We recently connected with Kyla Simone Hayden and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kyla Simone, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I have always been a person who takes risks when it comes to my creative passions. In 2016 we launched our first Girls and Guitars showcase at a cozy venue called Busboys and Poets in Tacoma Park, MD. The vision was to create a live music platform for fellow women singer-songwriter/guitarists. Because it’s a very niche audience, I had no idea if it would be successful but I soon learned there were way more artists out there than I anticipated.
On that very first event we featured 6 dynamic artists and did a collaborative performance to close out the show. It was a packed sold out house and I had an amazing team of friends who came onboard to ensure the vision came alive and the day ran smooth. The energy in the room was like none other. This was definitely a whole vibe!
From that point we hosted a few Showcases per year and eventually traveled outside the state to Atlanta, Nashville, and Virginia Beach. We provided a platform for over 60 artists both on our live venue shows and our virtual ones. We also hosted several guitar clinics and began a monthly support group online for fellow musicians.
In 2021 I took another huge risk and relocated to Atlanta to be in proximity to more creative and music opportunities. It was extremely scary moving away from the comfort of my hometown and my family and friends but the best decision for me and my future endeavors. Bought my first investment property and now have a private space dedicated to continuing to build and develop the Girls and Guitars initiative.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
This vision came to life from a desire to connect with other lady artists within a similar lane. I took to social media to search for artists and was amazed at how many kindred spirits were out there, and girls started tagging me to their friends and fellow artists. It was so organic. This then blossomed into producing in-person and virtual showcases, hosting guitar clinics, and facilitating monthly virtual meetups during the pandemic.
What I’ve discovered is that a lot of artists share a desire to pursue their music careers and become better musicians but at times life gets in the way. Thus, Girls and Guitars is creating a space that keeps our community empowered, accountable, and motivated to grow, with opportunities to develop at a pace that also prioritizes our mental health. Our core values are balance, discipline and authenticity. We are looking forward to kicking our showcases back into high gear in 2023.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned and am still in a sense learning is the art of saying no when necessary. Stretching yourself too thin does a disservice to you from a mental health perspective, but also can place you in a position to let others down by not having the bandwidth to fully meet all of your obligations and in a timely manner.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
It’s my love for people and a desire to see us all reach our fullest potential that drives me forward. I grew up not feeling worthy. I put too much weight in what others thought about me but the older I’ve gotten I have grown to understand that my value is not determined by what anyone thinks of me (outside of God).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kylasimone.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsandguitarsofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlsandguitarsofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylasimonedesigner
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kylasimone
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/KylaSimonemusic