Life & Work with Kayley Bishop

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayley Bishop.

Hi Kayley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been singing my whole life, but my parents aren’t musical so there was a lot of me figuring it out on my own, forging my own path. I got started in musical theater because in high school it was a way for me to get on stage and share my gifts, which then led me to The Boston Conservatory where I got a degree in musical theater. In my senior year, I began writing songs and learned pretty quickly that I wanted to be myself on stage versus a character, so it became clear that Nashville was the destination I needed. What I didn’t realize was how impactful my musical theater background would be on my songwriting… everything begins with a story and BoCo taught me how to tell a good one through the performance of a song.

Upon graduating, I started building my chops with commercial music. I got a gig on a cruise ship fronting the band and eventually made my way to Nashville to begin the ascent up the mountain that is the music industry. I’ve now been in Nashville for over 8 years, with the last 4-5 years really working on my craft. Nothing is overnight and I’m quick to remind people of that. Life also happens and causes delays and obstacles, but for me, the call of music in my life has always been too loud to ignore. Today, I’m in a great place within the industry. I’m still on the ascent up the mountain, but I’ve got a great team of friends and collaborators that believe in me and I’ve sharpened my skill set both in writing and performance to the point that great opportunities are regularly coming my way. I’ve always said good work begets more work. I’ve had a lot of struggles up the mountain but if you’ve got the right attitude and you’re willing to grow, that struggle can have such a reward in the end. That’s really been the heartbeat behind my journey.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I went through a big life change and divorced after seven years of marriage in 2020. Following that, I had another heartbreak and I saw some pretty dark days as a result, not to mention the pressure of the industry, the confusion of where to go or what to do next, just perpetual “feeling around in the dark” circumstances. But I’m a songwriter, and that struggle is prime-time song material, so I’ve turned a lot of it into the material I play out today.

The trick is medicating the right way. My faith has always been the most important part of who I am and in the midst of my valley, going to God brought me answers, comfort, and healing I couldn’t have found elsewhere.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a musician, songwriter, vocalist, guitar player, author, and speaker. I’d say I’m mostly known for my vocals. I was on season 15 of The Voice and people tend to highlight that part of my story when introducing me to others.

I’m most proud of how I’ve handled my hard times. I definitely think my faith is what sets me apart. I seek the Lord in everything I do and it is transformative.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s very difficult for me to forecast where the music industry is going because the industry is rapidly changing.

TikTok has become the premier source of free marketing available to us musicians, so I would anticipate a shift in the industry being into another super digital platform. I also have friends operating in the NFT platform, which is a digital way of investing in the growth of a musician. I can say the industry used to not cater to independent artists, making it difficult for those artists to break through ceilings, but those days are over.

Any independent artist can have worldwide success if they make the right moves and work the right way. Mostly, it all goes back to luck. I learned a long time ago that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. You could also call it God’s providence. I’m able to grab hold of and succeed with opportunities more so now than ever, and that’s all because of my time in the fire getting shaped and sharpened.

Pricing:

• Getting your song produced by a reputable producer can cost anywhere from $1500-$2500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kayleybishop.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kayleybish
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/kayleybish
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/KayleyBishop