Songwriter Sia Amun has penned a debut memoir!
Adecade ago, singer and songwriter Sia Amun began writing what would become her debut memoir, Fear, Faith & Fame. Though she’s found success in the music industry— partly inspired by her father, Steve Russell of the Grammy-winning pop group Troop—Amun had more stories to tell about her life, and those stories benefitted from a different medium.
She stumbled upon the first iteration of her book, started in 2016, while clearing out computer files. “It was like a divine message; something told me to finish it,” she says. “And I just so happened to be at a point—in my 30s— where I’d lived enough to do so.” The Brookhaven resident spoke to Simply Buckhead about how Fear, Faith & Fame embodies its title.
What is your memoir about?
It’s about my life from conception up to this point. I grew up in Pasadena, California watching my dad sing in the ’90s pop group Troop, so I knew my dreams to perform music were achievable. I was an only child, and my mom and dad are in my book heavily, as well as my grandmother on my dad’s side who also raised me. When my grandmother passed in 2015, that was my first major loss. My ambition and drive came from her. When my mom put me out of the house at age 15, I was on a mission to prove myself. I was looking to be chosen, and I finally chose myself.
Are you still writing music?
Yes, music is still happening alongside the book. It’s the soundtrack to the stories. Before I started again on the book, I was working on my album, and it was a similar concept, writing about how I lived in my Kia Soul. I was going to call my album “Kia Soul.” That same car carried me from 2017 until now. But two weeks ago, the engine died. What are the chances it would die right when I finished the book manuscript? It’s time for a new car and a new chapter.
What’s your creative writing ritual?
A lot of my ideas for music come randomly; I’ll be in my car and something will pop into my head and become lyrics. But the book is not random. It comes from my actual life stories. Music is more magical, in a sense, since you literally start with nothing, and you might not even have an idea until the melody and lyrics come to you. The process for this book has been more disciplined. I didn’t have a set time to write, but writing was constant every day. I work full-time in hospitality, and I’d write on my phone, typing chapters, then I’d airdrop those to my laptop.
When will Fear, Faith & Fame be on shelves?
My plan is the beginning of next year, but I want to make sure it’s right. I’m on my fourth revision right now. Just holding the manuscript in my hands, I’m like, this is a real thing. I’m still in shock reading it back to myself. I’m learning things about myself I didn’t realize, and they’re my stories. It’s been eye-opening and rewarding.
siaamun.com
@siaamun
STORY: Denise K. James
