The chosen route for singer-songwriters in this decade involves shopping songs around to EDM producers; finding the right fit and that little verse-chorus-verse on a piece of construction paper transmogrifies into a club anthem. That’s how it works for Molly Svrcina, a prolific soprano out of Nashville — a surprising hub for electronic pop music. 

She goes by SVRCINA, and she grew up singing in chvrches (see what I did there?) in Ypsilanti, MI, which for you non-Midwesterners, is halfway between Detroit and the University of Michigan campus. She’s had a recording deal since the sixth grade. A pure vocalist, she concocts melodies mostly with just mind and larynx — a formula that has resulted in 400 songs or so. All this before she can legally drink a cocktail.

She releases a new collab every few of months, working with Klauss & Turino, Fred Williams of Built by Titans, or various session producers with her label. We connected to talk about her powerful EP Lover. Fighter., her oddball vocabulary, and how karaoke launched her career.

Hometown: Born in Dearborn, MI and grew up in Ypsilanti.

Homebase: Nashville, TN

Tell me about that moment where you knew you wanted to be a musician?

Growing up, my mom and dad were very active in our local church. My mom sang almost every Sunday and my dad would serve as the live sound engineer. Three services on a Sunday and one on Sunday evening, it was an all day event, so my family and I were around music all. the. time.

My children’s pastor was also very attentive to the gifts the young people in the church had, so he asked me to start singing in children’s church when I was six years old.

When I was 10, my family found an ad in the newspaper, promoting our local Strawberry Festival’s karaoke competition. The 1st prize was $200, and around that time I had been begging my parents for a motorized scooter that cost, well, $200. There was no way my parents were just going to buy me a scooter, so it was time for the entrepreneurial spirit to awaken. At 10, in my mind, I translated a $200 prize to the golden ticket to purchase that scooter...so I asked my parents if I could compete.

I quite passionately sang Carrie Underwood’s “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” am still somewhat shocked I won, and was able to take the money and buy the scooter (I still have it, but it currently has a flat). That was the moment I decided I wanted to spend my life singing and creating music, and it’s been a wonderful journey so far, working with amazing people and truly learning the deep impact music can have on people’s lives .

Why is your EP called Lover. Fighter.?

“Lover. Fighter.” is the title track of the EP, and was inspired by my family, and those who have sacrificed their lives daily for the sake of others. My brother, and several family members serve in the military, and I have seen my family actively work together to reciprocate unbelievable support and service. I am inspired by those who make a commitment to serve others, and long to model my life in the same way. Lover. Fighter. lays the foundation for where I come from and the kind of person I am striving to become.

You really signed a record deal at 13 years old?

I did sign my first publishing deal to be a working songwriter at 13. I’m 20 now, and a lot has changed from when I first started singing, but I am unbelievably thankful to be working with an amazing team.

What's the first song you ever wrote?

When I was 8, I vividly remember my mother telling me that if I wanted to sing, I needed to learn how to write music as well. I had no clue was I was doing, and emotional trauma from dramatic relationships wasn’t exactly a factor, so picking out notes on the piano, and scribing lyric on a piece of construction paper, I wrote a song about going on a date with my dad. It’s quite the song.

Who are your musical heroes?

I greatly look up to people who are gifted and excellent with their craft, and are passionate about serving and loving others. I have and always be a raging fan of Celine Dion because she is not only and unbelievably talented singer, she genuinely loves and cares people.

Does living in Nashville influence your songwriting style?

Living and writing in Nashville taught me how to write. I started working with professional, seasoned writers pretty young, and there are specific people that have had a great influence on my life and in my writing. I still cannot thank them enough for investing hours, months, and years into me and into other young artists and writers.

What's the craziest thing anyone has ever done for you?

People who have believed in me the most have done some pretty radical things...When the opportunity was presented for me to sign a publishing deal at 13, my family knew we were going to have to move so I could legitimately work and produce music. My dad has an incredible job in Michigan, but didn’t want me to miss out on the opportunity, so he allowed my mom and I to move down to Nashville, while he stayed back in the Detroit area to work. For the last 6 1/2 years my dad has been commuting back and forth from Detroit to Nashville, and is still doing so now. I am FOREVER grateful for the sacrifices they made and are continuing to make.

Who are your biggest songwriting influences?

SIA / Ellie Goulding / Michael W. Smith / Brooke Fraser / Mark Carson have to be just a few of my biggest influences. The English language is so colorful and I love to look for interesting metaphors to express a hopeful message.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

Oh boy, good question. #thatwouldberegal simply because I find myself saying the word "regal" and that phrase, quite often.

What’s your big 2016 goal?

Graduate. College. I’ve been taking online classes for the last 2 years and I am on the warpath to run down the graduation aisle. My goal is to graduate by the end of December, and if I can achieve it, I will shed tears.