Macey Mac joins Live and Amplified to talk about her journey from America’s Got Talent to building a serious songwriting career in Nashville.

In this episode, Macey breaks down:

• Getting a standing ovation from Simon Cowell on America’s Got Talent

• Growing up playing cover gigs across Florida & Mississippi

• Why she moved to Nashville to focus on original music

• The shift from nonstop performing to intentional songwriting

• Working with top-tier Nashville musicians

• The reality of social media, TikTok, and modern music marketing

• Why live performance still matters more than ever

• Advice for young and independent musicians trying to find their lane

This is a real, honest conversation about patience, growth, faith, and navigating the modern music industry without losing yourself in the process.

🎶 Check out Macey Mac’s music, including her latest releases, on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
🎧 Subscribe to Live and Amplified for more long-form conversations with independent artists, songwriters, and creatives.

Follow Live and Amplified: @LiveNAMplified

Join us on this episode of Live and Amplified as we sit down with the incredible Lucie Tiger! 🌏 Originally from Sydney, Australia, Lucie shares her journey from big city life to the legendary music town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. We dive into her songwriting process, touring experiences, and the inspiration behind her latest single, Cowboy Love Me.

We also talk travel adventures, co-writing with Maddie True, and how life in a small town shapes creativity. If you’re a music lover, aspiring artist, or just curious about Lucie’s path in the indie music world, this episode is for you!

🎵 Listen to Lucie Tiger:
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music: Lucy Tiger Music
Instagram: @LucyTigerMusic
Website: LucyTigerMusic.com

💬 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment—we love hearing your thoughts on the episode and your favorite Lucie Tiger tracks!

On this episode of Live and Amplified, we sit down with Mars, a Texas-based indie pop artist whose music lives in a soft, cozy, and deeply personal space.

Mars talks about growing up with a love for writing, discovering music through guitar and songwriting, and releasing music independently at just 15 years old. We dive into studying vocal performance, navigating life after college, freelancing as a musician, and balancing creativity with the realities of needing a day job.

We also explore:

• Writing music as emotional processing

• Indie pop vs genre labels

• The Texas music scene (Houston, Lubbock, El Paso & beyond)

• Recording vs writing (and why artists hate recording)

• Being an artist without losing your identity

• Making art for joy, not just money or attention

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about creativity, growth, and staying grounded as a modern independent artist.

🎧 Listen to Mars on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music & more
🎙️ Subscribe for more indie artist interviews
📍 Filmed in Central Texas

Follow Live and Amplified: @LiveNAMplified

Birdie Nichols joins Live and Amplified host Tom Kwiat for a deep-dive conversation on her brand-new album “Western Heritage,” her journey from Arizona to Nashville, and her upcoming international run in Australia.

In this episode, Birdie shares:

• The inspiration behind Western Heritage and how it builds on Into the West

• Writing albums back-to-back and planning future releases

• Recording in Nashville and working with multiple producers

• Growing up in Prescott, Arizona and how the West shapes her storytelling

• Playing Tamworth Country Music Festival in Australia

• Why Western music, history, and imagery matter to her sound

• Life on the road, time zone chaos, and creative balance

This is a must-watch for fans of Western, Americana, Country storytelling, and independent artists navigating today’s music industry.

🎧 Listen to Western Heritage on all streaming platforms
🌵 Follow Birdie Nichols & grab merch: birdienichols.com

📌 Subscribe to Live and Amplified for more in-depth artist conversations.

In this episode of the Live and Amplified Indie Fusion Podcast, host Tom Kwiat sits down with Canadian singer-songwriter Kat Krys to talk about her journey through music, songwriting school, and building a sustainable career as an independent artist in Canada.

Kat shares how she got her start releasing music on SoundCloud, her first official single “Burn,” and her acoustic EP **“Feels Like Home.” We also dive into her latest single “Briefcase,” the story behind it, and how co-writing, home studios, and collaboration play a major role in her creative process.

As a Bachelor of Music student majoring in general music with a minor in songwriting, Kat opens up about:

• Writing songs under creative prompts

• Recording demos in school studios

• Applying for Canadian music grants

• Balancing school, songwriting, and live performance

• Navigating the Alberta / Edmonton country music scene

This episode is packed with insight for independent musicians, songwriters, and anyone curious about how music education and grant funding can support an artist’s career.

🎧 Listen, learn, and get inspired.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment to support independent artists and conversations that amplify real music stories.

🎶 Stream her music on all platforms

📸 Instagram: @kat.music_ (search Kat Krys)

🎙️ More interviews with indie & emerging artists
📺 Subscribe for weekly podcast episodes and music conversations

🔗 Follow & Support Kat Krys🔗 Follow Live and Amplified

Indie pop artist Amaya Nicole joins Live & Amplified to talk about her debut EP Unsent, songwriting as emotional release, and her journey from high-school demos to fully produced music.

In this episode, host Tom Kwiat sits down with Amaya Nicole, a Boise-based indie pop artist originally from California, to dive deep into the stories behind her EP Unsent — a collection of songs inspired by unsent messages, young love, and growing up through the pandemic.

🎶 In this episode, we cover:
• The meaning behind Amaya’s EP Unsent
• Writing songs as “unsent messages”
• Growing up musical and early songwriting
• Influences like Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams & Lizzy McAlpine
• Learning guitar and transitioning to live performance
• The Boise, Idaho music scene post-pandemic
• Recording vs performing & building confidence as an artist
• Promoting music on TikTok & Instagram
• What’s next: singles, future releases & long-term goals

If you love indie pop, singer-songwriters, emotional storytelling, and artist development conversations, this episode is for you.

👉 Follow & support Amaya Nicole:
https://www.instagram.com/amaya_nicole_music/
🎧 Listen to Unsent on Spotify & everywhere you stream music

https://open.spotify.com/album/6zfwLZIp4uaVHQFvXKDWLt?si=Z4wUj5yRSbWDniFOWbrz-Q

🎙 Live & Amplified Podcast — honest conversations with independent artists, songwriters, and creatives.

👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for more indie music interviews

London-based singer-songwriter Rosie Johnson joins the Live and Amplified Indie-Fusion Podcast to talk about her journey from acting to music, finding her voice in the UK Americana and country scene, and the deeply personal story behind her new single “Lucky.”

Rosie opens up about growing up surrounded by music, restoring historic homes, navigating creativity with dyspraxia, and how a chance night at a Soho jazz bar changed everything. She also shares the emotional inspiration behind “Lucky,” a bittersweet reflection on family, survival, gratitude, and what it means to truly feel your feelings.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Rosie’s transition from acting to music

• The growing UK Americana & country music scene

• Writing emotionally honest songs

• Her upcoming releases and future plans

• Creativity, self-belief, and trusting the timing of life

🎧 Listen now and discover one of the most honest voices coming out of the UK music scene.

👉 Follow Rosie Johnson:

👉 Follow Live and Amplified for more indie artist interviews, music conversations, and creative insight.

Abbey Pierce joins the Live & Amplified Podcast to talk about her debut full-length album, the journey from her first EP to vinyl-only exclusives, and what it really means to be an independent artist today.

Growing up in a musical family in Arkansas, Abbey shares how songwriting became her outlet during the pandemic, how working with producer Jeremy Huddleston shaped her sound, and why authenticity matters more than ever in the modern music industry. We also dive into the Arkansas music scene, Nashville co-writes, vinyl culture, and the grind behind releasing music independently.

If you love Americana, country, indie music, vinyl records, and real artist stories, this episode is for you.

🎶 In this episode, we cover:

• Abbey Pierce’s debut album & vinyl-only track

• Songwriting evolution & finding her sound

• Arkansas vs. Nashville music scenes

• The importance of authenticity in music

• Playing iconic venues like Billy Bob’s Texas

• Advice for independent musicians

🔔 Subscribe to Live & Amplified for more in-depth conversations with independent artists, songwriters, and musicians.

🎧 Follow Abbey Pierce:
Website: https://abbypierce.com
Instagram: @arkansasabby
Music: Available on all streaming platforms

🎙️ Host: Tom Kwiat
📍 Recorded for Live & Amplified / Indie Fusion Podcast

Support Tori Nance: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4t81CGLJs7DxGY4L8qVyrQ?si=GDh-J3g_TAa6UAJN_dJCQw

Singer-songwriter Tori Nance joins Live & Amplified, the Indie Fusion Podcast, to talk about her upcoming album Who Am I?, releasing January 2nd, and the deeply personal journey behind it.

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Tori opens up about:

• Writing music through heartbreak, healing, and self-discovery

• Why Who Am I? represents a full chapter of personal transformation

• The realities of being an independent artist in today’s music industry

• Touring plans, van life dreams, and building regional bands

• Why social media is the biggest opportunity indie musicians have right now

We also dive into the Jacksonville music scene, album release planning, touring logistics, and how documenting real life beats polished marketing every time.

🎶 Album: Who Am I? — Out January 2
🎟️ Album Release Show: January 3 at The Walrus (Jacksonville, FL)

If you’re an indie artist, songwriter, or music fan who loves honest conversations about creativity, growth, and the grind behind the scenes — this one’s for you.

🔔 Subscribe for more indie artist interviews, music conversations, and behind-the-scenes stories.

Singer-songwriter Dani LaCour joins Tom Kwiat on the Live & Amplified Indie Fusion Podcast to talk about raw songwriting, chasing dreams in Texas, and her upcoming music releases.

Dani opens up about the true story behind her new single “Praying in a Bathroom Stall,” written after a humbling Nashville open mic experience — a moment that turned into one of her most powerful songs yet. The single drops Christmas Day, ahead of her full-length album In My Rearview, releasing January 24th.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The emotional inspiration behind Praying in a Bathroom Stall

• Writing songs from real-life moments of doubt and hope

• Recording her album at Natchez Sound Studio in Mississippi

• Navigating the Texas music scene vs. Nashville

• Playing iconic venues like Gruene Hall

• Balancing music, motherhood, and sobriety

• Why Texas (Hill Country & Fort Worth) feels like home

• The hustle behind booking shows and building a fanbase

If you’re an independent artist, songwriter, or music fan, this episode is packed with honesty, encouragement, and real-world insight into the grind of building a music career.

🎶 New Single: Praying in a Bathroom Stall – out Christmas Day
💿 New Album: In My Rearview – out January 24

📍 Follow Dani LaCour on social media and catch her live across Texas & Louisiana.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to support independent artists and original music.