Susan began making music in 2016, after moving to Oregon.

While spending time outdoors and hiking, she started noticing that melodies and phrases would come to her.

She felt compelled to write them down.

Those ideas eventually turned into experiments with automatic writing, improvising vocals over instrumental tracks, and exploring different ways to express herself through music.

Before long, Susan realized she was songwriting.

She decided to pick up a guitar so she could accompany herself.

At the time, she was around 35 years old and raising young children.

Like many parents, much of her time and energy went toward taking care of everyone around her.

Songwriting gave her something that belonged to her.

It became a way to step away from everyday responsibilities for a little while and reconnect with her own thoughts, feelings, and creativity.

What began as a personal outlet eventually became an important part of her life.

When Susan talks about why she creates music, it's clear that songwriting means much more to her than simply having a hobby.

She describes it as something she feels called to do.

Over the years, she's tried to understand where that feeling comes from and why she continues returning to music.

She even admits she's tried to turn it off, but the inspiration keeps coming.

“

The channel is open and I am the satellite for it to flow through.

— Susan Harman

I thought that was such an interesting way to describe the creative process.

For Susan, songwriting often feels like something that comes through her rather than something she has to force.

Music has also become a deeply spiritual experience.

It helps her process what's happening in her life, understand her emotions, and find ways to express things that might otherwise be difficult to put into words.

She's always loved singing, and writing has helped her communicate her thoughts.

Combining the two feels natural.

In many ways, her songs have become a personal journal, allowing her to work through different experiences and understand herself a little better.

One of Susan's biggest challenges as an independent artist has been finding balance.

She's a wife, a mother, a musician, and a visual artist.

Her family is incredibly important to her, and creativity is something they all share.

Susan and her husband met while attending art college, and she describes her husband and children as talented artists.

But even when you're surrounded by creative people, finding time for your own projects can be difficult.

Susan has spent much of her life caring for others, and she's learning how important it is to make space for herself too.

That's something I think a lot of people, especially parents, can relate to.

She's also learned that the traditional expectations of being a musician don't necessarily match what she wants for herself.

Constant touring and performing in large venues aren't really what she's looking for.

Although she's tried performing in those environments, she hasn't always found them fulfilling.

Instead, she's drawn to smaller, more intimate settings where people can really listen and connect with the music.

She's particularly interested in spaces connected to healing, spirituality, and sound baths.

For Susan, the setting matters because her music is such a personal part of who she is.

She wants to share it in places where the message can truly be heard.

During the first several years of her music career, Susan spent a lot of time networking.

She joined songwriting groups, connected with musicians in different countries, attended industry conventions, and collaborated with other artists.

Those experiences gave her opportunities to write and release music with people from around the world.

She loved being part of a community filled with people who shared her passion.

Attending songwriting events also gave her a chance to see how many other people were pursuing similar creative goals.

But after years of being heavily involved in networking and collaborations, Susan felt the need to take a step back.

She left many of the online groups she'd joined, paused her collaborative work, and started focusing more on creating music independently again.

In some ways, it brought her back to where she began.

Making music started to feel personal again, almost like writing in her own journal.

Susan hasn't completely closed the door on future collaborations.

She's simply become more intentional about who she works with.

She wants those connections to feel genuine, with both artists equally inspired by the opportunity to create something together.

Susan has a collection of songs she's written that she'd still like to finish and release.

One song in particular has been on her mind lately.

It's called Make Sense of it All.

The title feels especially fitting for the stage of life she's currently navigating.

In 2025, Susan stepped away from her hairdressing business following a car accident.

Since then, she's been taking time to recover, reflect, and figure out what she wants her next chapter to look like.

Music has never been her full-time profession, and she's still exploring how it fits into her life.

She's also questioned whether she wants to continue releasing music publicly.

But even with those uncertainties, songwriting remains something she feels drawn to.

Rather than seeing this period as an ending, Susan describes it as returning to where she started, only with a better understanding of herself.

And sometimes, that can be just as meaningful as moving forward.

Even though Susan has spent time stepping back from some parts of the music industry, she still has creative goals she'd love to pursue.

One of those dreams is forming a band.

Her solo performances tend to have a folk sound, but she's interested in exploring more jazz, Americana, and ragtime influences.

She imagines performing locally in a relaxed lounge-style environment, with a band that allows her to experiment with different sounds.

It's something she hasn't done before, but the idea excites her.

Susan is also interested in combining her music with another important part of her life: visual art.

With a degree in Fine Art, she's exploring ways to bring her original artwork and songs together.

One of her dreams is to create an audiovisual exhibition in a gallery, where people could experience her music as part of a larger collection of artwork.

I think that's a really interesting direction, especially considering how closely her music is connected to her personal experiences and emotions.

For now, Susan is continuing to explore these ideas and figure out what feels right.

She's also stepped away from several social media accounts to create more space for herself, although she continues sharing work through YouTube and maintains music on streaming platforms.

There are several things I appreciate about Susan's story, but the one that stands out most is how honest she is about where she is in life.

I love that she didn't begin songwriting until she was around 35.

I think we sometimes put unnecessary timelines on ourselves. We convince ourselves that if we haven't started something by a certain age, we've somehow missed our opportunity.

Susan's journey is a great reminder that this simply isn't true.

I also appreciate how she talks about balancing motherhood, family, and her own creative interests.

It's easy to lose sight of the things we enjoy when so much of our time is dedicated to taking care of other people.

I think it's important that we remind ourselves that our own passions matter too.

Another thing I respect about Susan is her willingness to step back and reevaluate what she wants.

Not every musician dreams of touring constantly or performing in front of thousands of people.

Sometimes success means having the freedom to create something meaningful, finding the right people to share it with, and being happy with the experience.

I especially love her idea of combining music and visual art into one experience. I hope she gets the opportunity to bring that vision to life.

What I take away from Susan's journey is that creativity doesn't have to follow a straight path.

We grow, our priorities change, and sometimes we discover new ways to enjoy the things we've always loved.

After ten years of songwriting, Susan is still figuring out what comes next, and I think there's something really beautiful about that.

If you haven't discovered her music yet, I encourage you to take some time to listen and explore her work.