We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carmel Liburdi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carmel below.

Carmel, appreciate you joining 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 remember my first time working for a big corporation was right after high school, selling appliances for Best Buy (can I name them?) At first I was excited to have a “real job”, with the clock-in and clock-out format. I went into it feeling proud, having lunch in the esteemed employee lounge. I showed up every shift, explaining my powerlessness to the customers: “I know it’s expensive, I don’t price the items”, “I can’t change it, that’s our system”, “that’s what it says in the computer”. etc. I stood around waiting for people, polishing the stainless steel fridges and dishwashers, listening to One Direction and Bruno Mars all day long. I liked some of my coworkers, but it was tiring, and I started to feel like I didn’t belong.

One day I got invited to play a music festival in Pennsylvania, and I decided to quit my job and drive out to the east coast. My mom set out with me, both of us in high hopes. It was then, hundreds of miles from home, that I realized no one knew who I was. And possibly, neither did I! Being away from the mirror of my hometown sent me into a crisis. It was a little liberating realizing I could be anyone or do anything I wanted, but it was overwhelming. I found myself not knowing if I was who I thought I was, or if I wanted to be.

When I came home I experienced stage fright for the first time ever, I found myself feeling less confident in my artistic identity. It took some processing, but after applying my energy to college for a few years I realized that what I wanted to do was work for myself. I wanted to make a career out of exploring what I liked to do and seeing if it had value to anyone else. I’ve been a guitar teacher, a promoter, a sign painter, I make stickers and print clothes, I perform and make visual art, and now I’ve been trying out substitute teaching. I still do everything else too. Some days it’s hard to manage my time, but I’m determined to find the right balance, and sometimes I achieve it! It’s lots of fun when it’s going smoothly.

I have put much thought into whether I’d be happier as an independent artist or having a “regular” job. Every time I question it or feel burnt out, I remind myself that change and new challenges keep me inspired and happy. And over time, I’ve learned that I do best with a combination of freelancing and flexible work that I do with/for other people I know or an organization I trust and feel connected to. I’m so inspired by the fellow independent artists and creators I know. I’m proud to be able to work with them and grateful that we can support each other. Purely through trial, error, input from loved ones, and keeping on keeping on, I have experienced that any work that aligns with my values, skills, and allows me some personal freedom, is what I like to do and what I plan to always do. It makes sense to feel overwhelmed sometimes and I don’t think there’s any shame in having some outside structure to balance out creative pursuits, but in the end I would say that honoring my own unique path is the most satisfying and empowering work I can do; whether that’s being my own boss or working with/for others.

Carmel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a Detroit based artist, who focuses on visual art and music. I first started out enjoying dance, theater, drawing, and singing, but blossomed into more of a songwriter and general artist. Photography was my first entrepreneurial pursuit, followed by recording and selling albums of my own music. I grew up with creative parents, so it wasn’t hard to discover my interests. I mainly did portrait photography: graduation photos, engagements, weddings, public events, etc. with some editorial/fashion style work for my own fun. Music became a huge focus of mine over time, and I channeled most of my energy in to that; Performing locally and booking tours. Touring is something I’m most proud of, it’s one of the most rewarding benefits of being an independent performing artist. When I feel down and start telling myself that I haven’t done anything of value, I think about the traveling I’ve done and the people I’ve met, and I feel more connected to humanity, and better about life in general. It keeps me going. During quarantine I couldn’t perform outside of my home and I got back into drawing regularly, and when the world opened up again I had more opportunities to make art professionally.

At present I’m doing more design work for friends and local businesses, making flyers and doing some sign painting. I also print stickers and screen print my own designs on to thrifted clothing under the name 1-800-their-loss. I still make music and play shows, and do some teaching part time. Everything I do is inspired by the human condition, and focuses on my own humanity/the experience of emotion and having a body. It sounds general, but I like to get specific and showcase the strength and power in other people as well as myself. I am passionate about mental health and like to create things that empower people or make them feel better about themselves and about existence. I’ve learned that I’m extremely enthusiastic and have a ton of energy for expression and sharing with people. I love working on projects and putting 100% of my self in to all that I do. I’m grateful for every single opportunity I’m given to do so, and I hope that comes through in my work.

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

I mentioned briefly before about how COVID effected my ability to perform. Quarantine actually came at a time where I was feeling burnt out, so at first I was grateful for the rest even though it came via global crisis. After a while I started to really miss people, and going to see live music. I still played at home, but shifted my focus to visual art because it was easier to share virtually and it was something that wasn’t changed very much by needing to stay inside my home. It helped me develop my skills and explore new ways of creating. During that time, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, which added a layer of challenge to what was already a difficult time; not just for us but for the whole world. Just when she started feeling better, I embarked on my first tour post-COVID. While I was away my brother was in an accident that almost took his life. I came home immediately to be with my family and, luckily, we’ve all healed greatly since. That being said, both of these events were extremely transformational for me and my entire family. There was a great upheaval for all of us. The change in routine and emotional effect from it all made it difficult to feel normal or stay functional as a person, let alone as an artist
It’s taken a great deal of mental strength and support from the people around me to keep pushing myself and creating. My outlook on life has changed, and I’ve learned more than I knew I needed to about accepting help from others, and about taking care of myself. It’s been challenging, and the challenge isn’t over yet, but I have an amazing network to grow within and I’m trying my best all the time.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The most common advice given to people who want to support local art and/or business is to give them your money. However, what I think is equally important—if not more important—is to spread the word! One of the best feelings is having someone share your work or let you/other people know how much your creative endeavors mean to them, or the joy they get from what you do. I love to gas up my friends and their work, and I think it would be a better world for all small business if there was more passion for promoting and spreading the word about the artists and business owners we love.

Contact Info:

• Website: carmelliburdi.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/carmelliburdi
• Facebook: facebook.com/pages/carmelliburdimusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloydknight/
• Youtube: youtube.com/user/carmelliburdi