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

Carmela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

I was busking outside of a shopping center I used to go to growing up with my guitar case open. I was playing a Smiths song, “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” and a man slipped me a $50 bill. He said, “I saw Morrissey last night. This was too weird a coincidence,” and walked away. It was one of those key moments in my life where I realized how much music can mean to everyone, and how attached we get to our favorite artists.

Carmela, 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?

I’m Carmela, an indie artist based in Los Angeles, CA. I write and release my own songs, perform live all over the world solo and with my band, and also livestream on Twitch three times a week. My original music is a unique blend of of rock, blues, soul, and folk. “New Stranger,” my first album, includes songs all about growth, healing, and self-reflection.

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

Connecting with my audience and other artists. Music lovers are a different breed, my favorite type of people. I love walking into a listening room and feeling the energy transfer from the stage to the crowd. It’s the closest thing to magic.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think what non-creatives may not understand about creatives is our blind drive. So many people who were in bands at the same time I was as a teenager have quit music and lived out completely different lives. For me, and so many of my hyper-creative friends, it’s just a part of who we are. Lots of people go to their job, come home, and are perfectly fine having that compartmentalization. I eat, sleep, breathe my art, and I love living like that. I don’t see myself ever changing, regardless of how it looks. 5 years ago, I didn’t know I’d be live-streaming music on Twitch for a living, but it’s just how things have panned out. And I feel so grateful to have found a non-traditional path that makes so much sense for me. I didn’t predict my life would look this way years ago, and I don’t pretend to know what’s coming. But that’s part of the excitement of my life, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://carmela.tv
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/carmela.tv
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/carmelatunes
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/carmelatube
• Other: http://twitch.tv/carmela http://tiktok.com/@carmela.tv

Image Credits
Steph Saias, arcDéco, Armen Keleshian, Rae Cassidy