I love the "Building The Community" Series and having the opportunity to highlight the amazing people that work in Nashville and beyond, who are truly passionate about the genre and the people that make Country Music such an amazing and innovative industry. From publicists, podcasters, hosts of writers rounds to owners of lifestyle brands, DJs and personalities in the space, we sit down and talk to the individuals who have created an identity in Country Music.
Kyla Pearson does it all... with expertise in country music, Film & TV, she is well versed and has the experience to back it up. As stated on her website, "Kyla is an Italian-Canadian Creative Entrepreneur who offers graphic design & digital marketing services tailored to the country music, film & TV industries". Named one of the “Top Canadian Music Blogs on the Web” by Feedspot (2021), Kyla is steadily building her Country Music presence in both Canada and Nashville. Her love for rising artists is unmatched and gives a voice to these talented folks as their careers take off. Pearson has landed incredible interviews with artists like Lauren Watkins, Mackenzie Porter, Griffen Palmer and more. Kyla is also an active member of The National Organization of Italian Americans in Film & Television (NOIAFT).
Get To Know Kyla
"I grew up listening to country music and I always loved watching old westerns and going to the cinema. Despite that, a career in country music and film & TV was never on my radar. That all happened later on in my professional life.
I started pursuing graphic design in college– I was a Communications, Media and Studio Arts (with a focus on graphic design) student. I always loved the arts and I’ve been drawing since I was old enough to hold a pencil.
I didn't want to be a graphic designer and that's not what I originally wanted to go to school for- my arts program was supposed to be temporary while I transitioned to the sciences in pursuit of a different career– I was thinking of being something along the lines of a zoologist or a veterinarian (a career in the sciences was heavily endorsed in order to make a living at the time). I ended up loving my arts program and staying– the people and professors really made it what it was.
It was through my program that I met my mentor, Thomas Fisher, who later became one of my dear friends. He passed away a few years ago. He introduced me to the whole world of design and mentored me for 3 years in addition to my academic courses. Fisher, his passion for design and his belief in my potential to be a graphic designer is the reason I became one. Before he passed away, I made a promise I would honor his legacy. I was also one of his last mentees. On my website I have a dedication to him in my bio.
Film & TV is a bit interesting... I was in film & TV before music. I got an offer to work with Emmy Nominated producer David Cormican at Don Carmody Television Inc. (DCTV), a Canadian production studio. I interned as a graphic designer with them. The first show I worked on was Northern Rescue for Netflix Canada and CBC Gem– which really got the ball rolling for me. That was about 5 years ago. Because I was already in the entertainment industry, it was easier to branch out to country music.
As for country music, I got involved with it when the pandemic hit because of my industry friends at the time. When the world shut down, I helped indie artists with marketing, graphic design and socials for free because they lost their income from live gigs/shows. I also had to focus on my business after that, so I transitioned to doing a blog for free in an effort to continue helping artists. The rest of the projects I transitioned to paid work."
Q & A with Kyla Pearson
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your career and how did this journey start for you?
A: "I officially opened in 2021, but I've been a graphic designer since 2016. I used to work with local small businesses. For example, I’d design and create their visual identities, logos and business cards - things like that. I started by doing freelance work or volunteering my skills. I built up my portfolio that way.
I have always wanted to work for myself, own my own business and to help others. I didn't exactly know what that would look like. I got into country music because of my friends, but stayed because I saw the impact I could have in the industry. In many ways, I feel like my business/career "chose me". The path taken wasn't something I planned on, but it all fell into place. I believe in ‘just going with it’, taking opportunities as they come and then figuring out what works and what doesn't."
Q: What is your vision moving forward?
A: "One of my main focuses is to support indie artists in regards to Country Music. When I first started out that's what I wanted to do, even if I work with bigger names, festivals and labels now. The original mission of the blog and the services I was offering was to help indie artists without having them break the bank. I'll keep it simple, continue to do what I love every day and continue to cultivate a positive community online, helping to bring artists and fans together and continuing to support great people and artists. In terms of concrete stuff for me, I think it can be hard to say "I want this in 5 years..." or setting certain goals within a set time frame. I’ll see where life takes me."
Q: Most memorable moments so far / What do you enjoy about your job?
A: "From the blog side, I will say I love interviewing artists and being able to connect with them! I love talking to people and hearing their stories. Every interview I have, I walk away learning something new about music, life lessons or about the artist. I think it is so valuable to listen to people and get their perspective. I also love doing the blog because not only do I get to hear these artists' stories, but they trust me to tell their stories. Writing is one of my strengths and I'm honored to get to do that for them. It also feels really good when an artist reaches out to me after I publish their interview saying it's the first feature they've ever had or it's helped them secure grants. I had one artist reach out to me and say one of the reasons they didn't quit music was because I featured them and it was one of the positive things they needed to keep them going at the time.
My most memorable moment… I know it’s going to sound cheesy, but when you do something you're really passionate about, it allows you to connect with people that share those same passions. I've met the majority of my close friends through country music, film & TV. It's nice to have people in your corner that share your passions, understand the work that goes into it and are on the path with you in a tough industry. For me, it doesn't matter how much money you have or how successful you become, if you have good people around you to share the journey with– that’s the most important part. So my friends/loved ones are the most important to me.”
Q: What advice do you have for anyone who's trying to become an entrepreneur and start their own podcast, business, service, etc.?
A: "Something I learned over the years and from the mistakes I've made starting out was how important it is to work with people and brands who align with you and your values. Also, it is important to work on projects you are passionate about. If you want to set yourself up for success and you are not passionate about what you're doing and giving it your all, you won't find the true success you're looking for.
When first starting out, it’s so easy to take every opportunity that comes your way to get that money rolling in and see those numbers growing on social media. I think when you go down that road of taking everything on, is when you truly learn that there's more power in saying "no" than "yes". The more things you say no to that aren't in alignment with your vision, the more space you're leaving for the better suited opportunities for you and to work with individuals & companies that share your values.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your time is valuable. I learned to make the time for the projects/people/companies that are important to me and/or in alignment with my goals & dreams.
In addition, it's really important to keep in mind that entrepreneurship is all about how you build and how you scale– if you lead with honesty, authenticity and integrity, you’ll go further and people will be more likely to support you.
As an ending note, I think it's really important to always be open to feedback and to growing as a professional. Being humble and mature, willing to take accountability when you make mistakes, being willing to have humility and not thinking you're always right and know what's best in certain situations, getting perspective from others… all of these things have a lot of value and will help you achieve success in life and your career."
If you are just discovering Kyla Pearson, check her out at www.kylapearson.ca follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Threads
Comments