We recently had the chance to connect with Kelsey Flanagan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelsey, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
On a personal level, the thing I’m most proud of building that nobody sees is my relationship with my 3 soon-to-be step kids. I’m engaged to the love of my life and his 3 children, and discovering and building on our family dynamic brings me so much purpose and has re-connected me to my own inner child in a way I would have never known was possible without them.
Professionally, I’m really proud of the music I’ve had the opportunity to produce and the growth i’ve seen in the band I manage, nolo.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kelsey Flanagan, and I’m a music producer, audio engineer, vocal coach, and songwriter, as well as the co-manager of the band nolo. I’m also a member of The Recording Academy, where I vote in the GRAMMY Awards and advocate on behalf of the music community. Additionally, I serve on the board of two Austin-based nonprofits: SIMS Foundation and Sonic Guild.
I think what makes me interesting in regards to my industry is my experience across multiple divisions within it- from recording and producing albums, to managing a band, to working alongside organizations that support musicians’ mental health and artists’ rights.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was really rambunctious as a kid and unconstrained as a teenager/young adult to be honest. Growing up, I was always getting into trouble because I pretty fiercely only did what I wanted to and questioned everything. Conforming to the path that’s standardized for young people in the USA and suburban Texas was always something I really pushed back on. If anyone reading this is into astrology, they won’t be surprised to hear I’m an Aquarius. In a lot of ways, I still am that same girl but as I matured and started setting real goals for my life I definitely learned to adapt to the way the rest of the world moves
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, throughout the pandemic and the following year I turned my back on music. The perfect storm of the music industry being fundamentally altered by the pandemic, coupled with my own identity crisis in my relationship with music left me feeling deeply insecure- not only about how I would support myself without music, but also with what my greater purpose even was. Music being the centerpiece of my day, everyday, is essential to my health and well being and I know that intimately now after a dark couple years of trying to move on from it.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The most frustrating lie the music industry tells itself is that streaming gives every artist big and small a leveled playing field. At a first glance, it feels true because every independent artist has the capability to release their music the same as major label artists and reach the same audience but from their bedroom. While the accessibility aspect is true, the reality is that the algorithm is manipulated by experts who come with a huge price tag, and unless an independent artist has the marketing budget of a major label, it would take nothing short of a miracle for their music to perform the same way on the same streaming platforms by quality and likability alone. A lot of this generation’s favorite bands rose to success before streaming was even a thing, so the path into comparable success for new artists is still being adapted today and it’s pretty rocky in my opinion.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Well, the long game is something I’m very familiar with. As a manager to an alternative rock band, we have been chipping away at goals together for 4 years now and growing more and more each year. There have been immeasurable amounts of ground work laid and we work hard to strengthen their presence within the industry. The results of this dedication are already evident, and I am confident that by the ten-year mark, the band will be reaching even greater heights and achieving milestones that reflect the full scope of their potential
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyflan/
Image Credits
Mia Al-Taher, Sam Ehrnstein
