Meet Katelin Barrera | Singer-Songwriter , Registered Nurse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katelin Barrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katelin, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Between balancing being a registered nurse and building a music career: I constantly re-evaluate my time.

Its not gonna be perfect
Some months I only work at the hospital and others I’m at festivals, restaurants and etc

The balance is something I will continue to revisit until one day my music monetizes more and I can be free to music full time

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I graduated from Southwestern Adventist University class of 2021 with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing.

I began my nursing career in the midst of the corona virus pandemic and I was the front line workers seeing it all. I worked in critical care for 1 year and became incredibly burnt out. From being new in the nursing workforce, all the graphic things I saw. It was taking a toll on me

Which lead me back to my love of singing and making music.

I grew up in church and sang in choirs and praise teams and I also played clarinet for 9 years. I took a break from music to pursue other things such as nursing school

Circa 2022 I began to write down my experiences and life situations as lyrics

Then I discovered garage band a music producing application on Apple (DAW) on my computer. And I made a SoundCloud to post my creations. However, I was shy in the beginning not wanting to use my own identity with my music for fear of my co-workers finding it and making fun of me.
I chose a random stage name “Rebelle Flor” and I went with it

My motto was “if no one was watching what would I make”

Months go by I get a DM from someone named Melissa Mulligan

She wrote saying she heard my SoundCloud and thought I had immense potential and shared some PowerPoints of her Artist development program for the new age artist “independent artistry”

In 2023 I joined her program musical mastermind and graduated May 2023
In the program they teach you how better write songs, produce and social media market yourself & music.

It’s been a journey with lots of highs and lows.

Highest high is when I performed at Deep Ellum Community Arts Festival

Lows are experiencing dark sides of the music industry- people will attempt to manipulate you at ALL costs and won’t care.

What it’s taught me is I gotta know who I am and what I’m trying to do.

That is creative music and shows that are other worldly feeling. I wanna draw people in and have fun at shows and dance around. But also I want to give back to the community through acts of service through music or health.

I have a dream to teach songwriting course to ages 14 – 35 and go through the process of writing lyrics and what it means to them. Show people how to convey a story or experience via lyrics

Do some life beat creation and by the end of the class you perform your song. I don’t know but in 2025 I want to get out in the community more. I’m community oriented and I couldn’t do what I do if I didn’t have them

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my friends visits from out of town

Lunch –
We’re first hitting up some good food! Uber to Legacy Hall in Plano has 3 stories of food, bars and entertainment

I’d get some carne asado tacos from the chilangos and then we’d sit and have some cocktails

Afternoon –
Then we would go to a museum like The International video museum in Frisco close by and have some fun there

Evening
After we go back to place and chill on my balcony and look at nature and chill

Night time
Let’s go to Oaklawn and look at the art and see if we can catch any live shows at Chocolate Secrets.

I enjoy connecting with my friends through talking and eating

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank Starconz entertainment group specifically Nulu

I’ve been working with Nulu since December 2023 and he has truly encouraged me. I’m grateful to call him a reliable collaborator and friend

Website: https://www.bonfire.xyz/Rebelleflor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelleflorr?igsh=cnd3NGpyOTYwdGhh&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelin-barrera-bsn-rn-7ba185201

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/VHxpJYqmjXRufESY/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtu.be/jfbV2DmJn1w?si=hZWjErIxJ4ExYeF7

Image Credits
Juju creative space
Huck
TiffanyAnn Storey