We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cara Bishop a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Cara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve always loved singing, ever since I could learn to talk basically. When i was 14, I taught myself to play the guitar and shortly after I wrote my first song. I was nervous about letting anyone hear it, but when I finally did, something just clicked. Seeing the response to the song and the way it affected those who were listening to it really planted a seed for me. Right then I knew I wanted to write more. And it just kept growing to the point where I said “This it. This is what I want to do professionally.” And I’ve been trying really hard ever since!
Cara, 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?
Though I’d been singing all my life, I didn’t start playing guitar or writing songs until I was 14. My Mom liked to share videos of me singing on Facebook for our friends and family to see and one of the videos caught the attention of a small record label in Nashville. They invited us down to meet them and they had me sing some of my songs. They offered me a deal and after lots of thought, we accepted and signed a contract. I learned a lot that year about myself as an artist. I also learned a lot about the business side of things. Once my contract with the label was up, my family and I decided not to renew it. So instead I just started making music as an independent artist. That’s been amazing. I can write how I want to write, sing what I want to sing, dress how I want to dress, etc. I feel like me being able to express myself the way I truly want is what sets me apart. I was only 14 when I recorded my first songs, and I’m 16 now, and I feel like I learned ten years worth of knowledge in that short amount of time. My goal is to make music that I’m proud of and that the audience will relate to and enjoy. I pour my heart out into every song and I always hope and pray that the audience will be able to feel that when they’re listening. It’s always amazing to me when someone compliments my vocal ability, but I’m always touched the most when someone comments on the lyrics of a song that I wrote. It’s so awesome and I’m always so grateful and thankful.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a songwriter is to have people tell you that your song helped them through a tough time or it made their day better. That’s the whole goal for me and it really is a dream come true to have people relate to my music in such a way. It takes my breath away every time someone says something like that to me. It always makes me emotional because I’m so happy and humbled and grateful.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I had known sooner that you can make awesome music and be successful while working on your own. Someday I would love to sign with a major label and go on to have mainstream success. But for now, as a 16 year old just trying to figure out life, I’m having fun as an independent artist- and I know without a doubt that the lessons I’ve learned will only benefit me moving forward. I have big dreams and it’s on me to make them happen. That’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also great method of encouragement to keep doing the best I can!
Contact Info:
- Website: Carabishopmusic.com
- Instagram: _carabishop_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carabishopmusic?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: TikTok: _carabishop_