Meet Our A&R Team: Sarah Mitchell

In the music industry, A&R representatives are the badass individuals who discover promising new talent. Here at Symphonic, we have dedicated A&R reps for each genre who specialize in finding and managing artists from all over the world to help them reach their highest potential. In this series, we’re getting up close and personal with some of Symphonic’s A&R folks who kick ass every day to make your dreams come true. First up, Sarah Mitchell. ✨

Meet Our A&R Team: Sarah Mitchell

Genre: Indie Alt/Folk/Country/Rock

IG: @say_mitchell

What do you do here at Symphonic?

“I discover + chat with artists and labels who I think would be a good fit at Symphonic. From here, I streamline all communication upon signing and assist with onboarding + client development.”

What do you look for?

“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for artist traction, so I look for artists who have consistent strategy and bases to cover. We assist with artist distribution, but it doesn’t end there. I want to see a solid release timeline, marketing strategy, and even a regular touring schedule to gain an organic fanbase. There are so many ways to reach more ears, and it helps to wear many hats.”

How would someone qualify for Symphonic Partner/catch your eye?

“Symphonic works with artists/labels of all genres and scopes, but Partner is best tailored for artists who already have (at least) some solid traction behind them. We give our best push and support to the artists we work with, but we like to see some fuel added to the fire already. If we direct an artist to Starter to gain a fanbase, we can always take a look at the development after they get some releases under their belt.”

Who are some acts you’ve signed?

“Drumming Bird, Nicholas Jamerson, You’ll Never Get To Heaven, Black Country Rock (Shooter Jennings’ label), Trash Panda, Chance Emerson, Wild Party, Brendan Abernathy, Certainly So.”

Got a playlist with the type of music you’re looking for?

What genres/subgenres are you seeing on the rise?

“Alt-Country. Artists like Zach Bryan, Red Clay Strays, Wyatt Flores, etc. brought (and are bringing) a larger light to the genre that is not classic for radio.”

What trends or opportunities do you see in the industry right now that independent artists should pay attention to?

“Now more than ever, there are so many different avenues to access, ingest and discover music. Artists have the opportunity to target a live audience, social media platforms, DSP’s, sync opportunities, brand partnerships, etc. Because of this saturation, there is no hindrance to covering as many bases as possible. Every artist’s journey is different, so there isn’t one formula to traction. Finding a sweet spot that is still genuine is important.”

What’s one album or song you think everyone should listen to at least once?

“Hard one… Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys is my favorite album from start to finish, but Absolutely by Dijon is a favorite, too. Both tell a story.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“Chatting with artists I love every day, starting a journey with artists, and watching them grow!”

//

It’s time to take your music career to the next level… and we can help you get there.

Here at Symphonic, we pride ourselves on providing established and thriving artists, record labels, managers, and distributors with the team, music marketing, and business intelligence they need to grow revenue and brand awareness through music promotion and distribution to over 200+ digital music stores and streaming services.

Whether you’re just starting out or an established act, we have a plan tailored to your specific needs. Click the links below to check out our two available plans for artists at each level below…

Starter 🤝 Partner