Artist Profile: Amanda Roark

Sharing Songs of Positivity

By Ellen Samsell Salas

At only 22, singer-songwriter Amanda Roark is slowly but steadily making her dreams come true.

I work very hard, she said. But I know if I keep doing that, Ill get to where I need to be.

Roark also knows she wouldnt be happy if she wasnt writing music and performing.

Its my entire being. When youre not doing what you love, it takes a part of you away, said Roark.

Inspired by artists including John Mayer, Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, Alan Stone, Stevie Nicks, Queen, and David Bowie, Roark writes and performs songs that she describes as indie-soul or neo soul with a splash of R&B. More important to her than classifying her work is the connection she forges with her audience, and the message she conveys.

Its all positive. I want to help the world be a better place. I like to share that message, she said.

Rather than aspiring to instant fame, Roark sets smaller goals. And with the recent release of her first EP, Sunflowers, she achieved one of those goals. As a child, she was drawn to music by listening to her mother play piano and her father play drums, which inspired her love of classic 1970s rock.

We heard a broad selection  of music in our house, said Roark.

In high school, she sang in the school choir and entered the talent show every year.

I was constantly learning and playing, she said.

That learning included two years at Reinhardt University, studying vocal performance and musical theater.

It definitely taught me a lot about singing and taking care of my voice, but it really wasnt my style, she said.

Both her recent win at the MadLife Undiscovered Artist Showcase and her steady stream of local gigs have taught her more about music and boosted her confidence as a performer.

Another 2019 goal that Roark attained was to start a band. Today, with Roark on acoustic guitar, a bass player, a lead guitarist, and a drummer, the band is already booking shows.

While Roark is performing regularly in bars and restaurants in Atlanta, Woodstock, Canton, Ball Ground, and other cities, she also shares her talent at charity events such as her recent appearances at Sunshine on a Ranney Day and Papayago Rescue House events.

I dont think it matters where I play as much as who Im singing to and whos listening, said Roark.

So dedicated is she to her music, this north Georgia musician doesnt feel burdened by the pressure to write new music, manage her band, or book gigs.

I write every single day, she said. Even if its just a line or a phrase that I scribble on a piece of paper or the back of a napkin.

The plus side to her hard work is that Roark knows music is what she was meant to do.

Follow Amanda on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @TheAmandaRourk, and at TheAmandaRourk.com. Roarks new EP can be found on all music streaming platforms @TheAmandaRourk.