We were lucky to catch up with Maria Coyne recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Maria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Something I have struggled with in my creative journey is finding balance between work and rest. When you are in a creative field, there is always something you *could* be doing: taking a class, doing research, practicing your craft, making new connections, etc.. The to-do list is never complete and when there’s a lot going on, I find it hard not to feel guilty for taking time to rest. At times, it’s difficult not to attach my productivity to my self-worth. I do my best to remind myself that rest is equally as important as doing the work and that time to recover is what allows us to show up with our best self when it is time to work. Creative and entrepreneurial fields require a ton of self-discipline. What I came to realize when I first became a full-time musician and voice teacher was that having a lot of self-discipline did not only mean having a strong work ethic and getting things done. It meant knowing yourself well-enough to know when you need to rest. For me, this meant the end of multi-tasking. I would often try and combine a restful activity with a productive one, like working on a poster design for a gig while watching my favorite tv show, or checking emails while walking on the treadmill. Not only did the “productive task” take longer, but I also didn’t get any of the benefit of doing something that was meant to be relaxing. Setting clear boundaries between work and rest has allowed me to enjoy the creative journey so much more.

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

My primary focus in my creative work is as the lead singer and songwriter for the band Maria and the Coins, an indie pop band based in Minneapolis, MN. I have included the band’s bio below for more on our story and our sound.

“Maria and the Coins bundle big-picture pop ambition into earnest, indie sensibility. The five-some fuses singer-songwriter driven pop hooks with the vulnerability and honesty of an indie band.

Frontwoman Maria Coyne’s powerhouse vocals are matched with emotive storytelling often focused on finding the light amidst a chaotic world. While the writing features nods to Coyne’s pop, country and theatre roots, the music finds its sweet spot behind alternative rock-influenced arrangements resulting in a sound often likened to Sara Bareilles, Michelle Branch, and James Bay. The band has opened for touring artists such as Christina Perri, Haley Reinhart, Betty Who, and Forest Blakk.

With the release of their latest album ‘Forward’, the band gained traction with local and national outlets like American Songwriter, Indie Spoonful, and Please Pass the Indie with “Movin’ On,” the first single from the album receiving local and international radio play. The band is currently based in Minneapolis, MN and working on their next release of original music.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the human connection that happens when your art reaches someone new. When someone comes up to talk to me after a performance or messages our band online to say how much our music means to them, it makes all the ups and downs of the creative journey worthwhile. One of the goals of our music is to remind people that they are never alone, and when someone reaches out to say that our song helped them through a rough time or gave them hope, it is the most incredible feeling.

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

Show up: go to the local artist market, buy a ticket to see a local band play, share an artist’s work on your social media. There are so many ways to help the artistic community thrive and a lot of those ways are simply by participating in your community at a local level. All artists are small businesses and they need your help reaching new audiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mariaandthecoins.com
• Instagram: @mariaandthecoins
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariaandthecoins
• Twitter: @MandtheCoins
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/mariaandthecoins
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2W0nmsVAw83oDzN3PpAzKi?si=QTfGjKK4RSiSYpXMbK6LKg

Image Credits
Adam Nantz, Lurn Hernandez, Nicole Castonguay