For some listeners, Allie Sandt may still be familiar as the voice behind “Leah,” the song that helped propel her former band Seeing Double into the spotlight after going viral on TikTok. The track opened doors for the band, bringing millions of streams, new listeners and opportunities to tour beyond their New Jersey and Upstate New York roots. For Sandt, however, the experience became the beginning of something larger.
The balance shows in all of Sandt’s music. While her music is reminiscent of the warmth of music from the ’60s and ’70s from singer-songwriters, her music is still very much grounded in the modern age, incorporating influences from artists including Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Big Thief, and Madison Cunningham. Even one of the tracks on In Pursuit of a Good Time, namely “Intersection,” is influenced by country but still retains the signature guitar sound of Sandt’s music.
“I’ve gotten a lot of comparisons on social media to artists like Norah Jones, KT Tunstall, and even ’70s songwriters like Carole King that are often grouped under the umbrella of soft-rock,” Sandt tells NYS Music. “I would definitely consider myself a fan of all three of those artists, but at the same time I know it can be a slippery slope to focus too much on comparisons—you don’t want to end up chasing them or trying to imitate someone else.”
“When producing “The Right Time” I was listening to a lot of Steely Dan and going for a jazzy clean-cut studio sound. Then when I play it at my acoustic gigs with just me and a guitar, I can absolutely hear the softer ‘coffeehouse vibe’ that people often mention.”
The distinction between Sandt’s recordings and her live shows is, for Sandt, part of the enjoyment. Sandt has been spending a lot of time in various musical settings, from being a band member to doing solo acoustic shows and now touring with her own band members.
“I find that I enjoy living in “live band mode” more than my recording time. I love car-time with my band playing games, staring out of the window, and meeting new people every night. I love debuting songs to new audiences and chatting it up at the merch table.”
“Recording is the hardest for me because it can be very isolating, and as an independent artist, I record DIY style at home and reserve studio time for big-ticket instruments I don’t have… like a drum kit or a grand piano,” she says.
“I have a heavy hand in the part-writing for the songs and putting those pieces together is probably my favorite part of producing music,” she says.
The success of the band and the single “Leah” gave her insight into the workings of the music business.
“I think after the exposure we received from “Leah” I felt a pressure to write something similar for Seeing Double’s next releases. It was simultaneously amazing to experience success for our first single but also we were like… what now?!”
“When it came to releasing music as a solo artist, I had so many songs “in the bank” from years of writing that I didn’t put as much pressure on myself to try and lean into the indie-rock Seeing Double sound. It kind of felt like when I was fronting that band, I got to step into an alter-ego with big yellow sunglasses, but my solo music has a lot more of my personal tastes.”
“When the band split up, I found myself back at square one as a solo artist. It’s definitely been harder than I expected, but it’s also been more rewarding. Every listener, show, and opportunity feels like the foundation for something I want to be doing for a long time.”
“I’m a big fan of listening to albums all the way through. Releasing a constant flow of singles is definitely the marketing being pushed for independent artists right now, but I was really looking forward to creating something with more of a through line for my first full body of work.”
“In Pursuit of a Good Time is about living in upstate New York, going through a band breakup, and figuring out how to be a real person once the familiar structures of young adulthood fall down.”
This personal connection can be observed through songs like “Amanda Antiques,” “Jack’s Song” and “The Wheel.” As opposed to making deliberate choices of what events should be captured in her music, Sandt writes songs to process the events that leave an impression on her.
“It feels like what I share through my songs isn’t quite intentional but instead a way to process how I feel about something, find closure or preserve a memory. I’m excited for people to hear ‘The Wheel’ on my new record–it’s the most vulnerable I’ve been in any of my songs and musically it’s one of my favorites so far.”
Although Sandt is the songwriter for her songs, there is also collaboration that has gone on to make this album, especially with people whom she has befriended in the process. She worked with Mia Abazis, Teddy Holly, and Logan Slansky on In Pursuit of a Good Time.
“I am extremely lucky to work with a group of people that almost always share my vision for the end result of the song,” Sandt says. “I think by being a huge fan of my collaborators it makes for an easier process trading ideas and arranging songs.”
Sandt’s connection with her listeners has also become an important part of her solo career, especially as she continues to build an audience of her own.
“The younger audience of indie fans online has absolutely blown me away–I was so excited this past December to write letters to my top Spotify listeners and hearing back from them about how my music is part of their lives was beyond incredible. We are a small but mighty community!”
This collaborative style will not be left behind even in the next phase of Sandt’s career as she will relocate to Nashville later on this year.
“I’m also excited because I’m moving to Nashville this fall and looking forward to a more collaborative recording process with so many talented engineers down there!”
On the other hand, Sandt is preparing for another journey as she supports Liana Flores on her U.S. tour. It is going to be the biggest audience Sandt has ever performed in front of, but for her, it is an outcome of many years of hard work in various environments.
“More than anything, I am excited! I’ve always wanted to play on a full U.S. tour and being able to open for such a creative and unique artist like Liana Flores is a dream come true,” Sandt says. “It’s kind of like I’ve been in tour boot camp and now I feel ready to hit the road.”
With an album out and her move to Nashville in addition to new crowds awaiting on tour, Sandt is pursuing her career one step at a time. Though her career path has not been an easy one, she has learned to accept the unpredictability of being a solo artist.
“Most of the opportunities I’ve worked the hardest to chase haven’t panned out, while some of the best ones have come along completely unexpectedly. It really does feel like throwing paint at the wall and seeing what sticks.”
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