Photography: Caden Huston / cadenhuston

Words: Olga Burak / lala__burak

There is this type of people who succeed despite everything. Spencer Sutherland / spencermusic started as a YouTube-blogger, singing hits of famous artists in his own unique manner. Then the X-Factor UK happened, where the American guy managed to get into TOP 16 performers. For a lot of people that would a career peak, but Spencer’s case was completely opposite. The sensitive and tedious work on himself and his music outshined most of his previous achievements, and now, listening to the amazing voice of the singer from Ohio, just a few of us will remember the talent show or covers. “Difficulties helps us to grow”, –these words became Sutherland’s key to success, which concerns not only music, but also personal development. Let’s be honest – it’s hard to remain yourself in an industry that, although is called creative, but remains quite stereotyped. Well, he managed to make it, and today he is not only presenting his new EP Indigo, but also does modeling, and tries himself as an actor in the upcoming Netflix movie “Afterlife of the Party”.

In your past interviews you mentioned that music was always your passion, but do you remember the moment when you decided to do it professionally?

There wasn’t any precise moment… I think I’ve never given up my childhood dream! A lot of people grew up and prefer to choose more realistic and down to earth jobs. But I just wasn’t one of them!

Looking back through your journey in music, can you say that your art has a certain purpose

I can’t be objective in this question, but in my opinion it brings joy to people. My main focus is to connect with people and help, or at least take them out of their problems and make them feel good, while listening to my music. 

You gained your first fans by singing covers of famous songs in your own original way. Is there any song on your mind that you still want to do?

Sure! I think I will always throw a cover in my show. It’s cool for the audience to hear what I like to do to other people’s songs and how I feel them. Plus, I can’t forget where I came from! Speaking of today, I would love to cover one of Hall & Oates songs. 

Congratulations with the upcoming release of your new EP Indigo. What was the main source of inspiration to create it?

Thank you! Well I was inspired by this challenging 2020 year! I wanted to create a world, in which everyone could feel good and protective. And lets be honest, I think nowadays we’re all missing some dopamine in our routine. 

Why did you pick up this title for the new EP?

As soon as I wrote Indigo I knew that it would be the title! In fact, Indigo means deep sincerity, which is the exact feeling that I got from this song. Never wanting to leave a moment, a person, a feeling – this is my abstract way to describe it. 

During the X Factor show one of the judges, Simon Cowell, suggested you to be more original. Can you say that today you found yourself as an artist?

Yeah, totally! I mean the part you didn’t see, is him praising my first couple of songs. But, honestly, it helped me! When someone digs in, it might be the words that you need to hear at this specific moment to grow as person and professional. 

Were there moments in your career when you almost gave up?

Yeah, lots of them! These are the moments that grow you the most though. It makes it all worth it.

Do you have a mentor or a person who you always looked at and tried to follow his path in career?

I have had a lot of people I’ve looked up to for different reasons - creativity, business ideas, and moral values. It is important to have a mentor in some way or another. They also could change, depending on the situations that are happening in your life. But, I’m sure, that everyone – from my parents to artists, who I listen to, made an impact on my life, decisions and me. 

You also tried yourself as a model and were quite successful in it. Why did you decided to try yourself in this field?

I guess it definitely just lent itself to sort of performing. Actually it’s a performance with an acting part to the camera, so it comes kinda natural I think.

How did fashion influence your career and life overall?

I love pushing boundaries in any aspect of my life, and fashion helps with it a lot. People underestimate the courage you could reach just by trying different things, which sometimes could be completely out of your style or limits. Elvis, Prince, Elton John – are some of my fashion influences, because they all went for it. And just look what kind of music and performance they made. There is definitely a lot to learn from them!

Next year you will debut on the movie screen in the Netflix movie Afterlife of the Party. How did you decided to expand your career to acting? 

I’ve always been into acting… It’s such an interesting world! I got the news about the movie in quite classical way – the agent call me with the words “you got the part”. At that moment I was in the middle of Beverly Hills and I just started screaming because of the excitement and overcoming emotions. It was an incredible moment. I also got to do a bunch of original music for the film, so I’m going to be on the both sides of the screen. 

Do people in the music world treat you differently than people in the movie business?

Not really… They are all really cool. I know that some of my colleagues faced problems with trying themselves in different fields. But I never had this kind of experience. I think it’s a person-to-person basis type of thing, and I’m grateful to meet such supportive people on my way. 

Do you plan to develop your acting career or was it a one-time shot?

Definitely developing! As a matter of fact I’m working on my acting skills and auditioning as we speak!

Is there any particular film director, who you are looking forward to work with in future?

It’s my dream to take part in Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino movies, because their work has a great influence on my own music videos!

By the way, every music video that you’ve ever made reminds a short film with deep artistic aesthetics. Have you ever thought of creating your own movie as a director?

Sure I have! I’m slowly coming up with the idea for it. It could take years to fully make it into fruition, but I’ve already started brainstorming!

Music, acting and modeling – even though all of them are entertainment fields, they are pretty different! Why did you decided to make such a movement and how do you manage to combine all of them in your life? 

As long as you don’t overdo it, they all work cohesively together. First of all, you have to want them work together and succeed in each of them for sure! But, personally speaking, I love being able to create in all spaces. I could tell you even more – now I’m also doing voiceovers and podcasts!

Working in such harsh industries, how do you manage to stay true to yourself? 

As funny as it sounds – you learn while you live. You learn through messing up and by solving the problems you figure out what truly matters to you, and what exactly make you who you are. Of course it takes time, but it would be impossible without making several bunch of mistakes. 

For sure your work is always accompanied with personal opinion of enormous amount of people. How do you handle critics?

It has been such a long journey not letting 1 word of hate get to you. It’s crazy, because despite 1000 positives comments, you will always hear one negative the loudest. Sometimes I just stop reading Twitter or any other social media. This is a moment when it’s extremely important to remember who you are, why have you chosen this path and that in this particular period you have done your best. If the answers to these questions are clear, no hate will ever break your heart. 

What was the best advice you have ever got in your life? 

Your dream is your blueprint to reality. It’s possible, if you can imagine it.