We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carissa Szlosek. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carissa below.
Hi Carissa, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I took a major risk when I left my cush corporate job to pursue a career in the music business. I spent nearly six years in a career outside of music that filled my pockets but didn’t fill my cup so when I moved to Miami, I started taking on side gigs managing local talent in the area. At the time, I was managing two female artists and also helping run Tchami’s label part time all while still working full time for “the man.” My former employer eventually gave me an ultimatum to either transfer to different city for a new project or not work for them at all. Without batting an eye, I knew it was my time to hang up the cleats in corporate America and take a major risk to fully dive into music from a professional standpoint.
I had no plan in terms of how I was going to afford to eat, live, pay rent but it didn’t matter. The risk at hand was well worth the reward of getting to start my career in a space that I knew was my calling. When the stars align and taking a risk meets at the crossroad of opportunity and burning desire, you have to take the risk. This was something I was scared to do when searching for my first job after undergrad. The fear of failing or disappointing the people who care about me kept me stagnant but overtime I realized I’d rather take the risk than live a life full of wondering how my professional journey in music would have panned out if I had just taken the leap of faith.
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?
Speaker (Prodigy Artists)
Carissa Szlosek, a dynamic figure in the music industry, brings a unique blend of international upbringing and diverse professional experiences to her role. Hailing from New York yet spending formative years in Tokyo and Ireland, Carissa’s passion for music ignited during high school, where she served as the president of the radio club and contributed to the music column of the school newspaper. Her journey continued at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she honed her skills through internships at 42West, managing PR for luminaries like Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Pharrell.
After a detour into the tech industry post-graduation, Carissa’s heart pulled her back to her true love: music. Upon relocating to Miami, she embarked on a journey managing talented female DJs. Her ascent continued when she became an integral part of Tchami’s Confession label, progressing to the role of assistant manager. Her exceptional eye for talent shone as she spearheaded signings and releases from artists such as MakJ, Nitti, Aazar, JSTJR, and Frents, among others.
In 2022, Carissa joined the Hard Rock Guitar Hotel team as an artist liaison, forging connections with industry giants like Deadmau5, John Summit, and Benny Benassi. Her influence further extended as she joined the Nu Management team, collaborating alongside Paul Campbell on projects featuring Nitti, Sidepiece, Malóne, and Modapit. Notably, Carissa’s keen ear and unwavering dedication resulted in her signing of Galo and Bryan Softwell, both of whom she continues to manage.
During summer 2023, Carissa sought to further her career in artist management and took her talents to the powerhouse that is Prodigy Artists where she added another artist, Maxinne, to her roster. Additionally, Carissa has joined forces with digital media guru Jack Hite to form “Please Take Over,” a digital marketing company specific to the entertainment industry working with artists such as Walker & Royce, VNSSA, and many more. Carissa Szlosek’s exceptional journey weaves a tale of global influences, unbridled enthusiasm, and a profound impact on the ever-evolving music landscape.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Grit, adaptability and passion are the three qualities I would encourage every person embarking on their respective journeys in music to refine and hone in on at the onset of said journey. If you embody these three things, you will be able to sail through any hardship, move with the changing tides and deep dive into what sets your soul on fire every day of your career.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
Representation in music is a challenge we are all currently facing in music. There are many under represented communities that deserve and need to be heard for a healthy ecosystem to exist within the industry. My personal challenges involve either not being taken seriously as a woman in business and/or having my kindness mistaken for weakness. Regularly dealing with challenges like this can feel isolating at times especially without any significant, palpable representation of people in similar positions to turn to for support or guidance. There is power in numbers and visibility of every under represented population is essential in order to foster a true sense of community and belonging for the masses.
As a music business professional, I am committed to doing my part in creating safe spaces and larger platforms for people who have historically had disproportionately low representation relative to their numbers in the general population. With that being said, I am eager to work with other likeminded individuals who are trying to accomplish the same goal and build out a support network to champion marginalized artists, producers, managers, agents, promoters, talent buyers, etc and ensure that their voices are heard and they are not alone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ceeszlo
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carissa-szlosek/
