We recently connected with Kelly Butts-Spirito and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelly , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I got sober when I was seventeen and lived in a group home during my senior year of high school. Those experiences forced me to learn how to be resilient and keep moving forward even when I’m faced with challenges.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Kelly Butts-Spirito. I am a creative director, film director, event curator, designer and video journalist. I started a brand called “Love, Kelly.” Company is an umbrella brand for the things I create. I host concerts, create music videos, design clothing and interview interesting people.
Over the past couple of years I have been fortunate to work with artists such as U2, Lil Tjay, Bktherula, Trippie Redd and more.
Music videos have always been a central focus of what I do. I directed a video for the band U2 this spring for their most recent album that debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In terms of events I have put on four festival concerts over the past two years. Most recently bringing out Bktherula, North Ave Jax and Landon Cube. Lil Uzi Vert was guest at the show. The festival style shows have been in my hometown of Burlington Vermont. Each show with a new line up of artists featured.
I have also spend my summers interning for incredible company’s such as Roc Nation and VFILES.
I have designed and released two streetwear clothing lines.
On September 12th I am putting on the first “Love, Kelly” New York Fashion Week Runway Show.
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 three qualities that have been the most impactful in my journey I think has been optimism, determination and risk taking. My advice to folks early in their journey that are reading this is to always look at every creative endeavor with an optimistic view. You never know what project or event might open new doors.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The challenge I am currently facing is getting bigger brands and artists to see the value in me. I am hoping to do brand collaborations with big time brands as well as work with the biggest artists in the industry. I believe my work speaks for itself but it has been difficult to get the right eyes on it enough for big artists and brands to take a chance on me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lovekelly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itslovekelly/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009178103679
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-butts-spirito-6008a2206/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_itslovekelly_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7uWtnLs8wlkeVq2BUPdLjA
Image Credits
All photo credit is provided
