Meet Summer Mensah | Summer Mensah| Musician and Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Summer Mensah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Summer, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose this for two reasons. I chose this career to show people what it really means to be creative. To show others that they don’t need to hold a paint brush or sing through a microphone to live life as they so choose. They have access to that now!

And through recorded music and live shows, I like to share that message.

In addition, my hope is to unify the community and encourage inner peace through music. If someone listening feels as though they can have a mental break from the commotion of life, I believe my job was done. And if someone feels warmer or closer to the former stranger next to them, my job was done.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

For about eight years, I played music in grade school. I did flute choirs, woodwind ensembles, marching band and orchestra. In these groups, I learned just how complex music could be. And though the genres and styles of music varied, the music spoke fully, and dropped the mic when it was finished. I believe that inspired me to make music that pushed boundaries- that never “had” to fit into a category.

After graduating high school, I decided to attend the University of North Texas where I majored as a BA in Music with a flute concentration. As mentioned in my shoutout, here I received input from many teachers at the university. They taught me how to be technically clean and encouraged my performance artist as a flautist. It wasn’t so much about perfection, but the question often presented was, “What are you communicating, how are you communicating, and are you giving your all?”

However, two years in, things took an unexpected turn for me. As I started planning my future, I had to ask myself, “Where am I trying to end up after this degree”. I knew the gift within me was pushing me to keep going, but in what way: orchestral flautist or composer/independent performer?
Late nights locked in my school practice room writing piano sonatas revealed my answer clearly. I had a strong creative mindset, and I needed to nurture that.

So I went home to nurture that.

I learned to produce my original music using the site BandLab, transitioned to GarageBand, and landed at Ableton Live. I started learning new instruments like electric guitar and bass, and I started gigging in the DMV area. I began collaborating with rising artists online, and eventually met great mentors within music and business. And now, I’m currently putting on a concert series this summer with a fellow Virgina artist named Emily Roig. On this stage, I am sharing some of the original music I made over these past few years.

Let’s transition to describe some of my music.

At it’s core, my music is what I feel. Quite literally, if you listen to it, you hear a timestamp of my heart in space and time. You’re listening to the frozen version of the emotions, experiences and perspectives of life I was experiencing. And I think the ability for me to use technology and instruments to capture that is near magic.

For example, when you listen to my earlier work, like my album Spaceship Music (under my former artist name “Summer”), you also hear my growth as a producer and composer. You hear me in toddler stage learning how to balance a sound scape, use compression and master. Honestly, I’m still learning. But that rawness, I believe, offers an appeal to what I do.

However, featured on my YouTube is “Cinematic Sketchbook (EP 1)”. It’s a play with classical, religious, cinematic, and R&B influences. It’s the music I LOVE to hear. In it, you hear a growth in production, harmonic development and storytelling.

To those who don’t know me, I hope this understanding of my story offers a door for inspiration. I hope readers know this: “Time offers a chance for growth- perfection isn’t always the standard.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So you’re visiting the DMV area. First know that we call it the “DMV” because it includes Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. I’ll suggest spots all through out the region.

My first recommendation is Old Town Alexandria.
It’s THE spot in my opinion. It’s full of history, beautiful rugged architecture, and sits perpendicular to D.C.’s Washington Monument and Maryland’s National Harbor; both of which, I also recommend visiting.

If you want a rewarding lunch in D.C., I recommend Falafel Inc. in Georgetown. Georgetown is definitely a “posh” part of D.C., but this restaurant’s cheap, extremely satisfying meals make you feel like you found the jackpot.

Post lunch, if you want a place to spend three hours, I suggest taking the metro to the The Smithsonian American Art Museum. The particular artists featured are mesmerizing.

And if you want to escape for a great date night, take an uber over to Maryland’s National Harbor, ride the colorful ferris wheel, book a night at the Gaylord Hotel, and enjoy some late night bites as you explore the MGM Grand.

But there’s more! Say you wake up the next day and you are in the mood for nature. A get away. A real one… where practically no one will bother you.

I recommend you visit Widewater State Park in Stafford County. You get an exclusive view of the Potomac River without a car passing or a skyscraper in sight. I’ve found a lot of soul healing at this location. I encourage you to sit by glassy water, and enjoy a picnic if you can.

Whew, what a weekend you’ve got planned. I hope you enjoy!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First of all, my parents, Francis and Treva Mensah, deserve an extreme shoutout! They showed me what sacrifice and giving even meant. They gave me the freedom to pursue what I really wanted, and let me grow my gifts at my own pace.

For example, growing up they noticed my talent, but they also noticed my extreme stage fright. They would suggest ways to help me flourish as a musician like: “Perform at the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront” or “Become a Wedding Musician”.

But I refused!

For over a decade, I was scared of being seen doing my own thing. I was used to standard band repertoire and Mozart Concertos. But that’s the point of why they were so helpful, I had to grow into that brave young woman. And they waited while I learned to embrace who I really was.

And they let me have time to do that. And time….when I chose to pause halfway through my college degree. They let me have space- to practice composing and building my performance pieces. They let me have resources- home and electricity when I had zilch. And they offered complete forgiveness- even when I messed up… big time.

I get to be who I am, because of the foundation they created for me.

I also want to shout out all of my flute and music teachers I have had growing up. These teachers taught me how to listen. How to be patient with my body as it adjusts to what I’m learning. How to follow my natural instinct. And how to become a good teacher myself. They include: Allison Langridge, Courtney Martin, Veronica Sutherland, Dr. Kelly Kazik, Dr. Terri Sundberg, James Scott, Elizabeth McNutt, and Dr. Veronica Mascaro.

Website: https://www.patreon.com/summertrenealmensah

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summermensahmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summermensahmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGVxQaS9pdMj4xKsqP5uLaw

Other: BandLab: https://www.bandlab.com/summertreneal

Image Credits
Kelvin Teel Jr. Lyra Wilson Katie Altman