We were lucky to catch up with Nathan Kinsman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Nathan with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Coming from a low income household and 4 brothers, we shared everything and had to really fend for ourselves. If you wanted something you needed to work for it. I’ve had a job since I was 14 years old and I’ve continued to develop and learn. All of that applies to Music and creating something as well. You don’t just become a better musician, or just become a full-time musician, you need to work at it. There are a lot of things that people don’t tell you about the music industry, but it is constantly evolving. It’s like running a business. You want to keep the lights on and want to innovate, but you need to take care of everyone involved and try to find a balance. There is a lot of work done all behind the scenes. Setting aside free time to book shows, practice, and all whilst working a full-time job. I love what I do, I love making music, and I wont let anything get in the way of me loving it. There are headaches involved but the experience and challenges show growth. They develop you, your art, your ethic, and opens up more opportunities! You also gotta have Fun!
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?
The band Fellow Kinsman has been my baby for the last 8 years of my life. It’s been my biggest outlet and I’ve had the greatest times of my life with some really special people. There has been so much I’ve uncovered and amounted to with music. No one holds your hand. No one knows the exact recipe for success. You create a community around yourself with people that love music. Just being friends and rocking out on a stage is success to me. Music makes me happy and watching the energy unfold in front of you is something truly euphoric. It’s been an amazing journey thus far but so many more exciting things are to come. We are soon to be recording our 3rd record which feels so incredibly amazing. We will be on the road a ton this year. We have plans for Music videos, shirts, posters, and plenty of creative endeavors with other Local Milwaukee Artist. I’ve had the privilege to meet and work with so many amazing Bands, artists, photographers in and outside of Milwaukee, that really inspire me and my music. As well as push me to do more and see more. The community that we have created in Milwaukee is Truly special. Being a part of the growth of the scene in our city means the world to me. Doing it together makes it all worth the while, and I cannot thank the people by my side enough.
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?
Make time for art. It sounds simple, but we are what’s stopping us from making anything. I could list so many excuses for myself, but in the end making art makes me happy. Sometimes it feels like a job, but no one is forcing you to do it. You know creating something is what you need!
Jealousy is a thief of joy. My brother told me that quote one time and it really stuck. We are always comparing ourselves to other Talents, Looks, and so on. Everyone is truly unique and has a purpose. It’s judging them and judging ourselves, creating a negative outlook on our craft and individuality. Just do your dang thang.
Record your practices or ditties. I have hours and hours of voice memos on my phone. I go through them sometimes when I am board, when I need something to inspire a song, or remember that one riff that almost was completely forgot. There is so many uses for it. Some are just down right stupid and silly but having almost a backlog of 10 records that you’ve never created can still make one song. Your personal Archive. I have so many practices and random ditties on my Voice memos that are absolutely priceless. There is so much there to jog creative and reminisce about. It’s Auditory Memory.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I tend to take some personal time. It takes collecting yourself and coming back to it with fresh eyes and a clear mind. It is so easy to blow up and freak out without thinking or navigating the situation properly. Then you burnout and you start to resent the thing you love and are passionate about. I’ll try to get outside and get active or cook something. I like cooking without music, just chop, chop, chopping away and making a nice delicious meal for yourself. We need mental health checks and need a break. We push ourselves too far and need to take a step back for a moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fellowkinsman.com
- Instagram: @fellowkinsmanmke
- Other: https://spotify.link/9OyxhIwg4Ib
Image Credits
Isaiah Joseph Tommy Moore
