We were lucky to catch up with Willa Kaplan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Willa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I always knew I wanted to pursue music professionally because I’ve been singing and songwriting since I was a little kid. It was never really a question for me of what to do but more when and how to do it. When I was graduating middle school and starting high school I started really knowing in myself that I didn’t want to go to college and that I wanted to pursue music right away. When the pandemic hit and all of a sudden there were more ways to do things virtually, I decided to leave high school and finish early online so I could join a nine month music program. It was always in my head that I would dedicate all my time to music, I just never expected it would happen as early as it did and I loved it.
Willa, 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 started writing songs when I was probably five years old and it kind of just poured out of me. It was something that moored me in difficult times and it would always bring me back to myself. My writing is very honest and my favorite artists tend to write about the hard shit that’s not always easy to talk about, let alone sing to thousands of people. I really admire when artists go there. It’s not easy for me to acknowledge my skillset (I could probably be better at that) but I do know about myself that I’ll always take the challenge, whatever it may be, and I think that drive has gotten me to where I am and pushes me to be better.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The thing I love most about music, specifically writing, is the sense of self it provides me. Taking the time to go inwards and evaluate and reflect on who you are as a person, or how a situation or person affects you, I think can really offer you some peace and solace. I make music for myself because I love it, and if a song of mine were to offer someone else some solace, that’s a gift that I feel fortunate to experience through music.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I watch countless videos of my favorite artists, usually performing on tour or something, that inspire me all the time. I’ll see artists like Hozier or Florence Welch or Stevie Nicks and feel moved by the emotion and commitment they bring to a performance. Being inspired by other artists has continued to spark something in me that not only renews my love for music but also encourages me to tap into parts of myself that I might not have before, had I not recognized it in them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willasongwriting/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5eeyrCwOtvytQOQdas29UI?si=IX_ObMr9S02X-hg4e3fC4g
Image Credits
Dean Binfet