We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Ferrara a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Katie, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping my creativity alive has been difficult because as I age, the more I value routines and stability over novelty. When I was younger, creativity simply came as a natural result of traveling and being constantly surrounded by new experiences. Now that I’m settled in LA, my lifestyle and habits have been important in keeping that creative spark alive. I am intentional about where I invest my emotional energy and whom I spend my time with.
In my everyday life, I try to get out of my comfort zone through talking walks in a new part of my neighborhood. Ideas often come to me while I’m moving my body and simply observing my surroundings.
I dedicate a couple of days each week to self care and being in nature. I might take a trip to the mountains or the beach by myself or try a new restaurant or coffeeshop in town. I like to think of these days as dates with myself.
I try to use my challenges, anxiety and sadness as fuel for songwriting. I believe this is what artists do in order to work through their emotions and share wisdom with the world. My songs have always been a coping mechanism to deal with hardship in my life. I am very much motivated to sing, write something new or arrange a song in my own style because it is an opportunity for me to pour my emotions into a vessel and express how I truly feel on a spiritual level.
I embrace collaboration with other artists through co-writing. I seek out writing partners who can teach me something new about the craft whether that be lyric writing, melody or harmonic structure. I know my value and what I have to bring to the table when it comes to writing with others. Having someone to help brainstorm ideas with from time to time as well as someone to help guide and give me advice has increased my creativity over the years.
I take risks and I am open to failing from time to time. Busking in LA as well as abroad has opened up my heart and given me confidence over the years. I’m drawn to street performing because I don’t know what the end result will be. It’s enjoyable to set-up and not know who you are going to meet or how much money you are going to make. I’ve definitely failed at shows, playing for one or two people, lost my tips to the wind, or embarrassed myself on stage. I’ve forgotten words to my own songs, or have hit my loop pedal at the wrong time. Taking the risk to sing has greatly outweighed all the failures and embarrassing moments. It brings me great joy to bring a smile to someone’s face and at the same time express my truth.
Lastly, I believe post high-school and college education in multiple subjects plays a vital role in nurturing creativity because it encourages the mind to participate in imaginative and problem solving activities. At the moment, I am studying English grammar and poetry in my free time as well as learning Spanish. I’ve taken up a couple new hobbies such as archery and learning how to grow plants at home. I’ve noticed that I have a lot more ideas to work with when it comes to songwriting simply because my mind is not focused solely on developing my technical abilities playing guitar and singing.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a singer/songwriter, and working musician from Los Angeles. I specialize in writing uplifting and inspiring acoustic music. My lyrics are often about believing in oneself, overcoming heartbreak, and helping others. It is relaxing music that comes from the heart. This year I am focused on playing intimate shows up the California coast, releasing more singles to Spotify and eventually another full-length album.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In my experience as a performing artist in Los Angeles, communication has been at the top of my list as something that has helped me stand out from other musicians and advance my own career. It is something that I still work on to this day to maintain healthy and professional relationships. The field has its challenges and it is important to communicate in a calm, clear, and direct manner to maintain relationships over time. Active listening, positivity, empathy , respect and asking questions to formulate solutions are important when working on projects with producers, songwriters, managers and agents.
Time management skills are the second most important set of skills an indie artist can have in this day an age. With the amount of social media apps available at our fingertips to self-promote, it’s important to have a balance between playing and practicing music, having a personal life, and staying mentally fit. I would say that if you are an indie artist just breaking into the industry, delegating tasks to others is beneficial in the long-run and knowing how to prioritize tasks helps.
Lastly, knowing when to pivot from being a leader to a team player is important when playing in a band and organizing tours as a singer/songwriter. At times I like to support other artists singing backing vocals, or playing guitar at their shows. During those moments, I might be taking on a different role in a group dynamic and not being the center of attention. I also like to play my own original shows with a full band. Knowing how to music direct, organize charts, and send out all the proper information to the band is an important aspect of being a leader.
If you are an artist looking to improve upon these qualities, I suggest, seeking out mentors, asking them questions and building relationships with people who have more experience. Taking professional development courses at a local college or online can also help improve upon these qualities.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one challenge I am facing at the moment is overcoming burnout and finding ways to utilize my strengths in music to benefit my community.
To overcome this challenge, I am prioritizing my mental and physical health, and dedicating time to things outside of music that bring me joy. I’ve been reading books, taking online courses, spending time in nature and making friends with people who have the same hobbies and interests as me. I’m teaching myself new skills and putting more time into planning my performances.
I have also considered using my strengths in songwriting, production, mentorship, and teaching as possible streams of income in addition to the solo live performances I do each year. I would like to offer this service to my friends and fans who are interested in stepping into the field of music for the first time so that we can mutually support each other’s journeys.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.katieferrara.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katieferraraofficial
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/katieferraramusic
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katieferrara
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/katiekatify
- SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/katieferraramusic
- Other: http://www.tiktok.com/katieferraraoffical
Image Credits
Lyd and Mo Photography Peter Zuehlke Justin Higuchi Israel Hurtado Josh James
