Get to Know Georgia Saunders!

I remember the first time I heard Gillian Saunders -- who goes by Georgia Saunders on all platforms -- play at one of Mad4U’s open mic nights when we were both freshman. The moment she stepped on stage, her soulful voice and bright spirit lit up the room. She was clearly born to be on stage.

Gillian Saunders is a sophomore here at JMU. She is a double major in SMAD with a concentration in Journalism, as well as Voice with a concentration in Music Theatre. Singing has been her greatest love since she was a little kid, performing in her living room every night. As she got older, her love for music grew. She says she “really got the bug” for music when she started doing shows, and she’s never once looked back.

Gillian is inspired by musicians such as Sara Bareilles and Emily King. “If you listen, a lot of my music has a similar flavor to them;” she says, “I love using seventh chords and suspension chords to make my music sound crunchy.” Gillian’s goal as an artist is “to tell stories and make people have emotional connections” with her songs. After she graduates from JMU, she hopes to move to Los Angeles and continue pursuing her dreams.

Gillian’s latest release is her song “Rooftop.” The song begins with Gillian softly, yet powerfully singing “you make me try things I’ve never tried before.” “Rooftop” tells the story of a young couple in love, dancing on a rooftop together as the rest of the world fades away. For the lovers, “everyday’s a surprise” filled with “spontaneity” and adventures “on a whim.” She ends each line with effortless vibrato, and the song gradually swells as the two fall more in love. “Rooftop” is an upbeat, optimistic, adventurous pop song perfect for belting at the top of your lungs. Gillian recently released a YouTube video of “Rooftop” featuring an incredibly talented group of musicians who “came together, from a distance.” You can watch it below!

Gillian has a fiery passion for music. She was truly born to be a performer, and I have no doubt that she’ll succeed in pursuing her dreams. You can find Gillian’s music under “Georgia Saunders” on your favorite streaming platform like Spotify or Apple Music, and I also recommend checking out her YouTube channel, Instagram page, and her website which has more information about herself and her music. You can find all of these using the following links!

Quick access to her Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1AfngmPPJRhU7ps5NHqwqJ?si=DLAVFDpHQMmzDqf0YlijpQ

Links to her website, Instagram, and YouTube channel: https://linktr.ee/georgia.saunders.official