiifuu
After moving to Tennessee to pursue music, the Alabama native (but not that kind she assures) A. G. Sully released her 8-song album titled Space to Think. The album comes off the tail of a string of singles she has released over the past year and change. Before she takes the next step in her career, the Nuance team had a chance to sit down with the growing R&B/Pop artist for an interview.
How did you come up with AG Sully?
So my mom’s maiden name is Sullivan (which I’m super jealous of-- my last name is Burgess, ugh), and my name is Ally Grace. I love my middle name being Grace so I went with what my name would have been with the last name. I used to go by ALLY for like two years, but that was just so boring. It’s just like a common first name, hard to market. I felt like everything with my music worked and fit and felt natural except for the name Ally. When I first started doing music and I first really started singing (that was pretty close together, I didn’t grow up singing), it was like “Oh my gosh, I didn’t expect you to sound like that,” which is fun for a while, but eventually, I did want a name that really captures everything that my music is. I feel like A. G. Sully does that.
What do you feel like your music is? What does A. G. Sully capture?
I feel like it's everything that I am. It's the only form of communication I can do while being confident. I feel like A. G. Sully is who I knew I could be in high school or some shit like that ya know? A. G. Sully captures the confidence in my music that I think has always been there.
So what about the name of the E.P. and how that represents the music?
Photo Credits: Trusiifuu
Space to Think really captures everything I need as an individual. Like I just need alone time ya know, I’m pretty introverted. Space to Think talks about not getting that space to think that time away, and when I am thinking, I’m usually like “holy shit I’m growing up,” you know? The EP just captures these nostalgic and honestly pretty dark feelings, but it's all things that are more centered in myself, very introspective, just about me and how I'm feeling. And I think that’s where Space to Think is.
Which song or single do you think most represents the direction your music is going? Do you not really know yet?
I honestly think that-- and I don’t mean for this to sound conceited-- but I think my sound is my sound. Like it is what it is and it is because it's me and I have my own perspective on things. I don’t like to say that I just do R&B because I’m a songwriter too, right? I don’t think you can put it… god I hate talking about my music. But I feel like my music isn’t in one box. I just write about whatever the fuck I want and that’s the brand, that’s what it is, that’s what it sounds like. Like I didn’t plan for the album to sound like it does, that's just how it turned out because that’s how I felt.
So who is your listener?
I feel there are different kinds of people but the people who really let it sit with them are the people that, well, need space to think. Not to be cheesy or anything, I hate bringing it back up, but it’s like people who can listen to “Death Day” and not be like “the fuck is her problem?” Because I think about that shit and the people who can listen and relate to it without feeling uncomfortable are my people. I don’t think there is a gender or skin color associated with my listeners, it’s just… it’s just the sensitive person I guess.
