We were lucky to catch up with Halem Albright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Halem thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Yes, all the time. Occasionally, somebody will tell me the meaning of one of the songs I’ve written/when I might feel completely different about it. For instance, I don’t see too many of my songs as hopeful or sweet(lyrically, at least)…yet some see that in a few of them. Of course I don’t see it as wrong or anything/to view it differently from the person that wrote it, as there shouldn’t only be one interpretation…the meaning of a work is going to vary/depending on who you ask. But it’s a funny thing to hear if told confidently, as opposed to being discussed or asked about. Another example is when someone tells me that I have an evident influence from a certain artist, but it’s an artist I’ve never heard before(or that I might not be a particular fan of). Once again…all you can do is laugh about it, because even artists you don’t love can influence you.

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.

Having always loved all styles of music, I knew by the time I was a teenager that I wanted to work in music at some consistent capacity. I spent a whole lot of time learning the guitar, and was able to start playing in bands & writing songs in high school. After playing in a few groups, I decided to start my own….The Halem Albright Band has just released our 4th record, “Blue Moon Confessions”. It’s our best to date, and we’re looking forward now to playing a lot of great live shows/which is what we love the most. Our originality lies in the one of a kind improvisation & energy we bring to a live show, with the strength of good songs. When you come to a show, you can be sure that it’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, it’s bringing ideas to life(during live improvisation), in a way that couldn’t exist without those very musicians sharing in it with the right intent/in that very setting. Everything that happens around a show is affecting the music, and we work to bring both the deepest & the most fun ideas to each unique experience. It feels completely pure for all involved, & there’s nothing else like it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Going back to the “getting funny comments/questions” discussion, the classic example of something artists might hear is the “making it” topic: “Keep working at it, so you might ‘make it’ one day!”. Every artist wants to do well, and if you’re making a living at music/you should be incredibly grateful. There are plenty of ways to get by as an artist if you’re willing to be open to the many aspects of performing/recording/teaching/etc., and you can still have the freedom to set boundaries from those things in the field that you don’t want to do as well. For everyone else, consider that plenty of artists aren’t thinking about “making it”(generally meaning getting on mainstream radio/tv/becoming famous), as the sole motivation to their drive. Often times people base the way they perceive certain artists not on the work itself, but on the way others have collectively reacted to it…and that shows me that that concept only has so much validity. Whereas making music, for instance, is right at the core of who I am…it’ll be getting done to some capacity/no matter what else is going on around me. Getting those creative ideas out & seeing them come to life as you envisioned(or better) is itself the greatest reward, and I personally believe it’s one of the reasons why we’re here at all. And I’ll leave it at that, before I get too deep on the topic!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://halemalbright.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/halemalbright
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halemalbright
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/halemalbright
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/halemalbright
• Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/halemalbright

Image Credits

Stephanie Heath, Smiling Eyes Media
Matt Daniels