Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Castro
Hi Kristen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Kristen Castro and I’m a Mexican-American musician and songwriter. I grew up in Southern California surrounded by a mix of cultures and sounds. I’ve always been drawn to people who aren’t in the cool club—the weirdos embracing their weirdness.
When I was ten years old my sister got a guitar for Christmas and I was so jealous I made her teach me. I started off learning everything by ear, Blink 182, Green Day, AFI. My brother and I’s rooms were next to each other and I could hear his annoying 90s hip hop that I was secretly in love with, those influences would later seep into the way I produce. On the weekends my Dad would wake us up by blasting Spanish music to let us know the chorizo breakfast burritos were ready. The way my parents created safe spaces for anyone in need also inspired me to create spaces of inclusivity for creatives in the music industry. Constantly interacting with musical clashes made me into the writer and player I am today.
When I was 15 years old I was asked to play guitar with Keith Urban after attending Grammy Camp. At the time I had no idea who he was but playing with him changed my life. It was the first time my perspective of country music truly changed and I found vibrancy in it. Throughout my teenage years I was mentored by three wonderful musicians in the industry who accelerated my growth and improvisation as a player. Be surrounded by their wisdom was magic. Those musicians were Sergio Gonzalez (drums for Jennifer Lopez, Gavin DeGraw), Matt Bissonette (bass for Elton John, Ringo Starr), and Paul Pesco (guitar for Madonna, Hall & Oates).
Shortly after graduating high school I spent six years as a member of an Americana / Country trio. Playing festivals like Pilgrimage and IBMA festival and appearing in major publications like Billboard, Paste Magazine, and CMT. We played a GRAMMY show during GRAMMY week, the lineup had the Goo Goo Dolls, Skylar Grey, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristoffersen and us. I had a tearful heart to heart with Bonnie telling her that women like her are the reason I’m able to play the guitar. Our trio’s Audiotree session soon went viral and we got a booking agent. It was surreal to start making a living off of playing music. We toured together for 6 years. But I craved making indie pop music and being authentically honest. I left the band and went down a depression that existed throughout covid.
After leaving the band in 2019 I explored putting out various artist projects that never felt exactly like what I wanted to be or say. I started rebuilding community and finding friends who encouraged me to be me. After the world emerged in 2023 a girl named Devon Eisenbarger (Katy Perry, Chappel Roan) became one of my best friends. Our synchronistic friendship echoed in how she played with Keith Urban after GRAMMY Camp, her country trio band she left, and the way we spoke guitar. I flew to Amsterdam to live with my sister for 3 months and recorded and wrote an album that finally felt like me. The magnitude of one person from the industry believing in me helped me believe in myself. It was then I understood the power of helping one person. I’ve been driven ever since to help reshape the industry one creative at a time.
2024 was a wild year of growth. I started the year playing guitar and singing for Peytan Porter. I soon became her music director and helped co-produce her live EP. Music directing sets for CMA Fest, an opening run for Tim McGraw, and playing at her debut at the Grand Ole Opry was something I never dreamed of. It was beautiful to help her find the freedom she craved onstage and as an artist. I was then asked to play guitar and sing with Allison Ponthier opening for Maren Morris and The Japanese House during the summer. I had a rush of gratitude one night on tour when I had just played with Allison and was watching Maren play in a room of 5,000 people. At that same night and time the set I made for Peytan’s arena run was being played in front of 20,000 people. It brought me to tears knowing that all the heartbreak was worth it.
Next year I’m releasing the project I finished in Amsterdam. It features some of my best friends, Emma Barge, Devon, and Duncan Ferguson. It’s full of moody, upbeat indie pop covered in waves of dreamy acoustic and electric guitars. It’s an album about exploring my queer voice and musicianship, hopes and shadows, and mirrors and understanding in astrology. I found myself again in Amsterdam and have been running with her creative voice ever since.
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?
The journey has been full of highs and lows and wins and losses. I found myself often watering down my authenticity. Afraid to be different and not fit in. When my peers around me succeeded I took it personally. Interacting with artist and musicians with high egos became daily. I believed any ounce of why I didn’t belong. Breaking patterns of disbelief and accepting the ability to take up space has been healing. Befriending my shadow self has one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. My favorite discovery has been how differences are superpowers and fears can be a compass.
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 specialize in multiple areas of music. As a session and touring musician I play acoustic / electric, mandolin, bass, and background vocals. As a music director I curate an artist’s set to the venue and band size and translate their recordings to a live environment. I empower artists and musicians with emotional safety and confidence to tackle the inevitable hardships of the music industry. I’m extremely proud of my partnerships with Taylor Guitars, Ernie Ball, JHS Pedals, Timber Tones and LR Baggs. I am most proud of my playing style and voice – how it doesn’t sound like everyone else. The ability to play rhythm, melody, and percussion all at once while sounding like there are multiple people playing. As a POC, woman, and queer identifying individual, I don’t see anyone who looks like me doing what I’m doing. It feels freeing.
What matters most to you?
What matters to me most is that our truest duty to the world and ourselves is to honor our creative soul by pushing through what scares us the most. Honoring my intuition helped shape resilience into radiance. The ability to not give up and still find hope. The drive to keep finding a safe community even after I’ve been hurt repeatedly by people in the industry. A pain so heavy I thought it would break me. The need for freedom to simply be a creative and not compare or let imposter syndrome defeat me. To stand up for myself and those that get taken advantage of. To break societal norms and create room for creatives operating in kindness and honesty. The importance of building a safe space to be our most authentic selves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thewildheartclub.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristencastromusic/
- Other: kristencastromusic@gmail.com
Image Credits
Caroline Ocegueda
Anna Schaeffer
Anna Haas
