We were lucky to catch up with Bradford Loomis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bradford, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My father was a relentless artist. He was raised by a very analytical numbers-minded businessman who told him that if he got a business degree then he could go to school to get his art degree after. Best-laid plans being what they are, are quickly set aside. Life has a way of settling you into the comfortable path of least resistance. He met my mother and a very damaged man settled down with a very wounded woman and a tumultuous 30 years later he got his art degree. He aggressively started marketing and networking his portfolio only to get diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, he really only got a handful of years to dedicate himself to his art the way he wanted. I grew up in the shadow of a life un-lived.

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?

It’s not just the sins of the father that are passed on, it’s sometimes the unlearned lessons. I was determined to pursue my love of music but I met my wife and we settled down and started a family. I put down my dreams and tried to make go of the myriad “real jobs” that I tried on. None of them fit and I was miserable. It wasn’t until I was laid off and we were desperately trying to hold on to our house that I tried my hand at performing my music again for some extra money. While it didn’t provide enough for us to save the house from foreclosure, my passion for creating and performing was reignited.

I threw myself at music, desperate to learn as much as I could about the industry. I met with every industry professional I could from booking agents to managers to artists that were making waves. I went full-time after a couple of years and haven’t looked back. I started my own record label and regularly consult with other artists to help equip them to find their way to making a living at their craft.

I think I’m most proud of the fact that for 12 years I have been able to provide for my family of five as an independent touring, recording, and performing artist. And three years ago we bought a beautiful home in Nashville TN, something we thought we’d never be able to do again.

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

Being self-determinant. I have gotten to travel all over North America getting paid to enjoy things I never thought I would see. I’ve met so many incredible people and have been able to show my children the natural beauty of this United States. They’ve seen 48 of the 50 states and they are still in high school.

I am honored to show them what it means to make a living at what you are passionate about. That there is nobility in serving others, in creating and giving of yourself generously to others. And frankly, it’s easier when you decide what you are going to do and when you are going to do it.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Value it. In any and every way. When everything in our society is built around how we as individuals can make the most money we can, we lose sight of how our individual endeavors affect those around us. So many of us are in a constant, desperate, struggle against scarcity. We are emotional creatures that thrive in resonance. We NEED community and the life-giving energy that comes from it. Music, art, and the creative process invites us, so potently into resonance, into community with others, into a life that has meaning. I believe that we need to restructure our society, and our culture into something that better resembles our interconnectedness and values the collective rather than the individual.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bradfordloomis.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradfordloomis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradfordloomismusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradford-loomis-b83a79158/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradfordLoomis
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BradfordLoomis
• Other: IMDB Page – https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm13508704/

Image Credits
Tony Hammond, Scott Davis, and Kimberly Loomis