• Artist Name: Elyse Saunders
• Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

What project(s) are you currently working on? 

I recently released my brand new EP “Free” which includes some of my recent singles, including “Free”, “Wine Down”, and my newest one, “Sunshine State of Mind”.

I’m already thinking about new songs later down the road 🙂

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know? 

Since the time I can remember, music has been a part of me. I first started songwriting as a kid after being inspired by my mom who would write and sing songs at home.

My first experiences on the stage were when I was doing jazz, hip-hop and tap routines. I started singing through the odd competitions throughout Ontario and then met my first mentor in my hometown, who ended up taking me under their wing. We headed off to Nashville and I had some incredible people on my very first project which propelled me into this career pretty quick.

My first big break was when I opened for ACM artist Deric Ruttan in front of ten thousand people and from that point on I knew I could make a career of this and was hooked. Since then, I’ve spent several years developing and have had some amazing opportunities along the way.

I’ve really come into my own now and my music has reached so many people!

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living? 

I would definitely be interested in being a business manager for someone in the music scene but if I had to pick something completely outside of music, I most likely would be something adventurous like a marine biologist.

What is your favorite downtime activity? 

I love being out in nature and love spending time with family & friends at the cottage or camping.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush? 

Garth Brooks – just because he’s one of my idols.

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Nashville Predators! I’ve never had more fun at a game than at a Nashville Predator game and they’re in Music City, so I gotta represent!

What is the last movie that you watched? 

I re-watched the original Austin Powers movie actually haha! Kind of random but it’s been so long and I was looking for some laughs.

What is the last album you listened to?

I’ve been listening to John Mayer’s new album. He continues to slay!

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“Golden Hour” by Kacey Musgraves. It’s such a comforting record with beautiful messages.

What is the greatest country song of all time? 

For me it’s gotta be Dolly Parton’s song, “I Will Always Love You.”

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Nashville, always! 🙂

What is your favorite meal?

Spaghetti or pizza!

Who is your dream duet partner?

I’d love to do a duet with Ed Sheeran. That would be fun!

Who would you like to go on tour with?

I think Kane Brown would be a fun one to tour with. He seems like a cool dude!

What is your ultimate career goal(s)? 

To go as far as I can with this. I’d love to do an international tour and reach as many fans as possible with my music. I hope to keep expanding my team so that we can continue to reach new heights and create more music that people want to listen to over and over. Living the dream!

Thanks so much for the chat 🙂

-E