We recently connected with Finn O’Sullivan and have shared our conversation below.
Finn, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
When I first started writing songs, I don’t think I told anybody I was doing it. I was convinced that it was just a hobby I’d probably grow out of like all my other hobbies so far, and that I wasn’t actually good enough to be sharing my music with anybody. I remember playing my mom the first full song I wrote and feeling completely terrified that she was going to hate it. She didn’t, of course, because she’s my mom. And also because it wasn’t as God-awful as I was worried it might be. It still took me awhile to build up confidence to share my songwriting with people other than my best friend and my parents, though. When you’re a songwriter, you’re putting your whole world on your sleeve and offering it up to people like, “hey, here you go, I’m giving you permission to judge me for the way I express everything I’ve been through in my life.” It’s scary! There are a few things that I’ve learned over the years that have helped me put away that fear and put my music out despite feeling worried about people’s reception of it and reaction to it. Firstly, I think it’s important to remember that while yes, part of being a musician is creating music for people to consume, you’re really doing it for you. This helped me let go of a lot of self-confidence issues surrounding people’s reaction to my art. Because if I like it, chances are there’s going to be at least one other person that likes it. And that, to me, feels worth it. Another thing that helped me develop confidence and self-esteem was practice with performing. I grew up doing piano and voice recitals, and eventually started gigging at local coffee shops and bars in high school. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. I still get nervous, but after having a lot of experience with it, it helps quiet that little voice that asks me whether or not I’m actually good enough to be doing this. Finally, if all else fails, people do say “fake it til you make it” for a reason. There are days where I don’t feel confident or solid but I still have to get up on stage and play a set. So instead of going up there and trying to make myself smaller, I’ve learned to try and put that away and instead tell myself I’m going to crush it (even if I don’t fully believe it in the moment!). Confidence to me is really about your mindset. If you come across as confident and believe that what you’re doing is working, people are usually going to pick up on that.
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?
I’m a Denver-based singer/songwriter. I’ve been writing songs since I was 12 years old, and am currently in my last semester at the University of Colorado Denver in their music program. My music falls into the indie/folk/pop category, and my two biggest influences are Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers. The thing I value most in my art is a feeling of authenticity, because I believe that there’s no point in trying to completely emulate what somebody else is already doing. I write from a place of honesty and vulnerability, and I’m always hoping to be able to make connections through my music. I play out a lot around the Denver area with my band (made up of some of my good friends from school) and my trio Children of Divorce (with my friends Katie Yeager and Genevieve Libien). I’ll be playing at The Mercury Cafe in Denver on April 13th with my band, so I hope you’ll come check that out! I’ve been working on an album for the past couple years which I’m hoping to release in early May.
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?
Learning how to play in a room full of people that aren’t paying attention to you was surprisingly helpful. Figuring out how to be an engaging performer to grab the attention of a bunch of people talking really loudly at a bar helped me develop my own personal stage presence which feels like a big part of my brand at this point. When I was first starting college, I didn’t really do a lot of revising or editing on my songs. I joined a class called Singer/Songwriter Ensemble in my freshman year, and a part of that class was making significant revisions to your songs. This was so helpful, and it also helped me realize that a song doesn’t have to be (and rarely is) perfect once you finish it. Lastly, it was really helpful for me to start playing with a band. It opened up a world of different sound for me, and also helped me develop more onstage confidence. For people who are just getting started with music, I think the biggest piece of advice I can offer is just to keep doing it. It sounds basic, but I think it’s true! It’s easy to get discouraged if something doesn’t sound exactly right or you’re not gaining immediate traction. But things will get easier the more you do them, and if you love it and are passionate about it, it’ll be worth it in the long run.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me is be completely, unyieldingly supportive of my passion for music. A lot of kids get told to “have a backup plan” when they express interest in having a career in the arts/entertainment field, but my parents never told me that. They encouraged me to develop my skills and passions, and have been with me on my journey every step of the way. They’re still some of the first people that I play my new songs for, and I am so grateful to have had their support throughout my musical career. They taught me that being my true, authentic, weird self is the most important and brave thing that I can do, and that there’s actually nothing cooler than straying away from what people consider “ordinary.” They also have great music taste, which definitely doesn’t hurt 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.finnosullivanmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finnosullivanmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/finnosullivanmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhV_KfV-Py7_60-nowt-fA
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1001xKADuDyN62D0n0lXKl?si=vYR-UhwPTW6guqdnADndMA
Image Credits
Lisa Holmes Pedro Urbina Grayson Reed Marin Stott
