Audra Watt: Meet the lyrically adept Americana singer emerging on the Nashville scene
Audra Watt’s remarkable life story paved the way for her to become one of Americana’s most talked about up-and-comers. As she releases her new single, ‘The Good Of It,’ we take a look at how she began her rise to the top - and why the Nashville music scene holds a special place in her heart.
Born into a family that cherished music, Audra Watt’s path to becoming a songwriter was laid out for her when she was an incredibly young age; the artist recalls that her parents played folk-pop hits from the 1960s and 1970s, making sure that she had a firm knowledge of the likes of Peter, Paul & Mary, Simon & Garfunkel, and James Taylor. This early immersion ignited a lifelong passion, prompting her to begin fiddle lessons at the tender age of four, while based in Corvallis, Oregon.
In the years that followed, Audra and her family moved around several times - from Oregon to New Jersey to Memphis - and Audra’s dabbles with music also moved around. Her curiosity led her to take piano lessons while she was still a child (her mother, recognizing her burgeoning talent, procured an old upright piano at a local garage sale). She learned both folk and classical styles, ensuring that she had a diverse musical DNA for herself going forward. But she was also unafraid to traverse into other areas of music. Throughout her childhood, she transitioned to band and orchestra, then dabbled in music theater, then joined a jazz band where she learned improvisation and chord theory, and then also joined several other high school bands.
Audra then went to college in Nashville, which further added to her musical education, with the budding artist taking courses in Country and Blues music and songwriting, even recording a small demo.
But college also proved to be a fork in the road, as reality - and the future - hit home. After Nashville, Audra distanced herself from music, pursuing a successful healthcare marketing career and raising a family.
It wasn’t until she was 40 that Audra would make her great leap back into music. After a chance trip back to Nashville, Audra realized that she had unfinished business with the fiery songstress inside of her. She decided to pursue her music career once again, collaborating with fellow artists, taking online courses from Berklee College of Music, participating in writing workshops led by Grammy-nominated songwriters and earning recognition from Songtown and the Nashville Songwriters Association.
The result of this hard grafting has been incredible to behold. Of the songs Audra has released so far, there is an undeniable potency in her style. Above all, her searing honesty sets her apart from so many artists in today’s world. On her latest song, ‘The Good Of It,’ she truthfully addresses complicated subject matter, with her voice and style remaining poised and compelling.
‘The Good Of It’ is available to listen to now on Spotify and other streaming services. Find out more about Audra Watt’s work here.