Ridin’ Solo: Interview with Alt R&B Artist, Savvy

Savvy , (25) formally known as Savannah McClain, is an independent artist born and raised in NYC, emerging from the grounds of Queens, NY. Her sound is new and inspiring while including notes of familiarity that reminds us of the sounds we know and love. The sweetness of her voice combined with the depths of her harmonies produce an angelic experience for all to hear.

Savvy’s goal is to comfort and uplift others with her music. With Savvy’s goal of unity amongst all in mind, she reminds us of our power, shifts your perspective, and opens us up to a plethora of love and opportunities.

Welcome to the Garden Savannah! I'm excited to speak with you. At Brown Orchid we speak with fellow Black women from all walks of life platforms and to spotlights. 

-Arianna: What made you interested in pursing music?

Savvy: Since I could talk, I could sing. It was a natural born talent that I began to cultivate in the church since I had a Christian upbringing. Even though I no longer resonate with the church, I loved singing on stage with my choir members and improvising with the band every Sunday. I continued to find outlets to sing until I found my way into recording studios and taking my craft more seriously. It felt amazing being able to showcase my talents and have others be touched and inspired by it. I just knew even at a young age that I was going to become a superstar. It was an intuitive knowing that was always within me.

Arianna: Describe growing up in New York and how did it impact your music ? 

Savvy: Growing up in New York was a bit different for me than the average. I was sheltered for most of my adolescence due to my parents being afraid of how the concerts jungle would alter my mind. Eventually, I was able to explore my city and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. New York is exactly how people describe: hard, fast, and if you’re not careful, you’ll be up on your ass! But this city prepares you for anything, and instills a specific kind of grit and determination that you cannot get anywhere else. This ambition that I gained being here is the very fire that drives me to do what I do everyday to make my music become a reality.

Arianna:What does a typical day look for you? 

Savvy: My typical day is pretty busy. I wake up around 6am to get ready for my 9-5 job. Afterwards, I get ready to transition to my second job, and then I settle in at home by preparing for the week by meal prepping, going to the gym, or planning for the rest of the week. I always make sure I include time for my music, even if it’s like 5-10 minutes. I dedicated 1-2 days per week to solely focus on that so my Soulmates can keep getting great music.

Arianna:How did you come up with your song Solo ?

Savvy: I wrote Solo when I was 17 years old. I was experiencing a friendship breakup with multiple friends (my entire friend group) and I felt like the scapegoat, forced to walk away from the dysfunction. I was sad and angry because I loved my friends but didn’t understand why they were treating me the way they were. I hated that I had to experience all of that pain and confusion alone, feeling so unsure if any of this was my fault? I realized that I made the right decision, and decided that no matter how much it hurt, I would much rather be alone that stay around “friends” who didn’t truly appreciate me and my value.

What is your take on Blackness in the Alt music space? What is your take on how the soul and rnb genre can mesh with the Alt Rock scene?1 response

My take is that the Alt Space IS our space. Even I learned this recently, discovering that, yet again, we are the originators of what is considered the alternative space. If you think about it, just existing as a black person would have been considered alternative in the past, due to the attempted erasure of our culture and existence. So you can only imagine how powerful is it to see black voices reclaim and take up that space. Even if you look at what R&B stands for: Rhythm and Blues! Is that not considered Rock in some cases or at least under that umbrella? I know that R&B genre now can be weaponized in a way to kinda push all black talent into one box, because why would a black person create a pop album? Or a folk album? (sarcastic tone lol) I think there is no question about how soul/R&B can mesh with Alt Rock because it is already occurring and, quite frankly, the roots of what we know R&B to be now.

Who are your musical inspirations? Do you have an muse? 1 response

I don’t have a specific muse that I center. However, I do have my influences of course. They can range from Alicia Keys, to Adele, Imogen Heap, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Beyoncé, the list can go on and on. I think the commonality between most of my musical inspirations is that most are the Black Greats that have come before us. I hope to lead by their incredible example of creativity, wisdom, dedication, and culture.

How you you describe your music style ?1 response

I feel that I am still on the process of growing and cultivating my sound. However, I fear (in a good way lol) that my journey may never end. As I grow and change within myself, my music will always reflect that growth, which is why I am great at being extremely versatile. What tends to come up the most in my music, are the soothing, inventive melodies and harmonies that I include. I know much of that comes from my church/gospel roots, and those roots will always be present in my music regardless of what style I tend to explore.

What is a dream( we manifest here)  preformance?1 response

It’s the beginning of my first world tour. I’m kicking it off in Queens, NY of course! Paying homage to the city that influenced me the most. It’s sold out; hundreds of thousands are filling up the seats, running in because they know I’m about to go on. I can even hear my Soulmates screaming from the outside. Maybe they couldn’t get a ticket and are hoping to see me at the end. Everyone’s chanting “SAVVY! SAVVY! SAVVY!” I look towards my boyfriend/producer, and he gives me the look and head nod that says to me “I’m so proud of you. Go kill it!” I give him the warmest smile back and get to my spot. The stage is lifting up right on queue to the beat of the first song. Talk to Me. Everyone recognizes the beat, and begin to scream even louder, ready to sing the lyrics loud and proud! I’m raised up to the top, the light is shining so bright on me, and I can see all my Soulmates faces one by one. Even the ones up in the nosebleeds! I close my eyes, silently praying “Thank you, Spirit.” And I sing my heart out, dance my ass off, and give the best performance anyone has seen in the last decade. My hard work has paid off, and I’m only just beginning at the same time. We have more than one show on this world tour! I continue every show with a standing ovation, the Soulmates screaming for more, and a heart so full and grateful.

What is a go to song you preform? 1 response

As of right now, it would be Talk To Me. However, with only two songs out, I know that answer my change as I continue to put out more music.

What are some of the struggles that black women in the industry go through?1 response

It’s a double entendre as a black woman. Having to face both racism and misogyny while trying to be an artist. I’m sure I haven’t even seen my hardest battles as of yet. However, it can be frustrating dealing with producers who wanna holla instead of work. Or even feeling undermined because you don’t come from a certain tax bracket that allows you to create to your fullest potential. Even seeing your white peers excel while wondering “is my work just not good enough?” The good news is, THATS A LIE! I’m confident in my talent and abilities. Regardless of what obstacles may come and from what sources, I know that this is my destiny and Spirit is holding my hand the entire way through.

Whta is something you want your fans and audience to know about who Savvy as an artist? 1 response

I want my community to know that I am truly always thinking about them when I’m writing my music. Even the Soulmates who haven’t joined the community yet! Yes, I do this work for myself and I get a lot out of it; but I truly want the Soulmates to remember how loved and important they are to me and the rest of the world. That they are never alone, and whatever you are going through, someone can relate to your experience. I hope that they can feel that through my music, as well as feeling inspired to be a positive light to the people around them so they can share the love and comfort that I share with my music.

Black womanhood is something we hold very deeply together. What does represenation mean to you and how does your music translate - represent to fellow black women?1 response

Representation is incredibly important to me, especially when it comes to my music. It’s important for all experiences and walks of life to be platformed. Seeing diversity be prioritized is important especially for the younger generation coming after us. You can see that intention shown in my music video for Talk To Me. I was able to work with an incredible creative director/choreographer, Kris, who choreographed the dances and made sure that we were sticking to my vision for the video. When it came to dancers and extras, I specifically wanted black/Afrolatina individuals to be casted because I know how much we are underrepresented in the arts. It was incredible to see all of us get together to make that vision possible and I’m so happy I was able to do that.

What do you think of the music industry and how does it feel to be an indie artist in 2025?1 response

I think the industry is full of opportunity, but it can be discouraging for indie artists like me who are trying to build this from the ground up. Seeing great artists who have come before me get taken advantage of, or trapped into bad deals, can make the industry seem really intimidating. As not only a vocalist, but a writer as well, I understand my value and continue to invest in that. I want my hard work to credited, not just for the sake of validation, but to ensure that I am being granted what is rightfully mine as a creative. I’m hopeful that this will occur, and that other indie artists like me can continue to grow and help each other to make those independent dreams possible.

Arianna:What does the future look like for Savvy ?

Savvy: The future looks bright. It may not seem like much on the outside, but there’s so much work and intention going on behind the scenes. There’ll be more new music, performances, creativity, and intention coming your way. I’ll be making sure to documenting more of this on my YouTube channel so that the Soulmates cause see my journey a bit more. But I’m excited to see what the future holds while continuing to expand my art.

Arianna:What are some of your favorite song you have writtten?

Savvy:I won’t go into too much detail year, just because the song isn’t out yet! lol. But I’ll say this: my favorite song that I’ve written so far will be dropping in May 2025! I’m sure once you all hear it, it’ll be your favorite song too!

Arianna:What is vibe you go for?

Savvy: The vibe I go for is all about exploring your inner self, and expressing that authenticity to the world unapologetically. It’s not really an aesthetic you can throw on a Pinterest board, but more of a philosophy that I lead my life by.

Arianna: What is a childhood idol or that childhood rockstar dream you had? ( we all did lol)

Savvy: As a child, I always wanted to be accidentally discovered by a famous singer or producer! Kind of like how Mariah Carey got discovered; or blow up on the internet like Justin Bieber and become an overnight success! I would get my contract and immediately start recording, traveling, and performing all over the world. Sometimes, when I was younger, I would sing out loud at the mall or the grocery store just in case someone heard me. Even at that age, I was always ready to shoot my shot! Lol.

Arianna: What one thing you want our audeince to know about yourself?

Savvy: I want them to know that anything you want is yours once you choose it for yourself. I know it sounds a little corny, or maybe you’ve heard others repeat these exact words. The truth is, you can receive whatever life you want in this world. You just need to become the person who can carry that blessing. Sit and imagine what the person loving your dream is doing everyday to achieve that. Are they working out 3x a week? Are they reading 3 books a month? Are they putting in 20 hours a week on their craft? Whatever those habits are, figure it out and execute as consistently as possible. Watch the growth and see what happens after some time and dedication.

Arianna: What is the best advice you ever recvived?

Savvy: The best advice I’ve ever received was to water your own garden. I struggle with anxiety, and having that fear based mindset can cause you to get so distracted. Consistently wondering if your life will work out, if the people around you love you, if there’s any meaning to anything I’m doing? All of these thoughts pulling your energy away from yourself. If you think your negative thoughts deserve to be heard, then is it that far off to think your positive ones deserve to be heard too? Focusing on yourself and your garden will allow all the people things, and places who deserve to be there to arrive. And they will bring you everything that you need because they belong there. Just like a real garden, tending to your plants and flowers will attract the beautiful butterflies you love to admire; or the bumblebees who gift you with their honey.

Follow Savvy on all platforms @SavvyyMusic

Stream Savvy’s singles, “ Talk To Me” and “Solo” on all streaming platforms

Watch our Episode on YouTube: HERE

Read our Interview in Vol.2 Spring/Summer 2025 Issue HERE