We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Narda Crossley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Narda, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
From as early as I can remember, music has served as a profound source of solace, helping me navigate the depths of depression, anxiety, and fear. My deep affinity for music, especially in its live form, has become an indispensable means of coping with the ever-evolving nature of the world around me. I consider myself fortunate to have been welcomed into diverse musical communities, each with its own unique culture. The sense of unity that emerges in the shared experience of a live performance is unparalleled. When enveloped in the collective spell of music, all distinctions fade. The color of our skin, our political affiliations, or the languages we speak hold no significance. In those moments, when we gather to witness a band or artist in performance, we transcend individuality and become one with the music. This is how I discovered my purpose: to share the transformative experience of live music with others, and to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to find it as extraordinary as I have. In doing so, I also aim to support local venues and independent artists, who are often underpaid and undervalued. My mission is to amplify the visibility of our local music scenes and venues, helping to sustain the vibrant community we have here in San Diego. By doing so, I hope to ensure that both our local artists and the touring acts who grace our city continue to have the platform they deserve, so that we may continue to experience those fleeting moments of musical magic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My journey with ListenSD, a platform dedicated to promoting local music and spotlighting the vibrant scene in San Diego, began as a follower. For years, I admired the work of its founder, Rachel Frank, and the way she nurtured our community’s love for live music. Back in my hometown of Mexico City, I had immersed myself in every aspect of the local music scene—from working at live venues and supporting local artists to contributing to a blog focused on electronic music. When I moved to San Diego, it felt only natural to continue pursuing that passion.
My husband, Jesse Crossley, shares this deep love for music, and together, we are fortunate to enjoy a wide range of musical tastes. When the opportunity arose for us to take the reins of ListenSD, we didn’t hesitate. It became our shared mission to elevate the platform by promoting local music, artists, venues, and shows—both independent and well-established. We see it as our way of giving back to a community that has brought us so much joy.
For us, every post we share—whether it’s a live performance, an interview, or a review—is a tribute to the artists we feature. We hope to inspire more people to discover and attend shows, strengthening the vibrant and diverse scene that makes San Diego so special. We cherish our local venues and the incredible people who work at them, and ListenSD has become an integral part of our lives, allowing us to share and celebrate everything we love about music.
Every giveaway we host and every show we promote is driven by one core purpose: to bring more people to live performances. We believe that the magic of music is most powerful when experienced in person, and our goal is to foster a deeper connection between the audience and the artists. By encouraging attendance at local shows, we aim to not only support the artists and venues that make our scene so vibrant, but also to expand the community of music lovers who experience these unforgettable moments together.
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?
Three qualities that have been instrumental in my journey are diversity, curiosity, and sincerity.
Diversity has shaped my approach to music and life in profound ways. As a polyglot with a deep appreciation for different cultures, languages, and modes of expression, I’ve learned to see the world through a multifaceted lens. This has expanded my musical tastes and continuously fuels my search for new sounds. I’m always eager to explore and discover music from all corners of the world, never satisfied with the status quo.
Curiosity is the spark that drives me forward. I love the excitement of attending a show where I might not know a single band on the lineup, only to be blown away by a group I’ve never heard of before. The thrill of discovering something new—whether it’s a band, a song, or a genre—keeps me engaged and constantly seeking out fresh musical experiences.
Lastly, sincerity is at the heart of everything I do. I genuinely enjoy connecting with people and building relationships within the music community. Whether it’s greeting Robbie, Tommy, Vanessa, and Emily at Soda Bar, chatting with Alfie, Ben, and Rosemary at The Casbah, or running into Tim Pyles, the “Mayor of Local Music,” to discuss the latest shows we’ve seen, I do it all with authenticity and warmth. The sincerity with which I engage with others, and my genuine love for music, is what makes these experiences so meaningful. I approach every interaction with an open heart, and it’s this sincerity that has guided me throughout my journey.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are always on the lookout for passionate music lovers who want to contribute to our platform. If you have a love for music, enjoy attending live shows, and want to share your experiences, we’d love to have you be a part of our team. The only requirement? An open heart and a positive perspective! We aim to keep things uplifting, so a willingness to find something enjoyable in every show is key.
The live music industry is facing significant challenges as many people have less disposable income, and touring costs are becoming prohibitive for artists. Without touring, many of our beloved indie and local musicians could fade into obscurity, and our cherished venues could close their doors for good. We want to be part of the solution to these challenges and help ensure that our music scene continues to thrive.
If you’re passionate about keeping indie live music alive and want to contribute to this cause, I invite you to reach out to me directly at narda@listensd.com. Whether it’s writing a review, sharing an experience, or simply supporting the movement, we’d love to have your voice.
As for marketing, we offer extremely reasonable rates and are always here to help. Together, we can keep the spirit of live music alive and ensure that our local artists and venues continue to thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://listensd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/listensd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Listensd
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@leisureengineer
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/listensd
Image Credits
All photos have been taken by me, Narda Crossley except for the Polaroid photo of Jesse Crossley and I, taken by @rak_camera
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
