We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ciara Rae a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ciara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
The best investment I ever made was in myself. But not in the way that most people would expect.. And not in the way that most creatives are told to.
I’ve always been a songwriter, performer and creative. And over the years it was always kind of pushed on me to “pay your dues” and “experience the struggle” — of going job to job and barely making ends meet. I did that for a long time.. Looking back I wish I had thought outside the box sooner… Instead of just doing what I was “supposed to do” to be a real creative. The pandemic prompted that for me, as it did for many others.
During 2020 I was unemployed, in South Florida with my family, and stuck in the house. Trying to decide how I could make money remotely I started looking into things that played to my talents. I started off performing at private online concerts and teaching online music lessons and did pretty okay for myself! Good enough to survive.
During that time my mom also took on a new endeavor of going back into Real Estate with a new brokerage, and wanted some of my help with her social media. Being a creative in today’s world, that was something that came much easier to me than her. And after a little time passed, more and more people kept reaching out to her asking if she had someone working with her on her social media… And could she refer me to them.
That’s when I got the bright idea.. If I could develop a system that allowed me to generate content on my own schedule, that people agreed to, to get my expertise, then I could have a business that funded my survivial, and spend all my other time on creating.. Without the stress of shifts, bosses or industry execs hanging carrots over my head.
Through the development of this business, I recorded and released “Losers” my last album. As well as “Chill” a new single exploring the possiblities of new genres outside of Country/Pop.. Then I took the time to really organize the business to work like a well oil-machine. So that all efforts could be put into music. Which leads me to where I am now! Creating the next album. Without the stress of survival laying on my shoulders.
Ciara, 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 started off like a lot of vocalists start, in the school choir. Honestly, I knew I kind of had a voice, but really had the motivation to audition purely out of a desire to get somewhere else in the yearbook besides my grade photo. I came from 2 parents who were relatviely athletic, however I was passed down none of those genes.
It almost seemed to take off from there.. I had already been taking piano lessons since the age of 5, joined the choir when I was around 12 years old and throughout my high school career became apart of a number of different projects. Including being trained by and recording songs written by Betty Wright (vocal coach from MTV’s “Making The Band” and trainer for Beyonce, John Legend and many others), winning contests around South Florida and in and out of meetings for potential major label deals that in the end, never went my way.
When I turned 18 and had to decide where I wanted to go to college, at the time, most colleges’ music programs were classical programs… Something I studied but didn’t have much interest in. With a stroke of luck I discovered Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, after meeting the dean of the school at the time Shelly Burg. He’s who introduced me to the Jazz program so I trained for months in advance of my audition, was intitially rejected, then given a second opportunity to audition and was accepted. The initial issue they had with me was that I had a lot of the natural talent, but wasn’t nearly as versed in the genre as many other students who auditioned having come from magnet high schools fo rmusic.
It truly was a swift kick in the ass. I worked many many hours just to catch up with the 4 other people admitted to my major. I learned a lot, but at a price.
By the time I was 19 years old I was diagnosed with an eating disorder and my parents urged me to go to treatment. Reluctantly, I took a medical leave of absense, took classes at their part time program at a local college for the time being (where many traveling musicians from the program would take one off classes to stay enrolled), and lived at home. It was one of the hardest times of my life. I thought I had completely failed this opportunity while simultaneously living in denial of how bad my anorexia was.
But that led me to songwriting. The thing I had been searching for.
I started singing with a local band of older men that worked together as air traffic controllers and local cops. Just something to stay collaborative and creative at that time. Over time I took to the lead guitarist who really served as a father figure to me in ways. We really loved the process of writing and creating something together… That started my journey into songwriting and country music. A journey that would take me all the way to Nashville’s Belmont University. Bweing accepted to study Songwriting and Music Business. This fully emersed me into the city, alongside alumni and students that have gone on to do incredible things and become incredible friends.
Fast forward a bit to now.. After many many great experiences openeing for huge national acts, writing with some of the best in the business, being out of many investment and publishing deals. The pandemic hit.
This not only redirected my ability to make a much greater income instead of tons of part time jobs barely making ends meet.. That supported my lifestyle and goals even better (being completely remote and to my own discretion with my schedule).. But opened my mind up to the possbilities of exploring cross genres without the restrction of what I *should write* for radio. Creativity for the love of it.
This shift opened doors I never thought could be done as an indepent artist. Opportunities in radio, playlisting and fan base that though small, I’m so proud of. Because it’s real.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Not everyone has the money to buy all your creative friends merch.. All their tickets.. Or repeatedly support their Go Fund Me. But you can like, comment, send words of encouragement. Help them build their online audience their working so hard to create by being a fan that is consistent! That alone means the world.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
STOP COMPARING. START BEING INSPIRED. Take the things you love from other creatives an embrace them. Don’t compare the things that you don’t have.
For every corproate in the music industry I’ve heard say “that’s not what’s selling” — I’ve seen an artist who’s done it and had those some industry types knocking down their door.
Did you ever thing a beautiful girl could become a top selling artist in huge baggy clothes? Billie Eilish.
Or a gay black man could have one of the biggest international songs in country music? Lil Nas X.
Be the best at what makes you unique.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ciararae.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ciararaemusic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ciararae/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@CiaraRaeMusic
Image Credits
1366 is by Skylar Duval 1367, 1370 is by Kirt Barnett 1368 is by Lauren Barocas 1369 is by Devin Groody