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

Katlyn, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I always grew up performing and with a dream that I’d be able to create my own music one day to share with the world. My dad supported me in everything I did, and I think that’s the most important part of why I ended up continuing with music in the first place. Of course, I always thought I needed to put school first and the focus on the straight and narrow when I was in high school, while still making time for music. By the time I got to college my musical skills had grown and I truly became passionate about writing original songs. It started with my first song that I felt comfortable performing in front of other people. The affirming words from friends and people that I had just met, gave me a push to start taking my passions more seriously. I found and connected with the right people to make a record, one of those people is now my husband. When I figured out that it was even possible for me to actually make my own records, I was all in. The fact that talented musicians that I admired were interested in playing my music gave me the confidence in everything I had been doing. I had always built up a fear in my head that doing music professionally was something that would take magic, or the luck of a lottery win, but it wasn’t that at all. It’s about finding the people that believe in you, but most importantly believing in myself and not being afraid to express my creativity or explore my talents.

Katlyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My background is a whirlwind, full of a lot of trauma and complicated family. I always knew I had to be something different. My one saving grace was my dad. He put my hands on a piano and a microphone in my hand by the time I was walking and talking. My love for singing was my muse, my one thing I could rely on, it became my identity. Through childhood I was involved in the church choir, community theater, and taking music lessons.

When I got to college, I was encouraged to join the UNA Entertainment Industry department. I ended up with a double major in music business and music technology. I met a lot of great people around that time, formed my own band, and found my sound by the time I was getting ready to graduate.

I’ve always been inspired by great powerhouse vocalists like Amy Winehouse, Etta James, and Brittany Howard. Not only do those women have incredible voices, they each have a story which you can feel in their performance. My writing is inspired by things I know, whether that’s the ups and downs of life or the in between.

I released my debut album on November 10th of 2023, and it such an honor and privilege to have the chance to share a piece of myself with whoever listens.

Life has given me plenty of reasons not to stay optimistic, but we are in charge of creating our destiny. More than anything, I want to relate to people in the challenges of life, and give people hope and have them leave our shows feeling uplifted, energized, and encouraged. At the end of the day, we are all humans on the same mission- to live life to the fullest.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think that there is a place in the world for every creative endeavor, whether it’s a small or large scale. It’s important to value artists on all those scales as well. There’s sometimes a disconnect between how people value receiving creative services and other services. We live in a society that craves instant gratification, which means creatives can fall in the cracks against big machines. Creating awareness on how much time goes into any craft is a perspective our world needs to fully appreciate and understand creative work. As a musical artist, I always appreciate the fans that come to live shows, buy and wear merch, and playlist our music. It’s those extra steps that make a huge difference to continue to put out songs that can be streamed for easy access.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think sometimes non-creatives don’t realize how much effort goes into creating. Yes, talent is a huge part but it doesn’t make us magicians. We still have to put time into the details, figure out the big picture, and strategically market ourselves like any other business would.

Writing a song, or learning a new song is like homework sometimes, not because it’s dreadful to do, but because it’s a challenge! I also tend to be pretty critical of myself and my work (which can be useful and also overbearing), but it’s a part of being proud of what I put out.

There are also some days, where my creativity isn’t blasting out the windows, and that’s okay too. Sometimes, things are as simple or easy for me as they may appear to be to a non-creative. For instance, my album takes 37 minutes to listen to, but it took 3 years to make.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.katlynbarnesmusic.com
• Instagram: katlynbarneslott
• Facebook: Katlyn Barnes Music

Image Credits
Robert Rausch Mae Beth Allison Tyler Wix MaKayla Lindsey Jenae Willet Madeline Isbell