Meet Suz Control | Suz Control | Pop Vocalist, Performer & Songwriter

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

Hi Suz Control, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Music has always been my first love. I was always singing—it was my favorite thing to do growing up in the Midwest. I sang in choir and received positive feedback, but I was too shy to take center stage and that love became dormant over the years. After I moved to LA, I started to come out of my shell. My friend Shitty Princess, an LA-based DJ and producer, showed me that releasing music as an independent artist was actually possible. Seeing her do it inspired me to start creating music. I started with 90’s EDM remixes and now I’m creating pop originals alongside my day job in marketing. I love performing and connecting with audiences and I’ve performed at festivals and shows in LA and nationwide. Making music and performing makes me the happiest!

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.
When I got started in music, I didn’t know where to begin. Creating original work felt daunting. Remixes felt like a way to create something that would resonate with new audiences—less cognitive overload as a new artist when the songs were already familiar. So I started with remixes of 90s pop songs I loved, like The Cardigans’ “Lovefool.” I’m really proud of how that turned out.

I’ve taught myself a lot along the way. I learned how to edit and arrange vocals in Logic Pro and how to dissect songs I love to understand what makes them work. I studied the multitrack of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and realized his rich vocal harmonies were what I loved most. I used that same vocal harmonizing and layering techniques on my first original, “You and I,” which recently dropped on all streaming platforms. I haven’t had formal vocal training, so I’ve started working with a vocal coach and practicing vocals daily on my own. I’m still learning and working on getting better.

Balancing music with a demanding day job has been tough but also very rewarding. I go into hermit mode from time to time, focusing on music when I’m not working. It’s tiring, but it also fills me back up. A lot of my songs come through meditation and quiet moments when I just let ideas flow. “You and I” is a fun dance pop song about being inspired by friends and coming back to yourself, which is kind of what my music journey has felt like for me. I’ve recently been writing about more emotionally complex topics, like on my new track “On Repeat,” dropping this spring. It’s about a couple whose on-and-off relationship keeps replaying like a track on repeat, but still has an upbeat pop energy to it that I hope people will love!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were coming to LA and I really wanted them to get the city, I’d start in my neighborhood, Santa Monica, and grab a chocolate almond croissant and lavender latte at Chaumont—maybe their breakfast burrito too. We’d pop over to Venice and I’d take them to Venice Beach to soak up some sun and enjoy the water. Afterwards we’d go shopping on Abbot Kinney and then take a stroll through the Venice Canals. We’d make our way back to Santa Monica and grab a drink at the Penthouse at the Huntley Hotel to catch a beautiful sunset (best views are from the restrooms lol). We’d close out the day with dinner at Elephante for Mediterranean food and chill, relaxing vibes.

We’d start the next day with drag brunch at Beaches WeHo. It’s open to everyone and honestly the best energy to kick off a day. After that we’d hit up Wasteland, one of my favorite spots for luxury resale. I once scored a Chanel skirt there for under $100, which still feels insane. That night I’d take them to Bottega Louie for dinner because their chicken parm is unreal and it feels fancy without being stuffy. After dinner we’d grab drinks at Chateau Marmont—it’s iconic and you have to experience it at least once.

Another day we’d go to the Huntington Gardens to wander around the gardens and museums. Their cactus garden is really cool and they have incredible rare manuscripts in their library, including folios by Shakespeare. If we’re lucky, we’ll snag a spot at the tea room for lunch—it books up fast but it’s worth it. If we don’t though, I’d take them to Beast in Eagle Rock. It’s a tasting menu that’s always changing with really creative, seasonal stuff—bold flavors and combinations you wouldn’t expect.

For the last day I’d take them to brunch at Aroma Cafe in Studio City. From there, we’d go on a hike at Fryman Canyon and then grab dinner at The Smoke House. It’s this old-school spot in Burbank where all the studio execs and Hollywood folks used to hang out in the ’50s and ’60s—Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, George Burns were all regulars. It still has that vintage vibe and they do this thing where they put Kraft mac and cheese powder on top of garlic bread and bake it, which sounds weird but works. Afterwards we’d grab a few cocktails at Black Market to close out the night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shitty Princess, hands down. She showed me this was possible and has been an incredible mentor and friend throughout this journey. I also want to shout out Tyler Spratt, who’s impeccable at mixing my tracks and always brings my vision to life beautifully. Last but not least – NYX at Beaches WeHo who gave me one of my first stages. I love her and the incredible community of performers at Beaches—they’re so generous and I’ve learned so much from them on how to connect with audiences.

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