HCers—Do you dream of being on stage? How about writing your own music? For 23-year-old singer-songwriter Samantha Marq, she’s living her dreams in the music business. HC career profile editor Gennifer Delman chatted with Samantha about everything from her college experience to meeting Justin Timberlake. Read on for the scoop!
Her Campus:
Thanks for chatting with us, Samantha! So tell us: Have you always been interested in music?
Samantha Marq:
My Dad is a musician, so I grew up in the industry and was always surrounded by music. It started in his recording studio in Virginia Beach where big name artists would come in. I would sit in, meet them, watch them record, and take it all in. I got to record as well so I found my love for music very early.
HC:
You attended Pepperdine University once you moved to California. How did you like your college experience?
SM:
I loved it so much! It’s not a crazy party school, which worked for me so I could focus on school and music with no distractions. I met all of my best friends there and we’re all still close. I loved it so much—all of my teachers, too!
HC:
Do you have any favorite designers or brands?
SM:
I really love Nomis [http://www.nomisdesign.com/]. They’re very casual, surf-wear that’s great to wear during the day when I don’t have to wear dresses. They’re a brand that empowers women and I love that.
HC:
What are you two songs you can’t stop listening to right now?
SM:
Definitely “Someone Like You” by Adele and “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj.
HC:
Tell us about your new single “I Like to Party.”
SM:
It’s definitely college relevant. I wrote it in the last few months of school. I wanted to write something that was characteristics of our life at that time. There’s a line that’s like “It’s just me and all my girls/We’re going to party like it’s the end of the world.” It felt like the end of the world when college ended and I like to write about what’s going on in my life. This was one of the last songs we recorded on the album and it’s one of my favorites, for sure.
HC:
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
SM:
My dad. He made sure that I [got established in the industry] myself so that I knew it was what I really wanted. He wanted to make sure I wasn’t just like, “Oh, I want to be a singer!” and then get over it in five seconds. He didn’t want to willingly put me in a harsh business if it wasn’t what I really wanted to do. I’ve gotten to this point by myself. I wouldn’t have survived so far if he hadn’t drilled certain things in my head growing up.
HC:
We hear you got to meet Justin Timberlake when you were younger. What was that like?
SM:
My Dad told me JT was coming to record his first album “Justified” and I was the biggest *NSYNC fan, like obsessed! He told he was coming but told me I couldn’t tell one person or the studio could get in trouble. One day when Justin came in all these people showed up to the studio and he thought that I told everyone! He told me that because of me he wasn’t coming and I was devastated. Then he came up to me and said, “Want to meet Justin right now?” I got ready in five seconds, shot over there, and he had just finished “Like I Love You” and he played it for me. He even told me to tell him what I thought. He played it and was singing and dancing in the studio. Oh, Justin! I’ve met him a few times since then.
HC:
Amazing! What other celebrities have you met that have made a big impact on you?
SM:
I recently attended the
HC:
What is a quote or mantra that you live by?
SM:
If it were anything, it’d be: “If it were easy people wouldn’t be doing it.” In the music industry, it’s a really hard business and I find myself saying that quote a lot.
HC:
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
SM:
Don’t give up—Especially in the music business. In any business, consistency is key. That’s the one thing that gets me through when things get rough. You’ll eventually get there. It may be hard and it may suck, but it will pay off in the end.
HC:
What’s in the works for you right now?
SM:
The single is at radio right now so we’re doing a bunch of radio promotion so hopefully I’ll be in tour soon—It’d be my first one!
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