We recently connected with Sara Jean Kelley and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara Jean, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Both, and! When I’m working on something I’m excited about, or writing a song I love/feels cathartic, or playing a show to people who are really listening and enjoying then there’s nothing in the world that’s better than that. My favorite thing is when people come up to me after a show and quote my song back to me, or tell me a story about their life that relates to one of my songs. But yes, I fantasize about doing something else all the time! I’ve never been interested in having a regular job, but I’ve always wanted to be a park ranger or field biologist. Anything where I could be out in nature for most of my days. Once every 6 months I go online and research masters programs and schools in towns I’d like to live. Those are typically the days when I’ve just received my 3 rejection letter, or have been still at my computer for hours sending booking emails. Those are the days that can really get to me. Being an independent artist can be really exhausting when you’re your own booking agent, manager, tour manager, social media manager, publistist, the list goes on. But ultimately, I usually end up forgetting all that when I’m at my guitar making something I love.

Sara Jean, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an independent americana singer-songwriter from Nashville, TN. I am from Nashville because my mom, Irene Kelley, moved here in the 80s to be a country music artist. She had multiple publishing deals on music row and a handful of major cuts by Alan Jackson and Trisha Yearwood among others. So I grew up in the industry. I’ve been playing and writing music since I can remember and have been touring on the road pretty heavily the last couple years (the pandemic, of course, kept me home for a while). I have released 3 eps and several singles over the past decade that I’m incredible proud of, and am currently working on an ‘at home album’. I’ve never recorded by myself before, so I’m really excited to get into it and do something a little more stripped down and intimate. In the meantime, however, I have a full Christmas record called “KELLEY FAMILY CHRISTMAS” that I recorded with my mom and sister. We did a collection of our favorite holiday classics with loads of family harmonies!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

First and foremost, there has to be funding for the arts in our public schools. Or just funding in general. Funding for good healthy meals, for art classes, for after-school programs, for teachers salaries. I am so lucky and privileged that I was raised in an artistic family that gave me the confidence to pursue a creative life. Secondly, PAY ARTISTS. Since the rise of streaming services and the like, artists ability to make a living on creating music has become more difficult. I’m curious to see if the WGA SAG/AFTRA strikes will inspire a change with the way the music side of things works.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When someone comes up to me after a show and quotes one of my lyrics back to me. Or shares a story about their life that relates to one of my songs.

Contact Info:

• Website: sarajeankelley.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sarajeankelley
• Facebook: facebook.com/sarajeankelley
• Twitter: twitter.com/sarajeankelley
• Youtube: youtube.com/sarajeankelley

Image Credits
1-2 Aliegh Shields, 3-4 Aaron Miller, 5-original photo Lindsey Patkos