We were lucky to catch up with Kaylan Mary recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kaylan, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I like to think that creativity is everywhere; It’s in the conversations with your friends and family, it’s in the different places you go, it’s all around you. In music, I like to gain inspiration through my own personal experiences and through the experiences of people I know and love. We all have interesting stories and perspectives and it’s amazing how a great song can be birthed by that. I also LOVE to listen to music. I’m inspired by so many artists both new and seasoned. I keep creativity alive by never allowing myself to be conformed in a box. I’m never afraid to try new things when it comes to my artistry. If I have an idea for something, I act on it. I like to say God drops “downloads from heaven” into my spirit so I can execute all these amazing ideas. He is the source of all my creativity. I hear from him and move accordingly.
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’ve been in the entertainment industry professionally since I was 9 years old. I had a record deal, made an entire album and toured by the age of 11. I’m extremely blessed and grateful that I found my passion at a young age. From the day I decided that being entertainer was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, I’ve been laser focused on making that dream a reality. I’ve spent all of my time as an adolescent training extensively in singing acting, and dancing. I worked ridiculously hard every day. And the hard work definitely paid off.
I’ve been on The Apollo, The X Factor, I’ve toured the country, I’ve written songs that have had millions of streams across multiple platforms, national radio play and national exposure on television, I’ve had a reoccurring role on the TV Series “Star” on FOX and have had roles on networks such as Disney+ and Lifetime. I’ve just recently starred in a leading role on the Tubi original “Blood, Sweat, and Cheer”. I’ve done a lot in my career so far, and I’m only 23.
As an independent artist and songwriter I’m always working on new music; for myself and for other artists. I have a whole catalog of R&B songs on all platforms under “Kaylan Mary”. I’m having SO MUCH FUN on the new music that I’m working on now. I’ve been in hibernation all year gearing up for my next release. It’s a different sound than what my supporters are used to, but I really think it’s something that they will enjoy. It feels authentic and fun. I’m so excited to share it with the world and to be putting out new music very very soon.
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?
Three Important qualities that were important in my journey were work ethic, perseverance, and being in tune with who I am and whose I am.
Work ethic is important in this industry for the people who want longevity in their career. All the legends in this industry have been able to get to the top and stay on top by putting in hours and hours on their craft every single day. Everybody wants to be an artist. Everybody wants to make it. But only a few do. And the thing that’s gonna separate you from everyone else is how hard you work at it. How bad do you want it it? Study those who came before you and study what it takes to be the greatest. Be a student and move accordingly.
Perseverance is important because you have to stay the course in order to reap the rewards. In this industry, you will hear “No” more than you hear “Yes”. You will be denied a lot. It will be hard to get people to pay attention. But no one ever made it to the top by quitting. No matter how hard it gets, no matter what obstacles may be thrown your way, it is important to push through. Remember why you do what you do. Remember what you love about it. It’s a marathon not a race. You can take a moment to catch your breath, get a sip of water, get your head back in the game, but ultimately you have to see it through all the way to the finish line. Never EVER give up.
Be in tune with who you are. In this industry, it’s easy to be swayed by other people’s opinions. Be in tune with the things you want to do. Stand strong in your beliefs. Don’t be influenced by the crowd. Remember your purpose and your reasons why you want to do this. Don’t look around at what everyone else is doing and how everyone else is moving. Stay focused on you. Also remember whose you are. It’s important to develop strong morals and values that you want to stick to. Have a strong faith in God and a strong support system around you. Stay lifted up in prayer. This industry is not an easy one to break into. But when you put God first, when you work hard, and when you persevere, you’re already many steps ahead everyone else. So that’s the advice I would give to anyone wanting to pursue their dreams.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents have done for me is believe in my dreams and sacrifice to make my dreams a reality. I was 7 years old when I first saw kids my age on stage singing and performing, and I looked over to my mom and said “I want to do THAT”. From that moment forward, my parents dropped everything and made that their number one priority. Investing in a dream of this caliber is very tedious and expensive. I don’t know how my parents did it, but they always made it happen. They spent hours and hours driving me to and from everywhere I needed to go. They paid for all of my training, they paid for me to get ready to perform, outfits, hairstyles, make up artists, studio sessions, music videos, traveling; they invested a lot. I’m so grateful that I have parents that truly believe in what I do. I understand that there are people who don’t have a support system like that. Without my parents sacrifices, I would not be in the position that i’m in today. That’s something I could never repay them for. I was truly blessed with my parents.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kaylanmarymusic
- Facebook: Kaylan Mary
- Twitter: @KaylanMary
- Youtube: Kaylan Mary / @kaylanmarymusic
- SoundCloud: KaylanMary
- Other: TikTok: @KaylanMary Spotify: Kaylan Mary
Image Credits
@kaylanmaryprod @mikallesuan
