We were lucky to catch up with Kira Metcalf recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kira, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

The times I am able to fully devote myself to creative projects are far and away the most fulfilling. I recently went on tour and had some paid cover sets booked when I got back. Musicians put years of hard work into their field and rarely see financial stability or security from their efforts. But we keep at it because it’s the thing that brings so much joy and sense of accomplishment. There is enough money in the world for artists to be fairly compensated and I hope in my lifetime, I get to see the kind of regulation that allows us to sustain on music alone. There is nothing wrong with working a “regular” job, but I don’t see any reason why being in a creative field should be automatically deemed “irregular” or simply a “passion project.” Performing, writing, producing, and promoting your art is a full time job in itself. This last tour was such an incredible experience because I was able to devote the kind of time and attention to my music that I’ve always wanted to. Most artists end up having to sacrifice time and energy from their work to maintain a job that supplements their income. I guarantee we’d all be much happier if we were able to sustain off of our art alone.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I come from a very musical family. My mom was a classical cellist and my dad can play any instrument you stick in his hand. My grandma could not carry a tune but remembered every lyric to every song she’d ever heard. I grew up going to improvisation workshops with my parents that made me terrified of performing. Thankfully, genetics won out. I started writing songs in earnest in high school to process the grief of losing my mother. My aim since then has been to write music that closes the loneliness gap in our darkest moments. I have a background in poetry translation which deeply influences my writing in that I’m always looking for the the most efficient economy of words to express a feeling. I have a deep love of language and communication. Songwriting is a very intimate experience and few careers offer the same opportunity for collective effervescence. I also try to bring as much multimedia artistry into my work as possible, collaborating with incredible illustrators on physical lyric books for each collection of music. I love finding new ways to interpret music and giving people some tangible piece of the writing (which really stems from my childhood love of CD-inserts). I hope my music provides a little light in a distant window that appears when you need to feel seen.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It’s going to sound like an overly simplistic answer, but I think the best way society can support artists is by valuing the art they create. Don’t use AI to create background music, graphics, or blurbs. Invest in local artists, go to local shows, find out what local dance companies or plays are in your area. Host an artist discovery night with your friends! I think the amount of time, effort, and talent that goes into pursuing a creative career is often overlooked. It’s often not just a hobby, not just a passion project, but a career that should be as viable and sustainable as any other. As the gap between self-sustaining artists and struggling artists widens, it’s a crucial time to dive into the arts available in our own communities. Your favorite artist may literally be your neighbor!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I definitely had a scarcity mindset around how much “room” there was for success in the music industry. That, paired with some internalized misogyny in my early twenties, made me feel like I was in competition with other femme artists. Once I realized that there’s an unlimited space and potential for success, especially since “success” is such a nebulous term, I was able to fall in love with so many incredible musicians and put myself out there to be in community with them instead of competition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kirametcalf.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirametcalf/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/j7jpLDjQOMU?si=QIQJJ9TQO-GLblCC
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5SpECVcUH8VRK9jmeceVaf

  https://kirametcalf.bandcamp.com/album/lessons-in-majestic-humiliation

Image Credits

1st image (on subway): Sarah Clare Simone
2+3 images: Dimitry Mak