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

Alright, Chris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I always think about what I would be doing if I wasn’t creative. I’m definitely happy with the life and career that I’ve cultivated, but the amount of ideas I want to execute can be overwhelming. Sometimes I want to design something…sometimes I want to write a song…sometimes I want to stretch a canvas and let loose. It gets difficult to focus my energy, and I feel like the simplicity of having a dayjob might be psychologically more beneficial. But hey, it’s a trade off and I’m relatively satisfied and fulfilled with where I am, no matter how restless it can make me feel.

Chris, 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 grew up in Los Angeles into a very creative family. I’ve been drawing and painting ever since I was a kid until I found Graphic Design in high school. After obtaining a BFA from CalArts, I began working professionally for large corporations and smaller boutique agencies.

It wasn’t until I went freelance that I really found my stride. My clients include artists and companies in the music industry, news and media outlets, and more.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I’m currently undertaking a pivot moment right now. I’ve been a visual artist and designer for the majority of my life, and although it has been rewarding to an extent, there have been many challenges that have made me question if this career is the one I want to pursue forever.

What most people don’t know, is that for the past decade I have been writing and creating music on my own. Learning the guitar and training my singing voice, recording and producing songs. You name it. Both of my parents are musicians, but I only got into it myself at the end of my design education. I’m finally getting to a point where I am proud of the music I make, and am eager to share it with the world.

I’ve been working with my best friends in order to create a rollout strategy, including artwork, music videos, interviews, etc. The strange thing is, it doesn’t really feel like a pivot…because my success in the visual art and design world seems to translate really well to these new endeavours.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

There has to be a FAIR exchange of goods and services. For the longest time, creatives have gotten the shorter end of the stick when it comes to how their work is utilized and appropriated. Lots of companies are notorious for not wanting to pay what creatives are worth, and tend to undervalue our contributions.

I think this is such a hard thing to change, that it’s not going to happen overnight–and it’s going to take the energy and wallets of the people, to help support artists directly. When CDs were around, an artist could make 10 bucks a pop, for their album if they sold it themselves. Now, if someone streams an album, that artist receives less than a penny (and that’s before the record label splits). The greed is outrageous, and really just illuminates where we have to go. To move away from a system that is overly corporate and conglomerate, and figure out a hybrid way of exchange where the artists are supported by the people who want to engage with their art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chrisbur.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisburnettt