Yours Are the Only Ears

Meet Susannah Lee Cutler

Alright now, LEND ME YOUR EARS.

If you like folk music and uplifting tunes you need to check out the stylings of Susannah Lee Cutler, a.k.a. Yours Are The Only Ears. Her music is soft and intimate and downright lovely. And frankly, you’re only hurting yourself by not listening to her debut album, Knock Hard (not to be confused with It’s A Hard Knock Life. Beyonce’s husband was in no way involved).

Read on to find out Susannah’s favorite NYC bands, her best strategy, and the importance of nature.

If you could pick one species of animals besides people to become 15 times their current size which one would you choose? Why?

Dolphins. I read recently of their mission to bring joy and peace to the heart of the ocean, and that they are beaching themselves because humans choose to treat them with brutality, so they cannot serve their purpose on earth. Maybe if they were larger humans would not be able to keep them captive and enact violence on them.

A year out from the release of your 2018 album "Knock Hard" how does it feel looking back at the work you produced?

It feels good knowing that I had the faith in myself to create and release something, and it feels good knowing that others supported/support it. I hope that it helped some people.

Where/how do you put down your thoughts when creating a song?

It depends... sometimes I just let the words or sounds come to me, and other times it feels like I am suffocating and need to get something out of my system.

Do you have a favorite family tradition?

My family is not very religious, but we are spiritual. My dad was raised Jewish, so we celebrate passover every year in a very non-conventional way, and it is a fun tradition.

What was it like sharing your work with the public for the first time in 2014

It was really cool to feel like I was contributing something, and receiving positive feedback about it, but it was also scary. I had a lot of stage-fright, but I felt good about being vulnerable and open with others.

What was the first song you learned how to play?

I think either a Bob Dylan song or "Blackbird" by The Beatles.

If you could only use 10 words for the rest of your life what would they be?

I, You, We, Love, forgive, Believe, Yes, No, Animals, Plants

Who are your top three favorite acts active in NYC right now?

I would say, in no particular order, Thanks For Coming, Anna Altman, and How Says

Are you better at thumb wrestling or rock paper scissors? What’s your strategy?

I am really bad at thumb wrestling! Definitely rock paper scissors, my strategy is my intuition!

Having spent time growing up in upstate new york do you feel that nature has influenced your work in any way?

Definitely, it's had a huge influence on me, and it's what I always come back to, my love for nature.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

We're recording a second album this summer, so that's exciting!

Thank you so much for having me!!!