Meet Susannah B | singer-songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Susannah B and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Susannah, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in New York City, on the island of Manhattan, and I grew up there – a city kid in the 1970s and ‘80s. New York was grittier, dirtier, and more dangerous than it is today, but as a kid, it was great. I could take the subway and public buses, I could walk everywhere , and I was independent from an early age. That gave me a sense of worldliness and, more importantly, tolerance. Growing up among millions of people – all packed onto this tiny island – I learned to accept and appreciate those who were different from me. I had no choice.

My parents were both freelance artists who didn’t go to offices, they were self-motivated workaholics pursuing their passions. My dad was a freelance fashion photographer, and my mom was a singer-songwriter. She had a record deal and toured when I was in second and third grades – opening for Don McLean on his American Pie tour, and for Kris Kristofferson, and Loggins & Messina. Her name was Carol Hall and she’s best known as the composer and lyricist of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, a Broadway hit in the early ‘80s. She also wrote for Sesame Street and the iconic children’s album/TV special Free To Be…You & Me. She was very successful.

Sometimes I wonder: if I’d grown up in Ohio as the child of farmers, would I still have found my way to music? Maybe I’d have worked at a zoo, or become a journalist or teacher. But I was surrounded by music my entire life – It’s in my blood. My dad has a beautiful singing voice, and my maternal grandparents were musicians who opened the first music store in Abilene, Texas.

One vivid childhood memory is lying on my back under my mom’s piano while she wrote songs. I’d listen as she discovered melodies and lyrics – it felt like magic. Later, she would perform them and it was like she was a good witch, casting a spell. I wanted to do that, too. But for a long time, I thought I couldn’t – music was her thing, and I didn’t want to invite comparisons and fall short. Eventually, I let that go…and my life has been so much better for it.
Now I’m pursuing my passion and it feels wonderful.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Wow. Those are a lot of big questions! Okay, I got to where I am today by growing older. LOL. Was it easy? No, but also yes. I’ve had a lot of privileges – I grew up in America with plenty of material comforts, access to great education, and loving parents. That’s not something I take for granted. At the same time, I’ve worked really hard—not just on my career, but on myself. I’m a therapy-soul-searcher person – since my mid-20s, I’ve been dedicated to growing, evolving, and enjoying life more fully. I try to take responsibility for my actions and do my best to help heal the world in small ways – in Judaism, it’s what we call tikkun olam, the idea that we’re each here to help repair the brokenness of the world.

I’m a mom first and foremost – deeply devoted to my two amazing adult children – my son who I gave birth to, and my daughter who joined our family when she was fifteen. I’m also 60 years old (thank you, yes,I do look a bit younger – shout out to Jenette Skin!) and I’m officially starting my “third act,” which is both exciting and kind of freaky. I always had an idea in my head about “old people”…and then, all of a sudden, it feels like…I’m closer to old than I’ve ever been. 👀

As you age, you realize you have less time than you used to, so you think more about what’s really important. For me, it’s joyful connections between humans. Laughing together. Singing. I love when people sing together. I have been a part of an acapella community choir for years, and during my live shows, I often step into the role of songleader and invite the audience to sing along with me. It’s uplifting, and it’s medically proven to be good for your health! I believe in the healing power of music and I write songs to try and do my part.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If someone I love is coming to town, I’m going to pick them up at LAX and we’ll drive straight to a Korean spa. Either Beverly Hot Springs – the only spa in town with real, sulfurous hot springs water – or Olympic Spa, which is lovely and peaceful and has the best reflexology massages. If we’re both women, we can soak together. If my gay male bestie from New York comes to visit, then we’ll both enjoy our solitude as we steam/sauna/soak/cold plunge separately and let ourselves relax. It’s the L.A. way – chill – and so necessary these days.

After about 3-4 hours, we emerge refreshed and head east through Los Feliz/Silverlake/Atwater Village, which are all neighborhoods I’ve lived in. I’m an Eastsider, always have been. We’d hit Yuca’s for tacos, grab a cocktail and appetizer at Little Dom’s, another at Bar Sinizki in Atwater, then go to Hippo in Highland Park for dinner. We’d end the night back at my house with a moonlit hot tub (more soaking!) looking east at all the gorgeous California mountains.

I’m a foodie and some favorites are:
– Salazar in Frogtown for tacos and smoky mezcal cocktails
– Mozza in Hollywood—because Nancy Silverton is a genius
– Grand Central Market in DTLA for the eclectic food stalls
– Philippe’s for the old-school French dip and throwback charm
– Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo—an institution for a reason
– Authentic Shanghai-style Chinese food in the San Gabriel Valley
– Perle in Pasadena for French food
– Lou, The French On The Block for flawless croissants and flourless chocolate cake.

We’d definitely hit some cultural gems: The Broad Museum, MOCA, and Disney Hall, which is sonically incredible and truly gorgeous to sit in. I also like the Huntington Gardens in San Marino. We’d go hiking in Griffith Park – I love the smell of sage in the hills. I also love playing tennis at either the Toluca Lake Tennis & Fitness or at Vermont Canyon in Griffith Park, which is public and affordable. And if it’s the season, we’d go to a night game at beautiful Dodger Stadium.

My favorite place in all of L.A.? The Hollywood Bowl. At sunset, with friends, a picnic dinner and wine, it’s the best place ever to see a musical concert. I try to do that often because it gives me such pleasure.

For live music, I love Hotel Cafe. For theatre, The Mark Taper Forum is the best. Beach-wise, I’m blessed to live part-time in Laguna Beach, which is stunning. Little coves, old-fashioned cottages, great local shops, and lots of artists and musicians. Nearby, there are fantastic dolphin-watching tours that leave from Dana Point. Did you know Southern California has the largest dolphin population in the world? It’s true! Talk about joyous – seeing dolphins frolic in the ocean is the ultimate. California is my adopted home, and I’ll always be in love with its diverse, natural beauty.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The #1 biggest “encourager” and supporter in my life is my husband Jordan, aka Jordy. He’s held me during all the times I cried before a performance, convinced I was going to make a fool of myself, and feeling like an imposter. He never stopped gently pushing me to keep going, because he admires my tenacity. Jordy also worked very hard for 22 years as a music editor for films (in a great union, MPSE) which gave me the means to make multiple albums while I was a stay-at-home mom. That support allowed me to keep growing as an artist, even during the years when barely anyone was hearing my music and most of my time was spent making snacks and doing kid-centered things. This was before streaming platforms – so all I could do was give out CDs at my son’s T-ball games and school parent nights!

I also have to give a shoutout to my co-producer and co-songwriter Mike Farrell. I first hired him as a pianist for a jazz project, and over the years, he’s become one of the biggest reasons I’ve gained the confidence to promote myself as an artist. Mike has worked for years with Alanis Morrissette – one of my absolute favorite artists – and thanks to him, I’ve got a stellar band of musicians who have worked with the best of the best. But beyond his talent, Mike is the nicest guy to hang out with, which turns out to be really important in making music. When you’re in a small room together for 12 hours straight, it makes all the difference when the vibe is mellow, positive, and focused on collaboration, not ego.

Website: https://www.susannahb.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susannahbmusic/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/susannah-b

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susannahbmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBKrqWacc73epsQSY862jZA

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CMiWstVqqDU4DAEmPpZVY?

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https://music.apple.com/us/artist/susannah-b/6945082

https://www.tiktok.com/@susannahbmusic

Image Credits
Photos by Meeno Peluce