Mallory Hauser

Born: San Diego, CA — 1997 / Living: Los Angeles, CA

Interview by Speciwomen — July 2016

Speciwomen: Tell us about yourself.

Mallory Hauser: My name is Mallory Hauser and I am an 18 year old musician from San Diego. I currently attend the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and am studying Popular Music Performance with an emphasis in guitar. I enjoy music (of course), cooking, and a nice cup of coffee. 

S: How did you get into music? 

MH: I would say that I first got into music through my mom. Not only did she play great music in her car (from Third Eye Blind to Lenny Kravitz), she also took my brother and I to a nearby Tower Records after ever movie we saw in theaters. There, we were each allowed to buy a CD. Around the same time, I received one of those cheap guitars from Target for Christmas (when I was around 4 or 5 years old). Between my obsession with listening to albums on my CD player and foolishly strumming that guitar, my parents invested in guitar lessons. I haven’t put the guitar down since.

S: Have you performed? 

MH: I actually just got back from a 10 day east coast tour with my band, Trousdale. So, yes, I have been lucky enough to perform throughout my music career thus far. Before college I really didn’t do a whole lot of performing other than a recital here and there. So, college has given me great opportunities and allowed me to play with some great people this past year. My goal is to play some solo or duo gigs this summer/next year because it's so different than playing with a band. Regardless of what music I am playing and who’s on stage with me, I really love the unique opportunity to bring music to life. There really is nothing like performing and I feel honored to be able to contribute to such a fantastic art form. 

S: How do you deal with nerves before a show?

MH: When it comes to nerves I guess I usually just go with the “just have fun” mentality, as tacky as it may sound. I also tell myself that nervousness just means you care—so I look at the positive side of nerves. I have always been a calm person in nature, which is something I use to help me cope with nerves and anxiety before going on stage. No matter what the circumstance is, though, I have noticed that if you are surrounded by the right people, their presence is enough to keep you calm and excited for the show.

S: What genre of music do you play?

MH: I play a variety of genres. With my band, Trousdale, it’s more Pop/Folk Rock/Funk/Blues/whatever the listener would like to categorize it as (our music is pretty unique). Personally, I steer more towards finger-style acoustic that focuses a lot on rhythm for my songwriting. However, I also like to play Funk, Classic Rock, Classical, Gypsy Jazz—basically any genre, as long as it’s music!

S: What are your favorite places?

MH: My favorite places…. Hmm.. well, I really do love San Diego, it’s nice to go and slow down a little from the “go go go” mentality at school in LA. But I also love LA, specifically because of that “go go go” mentality. I will say my favorite places are wherever my family and friends are.

S: Who inspires you? 

MH: There are a lot of people who inspire me. My parents because of their endless love and support for me and my siblings. My professors at USC because of their selflessness and endless wisdom that they pour over their students. My siblings and friends because of their loyalty and hard work. 

S: Do you have any other interests? 

MH: My other interests are definitely cooking and walking. My dad is an amazing cook and he has taught me a lot when it comes to making great meals. Between his wisdom and watching tons of cooking shows/documentaries, something about the creativity and finesse cooking embodies just draws me in. As for walking, I love to explore new places and just walk around with a cup of coffee, some music in my ears, and observe the people and environment I am in.

S: How is being a woman impacted your life?

MH: Being a woman impacts my life in a variety of ways. Regardless of the way my gender impacts my life, I always try to focus on the positives. In terms of the music world, I am inspired to keep going whenever I meet or see a female musician (regardless of their age/skill level). I cannot begin to express the feeling I get when a girl comes up to me after a show and says that my playing spoke to her. In terms of every day life, my drive and confidence feeds off of the amazing and strong women who surround me at home and at school. 

S: Mallory's Playlist

MH:

“Heart of Mine” - Blake Mills (originally by Bob Dylan)

“Conrad” - Ben Howard

“Curbside Prophet” - Jason Mraz

“Wake for Young Souls” - Third Eye Blind

“Never Going Back Again” - Fleetwood Mac