Today we’d like to introduce you to Calista Garcia.
Hi Calista, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began writing and performing music around age 10, I’d been playing piano since 6 and guitar since 8. It very quickly became my entire identity and life as a young person, it took priority over school, a social life, it felt like who I was during an age whether identity is otherwise tricky to define. I was very blessed to have the experiences and support I had in the DC music scene, to have mentors and musicians who took a chance on me and allowed me to safely grow and learn different skillsets of professional musicianship: band leading, performing, collaborating, writing for sync, etc. I also applied for anything I could, grants, programs, competitions, and was very lucky to take part in things like GrammyCamp and YoungArts, Bernard Ebbs, even the Voice when I was 17.
I also felt a lot of safety and connection within the theatre community at my school, and ended up writing the music for one musical, as well as the first iteration of my self-penned original musical ‘Crystal Skies’ that got staged there (H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program). I released my first EP, “Wild Woman” in 2019, and since have released another EP and two albums, “Confession” and the most recent “Animal Magnifique!” in 2025. I’ve been lucky to have had some amazing musical experiences, touring, recording, etc. One of the biggest changes was moving to New York in 2022, which opened up my art in a huge way.
I am now all in re-working ‘Crystal Skies’, the 70s rock musical about witches for a staged reading this summer in Manhattan. It’s by far the most challenging project I’ve ever done (and 8+ years in the making) but intensely rewarding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been easy, and there have been huge lessons learned, and that I’m still learning. I was diagnosed with POTS and hEDS in 2022, followed by a slew of chronic illnesses that I believe stemmed from behavioral patterns (very common to artists) that just grinded me down: overworking, perfectionism, and emotional burnout.
There’s a dance one learns as a young woman in this industry, or maybe more like a tightrope walk. How to be respected in a room of men older than you, how to draw people into your work, but not too close to you, how to balance toughness and softness, and then as an artist how to still strive for authenticity. It can be exhausting. It’s made me such an introvert.
In an industry that (this is no secret, nor exclusive to music) can be so unhealthy and exploitative, learning the steps to dance through a minefield can be important, even necessary to preserving ones sanity and love for the craft.
I think I learned that dance before I learned to be an adult in the world, and so I’m still learning how to turn it off. “Animal Magnifique!” was an immensely healing exercise in radical authenticity, and to breaking the routine, and at the same time, I totally over worked myself making it. I’m over-working making “Crystal” right now, but I’m trying to learn.
Now in my work both as an artist and an educator, it’s so important to me to make sure students and peers feel safe and seen and able to be themselves while making music/art.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I call myself a “whimsy-rock” artist, but I’m a multi-hyphenate. I’ve been known as a genre-bendy singer/songwriter, but a lot of what I do today is an educator, a private music teacher. I specialize in voice, piano and guitar, as well as songwriting.
I’m an actress, a composer and writer, (I have a strong theatrical streak), and am obsessed with movies. I’m also very into heightened visuals, creating elaborate shoots, both for myself and others, photographing and styling. I do graphic design. I have a tarot business! Essentially, I seek to create fantastical, immersive spaces for cathartic experiences and learning wherever I can.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My parents have been immensely supportive, both musicians themselves, they’ve been at every show and have never faltered in their belief in my artistry. That’s a tremendous gift that I know not everyone gets to have. I’ve had amazing experiences with mentors, Tom Mallan, one of the theatre teachers at my school who believed in me from the beginning, Ben Tufts, who helped introduce this teenager to the DC scene and got me my first teaching gig years later, Jim Scott of Plyrz Studios in LA, Betty Scott of the Strathmore Artist in Residence program, and so, so many more.
And then I’d be remiss not to mention my musical and life soulmate, Henry Ryeder, who helped co-produce “Animal”, has played bass on all my shows, is performing as one of the leads in “Crystal”, and is also my best friend and safe space to decompress with when the work is done.
I am so immensely grateful for every bandmate, photographer, engineer and friend who’s been a part of my journey.
Pricing:
- 30 minute private lessons: $45
- 45 minute private lessons: $60
- Hour private lessons: $75
- Graphic design project $45
- Shoot styling and photography $150
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calistagarcia.music/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CalistaGarciaMusic
