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

Cay, appreciate you joining us today. Are you 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?

I moved to Nashville almost a year ago with the goal to start pursuing music full time. I wasn’t sure what all that entailed, but I knew I wanted to start playing live and writing more songs. I told myself I had a year to start making money with music because I didn’t want to have any unrealistic expectations. So, we moved and started unpacking. My second day there, my friend Rebecca Brunner asked me to cover a gig for her, and at the time, I only had 3 songs on my setlist. I had planned to start curating a 60 song setlist while I was trying to book myself some gigs, but I hadn’t gotten there yet. I decided I was going to say yes and wing it because I believed in myself and I knew I could learn songs on the spot even if it was scary. So, I said yes, and ended up playing to a crowd for 3 hours. I just took requests the whole time and had an absolute blast. It was the start of me saying yes to a lot of things I wasn’t prepared for, but I believed it was gonna open push me and open some doors while I learned along the way. And that’s exactly what it did for me! I went from moving to Nashville to being a full time musician within a few days.

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?

I moved to Nashville almost a year ago with the goal to start pursuing music full time. I wasn’t sure what all that entailed, but I knew I wanted to start playing live and writing more songs. I told myself I had a year to start making money with music because I didn’t want to have any unrealistic expectations. So, we moved and started unpacking. My second day there, my friend Rebecca Brunner asked me to cover a gig for her, and at the time, I only had 3 songs on my setlist. I had planned to start curating a 60 song setlist while I was trying to book myself some gigs, but I hadn’t gotten there yet. I decided I was going to say yes and wing it because I believed in myself and I knew I could learn songs on the spot even if it was scary. So, I said yes, and ended up playing to a crowd for 3 hours. I just took requests the whole time and had an absolute blast. It was the start of me saying yes to a lot of things I wasn’t prepared for, but I believed it was gonna open push me and open some doors while I learned along the way. And that’s exactly what it did for me! I went from moving to Nashville to being a full time musician within a few days.

How I Got Into My Industry

From birth, music has been ingrained in me. My father was an Artist and Song Writer so I just kind of always was attached to music. When I was 7 I recorded my first song called “Best Friends.” It’s comical looking back on it, but it’s also special that it foreshadowed what my life looks like now.

My dad was in and out of my life, but being introduced to it started my passion for it, and I began to lead worship in church when he wasn’t around. I felt so connected to music, but being able to connect with God through music was unlike anything else I’d ever experienced. It was my favorite thing to do, and still is. Instead of spending my time watching tv or doing anything else, I spent it writing, singing, and playing piano.

All throughout my life I was at war with music although I lived and breathed it. Because of my dad’s addiction and his presence in the industry and in my life, I stayed away from the industry. One of the main things I was hellbent on was not becoming like my dad. He would push me to come to Nashville and to record songs, and I would always resist. I remember thinking “this is what I really want to do, but it’s dangerous.” So I stayed close enough to get my fix, but far enough away so I didn’t get burnt.

After my dad passed in July of 2022, I went through a stage of grief that was confusing for me, brought me to my senses. I was sad and broken, but mainly angry. I felt so much shame for being angry because I loved my dad so much, but I realized that was why I was angry. He had so much talent. He was incredibly gifted in every way and he threw it away because of drugs.

This anger I had because I believed in him but didn’t get to see him do what we all hoped he would is what brought me to the conclusion that I just had to do music.

I didn’t want to regret anything. I didn’t want my fear of being like him, make me just like him. As much as I love my dad, I knew I wanted to be the best of him and leave behind the worst of him.

So, I decided to pursue music even if it meant I could fail. But I was determined to succeed and not repeat history. That’s what I’m working my way towards.

What Sets Me Apart From Others

I think everyone is unique in their own way, and I think it’s always so special getting to see how everyone handles everything. But I think in my case, I’ve been forced to push through failure and pain where maybe others would let it stop them in their tracks. I don’t have a choice but to make sure I succeed because I have babies who are depending on me. I can’t end up like my dad, or like my mother. I have to do better for not only my children, but for myself. I have this drive and fire in my soul because of all that I’ve been through and all I hope to become. I think paired with my passion and vulnerability, I have a story that’s healing for me to walk in but also healing for others to witness, and that sets me apart.

What Am I Most Proud Of

Hmmm. That is a hard question.
There are many things I’m proud of but I would say I’m most proud of my commitment to handle things that are thrown my way with authenticity and vulnerability. I grew up watching my dad struggle with addiction behind closed doors and watching my mother hide things just to look put together. I was always very open and felt things so deeply that it never sat right with me how many things I had to keep secret or not talk about because I was “dramatic” or “too loud” if I did. I spent a lot of my life dimming myself down and silencing my voice, but at some point I decided, even if I couldn’t speak it, I was going to write it. I believe having the courage to do what people told me not to gave me the strength to stay true to how God designed me. I was never meant to stay quiet, and I’ve learned now that there is healing in shining the light where there has been darkness.

What Is The Main Thing I Want People To Know About Me/My Brand

I think the main thing I want people to know about me is that I am just a human committed to healing in the light and creating a space where others can do the same. We see enough of everyone’s highlight reels while people are suffering in the dark thinking they’re all alone. What if we had the freedom to come to the table as we are without any pressure to be put together? What if we could talk about things that were uncomfortable and people didn’t run away thinking we’re crazy? I believe a space like that can exist. It’s my goal to use my platform to share the good, bad, and the ugly. If I can be the kind of artist that helps people feel less broken and helps them heal instead of people idolizing me and wishing they were anyone but themselves, that would make me feel on top of the world.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

There are a lot of things I could say drive my creative journey, but one of the main things would be that I have witnessed and experienced so much pain and because of that, I have this passion to see others healed.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is that I’m supposed to have a niche. I have always felt like I don’t fit in the box… I don’t even know where the box is. And for a long time I tried to give myself labels because I thought I needed them. But I’ve unlearned that and learned that if I’m just doing what feels right to me as an artist, that’s the best thing I can do. I think there are so many ways you can brand yourself and have a following that is genuine, but we are not products and I don’t ever want to feel like I’m a product being offered to people.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cayaliesemusic?igsh=M3VhbWVwOWxmNGhk&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cayalieseofficial?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cayaliesemusic?si=23-Me-g48JWN8Sx0

Image Credits
Maleah Chapman Photography, Lillie Hollabaugh Photography, Justin Frech Photography, Barbie Cody