She may be the daughter of music legend Donna Summer and singer-songwriter Bruce Sudano, but make no mistake, Amanda Sudano Ramirez has a sound that is all her own. One-half of the American folk duo Johnnyswim (the other half is her husband, Abner Ramirez), Amanda is an old soul with a sultry voice that enchants.
Though born and raised on the West Coast, the South is a familiar landscape for Amanda, who spent much of her childhood living in Nashville and eventually attending Vanderbilt University. It also happens to be where she met her husband, Abner, leading to their celebrated vocal blend. These days, the couple spends much of their time on the road, touring and adventuring with their three children as they hit stages from Philadelphia to Seattle (including upcoming performances in Asheville, Charleston, Birmingham, and Nashville).
Most recently, they joined forces with Nashville-based Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors to collaborate on back-to-back EPs. You can look for the impending release of the second installation, Goodbye Road: Volume Two, on Friday, October 28, and check out their tour schedule HERE. Please welcome this week’s FACE of the South, the very talented Amanda Sudano Ramirez.Â
You essentially grew up in the music industry. Did you always know you were destined to forge a path of your own in it?
Yes! I always loved singing and dreamed of performing, but I also happened to be the shyest member of my family. It was a constant inner conflict of having a strong sense of what I wanted to do but feeling ill-equipped. The deep knowing that I wouldn’t be happy unless I put myself out there luckily won out over my fears, and now it’s hard to imagine performing being scary.
What was your upbringing like?
I had an adventurous but stable upbringing. There was always music and travel and food, but most of all, we were always surrounded by people who loved us and loved each other. The older I get, the more I’m aware of how amazing my childhood was.
Given that your mother was such a legend, did you struggle to have people recognize you for your own style and sound?
Yes, and in fact, I probably would have skipped this question just a few years ago. Most people assume that having a family member who is successful in the industry is helpful, and it is in certain ways (like having someone understand your passion). But in many ways, it’s harder. When I first started [in the industry] before I met Abner, big producers wanted to make me the next dance artist or use [my mom’s] name to get me through doors, and it was exhausting. It’s hard to develop your own sound as it is without having an expectation of who or what you should sound like looming over you — especially so when you have a parent who is an icon. I’m very blessed, though, because, in our home, my parents encouraged us to be ourselves and stay true to what we felt called to, even if it meant a slower, harder road. Success wasn’t marked by the obvious things but by the little wins of creating a sound career over time. They understood how important it was for me to develop naturally and always gave me the space and encouragement to do so. When I would complain about not being where I wanted to be yet or feel embarrassed by a show not selling many tickets, my mom would say, “These are the good ol’ days.” She was right. Every stage has been fun.
You lived in Nashville when you were younger and even attended Vanderbilt … Do you have any favorite go-to spots?
Nashville was a different town when I lived there. It was known for being charming then, but not cool, and now anytime I mention my time in Nashville, people’s eyes light up like I’m talking about Disneyland. That being said, we love coming to visit now because there are so many good restaurants opening up. Our go-to favorites are Folk or Rolf and Daughters.
How did you meet your husband, and what inspired your duo, Johnnyswim?
Abner and I knew of each other through mutual friends, and for years I avoided him because I thought he was really cute, and he made me nervous (remember that part about me being super shy). We eventually met at Cafe Coco, where we both showed up late one night. He was with my friend Mat Kearney, who happened to be his roommate at the time. I was living in NY and came home to visit. I wound up standing next to him in line, and we hit it off immediately. My nerves disappeared in two seconds. I was dating someone else and living in NY, so we were just friends for a while. Eventually, I broke up with the other boyfriend and came back to Nashville. Abner invited me to a show he was playing, and something in me lit up like a firework. I told the friend I was with that I didn’t know if I wanted to marry him, be him, or work with him. Ultimately, I did two of the three.
What is the story behind the name, Johnnyswim?
It depends on who you ask. If you ask me, it came from my next-door neighbor’s dog, who loved to swim. The dog’s name was Johnny, and when I first brought Abner over, the dog jumped in the pool to show off. He loved Abner, and that was a sign to me that we were supposed to work together.
You and your husband tour with your children. What are the challenges and benefits of touring as a family?
As you can imagine, the challenges of bringing kids on the road are numerous. The tour bus is a small space, and finding things to do with energetic kids in each city can be exhausting, especially on days off when we’re already tired from playing shows. But, alas, the kids are bored. That being said, bringing kids on the road is amazing, and I’m so happy we have the freedom to do it most of the time! Waking up in a new place, meeting new people, eating new food, and getting all sorts of random life experiences is really an amazing education for a kid, and we get to watch them thrive and explore.
There is something really thrilling to us when one of our kids mentions a meal they loved in another city or a friend they made, or an adventure they had. The world is their oyster. Sure, the routine gets wonky, and everyone can get cranky, but the memories are really worth it. So is the hotel we stay at without them on the last day of every tour just so we can sleep in and recover!
You just released a collaboration with Drew Holcomb. How did that come about, and can you tell us about it?
This is our second project with Drew. I honestly don’t remember exactly how it came about to begin with, but Drew was always someone we followed and respected. Plus, I grew up with his wife, Ellie, so they always felt like family. We decided to get together and write the first project, and the songs came like a tornado. It was a holy experience working on the first EP. Then we toured it, and no lie, it was the best tour we’d ever had at that point. Everyone connected musically and relationally, and something that could have ended up being just okay or awkward ended up at the top of our list of experiences. So, we did it again and made another EP.
This next Goodbye Road collaboration is the second with Drew. We began writing the songs before the pandemic, in that period of time when things felt weird and scary but were still “normal.” Much like the first EP, these songs came out honestly and quickly. What we didn’t expect, obviously, was the shutdown that ensued or the fact that these songs wouldn’t get recorded for years after the communal trauma and growth of the pandemic. Somehow, these songs capture both the anticipation and the acceptance of what we’ve been through.
Given that you spend so much time on a tour bus, how do you make time for yourself? What do you do for self-care?
I’m a big fan of vegetables on tour; finding good vegetables to eat is a form of self-care because you’re limited in the times you eat, and the fact that cooking on a bus doesn’t really exist. I’m also a big fan of exercise being a priority. I don’t see it as a chore most days — I see it as “me time” that will help my brain function and give me clarity for the day. I also travel with an infrared sauna blanket on tour to help with the muscle aches of sleeping in a moving vehicle and to help my immune system. It’s basically a warm weighted blanket, so a nice 20 minutes in that thing can change my day.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
These are the good ol’ days.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, what three things can’t you live without?
A good night’s sleep, carbs, and inside jokes.
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