Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marelle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Marelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I have been a full-time musician making an income from gigging in San Diego since May of 2022 and today I will be sharing how I made (and continue to make) it happen using three strategies: taking a chance on myself, immersing myself into the local music scene and reaching out to businesses for gigs. My hope is that I can be a source of inspiration and value for other musicians that are considering embarking on this journey. I do want to preface this by saying everybody’s journey is different and there is no one-size-fits-all way of going about being a full-time musician. This is simply what has been working for me and potentially could work for others.

The first step I took as an aspiring full-time musician was taking a huge chance on myself. That meant surrendering to all the hard times this lifestyle was about to bring and believing that I already had all I needed to get through them. Mentally accepting the unknown was the most important and hardest part of it all. In fact, it was such a challenge to go out busking for the first time, I remember sitting in my car at Carlsbad State Beach for fifteen minutes arguing with my self doubt. My courage was being put to the test and what was once the most daunting experience of my life quickly turned into the most fond memories all because I decided to take that chance.

What does it mean to immerse yourself in the music scene you may ask? Well, for me it meant three things: street performing, playing at open mics and attending shows. Street performing allowed me to build confidence, a well rehearsed set list and make new friends and fans. I bought a battery powered amp, (Roland Street Cube was recommended to me) business cards and a QR code visible to foot traffic. (see picture below for my massive QR code sign I thankfully have redesigned since haha) Attending open mics was also important although it didn’t make any cash, it was an investment into my career. I was able to network with other like-minded musicians and get time on a stage with an attentive audience (usually). Sometimes there were even bookers at these open mics that were scouting for good musicians to play full sets at restaurants, bars etc. About once a week I would find a band or artist to go watch and observe. This was the piece that glued my vision together. It kept me reaching forward and inspired by musicians that were at a level I aimed to be at.

To wrap it all up, first you must be willing to take a chance on yourself, then get out there and grow your grass roots and lastly, reach out to the places you want to play at. Be consistent and be disciplined. Best of luck, I hope to see you out there playing!

Marelle, 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 am a neo-soul R&B singer-songwriter based in San Diego, California. I draw inspiration from jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra to create a vintage but modern sound. I have a hard time labeling my music, but neo-soul and R&B seem to be the closest. I play guitar and sing at weddings, resorts, restaurants and a variety of private events. I have been writing and playing music for over 10 years, but my music career really started when I got fired from my waitressing job in April of 2022. Since then I have released one single and with many more to come.

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

Society should take a chance on the creatives in their life, whether that be having live music at their establishment, displaying art in their shop, attending a show or simply just following their journey through social media. The artists and consumers of today share a symbiotic relationship and both play an important role in bringing the beautiful human race together. I hope to bring more art into my life this year by attending more Farmer’s Markets, art shows, concerts and plays.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Here are a list of podcasts and books that have tremendously helped my music career and personal mindset.

Podcasts:
The Music Industry Blueprint by Rick Barker
DIY Musician by CD Baby
Heroic by Brian Johnson

Books:
How to make it in the New Music Business by Ari Herstand
It’s All in Your Head by Russ
The Addiction Formula by Friedemann Findeisen

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marelleofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marellemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbymarelle
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfJnVZVKSgJhM3JVmbnnGkw
• Other: Listen to my latest single ‘Angel Boy’ here: https://songwhip.com/marelle/angel-boy

Image Credits
Ellie Toevs Jake Pomerleau Thomas Ryan Brian Davis