Where were you at in your music career when you had your first child? Was there much discussion about how that life choice would affect your career within the music/entertainment industry?

I was in a really exciting place, truly hitting my stride as an independent artist and building a deeply connected fanbase. In fact, I vividly remember being six days postpartum, reviewing mixes for my new album while literally pumping for my newborn! While there are always lingering questions in this industry about how taking time to start a family might shift your trajectory, the discussions I chose to focus on were the exciting ones. I felt incredibly hopeful. I knew I had built a strong enough foundation with my listeners that I could step into motherhood with confidence. Instead of seeing it as a roadblock, I viewed it as an evolution and an opportunity to prove that you can embrace family life and still reach new heights as an independent artist.

What changed for you when you became a parent in this industry? (or faced when your children were younger if relevant)?

My workflow completely transformed. Time becomes your most precious commodity, so you need to use it wisely. You become an absolute expert at finding pockets of time to do work such as recording melody ideas using voice notes while making breakfast, or brainstorming release strategies during pickup and drop-off. I don’t have the luxury of endless, unstructured studio hours anymore. But emotionally, becoming a mom added so much depth to my artistry. The stakes feel higher because I’m not just building a career anymore; I’m building a legacy for my little boy.

What is one change (big or small) within the industry that could make a positive impact for working parents?

Creating a more inclusive culture around time. The music industry is notoriously built around the late-night grind, which puts an unfair burden on parents of young children. If we normalized daytime networking events, offered earlier gig times, and designed conferences with family schedules in mind, it would make a massive impact. It’s a simple structural change that would keep so much incredible talent in the game.

Finish this sentence: “Being a parent in music is…”

Being a parent in music is incredibly humbling. You can go from hitting a major career milestone right back to wiping spilled juice off the floor five minutes later. It is the most beautifully exhausting double-life you could ever live.

How do you find support and community with other working parents in or out of the music industry?

To be completely honest, I am still searching for it and I think that highlights a massive gap in our industry. Being an artist and a mom to a three-and-a-half-year-old can be incredibly isolating. You are often working when everyone else is sleeping, or parenting when everyone else is networking. I don’t have a big community of other music-parents right now, which is exactly why we need to advocate for seeing more of it. We need dedicated spaces, meetups, or online networks where artist-parents can connect, share resources, and realize we aren’t doing this alone.

What’s one specific example of an organization/venue/company doing something great to help support working parents? (N/A)

What could a music event (festival, conference, etc.), do or provide to make it easier for you to participate? (N/A)

What advice would you give to someone in music who’s thinking about becoming a parent?

Give yourself a lot of grace. The way you make music is going to change and it might take longer to finish a project than it used to—and that is totally okay. Protect your energy, ignore the pressure to bounce back immediately and let your journey into parenthood inspire your art rather than compete with it.

Can you shout out another music mama doing great things?

I’d love to shout out Darrelle London! Watching her navigate the industry while being an amazing mom is so inspiring, and it’s proof that we can absolutely do both.