Meet Kathrina Davila

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

Hi Kathrina, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

To this day I find that I’m still finding different ways to overcome it haha, but when I do find myself with these worries and fears, I try to turn those thoughts into fuel that pushes me to work harder and refine my craft. Once I’m in the zone of either composing or playing piano I find that those thoughts go away and it becomes all about the art. I notice that I tend to have these negative thoughts when I’m feeling overwhelmed so it also helps to just take a step back and look at the bigger picture. At the end of the day I create music because I love it. If you start to compare your work to others or be too critical you start to lose the passion and love you have for it, so I try to just focus on the music and put my own best efforts in what I do.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

From Union City, New Jersey, I’m a composer for film, tv, and video games as well as a gigging pianist with a background in several different genres. I’ve picked up on so many different musical influences throughout my life and I think each has left their mark and shaped me into the composer I am today.

Growing up, I was the youngest of three in a Peruvian household that seemed to always have music playing, from the salsa danced to at family gatherings to the classic rock heard while cleaning the apartment Sunday mornings. This variety of genres was just the start to my exploration and appreciation of all kinds of music. At 9, I was finally able to take piano lessons and I remember being so eager to learn how to play pieces from my favorite video games and movies while also being introduced to the world of classical music through my piano repertoire. As my curiosity grew further, I began to experiment and create compositions of my own on the piano. Around this time, my family had been facing some personal and financial hardships, but I was fortunate enough to have music as a way to navigate and cope through them. It was in high school that I started to develop a huge curiosity for jazz which stuck with me through undergrad where I began finding my musical voice. I remember feeling so stressed about selecting my major entering college- the clear cut of jazz or classical felt so restricting and defining. I grew to love composing for film and video game music because here I found that there were no limits to that! It’s more about getting the music to convey a message.

This past year, as I finish up grad school at NYU, I’ve been working on a series of orchestral works that I can’t wait to share in the upcoming months! I’m also starting a personal project that’ll be very special to me which is a solo piano album with pieces old and new that I’ve always been too hesitant to release. Overall I’m pretty excited for all the things to come and am curious where my musical journey will lead me next.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think three important things that have helped me come this far in both career and personal life has been to keep pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, learning to have confidence in my work, and staying organized amidst all the jobs and projects. I think these things aren’t something you integrate instantly from one day to the next, but rather it’s a build in your habits and mentality. I always like to make lists of deadlines or goals when it feels like too much is going on, and when juggling multiple jobs, having your schedule noted is a lifesaver. Even now, there are still moments I’ll get nervous about trying something new, but I try to think of the positives instead and how it can ultimately make me grow as a person. That could range from trying a new food recipe to going to a networking event, but if you never try you’ll never know what great things could come as a result!

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Part of what makes composing for media so great is that it’s a collaborative process! I’m always looking for people to work with and love hearing about different projects and opportunities. From short films, animation, and video games, I’m down to write music that will make each project feel special and alive!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://play.reelcrafter.com/Da9jeKyATs29R6wXeCle_A
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k_athrina/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-449224988