Meet Carley Bearden | Indie-Pop Artist & Mental Health Advocate

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

Hi Carley, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Born & raised in Fort Worth, Texas baby!!!

I grew up with truly fantastic parents. My mother is very strong-willed, woke af and warm-hearted. She taught me the importance of being a strong woman, no matter what life throws my way. She helped me establish boundaries for people in my life, she helped me become confident in who I am, and who I want to be. She made sure I was always taken care of, mentally and physically.

My dad is very Strong-Willed. He is very honest, respectable and stern, in the best way. My dad taught me how to be a leader, and how to be successful no matter the path I choose. He taught me the importance of honesty, and doing what you say your’e going to do. When I was a kid, and I got hurt, he would say “rub some dirt on it and get back up”.

Now that I am older, I realized both of my parents have been my biggest influences in life. Without them I would not have followed my own arrow wholeheartedly. I feel as though nobody can get in my way if my mind and heart are set on something, and I will always find a way. I think they both impacted me in two different, but very important ways that has helped me be successful thus far in my life and career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art isn’t perfect, My art, I realized, is rough. It’s honest, its vulnerable, its HUMAN. Took me a while to realize this, but after 6 years of being an artist, I have finally understood that true art isnt “perfect pitch”. It’s not ” perfect stage presence”, its not everything I compare myself to. Its real, and its vulnerable, and its MY truth. That’s all.

Im really proud of myself and my team for the trial and errors over the years. I am proud of us for traveling to gigs when we’re really tired, or really broke (lol). Im proud of us for working monday through wednesday every single week at the studio to write music, to take meetings, to sit and talk. We have built a family and I am so proud and honored to have them in my corner. Now this was not easy. Nothing good comes easy. My team has pushed me out of my comfort zone, we have had uncomfortable conversations about success, about hard work, about what can help me be successful when I am discouraged. Its a mental game. It is challenging to want to be a musician, when it seems like everyone else is more successful. Its hard battling the “What-if’s”, but its so important to have people to talk to about this, to learn ways to help yourself whether thats journaling, gym, meditation. Making sure I sleep enough hours, and eat 3 meals a day. It gets hard! But it’s worth it. It’s apart of the journey.

I want the world to know I am human, and I am chasing my dreams. And that they can to. Life is too short to follow societal standards.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I mostly kick it at my house with Jasmine, not going to lie. My home is my safe space, my creative space, it’s my favorite place to be. Other than that, Im at Greenhouse Studios in Fort Worth working with my team.

I do that Monday- Wednesday. I work alot too, I work 2 jobs. First, I am a server. People knock serving and bartending, but I love it. I love working. I get 5 hours a shift to make money and make connections? Heaven! My second job is social media marketing and that is always so much fun. I work with an amazing team. I truly just sleep, eat, go to the gym, go to the studio, work and hang with my wifey,

Butttt, say its a weekend where I want to go out,
I usually hit Leela’s Wine Bar in Fort Worth ( Roanoke Area), HG Supply, anywhere that has margaritas lol…

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this series to Chloe, my little sister.

The cutest kid in the world, with the most beautiful soul. She’s got alot to learn, but has so much life to live. Very proud to be her big sister and show her that anything is possible if you’re passionate about what you want. She’s about to be 17 and acts like she is 60 mentally with her old soul. She teaches me alot, and makes me so proud every single day, The smartest damn kid I know. Im very proud of her for following her own arrow in academics and life. She is, and will continue to be a very successful, bright young soul the rest of her life!

Love ya Chloe Grace!
Love, sissy

Instagram: @Carleybearden_

Other: Tik Tok- @carleybearden_music

Image Credits
@shotbypalmer & @theonly_redd