We were lucky to catch up with Christina Horn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Christina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

My initial encounters with music immersed me in a predominantly male-dominated world. Beginning in fourth grade, I found myself as the sole girl in the entire brass section. Upon rising to first chair trumpet, the boys made mocking me their primary focus. Progressing to college, I pursued piano studies with a male teacher. While he was exceptional, his repertoire solely consisted of compositions by dead white European composers.

My first venture into the realm of rock was with a band named Umanos Umana, which translates to “guys (plural) plus one girl.” During our inaugural performance, the sound engineer’s condescending attitude towards my lack of experience was unmistakable. Have you ever encountered a female sound engineer?

One day, a producer contacted me via Facebook expressing interest in collaborating. Naively, I interpreted this as the gateway to the next phase of my career. However, upon sharing my aspiration of becoming a producer myself, he discouraged me, advising me to stick to songwriting and leave the rest to him. Ultimately, he revealed himself to be a fraud.

Taking a significant step towards my dream of becoming a producer, I accepted an invitation to join the faculty of an audio engineering program at a local college. While the faculty was entirely male, they proved to be incredibly supportive, imparting much of the knowledge I possess today.

Another pivotal moment was pursuing my Ableton certification. At the time, Laura Escude was the only other female trainer worldwide. Overwhelmed by nerves and grappling with imposter syndrome throughout, I persevered, leading to what I consider my most significant achievement to date.

The absence of role models didn’t deter me; instead, it fueled my determination. If someone tells me I can’t or shouldn’t pursue something, it instantly becomes a priority on my agenda. Simultaneously, I harbored a subconscious belief that I needed to surpass everyone else before revealing my work. Additionally, instances of sexual harassment left me feeling as though my efforts weren’t taken seriously.

Ultimately, the risk I took was believing in myself.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My background in music and a strong desire to learn music production have brought me to where I am today. Nothing can surpass a sense of curiosity. If you wait for someone to show you how to do something, it will never get done. I dove in headfirst, immersing myself in manuals, YouTube videos, online courses, and trial-and-error experiences on stage. My favorite term is “autodidactic.”

When people approach me, I believe they sense my honesty and approachability. I see potential in everyone. Most of the time, individuals reach out to me when they’ve encountered creative or technical obstacles. They may have begun a song but struggle to finish it, or they’ve completed a track but lack the skills to mix it. Some aspire to tour but are unsure how to book gigs. The range of challenges is vast. My favorite issues to address often revolve around mindset; we achieve exactly what we believe we can. I strive to unlock this aspect of the puzzle. Additionally, I offer practical support— if you have a dream, I can assist you in achieving it.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely! Allow me to paint a picture:

In 2023, the music industry witnessed significant growth for women:

– Participation surged to 35%, with a men-to-women ratio of 3:1.
– The percentage of female artists rose from 30.2% to 35%.
– Songwriters experienced an increase from 14.1% to 19.5%.
– Producers also saw growth, rising from 3.5% in 2022 to 6.5%.
– Grammy representation for women escalated from 15.5% to 24% in 2024.
– Solo female artists have been pivotal in driving this change; in 2020, they accounted for 22%, soaring to 41% in 2023.
– Additionally, artists of color witnessed remarkable growth.

Now, delving into the realm of songwriter and producer credits:

– Women achieved gains for the first time since 2012, reaching an all-time high of 19%.
– However, the disparity remains stark among producers, with women outnumbered 30 to 1, and the figure is even lower for women of color.
– Examining Grammy nominees from 2013 to 2023, only 14.7% were women, while 85.3% were men.

My goal is to increase the number of women in these roles!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My solo project Feral Kytty is my passion project. She is the moniker through which I have destroyed my own imposter syndrome. She seeks to inspire other women to do the same.

Feral Kytty released her first self-produced, self-mixed track into the cosmos on 2/24/24. It took me 2 full years of struggle to get to a point where I felt brave enough to release this track on my own.

The song is called Bury Me:

While on the outside the song seems to be about death, Bury Me is a song about the rebirth and reincarnation that happens within a lifetime. By looking in her own mirror, Feral Kytty deconstructs who and what she thinks she is. She rebuilds herself through sonic experimentation, finding her real voice. This is the voice that is not influenced by what she thinks anyone else wants to hear but only by what turns her on. Why would anyone want to listen to your music if you aren’t in love with it yourself?

Contact Info:

• Website: www.feralkytty.com
• Instagram: @abletonchristina @feralkytty
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christina.horn2/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinalynnhorn/
• Youtube: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinalynnhorn/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1BqbdlNnUNpGvevHT4diea https://www.tiktok.com/@abletonchristina?lang=en

Image Credits
Photos by Kyle Hislip