We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Claire Eisel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Claire, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am happy as a clam! I know what it is like to have a regular job. My favorite job I had was being a designer, but I am infinitely happier with my current line of work as an an artist and entrepreneur and cannot imagine not doing those things! I would be willing to go back to a regular job, but life is just so, so much better to me this way. I have also been willing to be scrappy and resourceful. I would say that the universe has mainly provided along my journey of becoming a full-time artist. I would be willing to go through almost any hardship, if I had to, to make this work. I personally think I have some strong messages I want to share, as well as lots of happiness I want to give to the world. Which were not so much possible with the limits of being a corporate worker. I pretty much never wonder about having a regular job. haha. I wake up and am excited about what I get to work on and share with the world every day!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Well. I have been creating art all my life- singing and playing instruments, acting in plays, painting, etc! I started performing on stages playing classical piano when I was a kid, later performing with local bands, etc. I ended up studying science later on, and working as a scientist and in tech, but I did feel like music was my divine calling! I did other art forms as well as businesses before pursuing music the way I am now – interior design, graphic design, etc. These were fun! But something was missing! I am so grateful to be able to be full-time in music and other artists pursuits these days- I also act, perform stand-up comedy, sell art, model, and more!

I was born and raised in Colorado, and when I was a kid, Colorado was not quite the highly-publicized or popular place it is now! It was very different. So I grew up with what I feel were “small town values” and sensibilities. I believe this helps me be the best person I can be- because I grew up in what was not a fancy place initially, and people had to work pretty hard to get to certain places and make things for themselves. I still believe in helping others and giving the shirt off my back essentially to people who are genuinely in need.

What sets me apart- I am very committed to my craft and creating the best products possible. I am also very committed to being a nice person and creating positive changes in the world. I believe I have already been able to spread a lot of positivity with what I have done in and along my journey, and that this will continue! I am not interested in one genre- I love many! I am drawn to creating many kinds of music- in addition to the folk, pop, indie, and dance songs I released, I have worked on hip hop, metal, Latin songs, and more! I love expressing myself in many different ways. I also finalized things here with a full band in LA, and we have been performing around town! Woohoo! Acting-wise- I love it all. All genres. Comedy is fun and challenging. Drama is exciting. I can’t wait to share my upcoming projects with you all, some of which are still a secret! <3

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I have honestly been through many incredibly challenging things growing up, and from the start of my childhood. I won’t list all of them here, but I definitely have been through some… pretty unbelievable situations. I think these instilled in me that I wanted to be a good person, and a nice person, and not behave in the way that I had seen others behave. No matter what happens, I just keep on going and find ways to get over or under or through an obstacles or challenges that may appear. I greatly believe in my brand, myself, my craft.

I also went through some pretty unbelievable things in my journey as an artist, such as horrendous discrimination in Nashville, when I lived there. Among other things, I am ethnically Jewish, with a Jewish last name. This year, I was actually banned from a venue I played in the backroom of regularly when I reported anti-Semitic texts I received from a patron there (this is a celebrity-attended venue, that apparently also has had Confederate graffiti, etc). Another venue there sent me the wrong information, seemingly on purpose, when I tried to sign up for their open mic… I could go on. It was really traumatic and people still perform at those venues… The fact that I kept going and continue to be a happy, nice, giving person, that I have had various success as a musician, singer, artist, actor… I think these speak to my resilience!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Everything. Getting to express myself however I want. Getting to help others. Getting to inspire people. Getting to help and change the world. Getting to be the person I want to be, however I want to be. I feel so blessed and fulfilled and ecstatic that I get to be a full-time creative and do what I love! It’s the happiest thing in the world to me. I feel there is nothing I cannot do. Nothing can stop me!! :) :) :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://claireeisel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claire.eisel1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claireeisel/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiMgrZCOZIUOspxRcHeHi9w
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-935130617

Image Credits

Photos with black hat – Richie Photos

Photo with white dress – Jose Soto