A Chat with Monica Lynn (25.08.25)
Few milestones in an artist’s journey feel as profound as holding their music on vinyl for the first time. For singer-songwriter Monica Lynn, that dream has just become reality with the release of her debut album, Sunshine Small Town Girl. Blending heartfelt storytelling with a unique fusion of country and indie-pop, Lynn captures life’s raw emotions of love, loss, resilience, and growth through songs that are as personal as they are universal.
OSR: Your debut vinyl album marks a major milestone. How does it feel to finally hold your music in physical form?
Lynn: It feels simply amazing. The night I listened to the test press, I was overcome with emotion. I used to listen to my favourite musicians on vinyl growing up, and so it’s surreal to hear my music in this classic format. Such a cool feeling. A huge milestone in my music journey that I’ve been dreaming about since 2020.
OSR: You’ve often drawn from personal life experiences in your music. How do you balance vulnerability with artistic expression?
Lynn: With grace and openness – hoping that my lyrics will meet the listener on their personal journey. I write and sing from the heart. Some of the most difficult moments come when I perform a song that’s filled with emotion for the first time in front of a live audience. A crack in my vocals, a pause, a tear is part of the experience I sometimes have to accept as I share my authentic voice. But when I write the song and it conjures up these emotions, whether they are happy tears or sad, it tells me I have a truly heartfelt song with meaning. I also write in a journal daily, and the words on the page become inspiration for the music, but those ideas are much more literal than the artistic flow I want to portray through my songs. Practice, playing with structured songwriting techniques, and meditation before a writing session helps me get into flow, listen to my soul’s energy, and bring a song to life that is engaging, inspiring, and heartfelt. I want to draw listeners into the storyline. This is a skill I will keep working to master.
OSR: How does it feel to return to live performances with this new chapter in your musical journey?
Lynn: Nothing short of spectacular. I can’t think of anything that brings me greater joy than performing live for a full audience of fans. There is no other reason for me to write and sing than to share my message and my music with the world. So, I do hope that everyone who attends will feel the love and gratitude I extend to each and every member of my audience through my music.
OSR: What was the creative process like recording Sunshine Small Town Girl in Nashville with Dean Miller?
Lynn: Dean and the team of artists in Nashville are brilliant. I’ve never seen such creative geniuses in one room, wrapping their own personal talents around my melody, lyrics and sound. It was absolutely incredible. There were many moments where I was sitting in awe, watching the songs blossom. The experience was completely inspiring and will be a process I’ll want to replicate for future projects. It is so important to have creative inspiration and collaboration in this work. I am grateful for the team who leaned in to bring my music to life.
OSR: Each song on the album tells a different story. Do you have a personal favourite or one that was the hardest to write?
Lynn: Each song holds a very special place in my heart – a memory, a moment that reflects a story that needs to be shared. But the one that was most difficult to write is ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’. I mean, it was easy to write because it flowed naturally from my heart one morning at five am as I woke from a dream. But the song stands for the moment in my life when the greatest amount of change was playing out before my eyes. I was in denial that an important relationship in my life was not going to withstand the test of time, and I had to make the tough call to walk away. The raw, real emotion in this song continues to trigger emotion each time I sing it. And yet, the level of healing and support I hope it can offer others moving through similar change is worth the vulnerability, the transparency of sharing such a personal part of my life. In my story, the decision to step away was the right one, but the moment in time will forever be etched into my mind as a sad moment that triggered a necessary step for my next stage of personal growth.
OSR: ‘Girl Gang’ celebrates sisterhood. Who are some of the women in your life that inspired this track?
Lynn: Oh, this is easy. There are three women that are official members of my ‘Girl Gang’ – Lynn Fellerman and Val Studer – two very good friends in Minneapolis who have been my soul sisters since 2017, and my sister Deb Sakry-Lande. Each have been a key part of my support system. Friday nights had been tough for me after moving through some big changes in my life, including the loss of my good friend, Megan Pavot, to cancer in 2019. This song was inspired one weekend when I texted friends Lynn and Val as I prepared for a sad, depressing Friday night. They showed up, we danced all night, and they completely made my weekend. The following Monday, I was inspired to write ‘Girl Gang’ honoring the importance of having women in your life that always have your back. It’s like a set of ‘ride or die’ girlfriends you can always count on. Every woman should have a Girl Gang.
OSR: The album blends country with indie-pop elements. How did you land on this unique sound and genre fusion?
Lynn: My own personal inspiration comes from every different genre you can imagine – jazz, pop, rock, Latin, country, alternative, punk – and when a sound or rhythm moves me, I just have to follow my instinct and write it down. I start all of my songwriting with my guitar in my hands, which creates natural flow of creativity, but then sometimes I’ll hear a beat that gives it a whole new flair, and I just explore what’s possible. Before I know it, a new sound is born that takes my acoustic melody and lyrics and transforms it into a Latin beat, or a pop beat, even a punk style sound like ‘Karmic Love’, which was inspired by Avril Lavigne’s song ‘Sk8er Boi’. My style is beginning to gravitate more naturally toward contemporary country, but I always stay open to what’s possible with my creative energy.
OSR: What does this release mean for your future as a full-time artist? Are there plans for a tour or more music on the horizon?
Lynn: I would be thrilled to tour globally at one point in the future. Right now, my full-time career funds my music aspirations. I want to expand my live performances each year with hopes of taking on tour opportunities that come from continued exposure as an emerging artist. I will definitely be creating more music and am already planning my next trip to Nashville. I’m staying open to what’s possible and will let this music adventure take me wherever I’m destined to go.
OSR: What message do you hope listeners walk away with after hearing Sunshine Small Town Girl from start to finish?
Lynn: I’d like listeners to be reminded that we are never too old to rediscover ourselves. Appreciate that change is often the precursor to growth and personal development. Embracing it, moving through it, is part of the journey. I want listeners to reflect on their life experiences and harness the freedom, power and independence that comes from claiming who they are called to be. Break free from others’ expectations of who you’re supposed to become and just be you. We’re all looking for our place in this world. Each person has unique talents they bring to life. Never forget that, keep shining and pursue your most authentic self. And you can purchase the vinyl here.
Many thanks to Monica Lynn for speaking with us. Find out more about Monica Lynn on her Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Spotify.
