Meet Callie Young | Singer-Songwriter

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

Hi Callie, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking is a huge part of any creative career, especially a career in the music industry. Most industries have a set path, where if you go to certain courses and get a certain degree then you are guaranteed a job in that field. In the music industry, there is no set path to follow to ensure your success. The industry is more about who you know, getting in front of the right person at the right time, the right person coming across your social pages, or the right fans hearing your music and spreading the word. You can be an extremely talented artist, but if you struggle with the other aspects like social media or marketing, you will have a hard time succeeding in music. Risk taking is a huge aspect of pursuing a career in anything where your success is based on what other people think of you. I think the most important thing when pursuing a creative career is to believe in yourself and what you do enough to work every single day to give yourself the best chance you can at succeeding. I am so lucky that I am able to do music full time, and that there are so many opportunities and tools out there for me to learn about everything that goes into being an artist these days. I wake up every day risking a lot to pursue my dreams in music, but it is something that is definitely worth it to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up in Colorado on my family’s cattle ranch, and I began my musical journey at the age of 9. Following in the footsteps of my older brother, I started singing at local venues with him and began to fall in love with writing and performing music. I have followed my passion of dance as well as music my whole life. In 2017, my brother and I came together to form a four piece band, The Garrett Young Collective, where we have played throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and California. We had the opportunity to open for Mike Ryan at Antone’s nightclub on our Texas tour and shortly after my brother and I were chosen to perform with Chevel Shepherd (winner of Season 15, The Voice!). For 8 months we toured as her band, opening for Little Big Town, Lee Brice, Brothers Osborne, and more! I have been songwriting for many years, but when the world shut down in 2020, I started to write so much more music and really started to hone in on the music I want to make as an artist. The biggest lesson I have learned is that you are the only person that can make your dreams happen. You have to be your own biggest fan and supporter. I also think it is so important to just be yourself, and when you do, you will find the people that resonate with you and love what you do. I want to be a voice for people who don’t know how to put what they are feeling into words. I want to take my experiences and feelings and use my music to help people feel heard and show them they are not alone. Pursuing a career in music is not easy, and most days are hard, but I find it helpful to remember who I am and what I am pushing towards. A nice direct message, or a compliment from a fan at a live show, telling me that I reached them with my music, means the world to me and makes it so fulfilling to pursue a creative career.

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.
I live in Durango, which is a small city of about 18,000 in Southwest Colorado. If a friend were visiting me, there are a few places in Durango that I would love to take them to. The town is known for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train, which is something that I would definitely recommend. My favorite season in Colorado is fall because of the amazing colors in the mountains, and it is (in my opinion) the best time to ride the train. I would definitely spend a couple days driving up the surrounding mountains to see the incredible views that Durango has to offer. My favorite surrounding town is Telluride, where I would spend at least a day with someone visiting. In the winter they have an amazing ski area and the most beautiful views no matter what month it is. I would also take them paddle boarding, which is one of my favorite things to do in the warmer months. There are a few lakes around the area that have beautiful views. I’ve been skiing at Purgatory Resort since I was three years old, so if they came in the winter that would definitely be the main attraction! The ski area is beautiful no matter what season it is, so this would be a place to visit no matter what. The Durango Hot Springs is worth going to as well. I would also take them to all of the great restaurants on Main Street. My favorite place to get amazing food is Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen. Most restaurants here serve very good drinks, but I would take them to Derailed Pour House for cocktails. My favorite coffee shop is Durango Coffee Company, so I would take them there at least a few times! I would spend a day on main street showing them all of the cute boutique shops and historic hotels. Durango is a very cool area with lots of outdoor things to do as well as beautiful scenery and a very laid back, friendly environment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My brother, Garrett Young, is the biggest reason that I pursued a career in music. He is five years older than me, so I was able to grow up following in his footsteps. He is an incredible guitar player and songwriter and I am so grateful that I have him to look up to. We have been playing music together for around 10 years, and we officially formed a band about 4 years ago. I owe my brother so much for his love, mentorship, and support, but I wouldn’t be where I am without my amazing parents either. They show me so much support for every single thing I do, and they are the reason I am able to pursue my dreams in music. I can’t thank my family enough for the opportunities they have given me and the love and support they show me every day.

Website: https://callieyoungmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callieyoung_music/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callieyoungmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3bTg10JffZUzL-TFbmb8MA

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/35HaUDPl9Xd5WxIiBTyKan Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/where-ive-been-single/1571767336 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callieyoungmusic?lang=en

Image Credits
James Reese Photography Gary Vandenberg Photography