Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey.
Hi Kelsey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My love and life-long relationship with music is what brought me to my career. As a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, I originally decided to pick up audio engineering as a tool to help myself be more self-sufficient as an artist, but as things unfolded in my life my passions expanded too. Now, audio engineering and music production has become the centerpiece of my life and songwriting and instrumentation has become a tool to make me a quick and competent producer and engineer- it’s weird how the tables slowly turned when I really think about it, but i’m more secure in my relationship with music than I ever have been.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey here has definitely not been a smooth road. Right out of high school in 2016 I decided to pursue music and commit to learning audio engineering as a next step, and bypass the traditional college route. The choice to go right into the working world of the massive conglomerate that is the music industry was risky for me, because there was no guarantee that anything I did would ever be fruitful enough to justify making it my whole plan. I tried a lot of different things in those 4 years before covid hit, and was actually able to support myself as a young person on music jobs alone. When Coronavirus spread in 2020 and the music industry was turned upside down, I definitely started to panic because there was no plan b “essential job” I was prepared to pivot to. 2020 yielded so much struggle and devastation for me because I felt like I lost all progress and would never be able to pick up where I left off. Plus, I was starting to feel like I made a huge mistake by insisting on a life of self employment when there was no end in sight for the work restrictions. Despite how dark of a time it was for me personally, I’m really grateful to have gotten the opportunity to rebuild my life after the fact, which led me to where I am now. In the fall of 2020 I moved to Austin with some friends, and in full defeat started working jobs outside of music for the first time in my life- this was soul killing, I literally felt so purposeless and empty. In early 2021 a friend of mine from the music industry was crashing with me while she was doing a studio session in Austin at Orb Recording Studios. She knew how I was feeling about everything and insisted I get in at this studio and she set up an introduction for me. The events and growth that followed from that day is where my career really began. There are of course things I still struggle with but I’d like to believe that because I made it though those rock years, I can get through anything.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a music producer, audio-engineer, vocal coach, songwriter and artist manager. I also serve on the Board of Advisors for SIMS foundation and Sonic Guild, and I’m a new voting member of The Recording Academy. It’s a mouthful I know. My home base is Orb Recording Studios in South Austin- a gorgeous space with 3 commercial recording studios inside. I’m most known for my versatility in working with artists- from the ground work of writing songs and coaching their vocals, getting their music produced, to connecting artists with industry professionals and developing them to the next phase of their career. My job is equal parts creative as it is business and I believe that’s what sets me apart. I’m most proud of the albums and bodies of work I’ve created with so many bands and artists I admire, as well as being a voice in spaces such as SIMS, Sonic Guild, and The Recording Academy, which serve the music community in massive ways.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice to finding a mentor is to put yourself in rooms where you’re not the smartest person, listen, and soak everything in. If you approach your desired career humbly and with gratitude, the right people are going to be drawn to you and doors will open. When you’re networking, let your passion AND work ethic be the first thing people notice about you. There’s a lot of talented people out there competing for the same resources, so my advice to those looking to network in the music industry is to be prepared to work twice as hard as everyone else is and not expect your talent alone to get you where you want to go.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.orbrecordingstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyflan/
Image Credits
Elik Jazdzewski
