Meet Hailey Wetzel

We recently connected with Hailey Wetzel and have shared our conversation below.

Hailey, 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.

Purpose has looked different for me during different periods on my life. Currently with music, I find purpose in being honest about my emotions in my songwriting. The more authentic & vulnerable I am, the more people respond to my music. I try to be intentional and understand what propels me to write and perform. A huge part of it is for my inner child who always dreamed of music but never felt fully okay to be emotionally expressive and vulnerable. I do it for the version of me who searched in so many other places to find purpose, knowing in the back of my mind that music has always made me feel the most at home in my own skin. It’s always made me feel like I’m not alone in my big feelings so I also love when I can make listeners experience that. There’s also the part of me that loves learning and being challenged. So I also find purpose in learning more about how I can grow as a musician and instrumentalist.

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’m originally from the midwest, Cleveland, OH, and I moved to San Diego about a year ago. Before that I was traveling abroad/living out of a backpack for about 2 years, working for an educational ecotourism company. I currently have a day job in a similar field, but my hearts work is in my creative endeavors.

I’m currently in two creative music projects. I write and release music under my own name as my solo project. Currently, I’m working on an EP and planning an EP release show sometime in early 2025. My other project is called Lunas, it’s an indie folk band that I double-front with my friend Beth Richards. We started writing early this summer and have had a few shows already! Co-writing has had a huge impact on my songwriting growth.

Moving across the country last summer was one of the scariest but best things I’ve ever done for myself. San Diego has quickly become home and the music community feels like family.

Over the past 6 years, I’ve had so many experiences that I want to write about. Especially with travel and living in communities abroad, my heart has expanded in ways I want to share and creating a little story book of songs to share my adventures and what I learned from them feels right for me.

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?

The most impactful part of my journey has a lot to do with finding myself in my artistry through community and introspection. I’ve been so inspired by local San Diego talent and my favorite artists, like Maggie Rogers and Alice Phoebe Lou. I’ve also learned so much about myself through writing and performing and that has translated to so many areas of my life.

Starting out, it’s easy to get caught up in comparison and over perfecting things but I’ve learned that just getting out there and physically doing the things that you’re talking about wanting to do is the best way to learn and grow. I still have days today where I feel anxious before a performance or event but I try to remind myself that every time I’ve ever felt that way, I’ve come out on the other side really happy I was there, even if the performance wasn’t perfect. Also, accepting that you will make mistakes and trusting that it’s okay and part of the journey is a helpful thing to internalize.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz rules my life. Reading that book changed everything for me because I’m a highly sensitive personality type. The agreements to follow for a peaceful life are great practices for people who are highly sensitive to energy and things that may not overwhelm someone who isn’t highly sensitive. The agreements are: Don’t make assumptions, Don’t take things personally, Do your best and Be impeccable with your word. The book depicts this story of what our lives look like when we don’t follow the agreements and how they can change and become more peaceful when we do our best to practice them. It’s a constant practice and no one is perfect but it is something that lives in my brain even if I can’t follow them to a T.

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Image Credits

Jessie Butchley, Amber Ruscin

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