Meet Kirsten Agresta Copely

We were lucky to catch up with Kirsten Agresta Copely recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kirsten, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive by being mindful of everyday interactions and how they can inspire me. I live in Bushwick (Brooklyn) and am surrounded by creative individuals who help me stay authentic, open-minded, and thoughtful about life, and therefore the music that I create. There are younger role models in my community that keep me motivated to constantly evolve and inspire me to push forward.

I also find inspiration bubbling up from deep within while practicing transcendental meditation (TM). The mantra-based practice helps me manage stress, have sharper focus, and sets the balance for my daily life.

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?
My name is Kirsten Agresta-Copely and I am a GRAMMY® Nominated, international award-winning harpist and composer. I’ve been featured in the New York Post, Crain’s New York Business, and have performed for heads of state, in blockbuster movie soundtracks, alongside Billboard 100 artists, on late night television, and on some of the world’s most recognized stages.

Some of my favorite performances include playing with Beyoncé at the Second Official White House State Dinner for President Barack Obama, The Billboard Music Awards with Florence + The Machine, debuting as concerto soloist at Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium, and three separate solo recitals at Weill Concert Hall. In the recording studio, I’ve collaborated with Kacey Musgraves, Evanescence, Bonobo, and have a feature on Erykah Badu’s album: New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh (“Incense”).

You can hear my original music on all streaming services and satellite radio, including Sirius XM Spa Channel. I’ve gained over 20 million streams and the music has been enjoyed by listeners across the globe seeking peace and relaxation.

Currently, I’m presenting a live performance of my nominated album, AQUAMARINE, in venues across the United States. My show seamlessly blends musical artistry with visuals created by NYC mutimedia artist, Laurie Olinder, offering an immersive experience. A portion of proceeds will benefit Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Perhaps I’ll be coming to a city near you!

 

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?
Three qualities that I find to be impactful are perserverance, courage and focus.

As the esteemed author Margaret Atwood wrote, “If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.” My Mother used to tell me to pick myself up and dust myself off when something wouldn’t go my way as a child. By encouraging me to keep moving forward, I learned not to dwell on a setback and instead, perservere and gain experience from it.

Always stay open to new opportunities and challenges, and base your decisions on courage instead of fear. This may not come easily at first, and I certainly had to work on this myself. But staying mindful while calculating the benefit of a new path is very important. As I’ve gained confidence throughout the years, I’m more likely to take risks and go full throttle ahead for whatever goal I’ve set for myself.

Having a workspace that is quiet and free of distraction is very important to me. I need to close the door and avoid interruptions which means my cell phone is off or placed on the other side of the room in silent mode. Only then am I able to focus on developing ideas and creating new music.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’d love to partner with venues, promoters, or brands who are interested in my show, ‘Aquamarine Live’ as a presenter or possible collaborator. With the water themed elements of the music and visuals, collaborators could be anyone related to ocean conservation to an eco/sustainable business, fashion label, or a food brand. Let’s think outside the box! Feel free to send me an email through my website at: https://www.kirstencopelymusic.com/contact

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Personal photo: Joseph Cartright Additional Photo #4 and #5: Tamara Beckwith

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