Meet Kaitlin Vaughn

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

Kaitlin, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

When I was in 1st or 2nd grade, I was told that your imagination diminishes as you age. Even though I didn’t plan to pursue a creative career at the time, the idea terrified me. I couldn’t imagine not having an imagination. My teacher then proceeded to give examples and talk about how adults can’t look at the clouds and see anything because they are too invested in realism. Therefore, I took that as a challenge and I often look at the sky and decipher shapes, animals, and depictions. It’s my “imagination check”.

But when I’m not captivated by clouds like Socrates, I’m embarking on new journeys and engaging in new experiences. Since I write about my life, I have to live it to get new material. And when I go through something intense, I have to wait some time before my emotions are clear enough to transform them into a song. Because as I grow, I’ve learned that just because I can write a song at any time, it doesn’t mean I should. Because my music is not about what I do, but more so about how I feel. So I need clarity on those feelings first.

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?

Well, to put it simply, I have a gift. Not everyone can create music, and for a long time, I refused to acknowledge this. I used to believe that hard work and dedication could lead to developing such a talent, but I had to accept the truth. I was undermining my natural ability, treating it as if it were something I chose to develop when in reality, it was something I trained and cultivated.

Creating music brings me joy, especially when I see people connect to it. I view myself as a vessel for this gift. I don’t believe that I really “own” the music I create; instead, I understand that music is greater than me and I’m just someone who can craft it. It’s safe to say that there aren’t many things I love more than music. My hierarchy is: GOD, others, music, then myself. I’m not a “me first” type of person because I’m willing to self-sacrifice for the sake of creation. It’s a beautiful thing to feel and to be able to express beyond words, and I’m grateful for being able to do so.

I’m excited to continue to release music in the future. My next release titled “It’s Springtime in the Rockies” is an exploration into my insecurities and struggle with vulnerability. One of the most powerful lines in the song is “Why I’m blessed with patience? Feels like a curse.” Because I feel that patience, which is a virtue, is a double-edged sword. While “good things come to those who wait”, it can also cause people to stick around too long and give too many chances. I view it through that lens. So for this release, I’m ripping off the rose-colored glasses and telling it like it is. It’ll be out in July 2024.

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?

Have self-awareness. Cultivate creative relationships. Take calculated risks. Those are my top 3 tidbits of advice I’d give a new artist.

There is a dearth of self-awareness in the field. People over-promise, under-deliver, and then blame the world. That cycle leads to a lot of overcompensation, and then it begins again. Music isn’t easy. Some parts may be easier for you than others, but the journey isn’t easy. So understand yourself, understand what you like, what you hate, what you’re afraid of, and what your goals are. And of course, do keep in mind that you will have to do things you like, hate, and are afraid of to reach your goal. But, you have to know yourself, or someone will tell you who you are. And worse, you may listen.

Creative relationships are key. I’m so appreciative of my producer/engineer because he tells me no. When I record, he tells me if I’m doing too much, and often reminds me that this is supposed to be a fun process. You need people in your corner who care about your art and development. Those people are extremely rare and are more likely to appear early in your career. Unfortunately, this does mean you will need to talk to people. And I say this because I don’t always like to talk to people, and a lot of artists I know share that same sentiment. But amongst the rubbish, you may find gold.

Lastly, you’re going to have to take calculated risks. Keyword: calculated. Music costs money, time, and energy. You will have to pay in all 3 precious currencies to make anything of your career. Often times, you won’t see the benefit right away. However, if you are dedicated, and believe you can reap benefits down the road, take the risk. Don’t just throw money, time, or energy at things you want, but have no clear plan. The easy way is usually the wrong way.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

I’ve come to accept that my journey towards becoming a successful full-time musician is not based on traditional timelines. When I set my goals for 2024 and compared my progress to the previous year, I was concerned that I wasn’t making as much progress. However, I’ve realized that achieving my overall goal requires a different approach. Managing projects, creating content, planning performances and collaborations, especially as a solo artist, is a lot to handle. As my audience grows, so do the demands on my time and resources.

Therefore, I’ve stopped trying to follow a rigid yearly schedule and instead focus on one project at a time. It’s challenging because while I’m finishing one project and working on its promotion, I’m already creating and planning the next one. This will be an ongoing process that will continue to grow, but thankfully, so will the support and resources available to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/KVTHEGREATEST
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/KVTHEGREATEST
• Twitter: https://x.com/Twentyfour24kv

Image Credits

1. Kirstin Vaughn
2. Jayme
3. Jayme
4. Macy Temple
5. Macy Temple