Real Talk with Women in the Music Industry (Part 1) featuring Emily King, Kim Kalesti, and Maggie Haley

03/24/23 • 44 min

Welcome to the third season of the She Rocked It podcast, and our first-ever interview with three generations of rockstar women from the same family! In this intimate and inspiring conversation (recorded in January 2023 at The Bridge recording studio in Brooklyn, New York), you’ll hear #realtalk about being a woman in the music industry and pursuing a creative, courageous life – straight from powerhouse mother-daughter duo Kim Kalesti and Emily King (plus a special appearance from the family’s 88-year-old matriarch, Maggie Haley).
KIM KALESTI is a modern-day renaissance woman who exemplifies the creative life as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, pianist, and painter. After 15 years as an in-demand jazz chanteuse–performing and recording alongside many of New York City’s jazz masters–she went on to release several piano/vocal albums of her poignant original songs. Both her daughter Emily King and son AC Lincoln have followed in her footsteps to become performing artists.

EMILY KING has released several critically acclaimed albums and received Grammy nominations for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. She has toured with the likes of Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, and Sara Bareilles. After dropping out of high school to pursue music, she was discovered by Clive Davis, who signed her to his J Records label at the age of 21. Now signed to ATO Records, she plans to release her latest album Special Occasion in May 2023.

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Special thanks to Mona Kayhan and team from The Bridge recording studio including Urosh Jovanovich and Brianna Cofield. https://www.bridgerecordingstudio.com/
Thanks to Fifth Hammer Brewing for supplying libations at our recording session. https://www.fifthhammerbrewing.com/
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00] Meet mother-daughter creative powerhouses Kim Kalesti and Emily King
[04:08] What gave Kim the courage to forge an artistic path?
[09:24 How Emily knew she wanted to drop out of high school to pursue music, and how her mom Kim reacted
[15:37] How Emily learned not to compromise her own creative vision
[21:00] How Kim cultivated her musical style over many years working with numerous collaborators (including George Clinton!)
[26:09] Emily and Kim reveal their creative processes
[33:21] Grandma Maggie Haley enters the chat
[40:41] Maggie, Kim, and Emily each share their ONE TIP TO ROCK IT
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LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Emily King website: https://www.emilykingmusic.com/
Emily King’s song Distance: https://youtu.be/4DbeYbcZAJE
Emily King’s song This Year: https://youtu.be/xiDnuRylHMU
Emily King shares an early version of This Year on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cm1dqzKMZFq/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
Kim Kalesti paintings: https://kimkalesti.wixsite.com/kimistry
Kim Kalesti bandcamp: https://kimkalesti.bandcamp.com/music

If you’d like to join us for future podcast recordings and other empowering live events, head over to our website and subscribe to our email list! https://sherockedit.com/

If you’d like to join us for future podcast recordings and other empowering live events, head over to our website and subscribe to our email list! https://sherockedit.com/

Previous Episode

Athleta x She Rocked It: How to Balance Career & Self-Care

She Rocked It is proud to present the first podcast ever recorded in an Athleta store location! Athleta is known for versatile, premium apparel designed by women for women, as well as their empowering, inclusive #PowerofShe platform that supports women and girls in realizing their limitless potential.
Recorded at Athleta in Jenkintown, PA, this moving and illuminating conversation explores the balance between career and self-care – with lots of real talk, insights, and tips from rockstar entrepreneurs based in the Philadelphia area.
Hosted by She Rocked It founder Karen Gross, the panel includes Dr. Robin Smith, #1 bestselling author, licensed psychologist, and host of The Dr. Robin Show on SiriusXM; Christa Barfield, founder of FarmerJawn and Viva Leaf Tea Company; Gabrielle Sellei, attorney for creative entrepreneurs and founder of Sellei Law; Jean Brillman, founder of White Horse Coffee; and Rachel Rainbow, somatic therapist and co-founder/co-CEO of Rise Gatherings. Plus, you’ll hear from special guest Grace Duong of Mystic Mondays, who shares a collective tarot card celebrating the power of community. No doubt you’ll be inspired by this electrifying episode filled with wisdom and woman-power energy!
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[5:23] How five women entrepreneurs boldly followed their callings – including some major career pivots
[24:21] How to find the courage to launch a heart-centered career, and why it’s key to trust your inner voice
[34:11] Real talk from women business owners on how to bake self-care into your daily life, and why it’s important to raise your voice for the self-care that fills your cup
[49:20] Audience members share what self-care looks like for them
[52:15] Special guest Grace Duong of Mystic Mondays shares a collective tarot card reading
[54:59] One top tip to rock it from each panelist

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LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:
Athleta
She Rocked It
Karen Gross (Communication That Sings)
Christa Barfield (FarmerJawn, Viva Leaf Tea Co.)
Rachel Rainbow
Rise Gatherings
Gabrielle Sellei/Sellei Law
Jean Brillman/White Horse Coffee
Dr. Robin Smith
Dr. Robin Smith’s She Rocked It episode
Mystic Mondays
“How to Not Always Be Working” by Marlee Grace

She Rocked It is a media and mentorship platform where creative, courageous women rock it together. We are eager to learn from, listen to, and lift one another up — driven by the belief that women’s voices are essential. On our podcast and Instagram Live interview series, She Rocked It host/founder and creative entrepreneur Karen Gross gets trailblazing women leaders, creatives, and entrepreneurs to reveal how they rock it – and their insights may surprise you. Their behind-the-scenes stories, best-kept secrets to success, and actionable tips are sure to inspire the rockstar in all of us! Please subscribe and leave a review!

If you’d like to join us for future podcast recordings and other empowering live events, head over to our website and subscribe to our email list! https://sherockedit.com/

Next Episode

Real Talk with Women in the Music Industry (Part 2) featuring Mona Kayhan, Rashida Scott-Cruz, Teng Chen, and Stephanie Mayers

In part two of our series on Real Talk with Women in the Music Industry, peek behind the curtain with women rockstars playing crucial roles off-stage. There’s still an astonishing lack of representation of women in the music industry, and these trailblazers don’t hold back on the #realtalk about what it’s been like to navigate careers of their own design. You’ll hear from:
Mona Kayhan, co-owner of The Bridge recording studio in Brooklyn (our wonderful hosts for this conversation!)
Rashida Scott-Cruz, Professor of Music Industry at Monmouth University
Teng Chen, freelance audio engineer (SNL, The Grammys, Spelling Bee) and engineer for the She Rocked It podcast
Stephanie Mayers, owner of Mayers Consulting PR firm which represents GRAMMY-winning artists in family entertainment

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Special thanks to Mona Kayhan and the team from The Bridge recording studio including Urosh Jovanovich and Brianna Cofield. https://www.bridgerecordingstudio.com/
Thanks to Fifth Hammer Brewing for supplying libations at our recording session. https://www.fifthhammerbrewing.com/
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
[00:00] Learn how our panelists established their careers in the music industry
[21:22] Hear what gave each panelist the courage to dive wholeheartedly into the music business, versus viewing music as a hobby or side gig
[31:39] Get a glimpse into recent changes in the climate for women in the music industry
[44:02] What can we do to make the music industry more welcoming for all?
[47:56] Mona Kayhan, Stephanie Mayers, Teng Chen and Rashida Scott-Cruz each share their ONE TIP TO ROCK IT
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LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE:
The Bridge: https://www.bridgerecordingstudio.com/
She Is The Music and data about women in the music industry: https://sheisthemusic.org/
Mayers Consulting: http://www.mayersconsulting.com/
Dan Zanes: https://danandclaudia.com/
Blue Hawk Records at Monmouth University: http://www.bluehawkrecords.com/
Monmouth University named by Billboard as a top music biz school
Teng Chen: https://www.tengchenaudio.com/
Teng Chen season 1 podcast episode: https://sherockedit.com/teng-chen/
Power station recording studio: https://powerstation.nyc/
“The War of Art”: https://blackirishbooks.com/product/the-war-of-art/

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If you’d like to join us for future podcast recordings and other empowering live events, head over to our website and subscribe to our email list! https://sherockedit.com/