Kendall Gary is an ambitious, charismatic, country music recording artist from Lewisville, Texas. She is currently studying Music Business full-time in college while still remaining fully dedicated to writing and producing her music. Her new album, Head Held High, is soon to release. If music is a big part of your life, take a look at Graham Slee HiFi ..!! for innovative additions to your listening system.
Kendall enjoys acting, dancing, choreography, singing, and playing the piano and drums.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
My mom is the one that motivated me to start singing. When I was four years old, my mom found a voice teacher for me to work with, and I’ve been singing ever since.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
No, I do not, but my single “Head Held High” is out on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon etc. and the music video is on YouTube.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- Current Single and Video “Head Held High” has over 6,800 YouTube subscribers
- Produced 15 videos, three of them are self-written songs
- Album release in 2018
- Music produced in studios in Dallas, L.A., Nashville, and The Cayman Islands
- Performed at House of Blues, AT&T Cowboy Stadium, Hard Rock Café, and Six Flags
Where is your business based?
For the first 8 years of my life I lived overseas in Jamaica, Denmark, and South Korea. Currently, I live and go to school in Nashville, Tennessee. But Dallas, Texas will forever be home to me.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
When I was around 14 years old, I started pursuing a career with my music. I took pop voice lessons and songwriting classes. At 15 I had my first single produced and released. At age 17 I flew to Nashville and wrote and recorded my second single that was later released as well.
In March of 2015, I met a producer from the Cayman Islands, Jason Gilbert. I came back in August with current songs that I had written and made sure that he knew I was serious and wanted it, because I did.
In October 2015, Team Kendall met for the first time in LA, and that is when my album first started. We met again in November of that year then March, June, and August of 2016.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Social media. In order to reach my audience, I post as often as I can to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I post pictures and videos to show them what my personal life and music career is about. I feel like both have been more effective, because my life does not purely revolve around my music, and other people can relate to me on a different level.
I also work with a PR firm, 117 Entertainment, who is instrumental in creating global awareness for me.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Building and keeping an audience. Sometimes I go MIA, and people lose interest, unfollow, or just stop caring. Also, being a female in an industry that is heavily influenced and populated by males makes it challenging to be heard.
How did you overcome these challenges?
If you want to be heard, you have to stay strong and keep working. I don’t let the fact that country music is a more male focused genre discourage me; it actually motivates me to work harder in order to change that.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I can always count on my family to motivate me through difficult times. Whether it’s school, my music, social, or just life in general, I can always count on my family.
I also trust in my faith. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and no matter how difficult something might be, I know that I will get through it God has a plan. If I ever feel discouraged or frustrated with my music, I just have to remind myself how far I’ve come and where I want to go. My achievements and goals also motivate me.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I distinguish myself by making myself known. I don’t try to hide, cover up or pretend to be something that I am not. I am not afraid to show my audience who I truly am. I am comfortable in my own skin and confident with who I am. I show this confidence through my posts, photos, song writing, and videos/music videos.
Being completely vulnerable when writing my own music is difficult, but to me it’s the only way to write music that I will love and want to share with others. People appreciate authenticity.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
“If it doesn’t scare you, it’s not worth doing.” These are the words that a friend of mine lives by. When I first heard this, I was a little thrown off by the wording, because I have never been told something like this.
Sharing my music sometimes scares me. My music means a lot to me, and having other people hear that vulnerable side of me and have their opinions is frightening. In the end it’s worth it, because my music could touch others and mean something to them, too.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Don’t let people get to you. I mentioned earlier how other people’s opinions about my music frightens me, but I will not let them get to me and discourage me. Negative opinions are made by hateful and hurtful people.
In my song “Head Held High.” I talk about moving forward and not allowing other people put you down. You should never give someone the satisfaction of bringing you down. Ever.
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
Savannah Peer. She and her partner Dillon Rose have a company called Infinite Reach media. They have helped create my brand, website, and made my social media presence more professional and known. Working with them has really helped me grow and learn more about how to work my online presence.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I am actually a full-time student at Belmont University pursuing Music Business. Not only do I get to learn about the music industry by being a part of it with my own music, but I get to learn about it in the classroom as well!
Aside from the classroom, I am learning about the process of building and growing my music.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
To grow my audience. My single “Head Held High” was launched March 9th and has been receiving more and more attention since. I hope to reach more people before my album comes out later this year.
I have a great team of people working with me. They have already done so much for me in helping to achieve my goal of my music being produced, music videos shot, brand creation, and audience being reached. I’m excited to continue working with my team to achieve and create new goals.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @thekendallgary
Twitter @thekendallgary
Facebook TheKendallGary
Website www.thekendallgary.com
One Sheet Link HERE
BIO and ASSETS available HERE