Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Suarez
Isabel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Isabel Suarez, I’m 22 years old, and I’m a musician from Austin, TX. Music has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, although it was never something I pursued in the early stages of my life. Growing up, I wasn’t involved in choir, band, or any other music-related activities while in school. Instead, I explored everything else—sports, computer science, construction, engineering, yearbook, tech theater, and more.
As I progressed through high school, I watched my peers become certain about what they wanted to do after graduation and where they planned to go next. Meanwhile, I felt confused and distant, with no clear idea of my own path. Nothing felt “right”; nothing sparked excitement or curiosity in me. It wasn’t until later that I understood why I felt so lost during those years—it wasn’t that I couldn’t find something for me, but that I was avoiding the one thing I had always truly wanted.
The year of the global pandemic, 2020, was my junior year of high school. The world shut down, and I found myself isolated at home. While that time brought immense struggle, uncertainty, and fear, it also gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my first love: music. That period set me on the path toward my dreams and my eventual musical career.
During isolation, I ordered a ukulele. With newfound time on my hands, I decided to tackle a goal I had always dreamed of—learning an instrument. Using YouTube videos, I taught myself the ukulele, and from there, I transitioned to teaching myself the guitar. At the same time, I was finishing high school online. I graduated in 2021 and knew my next steps had to be music-related.
While I wanted to continue my education, university didn’t feel quite right, so I enrolled in a community college in my hometown, choosing a major in the music industry field. If the pandemic taught me one thing, it was that time is precious. There’s no waiting to pursue what you love. If you have a dream, put every ounce of yourself into it and go for it—despite any fear—because growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone.
After learning the guitar, I finally had the tool to connect with my biggest aspiration: performing live. Now that I could pair an instrument with singing, I was ready to perform as a solo artist. I found a local open mic night and performed the one song I had taught myself. To this day, it remains one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life—but it was so worth it! That performance marked the beginning of my musical journey as a live performer.
I started going to open mic nights every week, finding more opportunities to sing wherever I could. Soon, I was performing somewhere new almost every night. Those experiences built my confidence and eventually led to my first gig. Not only did my skills as a musician grow, but I also became my own businessperson—learning the ropes of the industry by booking my own shows, promoting my performances, and growing my audience.
From there, I kept going, cherishing every moment. Today, I perform around town, playing live shows and living the dream I’ve had since I was a little girl—a life surrounded by music and using it to make my mark on the world. I am also currently in the studio, working on recording my debut EP, which will include six original songs, marking the start of my journey on the recording side of the industry.
This journey—from singing in the backseat of my mom’s car and karaoke in my room every day after school to performing on stages in my hometown—has been extraordinary. I’m grateful for every step of the way. Embracing uncertainty and challenges has shown me that these are the stepping stones to something truly rewarding.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road to get where I am today. While this journey has brought some of the best experiences of my life, it has also come with its share of trials. However, I’m grateful for every moment because these challenges have taught me valuable life lessons.
On the creative side, being a musician is both beautiful and challenging. From battling nerves when stepping onto a new stage in front of a new crowd to learning how to recover when a song or performance doesn’t go as planned, live performing has been a fast teacher. It constantly puts me in difficult situations where I’ve had to think on my feet and adapt quickly.
For example, I’ve played gigs outside in freezing temperatures, learning how to keep my body warm and my energy high to deliver a full performance. On the flip side, I’ve performed in over 100-degree Texas heat, which taught me how to regulate my breathing, protect my voice, and maintain stamina for three-hour sets under extreme conditions.
There have been unexpected challenges, too—like figuring out what to do when it suddenly rains during an outdoor gig, troubleshooting equipment failures on the spot, or even figuring out what to do when your guitar neck snaps in half five minutes before a show was set to start (yes, that really happened!).
The truth is, you never know what might happen. While these moments test your problem-solving skills, they also prepare you to embrace unpredictability with confidence. For every challenge, there’s the potential for something incredible to happen, and I’ve learned to approach each performance with readiness, resilience, and excitement.
But my biggest challenges have been navigating this industry—handling the business side of things as a young woman, standing up for myself, protecting myself, and more. I started live performing at 18 years old. It was not only my first time doing anything like this but also my first experience managing my own business decisions. I didn’t anticipate the complexities of this side of the industry, but I learned quickly what challenges I was to face.
Walking into bars, speaking with bookers, and getting onto live music calendars at venues often came with obstacles. As a young woman, it was sometimes difficult to be taken seriously. Early on, I realized some people tried to take advantage of my youth, mistaking it for naivety. While I still have much to learn, I’ve always known one thing for certain: I am just as capable and worthy of opportunities as anyone else. When my experience didn’t match the requirements for an opportunity, I understood a “no.” But when my capabilities and knowledge aligned with the chance at hand, I knew I had to be confident in what I was exchanging my time and talent for.
When I started performing, the local live music scene felt heavily male-dominated. At open mic nights and other music events, I was often the only female performer. I understood the importance of staying true to who I was and representing women in this space. Still, earning respect as a musician—on par with my peers—was a constant challenge.
I noticed a significant difference in how I was treated compared to young men entering the same spaces. When they walked in wearing their hats and boots to discuss bookings, they were greeted with firm handshakes and a respectful “What can we do for you, sir?” Meanwhile, when I walked into the same places wearing my hats and boots, I wasn’t always met with the same immediate respect. I often had to work harder to prove myself as a serious businessperson.
As my opportunities grew and I began performing on larger stages, this struggle for respect persisted. It wasn’t something I anticipated being such a significant challenge, but it wasn’t entirely surprising either. I knew the world comes with its challenges for young women, but I quickly learned what those challenges look like in my field of work within the music scene.
Despite moments of disrespect, doubt, and even intentional hurtfulness, I continue to move forward with perseverance and grace. I stay true to myself, my values, and my aspirations. Every challenge I face becomes a stepping stone toward my next success.
Ultimately, you can’t let others dictate where you go. While there may be extra hurdles to cross, I firmly believe that nothing will stop me from accomplishing my dreams.
And although I’ve faced many challenges to get to where I am today, they don’t compare to the amount of kindness and support I’ve received along the way. With any journey comes struggle, but I’ve also met so many people who have supported me, given me incredible opportunities, and continued to uplift me in every way possible. For that, I am deeply grateful. Their love and kindness help me grow as an artist and inspire me to take the next steps in my music career.
I believe there is more love than hate in this world. You’ll face adversity, but never let it make you doubt the goodness in people or lose faith in kindness.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer-songwriter and live performer in the country/Americana music scene. Performing as a solo artist with vocals and acoustic guitar, my live shows feature a mix of covers and original material. When you attend one of my shows, you’ll hear everything from timeless country classics to my latest original songs.
One of the things I’m most proud of is my growth as a songwriter. This past year has been a time when my songwriting really took off, with song after song coming to life. I’ve learned a lot as a writer, sharpening my skills and growing my confidence in sharing more transparency in my writing. I believe being open and honest in my writing has been a key factor in setting me apart from others. Whether drawing inspiration from creative fictional worlds I craft or personal life experiences, I strive to tackle the raw and emotional aspects of life—saying the things that are hard to express but deeply felt by many.
Something that has stayed with me was when someone told me, “You sing about the things people are scared to say.” Hearing that was incredibly touching, knowing my songs connect with others, make them feel heard, and validate their feelings. I realized my vulnerability in writing has been one of my greatest strengths and has helped me stand out in the songwriting world.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Music has brought me the most joy, love, and happiness in my life. There’s no greater feeling than seeing how music connects people and helps them embrace the love life has to offer. As a live performer, one of the most rewarding things is when the music connects with the audience. In real time, you get to witness the power of music. It makes me so happy to see couples get up and dance together, kids having fun singing and dancing along, people moved to tears by a performance, and more.
My family and friends mean the absolute world to me. Being able to help support my family and provide them with joyful nights makes me happy. My mom, in particular, is one of my biggest supporters. Seeing her enjoy my performance while I’m on stage brings me joy, and I’m grateful to provide her with moments of peace and happiness amid life’s chaos and stress.
Inspiring others makes me happy. Just the other day, a little girl said to her parents, “I want to learn guitar,” while watching me perform. That made my heart glow so much! I’ve had many encounters with young kids at my shows—seeing them have so much fun and witnessing that spark in their eyes as they watch a performance fills my heart in ways I can’t describe. To be that source of inspiration for them has been one of the greatest gifts of doing what I do.
Music has been my life. It’s connected me to some of the most exciting experiences and allowed me to meet some of my best friends—friendships that bring so much happiness into my life. I’m grateful to be able to call my passion my work. I believe that has been the key to unlocking all the joy life has to offer, and it’s an opportunity I certainly don’t take for granted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://isabelsuarezmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabelsuarezmusic?igsh=MXZ0aWQxMnV6N2hsOQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1H2F4tD8oT/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@isabelsuarezmusic?si=qqaIxXxevpoTsA-d
- Other: https://linktr.ee/isabelsuarezmusic
