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

Alright, Carie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Living on wages from being a singer isn’t easy.. in fact it’s a lot harder than I ever imagined. I remember when I moved to the Nashville area for a short amount of time I thought I really had something different to offfer.. and while they may be true, you are one of MANY fish in that big, wide open sea. EVERYONE wants to do what you want to do; it’s extremely competitive. I’m not able to say I make a living off of what I do, but being signed with an agent and getting jobs definitely helps. In the entertainment industry, you have to have drive, passion, and resilience. I plan on making this my full time career one day.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Carie Ferra Hale and I am an aspiring singer / songwriter with a love for acting and modeling as well!

I was a kid who had a lot of bottled up emotions and I felt the only way I could let those emotions out was to sing. I sing covers, and have started writing my own songs, which I really enjoy.

The message I want to convey to anyone listening to me sing or my songs is that no matter how alone you may feel, you never really are. While everyone’s story is different, There is always someone who can relate. It feels as though when we are going through a hardship that we are totally alone and have no one to talk to. I know music helps people because it helped me. I want to sing and write songs that make people feel less alone, and give them encouragement.

I currently sing at different gigs, usually with my guitarist, Bill McKinney. I sing a wide variety of genres. From country, to pop, to jazz, r&b.. and anything else you can think of.

I have a few things on iTunes, Spotify, and other streaming platforms you can listen to. Including my original, “Everlasting Wish”

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Wanting to be in the entertainment industry isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s one of the most COMPETITIVE industries, and you will be told “no” a lot more times than you will be told “yes”.

I had the experience of going on American Idol a few years ago when they did the reboot on ABC. How they aired the episode isn’t how it actually happened (that’s a whole other story!) but the judges ultimately told me I had great potential but I was so nervous that it was effecting my performance. I didn’t make it through to Hollywood and I was crushed.. I believe I was 16 or 17 at the time and to me, knowing I had 3 amazing, incredibly talented artists tell me I wasn’t ready.. it was devastating. I felt that if I wasn’t ready then, I never would be.. that wasn’t the case. I quickly had to stop feeling sorry for myself and use what the judges said to improve. Since, I’ve been singing any gig I can book! I’m also signed with a talent agency and I feel it has help my self confidence a lot. No matter how big your dream is, NEVER stop chasing it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to reach out, through music, to those who have struggled like I have. I grew up with zero self esteem. I never felt like I would amount to anything because that’s what I was told. I want to be a voice for people who don’t believe in themselves. I want people to know if they want something in life, they don’t need to listen to the naysayers, they need to work hard and keep their head high. I believe music is such a powerful tool, and spreading love and empowerment is so important. I believe I can do that.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @carieferrahale
• Facebook: @Carie Rochele Ferra
• Youtube: @carie ferra

Image Credits
John muse