Who Is Callista Clark? The Story Behind Her Journey to Country Music

Our Swag Spotlight shines this week on an incredible singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is wise and talented beyond her years. Callista Clark is a seventeen-year-old Big Machine Records recording artist with big dreams and even bigger talent. We talked to the budding songstress about her journey in Nashville, her debut EP and radio single, and of course, all about where she’s headed.

Growing up in a small town in Georgia, Clark’s primary language was music. As soon as she could talk, she found herself singing with her siblings in her grandad’s church and traveling, playing for other worshippers in her community. Being from a musical family, Clark fit right in. “The moment I could talk I was there singing with my siblings and we would harmonize together,” she tells us, adding, “I have been singing my whole life. It is what feels most natural to me. It is probably more natural to me than talking at this point.”

Throughout her upbringing, Clark got the unique opportunity to learn and listen to many different types of music. She shares feeling inspired by different genres including gospel, Motown, country music, and classic rock as some of her favorites. Crediting artists across genres, it is clear how important music was to the singer even at such an early age. Growing up she listened to everyone from The Judds and Travis Tritt, to Aretha Franklin, but now she finds herself emulating fellow songstresses in country music and beyond like Tori Kelly, Maren Morris, and Jennifer Nettles.

“All those girls that just sing incredibly, write music phenomenally and play instruments; That’s a big goal of mine to be all three.”

After music manager Scooter Braun discovered a cover video on YouTube of Clark singing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” the songstress’s life was changed forever. She was offered a record deal at fifteen years old by Big Machine Label Group, and began songwriting with some of the most prominent songwriters in Nashville, and ultimately creating her debut EP.

Blending her love of many genres, Clark was able to create a timeless and invigorating debut EP called Real to Me featuring her first radio single “It’s ‘Cause I Am.” “I have been writing with amazing songwriters here in Nashville for the past three years for this collection,” she shared with us, “ And most of the ones that we just put out were some of my first co-writes ever in Nashville, when I was trying to figure out myself as a person, and myself as an artist, and what could I bring to the table to be new, and different, and fresh.”

It is safe to say that is exactly what Clark did with her latest project. She shared with fans exactly who she is and the talent she brings. Her feisty anthemic single showcases one side of the fiery songstress and her experience being a young girl in Nashville. “I feel like “It’s ‘Cause I Am” is the perfect way to introduce myself because it shows the confident, bold, strong, more sassy, and sarcastic side of me” she says of the lead single on EP. Later sharing, “the other songs introduce different sides of me, and I feel like the whole collection does a great job of doing that.”

Clearly, Clark is an artist that is going to continue pouring her heart and soul into the music that she creates. Her sound inspires people everywhere to follow their dreams and even more so, encourages young women to stake their claim wherever they want. Wise beyond her years, Clark is showcasing her staying power in country music already! We look forward to her eventual debut full-length project.

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