We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Joy Pearlman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha Joy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I own my private voice and acting studio with students on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regionally and Film/TV. I taught voice and acting for about three years at various drama programs around NYC. I managed my own scheduling, built relationships with students, and essentially ran my own business within the drama programs, but wasn’t able to take home the full salary due to the schools’ taking a fee. I had the hustle of a small business owner without the payoff of autonomy and self-determination. One day, my mentor Mike Ruckles encouraged me to go out on my own and ever since then I’ve never looked back!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a female artist who wears many hats: singer/songwriter, actor/writer/director, and voice teacher/acting coach. I’ve worked professionally in all of these fields and will continue to do so. My original music, however, is the project I am most proud of and most excited about.

I’ve always loved writing and singing but it never even occurred to me to combine the two until 2018. Life threw me a bunch of curveballs: the breakup from my first love, a messy rebound relationship, the sudden passing of my stepfather, and years of teaching while ignoring my own creative voice (not to mention the 2016 election!). Because my career up until that point had been predominately as an actress in the musical theater world, I sang with such pressure on myself to fit into a mold and with a denial of my authorial energy. When my heart broke into a million pieces, songs started to pour out of me and I found myself again.

Luckily, I had two friends Andrew Fox and Graham Richman, plus over 160 kickstarter supporters to help make my debut record happen. Of course it wasn’t an easy road; I experienced huge learning curves, waves of self-doubt and a surprise pandemic! But we finished the record and I’m so thrilled with the finished product. I released the first half of the record on Spotify last summer and the second half will come this summer. The songs are deeply personal, sung on my terms, and developed beyond my wildest dreams with Andrew and Graham’s collaboration.

Currently, Andrew and I have been performing with a full band all over NYC for the last few months and writing lots more songs. We are now figuring out how to make the sophomore album a reality, as well as performing with the band in other cities besides NYC. If you want to help support making the music happen (or bringing us to a city near you), please reach out at sam@samanthajoypearlman.com!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A Perfect New York Saturday: Early morning walk through Riverside Park to get a bagel from Wu + Nussbaum (the pastrami lox is INSANE) and an iced oat milk latte from Blue Bottle. Hop on the subway and take an 11am HIIT class at Core Rhythm Fitness in Union Square. Enjoy the showers and sauna and then walk to the High Line and have lunch at Chelsea Market. Afternoon stroll through the Whitney Museum and Little Island! Late afternoon nap. Have delicious hole-in-the wall-noodles for dinner at Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles II in the Theater District before a Broadway show of your choice. If you want to go big or go home, end the night with drinks in Williamsburg at The William Vale Hotel and then see where the night takes you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people to thank!

Mike Ruckles encouraged me to go out on my own as a small business owner. His endorsement gave me the courage to claim my readiness for risk-taking and leadership.

Kate Galvin has encouraged me throughout my entire career to own my multi-hyphenate artist self. She has hired me as an actor, a playwright, and a director and I’m so grateful for her mentorship as an arts organization leader and creator of new work.

Jen Waldman showed me what it means to be built artistic community and to facilitate creativity in others.

Jasper Grant taught me that vulnerability is strength and the center of an artistic practice.

The late great Victoria Mallory taught me what it means to be a voice teacher and the power of the female voice.

Andrew Fox is my writing partner and without his encouragement, collaboration and friendship, I would not be the artist I am today. He pushes me to never settle for anything less than great work and for that I am incredibly grateful.

My family for always supporting me in my work and for being my biggest cheerleaders.

My uncle George for teaching me that creativity is a daily practice that requires dedication, humility, craft, and humor.

My education at Wesleyan University taught me to that everything is interdisciplinary; finding the connections is what creativity is about.

Scott Herman, my fiancé, always encourages me to put myself out there, strive for creative flow, and never give up on my ambitions.

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Website: www.samanthajoypearlman.com AND www.sjpcreative.biz

Instagram: @samanthajoyprl

Facebook: @samanthajoyprl

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/samanthajoyvideos

Image Credits
Rachel Monteleone: all else. Max Pearlman: Live horizontal photos (last two uploads) Buttered Roll: image_6483441.JPG

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.