Like many performers, Annabel Gutherz is learning to balance the spotlight with her everyday life. Like any job, being an artist comes with those public moments of being “On” and the behind-the-scenes pieces of the creative process. Finding the place where those personas overlap is a process. Annabel’s latest single “Showtime, Baby!” searches for the line between the self and the performance. How do you put on the best show possible without losing your sense of self? How can you be successful and authentic?
Get an inside look at Annabel’s search for answers in our interview below.
Showstopper Magazine Online: What does it mean to you to be a performer?
Annabel Gutherz: To be a performer is to embrace the joy of entertaining and connecting with people on a deeply emotional level. For me, performing is not just about being on stage; it’s about forging meaningful connections with my audience, bringing them moments of joy, and understanding what emotionally resonates with them. It’s about feeling the pulse of the crowd and responding to their energy, creating a shared experience that transcends the ordinary.
Performing is about immersing yourself in the fabric of the human experience. It’s about expressing the myriad emotions that define our lives—joy, sorrow, love, and everything in between—and channeling those feelings into your art.
SMO: Is there a line between Annabel the person and Annabel the artist?
Annabel: I believe that Annabel the person and Annabel the artist are intricately intertwined, each profoundly influencing the other. My life experiences, emotions, and personal growth are deeply reflected in my art, creating a symbiotic relationship between who I am and the music I create.
SMO: What are your strategies for staying grounded in the face of doing the next big, entertaining thing?
Annabel: The work required to achieve the next big, entertaining milestone is what keeps me grounded, while the prospect of reaching that milestone motivates and inspires me. The balance between the two is essential for my creative journey. The excitement of future possibilities drives me forward, while the day-to-day work keeps me rooted in the present, ensuring that I approach each task with intention and care. Ultimately, it’s this dynamic interplay that helps me stay motivated, inspired, and grounded in my artistic endeavors.
SMO: What makes your art most valuable to you?
Annabel: What makes my art most valuable to me is the joy and feeling it brings to others.
SMO: How does that translate into how you prepare music for your audience?
Annabel: When I’m preparing for a live show, I curate every aspect of my performance for my audience with care and passion such that their experience can be as cathartic and enjoyable as possible. I love what I do and I feel honored to have the privilege of building community and connection through music.
SMO: How do you remind yourself that it’s about more than the approval of others?
Annabel: I constantly remind myself that true fulfillment extends beyond seeking the approval of others. Instead, I focus on reconnecting with my deeper purpose and understanding what genuinely fuels my passion. Reflecting on what drives and fulfills me allows me to anchor my actions with my core values and aspirations.
SMO: When do you feel most authentic as an artist?
Annabel: I feel most authentic as an artist when I’m deeply immersed in the creative process and staying true to my unique vision. For me, authenticity emerges when I’m fully engaged in crafting music that resonates with my personal experiences, emotions, and artistic intentions. This means trusting my instincts, exploring my own creative impulses, and resisting the temptation to conform to external expectations or trends.
SMO: What has been your journey with balancing success and your artistic goals overall?
Annabel: This is such an interesting question, and honestly, a challenging one to answer. To me, success isn’t just about chart positions or accolades; it’s more about the genuine connections and responses my music elicits. This means focusing on the quality and authenticity of my work, pushing creative boundaries, and striving to capture the nuances of human experience through my art. The way my music is received by audiences plays a significant role in shaping my approach to songwriting. Positive feedback and meaningful connections with listeners affirm that I’m on the right path, while constructive criticism drives me to refine and evolve my craft.
SMO: How did this influence the lyrics of “Showtime, Baby!”?
Annabel: The interplay between authenticity and success deeply influenced the creation of “Showtime, Baby!” This dynamic served as a powerful motivator for me to delve into my most honest and unfiltered self while composing the song.
SMO: Do you have an answer to the question “If life is a stage, am I always performing?”
Annabel: I believe that, to some extent, we are always performing. This performance isn’t limited to the traditional sense of being on stage or in front of an audience. Instead, it encompasses how we present ourselves in different aspects of our lives, whether in social settings, professional environments, or even in our private moments.
This idea suggests that every interaction and experience involves a degree of performance, where we navigate our roles and identities based on various contexts and expectations. Even when we’re being authentic, there is an element of conscious or subconscious presentation involved—crafting our responses, shaping our behaviors, and curating how we express our thoughts and emotions.
In this light, the concept of performance extends beyond mere facades; it becomes a fundamental part of how we engage with the world and understand ourselves. It reflects our continuous effort to balance between our inner truths and the external roles we play, whether consciously or instinctively.
