Elyse Saunders’ EP Free

“I created ‘Free’ as a means of bringing joy to others. I want people to listen to it and get excited — not only about the music, but also about embracing their own identity, and finding happiness and freedom in every moment.” — Elyse Saunders

8 min readNov 12, 2021

Country music has always felt like home for Elyse Saunders. From the dynamic stages of Toronto to the bright lights of Nashville, she has followed a path of steadfast determination and artistic inspiration — regularly captivating crowds with her powerhouse vocals, engaging live show personality, and interactive charm. Priding herself on being an artist who never stops, Elyse discovered a passion for music early on when she met her first mentor, noted producer/songwriter Cyril Rawson (Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson), with whom she recorded her debut album in Nashville before releasing a string of Canadian country radio singles, and showcasing as an opener for ACM artist Deric Ruttan in front of 10,000 fans.

Reminding your younger self of how far you’ve come. “My earliest memory of being amazed by the craft of music was watching my mom sing and write songs on her guitar in the kitchen. She was a beautiful star in my eyes. Although it was never something she did outside of the kitchen, she inspired me. I would secretly go through her guitar case when she wasn’t looking and pull out all her lyric sheets and read the handwritten songs that came from her heart. As a 6-year-old, I felt like I could understand, and decided to write my own first song based on my love for the beauty of the outdoors like butterflies and bees. I’ve been writing ever since. I love being a songwriter.” What is one topic you want to write about but haven’t to date?

Great question! I’ve been writing a lot behind the scenes and feel like I’ve been covering topics that maybe I haven’t shared before. I’m already thinking about which songs I’d like to record next, and I really want to share some material that feels a little vulnerable. Since the pandemic, I’ve been inspired to write material that digs a little deeper while still maintaining those messages of empowerment. With that said, I’ve also really come into my own as a woman and an artist and I’ve been writing songs that show a strength and confidence in knowing who you are. I’d love to share more of that soon!

Priding yourself on being an artist who never stops. “My mom dared me to sing at a high school singing competition in front of all of my peers and I just remember being scared but excited at the same time. Once I hit that stage, my big voice came out and it happened — I did it! From that point on, I began singing in competitions across Ontario since they were the only stage that we knew of for a beginner to start. It starts with one action.” How can these competitions help develop a singer?

For me it was about having a platform to share my voice. As a newbie, I needed to find any stage that would let me on it in order to get used to performing in front of a live audience. It showed me that there were some key elements that people look for at a live show like strong stage presence, vocals, great song choice and an image to help represent who you are as an artist, but the biggest thing it did for me was to help conquer any stage fright I might’ve had. And that was just through the practice of doing it! If a new singer goes into these competitions with the idea of learning and utilizing it as a steppingstone to becoming a stronger performer, then I think these things could be helpful to them too!

Peterborough, Ontario native, as is producer/songwriter Cyril Rawson, your first mentor. Together you recorded your debut self-titled album in Nashville. “You could say I was pretty lucky to be able to align with a real pro so early on and he showed me the ropes of what the real world of country music was about. Cyril was all about capturing the most authentic vocal and it wouldn’t just be about a great vocal performance but a vocal in the form of storytelling. This is when I found my own authentic voice and what led me from being a contest singer to my path of becoming a professional in the music industry.” What advice would you give another artist working to find their authentic voice?

Another great question! I learned through my first producer that it’s so important to figure out where your voice sits naturally and what tones, phrasing or sound is unique to you. I loved singing along to some of my biggest music heroes and would try and sound like them but found my own authentic voice by singing on fresh songs or new songs I had written without any other voice influencing the performance. It was also super helpful having an unbiased listener like my mentor tell me what unique qualities they hear in my voice and then working on finding songs that showcase that. Those are great ways to find your authentic voice!

“Free,” released last year, was your re-entry in the Canadian radio market. It won Song of the Year at this year’s Mississauga Music Awards. The city, the sixth largest in Canada, aims for their awards to create an integrated platform that features the next wave of artists and highlights the city on a national scale. What does this recognition mean for you as an independent artist?

It means so much to me!! My music journey hasn’t been one that’s happened overnight — that’s for sure. I’ve spent a lot of time developing my craft and have really come into my own as an artist, brand, and business. I’ve worked really hard for this, and I guess it makes it that much more satisfying as I know where I started and how far I’ve come. The recognition is never expected but when it does happen, I’m incredibly grateful and if I can release music that’s resonating and people like it, then I’m so happy.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be able to do what I love and to see what music can do during a challenging time in our world has been pretty powerful!!” Your EP Free debuted at #2 on the iTunes country music album charts and #11 across genres. Can you share fan stories of how your songs impacted their lives?

I’ve had some wonderful moments with my fans and to know how each song connects to their story is always special and unique. I’ve been told by one fan that they turn on a song of mine almost every day as a way to stay motivated and as a personal anthem to keep them going. They suffer with depression and have shared that uplifting music has a big impact on what they can accomplish in a day. I really do believe music heals and to know my music is doing that is the ultimate goal. Another story is that one of my fans told me that during the pandemic that they listened to my song “Free” over and over because it made them happy and took them outside of the circumstances going on.

And I was most recently told that my song “Wine Down” was the first dance for a bride and groom. I’m very lucky to be able to do what I do, and I love having my fans part of the journey.

“‘Sunshine State of Mind’ was written to give the listener a vacation landscape during a time when we’re all craving to get away and shares the reminder of finding a personal paradise no matter where we are, it’s a way of life. I believe that if you’re with the right loving person or you carry that positive mindset with you, you’ll always find happiness. With all the seriousness in the world, we hope this song can bring you that sunny state of mind.” CMT Nashville featured the video on their site. What leaves you with a sunshine state of mind?

Yes, they did! SO COOL! I’m big on self-development and finding tools that keep me in a positive mindset. When I get overwhelmed or feel negativity creeping up on me, I’ve always turned to meditation and journaling to put everything back into perspective. I’ve also realized how important it is to surround myself with like-minded people and to stand in my own power of knowing when to say yes and no to things.

I also love being in nature :) All of these things are key for me and having a sunshine state of mind. Oh, and when I set my mind on a big goal and achieve it, that sunshine state of mind definitely lasts for a couple of weeks! Haha.

Free EP Streaming Links