Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Kirkpatrick.
Amy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been a professional songwriter for over ten years, and before that had been in bands, toured, and played live shows. I realized the studio environment was where I wanted to be full time and decided to turn songwriting into my full-time career four years back.
That’s when I started ‘Little Shop East’ which is a vocal topline recording and writing business, where I create customs vocals for everything from commercial projects, film work, to writing for record labels across the globe. My work has been mentioned in Forbes and Billboard Magazine and gained over 22 million streams worldwide.
I am also a freelance writer for articles on artist wellness, and it is important for me to be an advocate for artist mental and physical health. I recently became a member of the Young Professionals Board at Covenant House California (a shelter that provides services for youth), and volunteer in my community whenever possible.
I’m originally from Victoria, BC. Canada, have spent years in Vancouver and Toronto, and now reside in beautiful sunny Santa Monica.
Great, 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?
Calm seas never made for a great sailor. I’ve had a winding road of ups and downs, as any freelance life and creative business is really, but every twist and turn has lead to new lessons and upping my business and creative skills.
The main struggle that creatives of any kind face I believe is the question of the unknown, and how to keep the faith in yourself and your business during the slow or hard times. You learn how to turn the ‘no’s into motivation, and allow them to open up more opportunities for you.
For every rejection I’ve received over the years, I’ve reached out to ten more people, and during times where there wasn’t any work coming in, I found work, I found clients, I made it happen. Showing up for yourself every single day is what matters the most. It’s truly all about thinking outside the box, and knowing your worth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Little Shop East – what should we know?
My day to day life is writing and creating vocal based projects, either vocal sample packs or vocals for producers and record labels who have hired me for specific projects, as well as lately venturing more into writing articles and pieces for health and wellness. What sets me apart from others is I don’t believe in the ‘work yourself sick’ mentality, or in glorifying the hustle. I believe there is a way to work smart, healthy, and to live a balanced life even in the music industry.
Lately, I’ve been working on combining my decade of professional experience in the music industry, with my years of studying various wellness and health techniques, to help other artists out there to see there is a way to live healthy and happy, in any career field. What I’m most proud of is creating a life and career for myself that suits my needs, and allows me to live a balanced life.
At this point, I say no to anything that puts my health at risk, and I say a big fat yes to anything that lights my spirit up and allows me to live a balanced healthy lifestyle first and foremost. And to be honest, the healthier and happier I am, the more my business thrives, so it’s win-win. Aligning to your soul’s purpose is a game changer when it’s about so much more than just money or ‘success.’
When I realized my purpose on this planet is so much more than songwriting, and it’s about using the experiences I’ve had over the years to help others in some way and to show that success and health are possible at the same time, thats when everything truly clicked. Dimming your light and playing it small serves no one.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
For me, it’s all about giving back to my community and using the tools I’ve learned to help others in some way. I love working with youth and young artists and allowing them to learn early on in their careers to take care of themselves before anything.
That you are allowed to say no to things that don’t feel right for you, that was a lesson I didn’t know when I first started out and is now an essential part of my success. Learning how to work smart, and pick specific projects that align with my goals and my purpose.
Being a freelance business it can be easy to want to say yes to any projects that come in, but now I’m actually quite picky when it comes to which ones I say yes to. Balance is the most important part of my success, and making time for family, friends, and keeping my main focus on my health, mental and physical.
When people feel great, they do better work. There is no benefit from working yourself to the point of illness and draining your energy, and again this was a lesson I had to learn the hard way as many of us do.
Also evolving my business and my career as I go, and not having to define myself as one particular thing. I love songwriting, but I also have a passion for helping other artists in the industry, so Little Shop East is now evolving into wellness guides, articles, and coaching for artists as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: missamykirkpatrick@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss_amy_k/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amykirkpatrickmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/missamy_kk
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