A couple of years ago, a young lady’s song caught my attention in a Hallmark movie, and I reached out to her for an interview. Since that time, Gelsea Mae has been making a splash on the music scene as well as in film and TV. Recently, she released an exceptional single, and it is was my joy and honor to have the opportunity to interview her yet again!
RH: Please tell us a little bit about the new single you released on November 27th.
GM: I wrote “Honeymoon” when I was reminiscing on the exhilarating early stages of being in love with my boyfriend, known as the “honeymoon stage”, and never wanting that feeling to end. It’s also about that moment when you think to yourself “wow, I think I’ve found my person.”
How would you describe your style, genre, and inspiration?
My inspiration comes from personal life experiences and listening to some of my favorite artists like Illenium, Gryffin, Zedd, The Chainsmokers, and Selena Gomez. I’d describe my music as a cross between EDM and pop that is uplifting, melodic, emotional, and vibey.
As an indie musician, how have things changed over the past few years in the music industry?
In the modern music industry, there are more independent artists than ever breaking into the mainstream without the support of a label. Digital music distribution, streaming platforms, social media, online marketing tools, and technology advancements are changing the way artists release music and reach fans. In today’s world, if you’re a talented artist, have a resilient team behind you, a wholesome work ethic, and good music to present to the public, the sky is the limit for you as an artist.
We have seen you on Hallmark over the past couple of years. As we advance, what are your aspirations with that network?
I love being a part of the Hallmark family so much, especially now that the network is bigger and more welcoming than ever with diversity and the LGBTQ community. After doing over a dozen Hallmark movies within the last few years, I’d love to star in my own Hallmark series one day. A series that would provide a lot of escapism and joy during these challenging and difficult times that we live in. That is what I love most about Hallmark, that their content is uplifting and positive. We need that more than ever right now.
You have also worked with non-profits. What charities do you support and why?
In 2018, my Dad was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a progressive, fatal lung disease that results in scarring of the lungs for an unknown reason with currently no cure. As an advocate for IPF patients, I started a partnership in 2019 with St. Paul’s Foundation to help spread awareness and raise money for IPF research. Aside from this, I’ve collaborated with several non-profit animal shelters including our local SPCA where I helped raise money for animals in need.
How has the pandemic crisis affected you personally and professionally?
Discovering the “silver linings” during this pandemic has been a daily occurrence for me. When film productions shut down for several months, I had no choice but to meet my situation with curiosity and gratitude. In slowing down and moving very little between physical spaces, I realized how much there was to do in my small apartment: write, play guitar, nurture my plants, read, listen to podcasts, meditate, draw, reconnect with old friends, workout, re-decorate my home, cook new recipes, learn a new skill, start an online business and the list goes on. I also found a significant opportunity to build stronger relationships, fight fear, manage anxiety, overcome unpleasant emotions, get out of my comfort zone and most importantly reflect on who I am and where I want to put my focus.
What are your holiday plans this year?
Depending on the current travel restrictions in place, my boyfriend and I plan to quarantine and get tested for COVID-19 before heading to my hometown, Victoria BC to spend Christmas with my family. Due to my Dad’s health condition, we will be taking extra precautions to make sure everyone is safe during the holidays.
Do you have any other projects in the works that you can mention?
I’m currently producing my official music/lyric video for “Honeymoon” with a talented video creator from Israel which I’m very excited about. On top of that, I’m using this quiet time to be more creative and write more music.
Please tell us a little about your process of writing & recording a song in today’s environment.
My producer and I began with writing sessions over FaceTime. This had its pros and cons. It allowed us to connect more often and be flexible with each other’s schedules. However, with all of the distractions at home, I found it harder to stay focused and at times felt like we lost the ability to feed off each other’s energy. At recording sessions, everyone would social distance and have their masks on, aside from when I was recording. In the studio it wasn’t too different from normal and to be honest it felt great being back in there.
I am immensely pleased to witness Gelsea Mae’s continued commitment to the arts, and nothing could make me happier than to see an artist like her thriving during these somewhat challenging times. If you have not had the opportunity to watch her Hallmark movies nor listen to her music, I invite you to check out her links below and follow her if applicable. Moreover, my fingers are more than crossed that she receives that coveted opportunity to lead a Hallmark movie or series in the near future. In fact, I wouldn’t even mind seeing another installment of Darrow & Darrow to witness her fun character again! In addition to all this, the fact that she uses her platform in such a positive way to support charities and non-profit organization is another feature I appreciate about this budding starlet’s career!
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