We recently connected with Star Swain and have shared our conversation below.

Star, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

If I could go back in time and have started my creative career sooner, I absolutely would!

I have been singing my whole life, and there have been countless attempts throughout my life to “make it big”. As a young girl, a teenager, and a young adult, my parents tried different avenues to catapult my gift into the spotlight. I have also always sung in church and at major local events in the community as a kid and as an adult. However, I did not truly commit myself completely to the pursuit of a creative career until 2016 when a video of me singing the national anthem went viral. That unexpected moment completely changed my trajectory, my perspective, my drive, and my belief in my own gift. I finally understood the assignment – my gift was truly meant to be used to have an impact on the world, not just remain at a local level.

When that shift of understanding my destiny and what I was meant to do happened, I was an assistant principal at a 6-12 school in a rural area. I have to admit that I was totally unprepared for the viral moment and all of the opportunities it brought and doors that it opened. Because I had let go of the dream of being world-renowned and doing music and arts full time, I had not worked on creating music, or booking events. So, the moment of a lifetime came, and I was not ready. And this is where the monumental life lesson was revealed: Do not wait for something big to happen before you begin working for the dream or the goal.

Starting my creative journey in music and acting earlier would mean that when the moment of a lifetime came, I would have already had music. I would have built up an acting resume, so when opportunities for signing with talent agencies came, they would be able to see the work I have done.

I must also say that starting earlier would have been more beneficial because I did not have children, or a husband, or a family that need time, energy, and attention as well. As a single creative with no children, it would have been easier to take risks and relocate to take advantage of various opportunities and resourceful areas. It would be easier to live off of beans and rice and tough it out to get to the top. But, priorities change when you have a family. It is not as easy to just pick up and go to New York or California and audition 24-7. Plus, the age bracket that the industry is looking for typically falls in the 18-30 range.

It is not impossible to still be successful and make it to your destiny, regardless of where or when you start. But, you are certainly better positioned to take the crazy steps that are sometimes necessary to get to the height of a successful career as a creative.

Star, 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 Star Swain, an entrepreneur, gospel artist, actress, and creative. I moved into the gospel industry around 2017 as a gospel singer, but have been heavily involved in music, singing, and the performing arts since about the age of 9. I have recorded 2 albums in the last 7 years, and am currently working on new material for a new project that will hopefully be released some time in 2023. My most recent album, Pain & Glory, won the Special Event Project of the Year award at the 2022 Tampa Bay Gospel Awards. Earlier this year, my hit single, A Billion People, also debuted nationally on the nationally syndicated radio show “Get Up Mornings” hosted by Grammy award-winning artist, Erica Campbell.

As I have been continuing my work in my music career, I have also increased my experience in leadership in various capacities. I have been a school leader for 7 years and a performing arts department director for over 15 years. Through these experiences, I have had the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge and training in leadership development and coaching. I have grown a deep passion for teaching and coaching people to be leaders. Through my leadership coaching/consulting business, Swain MAED, I have worked with school leaders, business leaders, and organizations to help improve leadership skills and grow employees and other personnel into leaders within an organization.

What sets me a part in my music, my business, and everything I do is three things: integrity, work ethic, and transparency. Those three words sum up the nature of who I am as a person, but also how I work with other people and organizations and how I run my businesses.

I am looking to reach people where they are and provide a level of encouragement and realness that may not be found in other music or in other leadership development programs.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the opportunity to have a positive impact on those that you reach. Seeing comments from followers or fans that communicate how my music or my voice has encouraged them or lifted their spirits in some way, lets me know that my voice, my music, and my content has been purposeful. Someone’s life has been made better because of it.

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

I think society can best support its artists and creatives by just being open to new artists and creatives and telling others about them. A lot of times society tends to only flock to what is trending, so it becomes a huge challenge for something different to penetrate the social landscape. Also, don’t forget to stream and add new music to your playlists!

Contact Info:

• Website: starswain.com
• Instagram: @iamstarswain
• Facebook: @starswainofficial
• Youtube: @starswain

Image Credits
Don Hayes