Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste Wilson.
Hi Celeste, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I knew I wanted to be a writer. I wrote all the time: in diaries, for poetry competitions, fanfictions, scripts, a blog, whole novels just for myself. I had a sort of calling to the written word. It felt like I was supposed to be there, yet something wasn’t clicking with my poetry. I’d write it. Go about my day. Come back and realize it sounded like a song. I’d just stare at the text while hearing a melody in my head that matched it. I thought about writing songs a lot. It felt like the natural next step, but I wasn’t brave enough. I had the lyrics. I had the melody. I just needed to put chords to it, but I refused. I didn’t feel like I could do it. It wasn’t that I felt insecure in my understanding of music. I’d been in music my whole life: church choir, piano lessons, clarinet lessons, band, full orchestra, jazz band, rock band, bell choir, private local lessons, musical theatre. It had more to do with the individuals I’d surrounded myself with and how they spoke about each other and me. I was told that I “couldn’t make money off of writing” in any capacity, whether it be script, book, or song. I was told that I was “so cute” when I brought up my aspirations. I was told that “(my) your voice is too operatic for musical theater.” If my voice was too operatic for musical theatre, there was no way I could be a singer-songwriter. If my words were just “cute” (in a snarky tone) after all the work I put into writing, how was I supposed to compete with peers? I was too fat then too skinny. I was too loud, but I was too quiet. I was giving and kind until I wasn’t giving enough or kind enough. I could not win. I lost a lot to that group of people, and for a while, it felt like they’d stolen my sunshine. When they decided I wasn’t enough anymore, they left. It started with the person I had dated, but it ended in a wreck of a social life with only a few close friends who stuck through it. When I was broken up with, I didn’t sleep for nights. I never had a perfectly clear answer as to why, but I was told, “We were on different paths.” The person I dated thought I’d amount to nothing. That stung, but it also woke me up. I could be a straight-A student on the dean’s list, a hard-working writer, a girl who throws surprise birthday parties for friends and drives to their house with care packages when they’re sad, but to some people, you will still always be not good enough. Those restless nights were spent crying, praying, writing and then repeating the whole cycle. I had nothing to lose, and in a moment of crying/prayer/writing, my path became incredibly clear. It was always there. I contacted a music producer, Josh David Walker, at three in the morning, and by some miracle, he answered. By another miracle, he wanted to work with me. My whole life had been flipped upside down and shaken around in one week, but it was for the best. I had the privilege of attending multiple SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conferences in 2023, as well as multiple music industry conferences such as SpringBoard Houston, Houston Launch Music Lab, and Cutting-Edge New Orleans. I released five singles: 738 Days, Consoling the Constellations, Great Expectations, Faerie Fruit, Run and Hide. I was accepted and became an active member of GrammyU. I’m making new friends who like me as I am. The sunshine is out again, and now I get to share it with people all over the world in the form of art. I can think of nothing more beautiful, and for those who have been told they are not good enough. Maybe— you are just on a different, beautiful path.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The most intense struggle I’ve had is confidence. It takes a lot of bravery to take music that’s personal to you and put it up for anyone to interpret or criticize. On the back end of that thought, there’s so much joy in putting up music for the fans and lovers of your music. They make it worth it. If I can help one person feel seen or understood in my music, I have done my job.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a singer/songwriter. I go by the name Celeste Marie Wilson. My music sits somewhere between country pop, red dirt, and rock. My songs are all inspired by some moment in my life, with classic literature references mixed in a few. It makes them feel personal. From the writing to the singing, it’s me the whole time. I love watching a song grow up from a poem to a melody to a song to a fully produced and mastered recording. It’s magical. Creation is one of the many joys of life.
I’m known best for my song Faerie Fruit. It’s an upbeat jam inspired by the Fae, who have a drink called Faerie Fruit, which makes you uncontrollably dance in their faerie ring. I had never danced with a boy until I was nineteen years old. I was drinking a Shirley Temple at a singer-songwriter party. Shirley Temples are my favorite drink, closely followed by vanilla root beer floats. This cute boy and I had been making eye contact from across the room on and off for a while when he came over to me and asked me if I’d like to dance. Obviously, I said yes. I had a great time. I went home that night, embellished the story a bit to make it more fun, and wrote the whole song. The songs perfect for dancing. I would know since I’ve danced to it plenty of time on stage and in my bedroom.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
The best way to find a mentor is to put yourself out there. Follow individuals in your field on social media who are similar to you and live in your area. Attend conferences and talk to people who could be your mentor. Let them know that you are looking for a mentor. Join music organizations and groups. Most importantly, don’t give up or stop looking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hyperfollow.com/celestemariewilson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestemariewilson?
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090742831213&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@celestemariewilson738?si=opCv4Mq9hPzjuq13
Image Credits
Lisette Wilson
Josh David Walker
Quentin Wilson
