Meet Calamity the Kid

Today we’d like to introduce you to Calamity the Kid.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I was twelve my mother bought me Appetite For Destruction by Guns n Roses. I instantly wanted the freedom I heard on that record. After growing up in rock bands and playing all over the sunset strip, I came down with cyclical migraines. I couldn’t listen to loud music any longer and instead began to write songs on the acoustic guitar. While most of my songs are not acoustic, they all start there.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve been late to everything in my life: talking, puberty, moving out of my mother’s house…I don’t expect music to be any different. But the older I get, the more I realize I don’t have any choice about whether I make music or not. Since I’ve learned to love the process, life has gotten more enjoyable.

The biggest challenges I have encountered have been internal ones. Motivating myself to do the social media grind all artists feel forced or compelled to do in order to “have a career.” Unfortunately, the modern music business rewards extroverts and those who feel comfortable in front of the lens. That is not always who is making the best or most important music. It’s hard to feel like you must either A. act in ways or do things you don’t want to do or B. give up on having a career in art.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ll be releasing my first album this year and am in the process of finishing a second album that will most likely come out next year. I just finished making a music video for a song called “Idols” where I’m driving a hearse around LA and playing a concert for a bunch of dead people so that will be fun to put out. I am the most focused on learning to love the process of writing and recording music and being less tied to its outcomes. Trying to balance that with the unfortunate requirement of actually having to put the music out. I think that’s my least favorite part hahaha.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Loving the process. It’s the only thing you have control over. That and putting your ass in the chair. For the most part, I feel I’m the only person who could have written my songs. That’s what I’m proud of and that’s where I feel I’ve succeeded. What’s the point in writing a song anyone else could have written? No one else could write a Nick Cave song, a Dylan song, a Kendrick song. I’m not saying mine are as good lol but it’s what I strive for. There is a wonderful quote by Winston Churchill that goes, “Success is moving from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” That is what it is to be an artist.

Pricing:

• Formula for a good song: 1+1=3

Contact Info:

• Website: calamitythekid.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calamitythekid/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcbIZMOjxzM

Image Credits
Standing on the car – Nathan Rocky @NathanRocky