We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelcy Wilburn of Ever More Nest a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelcy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am certainly happy to be the person I am and have the opportunity to share my talents in a way that offers something meaningful to the world. I think that’s what all creatives hope to do—contribute in some way to something bigger than themselves.

For a long time, I thought of making music as just part of my nature, something I have to do because it’s something I can’t NOT do. Because so little monetary value is given to original music in our society, I long struggled to value my music myself. But I’ve learned over time that music is a healing modality. Music helps us process our feelings, helps us cope with challenging times, helps us bond with others, and helps us celebrate our wins. Now that I value what my creativity can do for others, I feel much more self assured in my role as an artist/creative.

I do wonder about what it would be like to NOT be a working artist, to be someone content with working 8 hours a day in another field. But I don’t envy it—I only sometimes envy the stability a “regular job” implies. While I do wish that the music industry was more equitable and fair (and while I continue to work towards a brighter future for musicians/creatives) I still know that I am following the path that is right for me and that my vocation has more impact than I realize.

Kelcy, 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?

I am an Americana and Alt-Country songwriter performing under the name Ever More Nest. I started out in the music industry playing open mics in college and working as an intern at a local New Orleans record label and at a local music magazine. One thing led to another, and I realized that music and creative work is my gift and my passion. Since those early days of first dipping my toes into the music industry, I’ve released five full albums, two as Ever More Nest, and toured across the United States playing a variety of venues—bars, listening rooms, and performing arts centers—and festivals such as Americanafest, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Summerfest, and others.

I live for the moments when people tell me what my songs mean to them or when I see a listener with a genuine smile or tear in their eye at a show. Music connects us, and it’s the best feeling when you know that connection has resulted in a powerful moment for someone.

Ever More Nest currently tours in various configurations across the US, and you can learn more at EverMoreNest.com or by following me on social media (Ever More Nest, @evermorenest).

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was in college as a very young adult, I took classes in Music Industry & Entertainment Studies that shaped how I looked at a career in music. When I first began performing as a budding songwriter, I took those marketing strategies, industry stories, and data points to heart. This proved to be an enormous mistake for me at that time.

During my early years of creating music, I needed to be thinking about my craft beyond all else. I needed to be focused more on why I was writing the songs I was writing, how I was writing those songs, and, most importantly, I needed to be focused on what made me the person I was. I needed to figure out who I was and what I was trying to say, and then I needed to focus on the best ways to say it.

Promoting your art is secondary to creating your art. Focus on yourself and your work before allowing yourself to be distracted by promotion strategies, social media, and what everyone else is telling you you should do. There’s no one way to do things in creative industries—no one path. Take the path that serves you and your art above all else.

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

Society can support artists by inserting/sharing art wherever they can and advocating for artists whenever they can. Access to art and music makes us healthier, happier people, so fund art programs, buy tickets to events, buy art and artists’ merchandise (paintings, records, band shirts, etc.), share the art/music you love with your friends and family, and here’s a big one…advocate for artists to your elected officials and the corporations that don’t pay artists fairly.

Send your legislator a quick message saying you’d like to see more programs and opportunities for artists and musicians. Tag the streaming company you subscribe to on social media and tell them you’d be a happier customer if they paid artists fairly for their work. These are just a few meaningful ways to support artists that don’t take much time or money at all.

Contact Info:

• Website: evermorenest.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/evermorenest
• Facebook: facebook.com/evermorenest
• Twitter: twitter.com/evermorenest
• Youtube: youtube.com/@evermorenest
• Other: Need professional writing services or a website? Visit me at kelcymae.com.

Image Credits
Greg Miles, Michael Alford (respectively)