Meet Kühlname

We were lucky to catch up with Kühlname recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kühlname, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I overcame imposter syndrome by realizing that everyone experiences it at some point. As a Berklee alum, I’d say that in a room full of peers, most have felt or still feel imposter syndrome. There’s nothing to be scared of because everyone is afraid! No one wants to be judged or feel like they don’t belong, especially artists. So, I tried to be vulnerable and honest with those around me by either lightheartedly vocalizing my fears or just taking the plunge, whether that meant taking a solo, reaching out to someone, or what have you. I also made it a point to cheer others on when they took solos, posted online, released a song, or did anything that resonated with me. Doing this encouraged people around me to open up about their anxieties and cheer me on too. This approach has rarely failed in creating a more inclusive space where everyone feels safe, and we can grow together as musicians and artists.

There’s no special trick or secret to how we got to where we are or how we’ll get to where we’re going. You just never stop. To me, that’s freeing! You don’t have to be omniscient or a prodigy or whatever mythicized thing. You just have to do the work, be honest with yourself, and lean into your strengths. I try to remember that there’s an infinite number of things I could know, so just I focus on the stuff I already know and enjoy. Those things are my gifts.

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?

I am a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. My sound is an earthy and eclectic fusion of alternative R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and world music. It’s hooky, groovy, and carries a touch of punk rock spirit. My music is very introspective and raw, encouraging listeners to engage with each other and themselves, fostering a refreshing sense of connection and authenticity in our often isolating digital world.

This summer, I’m playing shows around Boston before I head off to London for grad school in the fall! I’m excited to bring my music to new audiences and continue developing my sound in a new environment. I believe that what makes my performances special is their ability to connect people on a deeper level, drawing them into my little world of mischief, dry wit, and whimsy.

I approach showmanship and musicianship with a childlike curiosity. Irrespective of genre or artistic medium, I try something new in almost every show. Once, I gave everyone in the audience envelopes with secret assignments inside. Another time, I stopped the entire show and had everyone introduce themselves to two people they didn’t know. There’s always something new about each show, whether it’s the location, the people, or the vibe, so I strive to make each performance feel like a once-in-a-lifetime event.

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?

That’s funny! I kind of answered this in the question from before. Do the work, stay honest with yourself, and stick to your strengths. Let me elaborate:

Do the work. Creativity is a skill! Our instruments are skills! The DAW is a skill! These skills need to be honed both alone and with others. Figuring out a routine that works for you is very important. Whether it’s practicing every day at 5 am, getting private lessons, or finishing one track a week, identify your long-term goals then work backward to figure out how to get there day by day.

Stay honest with yourself. I, for one, cannot do whistle tones. That’s not to say I’ll never be able to, but for my gig this weekend, I’m not putting Mariah Carey on the setlist. It helps to keep honest people around you too. Ask for their opinions and don’t take it as a personal attack. There’s no shame in being bad at something! You can always improve or simply move on. You will be bad at most things that exist, like rocket science or calculating the tip without a calculator. Who cares!

Stick to your strengths. Here’s the bread and butter. Get REALLY good at what you do. Each meticulous thing… consistency is key. For example, my saxophone tone needs to be good at all volumes and in all registers. No one can ever tell me anything about my tone because I’ve done the work on it! No one cares about the stuff you can’t do, so be meticulous about the stuff you can do.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I think this is the perfect question to round out the topics we’ve been covering. I believe it’s important to have a balance of both. I’ve identified a few key metrics: what I like to do, what people like about what I do, what I need to do, and what I want to be able to do. These guide some important parts of my life.

I am an individual who enjoys doing a variety of things, playing jazz, rapping, producing electronic music, playing percussion, etc. For my brand as an artist and content creator, I find the intersection between “what I like to do” and “what people like about what I do” in order to keep my presence focused. As my artistry grows, I believe people will be more willing to explore the broader spectrum of “what I like to do,” and hopefully, I’ll have the budget to match.

“What I need to do” is also very important. If I have the energy and it makes sense (usually fiscally) for me to master a skill, I do it; otherwise, I outsource. For example, I had to educate myself on legal terminology for signing booking contracts but becoming a mastering engineer would be too much effort and wouldn’t sound nearly as good as looking elsewhere. However, if you don’t have connections or hookups (like a mastering engineer friend or AI software), make sure you only outsource if it makes financial sense for your business. My artistry is a business, and adding employees (like a booking agent) just to split a $5 profit makes no sense. Expand your team when it makes sense.

“What I want to be able to do” is something that belongs to me. I think it’s important to keep some things out of the mix. For example, I just bought a Novation Launchpad and I’ve been playing around with looping and live sound manipulation. When I get good enough at that, I’d love to integrate it into my shows, but I remain honest with myself because it’s not there yet, and it may never get there, and that’s okay! It doesn’t have to be perfect because it’s something that I enjoy, and I can enjoy it whether it sounds like a hot mess or not.

So in short, balance is key! Keeping your strengths close but still taking the time to explore new skills is crucial. This balance allows for personal growth, adaptability, and a more fulfilling creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/kuhlname
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkuhlname
• Soundcloud: https://tr.ee/lX8WSD2XgQ

Image Credits

Cam Cavagnaro