Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Kelly King.
Caitlin Kelly, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve always loved music since I was a little kid. My father runs a music studio, and I had the privilege of spending most of my childhood there. His name is Jim King. Back in the day, he was in a band called OHNO with Marley Whiesler from Burning Hotels, Vince Martin, and Steve Holt. When I was maybe 4 or so, I think I wrote and recorded my first song! It was something about, “cats on the rooftops, cats on the fence.” Probably that line over and over again. That was my first taste of studio life, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I was very fortunate to get to hang around bands like the House Harkonnen, Duell, Tutu Jones, the Orange, and Big Story. Now he’s recording people like Black Circus, Paco Estrada, The Cliff Hangers project with Jerry Don and Jimmie Wallace from the Straddleblasters, and soon Caitlin Kelly King.
I started taking classical piano when I was around 6. At 7 I thought I would try the violin instead, but after six months or so, my teacher told my parents, “we have to listen to everything Cait has learned on the piano before we can start our violin lesson.” She recommended that maybe I should stick to the piano… By the time I was 8, I was pretty involved in the SMU Piano Prep. Department. During middle school, I started doing more vocal things and joined the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, along with a season of the DSO Christmas Pops. Somewhere between all that I started taking lessons with Julie Bonk. This woman is the best piano teacher in DFW and will change your life, guaranteed. She got me here today. When I was 13 or so, I started my first band. We weren’t that great, but we could really play “the Bends” by Radiohead. Or so we thought. At 15 I started to really get serious about my music career. I performed solo mostly, Bars, Malls, BBQ Joints, crazy parties in the design district, and a few Christmas Pop-Ups and parties at the Mansion, just a wide range of places and people. But I was getting paid. That’s important when your parents are on you to get a J-O-B.
I’m now in my senior year at Booker T. Washington High School. Through that, I’ve gotten a lot of great opportunities, like working and singing with Mr. Kent Ellingson, my first Jazz teacher. I used to go see him and his wife, Kay, play Jazz at the Opening Bell. And the incredible David Yaffe, contributing writer for the Rolling Stone, during his book tour, “Reckless Daughter.” The book is about Joni Mitchel, one of my favorite songwriters. Last summer I traveled to Sweden with Scott Davison from the English department at Booker and the up and coming Parker Twomey for Ethno Sweden. Young adults from all over the world were there. We experienced each other’s music, culture, food, drinks, everything. It was just a great experience. Apparently, I got really good at Kulning, an ancient Swedish herding call. Mr. Fredrick Sanders, the music conservatory director here at Booker T., has taught me an immense amount about piano and how to be a truly authentic musician. Ms. Barnes has done her best to help me figure out how to use my voice efficiently and correctly. This is my Senior year, and I’m so fortunate to have such awesome Mentors.
I work at The Sound Foundation, teaching piano and voice. Norman Matthews and Gerald Iragorri have worked hard to help me grow as an artist and build my foundation. I owe a lot of thanks to these guys. The guys from Big Story really helped me out too. Dave Perez helped me figure out arranging techniques and how to structure a good song. They are signed and touring. Catch them sometime. They’re really all great musicians.
Life for me has been a lot of hard work, but it’s always been worth it. Piano can sometimes be a bit of a love-hate relationship due to carpal tunnel and a bit of an addiction to writing, so that’s always a battle. I’ve also struggled with depression since I was very young. I would say that my mental health has become a big part of my writing. I really want to bring awareness to the daily struggle of just getting out of bed that a lot of people fight every day. I think that if mental health was more acceptable to talk about and not something we should be ashamed of, a lot of people might be healthier and lead fuller lives.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I write music and my band, Caitlin Kelly King and play it. We started playing together last April and did our first gig in June. All of the songs are written by me, and the band helps develop it into something really cool. I’m so lucky to play with such awesome friends and musicians. Most of the songs I write take on mental health issues and societal issues. “Fed up”, which will be on our EP, is about my personal struggle with depression. I’ve fought from a very young age and sometimes the greatest pain is watching my family deal with it and often not understand it, and how it hurts them. “Problems” is about an issue we’ve got coming up in society. In my personal view, you have to fight to give life your own meaning. It seems like a lot of people are waiting for someone to walk up and hand it to them. I think life’s real payoff comes from experiences and people, not necessarily money and stuff.
My hope is that my songs, these songs, at the very least will start a conversation between people about mental illness, depression, anxiety, etc… even with those of opposing views, than maybe one day we can come together, take them on in a civil manner, and come out better as a community.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Get many different side hustles going, and never be without work. If you see a project timing out, start a new one. Always be working! And most of all, make work fun. If it’s not enjoyable, it’s not worth it.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You cant support us by following us on the usual sites, coming to our gigs, buying our awesome merch, and even requesting us to play your own personal and public events!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caitlinkellyking.wordpress.com
- Phone: (214) 794-3212
- Email: caitlinkellyking2001@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlin.kelly.king/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaitlinKellyKing/
Image Credit:
Photography credits to Jackie Marie Brown and Moses Olomos.
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