We recently connected with Carmel Helene and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Carmel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have made my living solely from my creative work for over 20 years. It started with years of practice (alone in my bedroom), and then building up my network of meaningful connections, friends and colleagues, and always learning and growing along the way. Each new musical endeavor allowed me to learn and meet more people, who in turn would refer me to new opportunities. Making myself known and putting myself out there – stepping outside my comfort zone and continuous hard work was all a part of the process. I do think I could have sped up the process by being even more focused on certain goals I wanted to accomplish, and even more discipline when it came to avoiding distractions, i.e. partying when I was younger, or time spent on having fun, when the time could have been better utilized. I could have expanded my communication network even further, pushed myself even harder, and gotten better educated. Although I have been successful in many ways, I realize in hindsight, that this would have benefitted me. I think Taylor Swift is also a good example of not listening to haters, ignoring failures, and yet persisting to reach the level of her dreams which she envisioned. There are times when I started to become discouraged and become doubtful. But knowing what I know now, I would have worked to build even thicker skin, and worked even harder.

Carmel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Carmel Helene, a Los Angeles-based vocalist with nearly 30 years of live and recording experience, including album appearances and world tours across multiple genres. I’ve toured with Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Luis Miguel, Johnny Hallyday, Michael Bolton, and Stewart Copeland. I have released my own original projects – in the pop rock and country markets.

I make my living in many different facets of the music industry. My first love is singing, but I am also a songwriter with placements in TV, a music producer, contractor for other musicians, and a mentor and consultant in artist development.

I help songwriters and artists develop material from conception to completion. That translates to helping clients with lyrics & melodies, arrangements, pre-production to identify the sound and direction, and more.

I work with music students to teach them about what it takes to be successful in music as a profession.
I never criticize an artist. If an artist receives enough “constructive criticism” he may eventually give up his art completely. My job is to help them learn and be inspired to continue to create. The more they do it, the better they will get.

My biggest asset has always been versatility, and an unquenchable thirst for growth and knowledge.

I am always trying to improve myself, my craft, and help others as much as I can.

I believe that artists are extremely important to the welfare of this planet. Through forward-thinking, aesthetics, and the weight they hold in the ability to sway public opinion – in some way – artists have a responsibility to society.

Not to mention the beauty of creating, and being able to communicate with all types of people – to move them, and make people think – through music. This is what keeps me going.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I have always worked very hard, BUT, there are times when I truly did not apply myself to the best of my ability when I should have. Instead, I took the easier route and convinced myself I was working my hardest, when I really wasn’t.
In my younger years, I wanted to learn piano and music theory, but had confusions and gave up. I was interested in music production and engineering, but thought it was “for boys” and did not pursue it. At 18, I began learning guitar, but then upon meeting a 14-year-old guitar phenom, I gave it up citing being “too old”. At 22, a high-level music executive at a record label condescendingly told me I was good, but insinuated I was too old. He said it was because I wasn’t 15.

I continued to persist for many, many years through many obstacles and failures, but I now realize that I did not remain steadfast ENOUGH. I let the lies seep in very slowly… at first… but they began to accumulate. I’ve had countless humbling experiences reminding me that if I had just kept going, I could have achieved the original goals I had set out upon, sooner and at higher levels.

Over the years I have learned, I’m going to fail. Get used to it. Ignore it. Have the courage to confront and face what needs to be done and do it!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

During the pandemic, I lost all my singing work and had no way to earn a living. I am married and have a young son, and I’m responsible for half of the household. Prior to this, my family was starting to grow tired of my absence and ongoing obsession to my career, to the point of imbalance. As a woman, wife and mother, I noticed I had certain expectations that I’d also have to meet (and choose to meet), in supporting my family along with climbing the music industry ladder. It became too much, and I decided that family comes first, and that happiness doesn’t come from fame or riches anyway. I’ve known many a rich and famous person who is miserable. What I do want to be is happy and successful, and that can take many forms. I began taking online classes in sync licensing, songwriting, production and mixing and felt eager to learn and fulfilled. I found an answer to the struggles I’d faced in the past, recording and producing my own music, eliminating the need for high cost studios. I realized that I was quite knowledgeable in the field all along, and that what I had been doing all these years in the studio with producers recording my original music, was in fact production. I knew what I was hearing, what I wanted musically etc, I just didn’t know which “knobs to turn”. I was able to pivot during that time, and gain song placements in TV, and hired by independent artists to write and produce their projects. I am now beginning to give guest lectures at universities and hope to expand that venture in the future. I will always sing because it is my love and my passion, but I am so much more than just my voice or my career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Ticklebellyhillmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmelhelene
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmelhelene
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmel-helene-3baa054a/

Image Credits

Photo: Christine Murphy (Life Force Photos)