We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikayla Lewis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mikayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

There are three main turning points when it comes to inspiring me to pursue a creative path professionally.

Be Reel Co. is a freelance small business for video production, editing, and photography that I started in 2016. The inspiration came from my uncle, Joe Leiker, passing away earlier that year. He was 44 years-old and it was his second battle with brain cancer. My late-uncle was an artist, an exceptional painter and muralist. He gave me my first guitar and taught me how to play my first chords and song. Uncle Joe always encouraged me to pursue creative passions, stay open to where it takes you and to be real.

When I met Mary Martin in 2016, I knew I wanted to do a documentary film on the legendary, Grammy Award-winning music executive. I was still a news reporter for a Nashville television station at the time and we met when I interviewed her for a story.
She inspired me to eventually make the transition from broadcast journalism to full-time creative, multimedia freelancer and to take the leap in pursuing the documentary.
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Lastly, I saw Margo Price live at the Ryman in 2018. Her headlining, sold out performance was transcendent. I was fortunate to tell Price just that, backstage in passing. Her show was an experience that helped rekindle my passion for singing, songwriting and live performing.

Mikayla, 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?

My self-titled, debut album was released this spring on all major streaming platforms. It features 12 original tracks, including two of four singles previously released in 2020 – 2022 (“River Man/Shit Show” and “Aquí/A Key”).

I spent the past three years writing it, evolving as a musician and artist finding my voice.

Growing up in Kansas, storytelling was always a part of my life through music, dance, theater, writing, etc. In college, I started playing more live gigs and writing more songs, but my music lacked depth and variety because there was so much life for me yet to experience.

The album comes after gaining a new perspective from a career as a television news reporter, losing loved ones, surviving an aggravated assault, and all the lessons in between that life brings.

Inspired by many artists, like David Bowie, Sade, Fleetwood Mac, Joan Jett, and Donna Summer, it was fun to explore a plethora of genres like rock, alternative, indie funk, pop, country, and soul. There was also a freedom in diving into various subjects, including: perseverance, depression, living, learning, addiction, change, domestic violence, nostalgia, love, and society.

I spent a lot of life trying to fit into a box. With this project, I ditched the box and flowed with what felt the most authentic.
Leonard Cohen’s quote: “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in,” is a major theme the record reflects upon.

I produced and recorded the majority of the project alone at home in Nashville. Two of the tracks, “Cool Your Jets” and “Going Back to Nashville”, were recorded at Battery Lane Music with engineer, Garrett Victor and assistant engineer, Mitch Watson.

Caleb Hayden Christopher contributed his lead guitar skills on “Enemy in Me” and “Diamond”, and bass on “Aquí (A Key).” Ari Fine lends his talents on keys to several of the tracks as well.

The LP is co-produced by brothers, Alex & Jacob Züg (ZÜG Productions/ZÜG the band). I am fortunate to work with such hardworking and multitalented souls that understand me and my music.

Since releasing the project, it continues to be a blast playing the project live with a full band that includes the Zugs and Fine.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The mission of being real and following creative passions is what drives me. That spark likes to be fed whether through songwriting and music or working on editing.

The current goal of completing the Mary Martin: Music Maven documentary film is major focus at the moment. It has been a process. It has taught me a lot of patience, but progress is happening on the project.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being in the creative lane is the opportunity to express and be oneself daily. Whether I am working with Mary, music or with a client on a video shoot, I am grateful to be in the orbit of honest, compassionate, passionate and creative folks daily. The energy propels and motivates you to keep going and stay open to the inspiration and beauty all around. It can be quite scary in the unknown, but knowing you’re not alone makes all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.mikaylalewis.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.mikayla.lewis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMikaylaLewis
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TheMikaylaLewis
• Other: https://linktr.ee/MikaylaLewis