We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kellie Haddock. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kellie below.
Kellie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
My newly released album Orchids From Fire is hands down the most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on. I’ve created this project from a place of freedom. When we serve from freedom and contentment it enables us to take risks. And risks are essential to both creativity and success.
Orchids From Fire is inspired by the rare fire dependent orchid (which means it can’t bloom WITHOUT a fire – that alone is powerful!). When it does bloom it only blooms for a few weeks once every 3-5 years, delicate pops of purple color against the black ashes.
When we were scouting a location to film the music video for the title track, I was working with a conservationist who’s been studying this orchid for 30 years. He said he’s only seen the orchid a few times in his life.
Neither of us were expecting to find the orchid. We were just looking for a location to film/dance where there’d recently been a fire.
So as we hiked through the charred ground we were both so surprised and delighted to see several of these rare delicate blooms bursting through the ashes. It felt like a giant GREEN LIGHT to keep going!!! The footage of this rare orchid in the music video is no small miracle!!! It is a gift and I hope this story and the miraculous truth this powerful song embodies, encourages you!!!
“Fire doesn’t claim the end of the story.
It’s not the end, it’s only beginning.
Fire doesn’t claim the end of your story.
It’s not the end, it’s still being written.”
All twelve songs from Orchids From Fire are bursting with hope! This powerful collection of anthems will invigorate your soul with an honesty that sees the struggle and a perspective that points to growth and goodness.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
HI! I’M KELLIE, I’M HERE TO HELP POINT YOU TO HOPE! As a former widow I’ve lived through tragedy and found hope and joy on the other side. I write music to meet you through all life brings. My songs are pumping with hope to fuel your soul. I’m here to cheer you on every step of the way.
I believe none of us make it through life on our own and I want to be someone who comes alongside you that shouts, ‘YES YOU CAN’, celebrating you for who you are: LOVED in every way that makes you unique and beautiful!
I write songs that can be a soundtrack for your life – your triumphs and your trials. My songs are meant to be soaked in, listened to on repeat, anthems for you to sing along to and find strength!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Every no has lead me to a better yes.
And I’ve heard ‘NO’ a lot. But instead of being defeated and paralyzed by failure and disappointment I’ve learned to recognize these as opportunities to learn and grow. It’s propelled me forward in my work as an artist/musician/business woman.
We rarely learn from success, yet failure is always an excellent teacher if we’re willing to pay attention and learn what our mistakes are trying to teach us.
Our story went viral a few years back. We were on the Today Show and just about every major publication featured it – about 150 million views in total! So I released a record on the heels of this, expecting it to go viral as well.
It didn’t.
Not even close.
It flopped, failed, floundered.
It hurt. Deeply. I felt like the whole world rejected me.
But I learned from it all. I pressed in harder to write better songs, create better music.
It took courses on how to connect with my target audience.
And most importantly, I DIDN’T GIVE UP!!!
Through all of this, a freedom was born in my heart. I shifted from an attitude of striving to earn and prove my worth as a creative. To instead focusing on stewarding the gifts I’ve been given and dreams I’m so passionate about.
Stewardship and striving can look almost identical on the outside. But inside our hearts is where they diverge. One is motivated by security and contentment and the other motivated by insecurity and discontent. Stewardship moves in freedom toward excellence. Striving constrains us in bondage and fear – which also is the biggest hindrance to creativity!
So now, my focus is on stewarding the things I get to create, the work I’m passionate about as a musician and hope-giver. And the numbers matter much less to me. My heart is fulfilled and I know I’m helping others. This is (finally) enough.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Imposter syndrome and comparison rise high to the top of the list. But my most significant answer to this question is actually kind of embarrassing.
I used to look at people (particularly creatives) who succeed and think – well, they just got lucky. And thought it was all luck and raw talent. I thought successful people didn’t have to practice and work hard and learn!
But wow, was I ever wrong!
I LOVE watching documentaries of successful artists and paying attention to their work ethics. That is the common denominator – an excellent work ethic! They practice, they pour in the hours, they keep going until they get it right – and then go some more until they’ve improved it still.
I work hard like this too, but I always felt like that was a problem, a liability – that it made me somehow ‘less than’ as an artist because I had to work so hard. (While it seemed others didn’t.)
Comparison is a thief, it only robs the one comparing and it so often is using inaccurate metrics without the full story.
So, I’ve had to unlearn my insecurity about how much time I pour into practicing and perfecting my craft. Singing a song 100 times before I perform it on a stage or record it in the studio – only will make my offerings better.
Working hard never diminishes. Sure luck can help. But nothing…NOTHING replaces hard work, dedication and passion!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kelliehaddock.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelliehaddockmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelliehaddockofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDgSUVV_26gnubFCuTMVxmw
- Other: Spotify Artist Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZszMgt4IsKoJfzU1aultN?si=mBoEZu1IRGeA-cyjoQScRw
Image Credits
All photos by Ted Haddock