In a recent episode of the Female Entrepreneur Musician Podcast, host Bree Noble sits down with songwriter, performer, and coach, Alice Sandahl—founding member of La Luz and now a solo artist and educator. Their conversation is a deep dive into overcoming creative blocks, embracing your authentic artistry, and building sustainable momentum as an independent musician.
Listen to the podcast here:
The Journey from Band Member to Solo Artist
Alice shares her evolution from playing in overlapping Seattle bands to becoming a founding member of La Luz—a project driven by tight collaboration and consistent momentum. Over more than a decade, Alice found herself longing to “put out my own work” alongside her collaboration with the band. That seed of desire didn’t fully blossom until the Pandemic offered a reflective pause, prompting her to ask: “Why am I not taking action here? What’s stopping me?”
Through curiosity and self-compassion rather than judgment, Alice began releasing solo music and developing artist coaching programs.
Action Over Inaction: Embracing Progress
Both Bree and Alice discuss the struggle artists face when ideas never leave the notebook or voice memo. Alice emphasizes, “Action doesn’t mean grand gestures. Action can be small things, like sitting down at your instrument with playfulness, or researching where to record. Small steps are still action.”
When “writer’s block” rears its head, Alice challenges her clients to dig deeper: Is it distraction? Overthinking? Fear of judgment? “Writer’s block can become an excuse, even an identity. Instead, try to identify what’s really going on and take small, manageable steps forward.”
Knowing When a Song Is “Done” (and Letting Go)
Creative perfectionism can keep artists in an endless cycle of tweaking. Alice recommends Rick Rubin’s insights on this topic, reminding us that songs (like journal entries) don’t need infinite rewrites. Sometimes, the struggle to finish is a way to avoid vulnerability or judgment. “Finishing can just be a practice.”
Discovering Your “Why” and the Power of Focus
Alice works with artists to clarify their motivation—what she calls your “why.” She encourages journaling: Why do you want to make music? Why is performing or releasing music meaningful for you? This clarity is an anchor through the inevitable ups and downs of an artistic career.
From there, Alice recommends a simple three-step approach:
Identify your “why.”
Choose a focus area for the next 30-90 days—whatever excites you most, whether it’s recording, branding, songwriting, or booking live shows.
Outline small, actionable steps toward that focus.
Bree adds her own twist: Start a “not doing” list to eliminate shiny-object distractions that don’t move you closer to your current goal.
Building and Utilizing Your Network
A strong network, Alice notes, isn’t always about traditional industry contacts—it can be your local community, your friends, or even fellow open mic performers. Often, artists aren’t utilizing the connections they already have, sometimes because they don’t feel they “belong.” Cultivating a sense of belonging and being willing to ask (“Want to collaborate?”) can make all the difference.
Owning Your Identity as an Artist
Both Bree and Alice explored the moment when an artist finally feels comfortable calling themselves “a musician.” Sometimes, taking action—performing, releasing, connecting—comes before the confidence follows. “Don’t wait for confidence,” Alice urges. “Take action so that you develop confidence.”
Do You Need Industry Approval Today?
With today’s tools and communities, Alice believes independent musicians have everything they need to build sustainable, fulfilling careers outside traditional gatekeepers. “It’s about community,” she says. “We can develop our own path without industry contacts if we focus on our own network and nurturing our audience.”
Connect with Alice Sandahl
If you want to overcome your own creative blocks, finish your projects, or take your artistry to the next level, Alice offers a free mini coaching session and a free resource—Song Analysis 101—on her website. Whether you’re ready to dive deep or just want to develop your musical vocabulary, she’s there to support musicians at all levels.
📲 Keep Learning & Connect with Alice
Website: alicesandahl.com
(Sign up for a free coaching session or download Song Analysis 101)
Instagram: @aliceintheriver
Whether you’re fighting writer’s block, figuring out your artistic “why,” or simply need a gentle nudge toward your first solo project, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for any musician carving out a creative path on their own terms.