Meet Katie Larson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie Larson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Katie, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I hit burnout during a concert in 2018. My band was booked at one of my favorite venues – a historic rock club in Nashville, TN where I saw my first indie rock show as a shy high schooler in 2013. Here we were a decade later on tour (racking up about 200 shows a year), and gearing up for a big performance after a stint on a major label. We’d invited all of our friends in the music industry, including the A&R reps for the instrument companies who we endorse, some even came early and set up video cameras for the show. But when we got onstage there was barely anyone in the audience. Even most of the people who came to see our friend’s band open up walked out after our set. It felt like a failure. We’d been traveling constantly and I hadn’t written a song in months. Backstage I talked to one of our friends and she asked if I’d ever heard of the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. The next day I was at McKay’s Used Book warehouse and saw it sitting on the shelf for 10 cents. I recommend this book to anyone – not just musicians. There are two main tenets – one is to start each morning by writing 3 pages of stream of consciousness “Morning Pages”. This is less about writing down anything poetic and more about addressing the thoughts filling up your brain like “I didn’t get enough sleep last night” or “I forgot to take the garbage out” and making room in your brain for creativity. The second tool is taking yourself on a weekly “Artist Date” to some place that inspires you. When I’m visiting family in Michigan I like walking by the lake where I grew up, or going to a bookstore. My bandmate and I have written so many songs about books! We live in Nashville now and there’s so much to be inspired by, concerts, museums, movies, good conversations with friends.

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?
My favorite part about being an independent musician is that I get to do a little bit of everything! I’ve been playing cello, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, singing and songwriting for a little over a decade. It’s been the guiding force in my life. Music has brought me to perform in cathedrals in Ireland, folk festivals in the mountains of Colorado, to punk clubs in Dallas, TX and everywhere in between. When I’m not performing live, I’m in the studio engineering/arranging/recording cello session work, or teaching workshops. One of my early passions was video editing, so I incorporate it by editing music videos for our band. I’ve been dabbling in animation and am working on a friend’s film about their experience getting diagnosed with testicular cancer, called Uniball (currently in post production). I struggle with anxiety and having my hands busy keeps me calm, so embroidery is one of my favorite hobbies. My grandparents owned a craft store in Iowa, and I inherited the crafty gene along with the rest of my family. I just launched a brand of spunky upcycled hand-embroidered music accessories and clothes, under my alter ego “Lady Arson”. Right now I have two Van Gogh inspired guitar straps for sale and am working on a flame covered jacket and some custom collaged guitar pickguards!

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?

  • Consistency
    I grew up in a classical music environment and I used to think the biggest thing holding me back was my lack of classical technique. One of the most encouraging pieces of advice I got was over coffee and donuts in Portland, OR with violinist Kyleen King. She said she’s not the best player in the world, but she gets hired because she consistently shows up, is on time, brings positive energy, and works to serve the songwriter’s vision. She’s a big inspiration.
  • Troubleshooting
    Whether it be learning a new instrument, a Photoshop update, or pulling out a soldering iron to fix my electric guitar pickups before a show, I am so grateful I’ve had the patience to dive deep into Youtube rabbit holes and learn how to fix things. There are so many things I’ve said yes to and then figured out how to make happen along the way. I get really determined – and sometimes need to be reminded to ask for help when I need it!
  • Flexibility
    On tour you have to be open to going with the flow. We’ve had van accidents, gear malfunctions, you name it. The day our band’s trailer got stolen with all our gear in Tucson, AZ, we still found a way to play a show that same night. This one is a double edged sword though- there are definitely times when I think it’s important to know your limits. When I’m in a studio environment it’s been equally valuable for me to keep an open mind, and find when to stand my ground on my ideas.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The downside to doing a little bit of everything is the feeling that I’m constantly spinning more plates than I can carry. Making time for everything and avoiding burnout has always been a struggle. I recently started taking voice lessons, and learned that all these years I’ve been singing without fully utilizing my breath. I’m learning it can support me mentally too, if I just remember to take a deep breath every once in a while!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jay Gilbert, Leisa Thompson, Vincent Brady, Brennan Leeds

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