Meet Cece Coakley

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cece Coakley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cece below.

Cece, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

Imposter syndrome is something I have had to work through in my years as a singer-songwriter because there are many days I find myself in rooms of people I look up to or admire. There are also a lot of days when I am the only girl at the show I am playing or the only young woman in a writing room. In these collaborative spaces, something that has helped me feel confident and stand out is just letting go of my anxiety that I am not enough or don’t belong. If it is on my calendar that means that I’m meant to be there and have the right to take up space.

Even if a day of creating turns out to be a wash I think blending to the room and creating a space where creation can happen is the most important thing. In these rooms, I have learned that being a sponge is a superpower, and there is always something to be learned. I also always remind myself how silly my job is and that creativity is supposed to be fun! I try to find that fun in every space and hopefully carry it into the art I create.

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 so every day looks different! There are weeks spent traveling and playing shows, but also weeks spent in writing rooms writing songs for myself and other artists. There is something so special about telling stories and creating new ones as you share your music with thousands of people across the country and in these co-writing sessions. I would describe my music as a cross between indie folk/singer-songwriter/ indie rock music.I am constantly inspired by the books I read, the movies I watch, and the people I meet.

This January I am releasing the final song of my new EP “Soft Again” on January 24th! This has been a very fun project to create as I got to test songs on the road before recording them and watch them come to life show after show. I feel like these songs reflect a slice of life of a young adult’s stories of love and loss.

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?

1. One of the most important qualities I think in pursuing a creative field like music would be personability. I think you can be the greatest musician in the room, but if you are abrasive and hard to work with odds are you won’t be getting the job. I think so much of music is about surrounding yourself with people you enjoy, being inspired by those friendships, and letting the magic follow. If you go into every room with the goal of being a light, odds are you will start to shine.

2. Another important skill in a creative career is always finding ways to stay inspired. This can be difficult because music is a self-starting career, but finding the things that will help you write and continue to create will make the process much easier. I find myself inspired by watching new movies, reading as much as possible, and listening to podcasts about the things I want to know more about. I think staying curious helps in ways you don’t even expect.

3. A final skill I have to remind myself every day is to say yes! This sounds vague, but I use this phrase as a reminder to try new things and not be afraid of getting out of the box to meet new people and explore things creatively. There are so many meetings and events I could have easily said no to, but usually, those scary asks are some of the most life-changing memories I have to date. I try to “say yes” to things that are scary but exciting because you never know what door that yes could open.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I am feeling overwhelmed, I try to find the time to do things that make me happy. Even though my job provides so much joy, sometimes I need to take a step back on music and I have a few things I turn to. Over the past year, running has become an escape from stress and helps me get out of my head. So I may be actually running away from my problems, but usually, I feel a lot more prepared to tackle my problems after going on a run or moving my body in any way.

Something I have had to learn recently is to ask for help! I am very independent and find I have a hard time leaning on my friends. I think we all forget we don’t have to do the hard things alone, and finding those people in your life who are ready to lend a helping hand can take off so much of that stress.

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Image Credits

all photos taken by Jacqueline Justice except for photo on the piano bench taken by Caroline Zeeman

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