Quigley

SSW: Let’s talk about your background! You initially moved out to LA to make music and Quigley was your artist name, and then you transitioned into fashion and travel blogging. Tell us a little more about your journey!

Quigley: Yes! In 2008 I was on American Idol, and after the show ended I moved back to Minnesota and finished up my degree in Mass Communication at the school of journalism at the University of Minnesota. Then I moved out to Los Angeles to pursue music and broadcast journalism. After about five years I was feeling a bit burnt out on the industry. I needed a new creative outlet that was just “for fun” without the pressure of making it my career. I had always loved fashion, so I started posting photos of my outfits and doing creative photo shoots with friends. It started as a hobby, but I slowly started to build an audience by brands re-posting me and about a year in I started to get a few offers to post about things and get paid to do it. At the time, I didn’t think it would go anywhere… but I just wanted to make some extra money to put towards making music videos so I said yes! I hit a wall with music and felt very discouraged, so I decided to just go full force with trying to be a blogger so in 2016 I parted ways with my music manager and started my blog. For a year and a half I worked part time at a bar in Hollywood, while I built up Officially Quigley. Then, in late 2017, I was finally able to support myself full time as a blogger so I quit my side job and that’s when things really started to take off!!! It’s amazing what a little leap of faith can do for your career- I was SO scared I wouldn’t be able to support myself full time, but the risk paid off!

What type of music did you grow up listening to? Who has had the greatest influence on your taste in music over time?

I read once that people are naturally drawn to the music that they listened to while they were in the womb- when their ear drums were first forming… so I googled which music was at the top of the charts in 1987/1988 and it was: Michael and Janet Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Hall and Oates, Rick Astley, George Michael, U2, Cyndi Lauper, Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac. So that just about sums my musical tastes up perfectly. I’m an 80s girl through and through.

How did you get started in the blogging world?

Around 2009 or 2010 I needed images for my Myspace page to promote my music, so I hired a photographer to take photos of me. She was one of the first photographers who really blew up on YouTube and Instagram, because she did photoshop actions and tutorials before anyone else. So once she shot with me- tons of other photographers wanted to shoot with me too. I used to bring crazy outfits and pretty fun vintage to the shoots so I think there was an appeal there for photographers to get something quirky and different for their portfolios and I also needed photos to promote my music, so it was a win win. I just said yes to every creative collaboration, and the more people I got creative with, the more my audience grew!

Do you find there’s a very different process when it comes to sitting down to write a blog post as opposed to writing a song?

Yes and no! I think creatively in general it’s fueled by the same stuff. Creative energy comes in waves and in bursts and is usually inspired by just simply living life. I always have been getting best ideas when I’m on the go, so I generally start all my ideas as little notes on my phone or voice memos… because if you have a good idea you have to write it down immediately!!!! I also think that the more I surround myself with other types of art- the more inspired I am to make my own art. I like to listen to podcasts, read books, always have movies and go to museums and just surround myself with as much inspo as possible around me at all times!!! Scrolling Insta- doesn’t really do it for me… I need moreeeeee!

What is something people might find surprising about you?

Leads me to my former statement. I don’t really spend much time on my feed on Instagram. Doing the scroll just isn’t my jam. I’ll go to specific accounts to talk and leave love- but I just don’t really like to scroll. I’d would rather go on Pinterest to find inspo.

We’ve been following you on social media for a very long time now, and wetruly appreciate your honesty; we feel raw emotion through everything you write and post. And even though you are so young, you seem like an old soul. If anyone reading this interview is currently feeling lost and searching for their purpose, what would you want to share with them?

Wow! Thank you so so much. I think part of that just comes from this burning desire to understand people, and to be understood. I think empathy or compassion really is my middle name. I just believe so strongly that human nature is good and that people are good and that even when people do bad things, they still have a belief that they are acting in a way that they can justify it as being “good.” So it really is a weird mission of mine to truly understand things from everyone’s perspective.I don’t know if you can teach that- but I do believe that it’s probable I am that way because of all the psychology and new age books I’ve read in my lifetime. My mom is super into psychology and my dad is super curious about religion so I think it was a combo of both of their influences.
Some good books:
A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle
Return to Love, Marianne Williamson
Mindset, Carol Dweck
Outliers, Malcom Gladwell

Thinking of yourself as a soul on Earth, what do you believe your purpose
is?

My purpose is to spread love and teach about compassion.

If there were a perfect soundtrack for this year of your life, which song
would it be?

Defying Gravity from Wicked. It is my theme song forever and ever.

Which artists are you listening to most right now?

The Japanese House, Leon, Lauv, Jake Miller, Fletcher, Christine and the Queens, Robyn, Grey, Sigrid, Dagny, Lany

Any memories connected to the songs you chose to share with us in your playlist today?

Robyn is my favorite artist of all time! She just released a new record after long eight years of no new music, so I was so thrilled to have her do a little comeback. Her Body Talk EPs were really the catalyst for me to move to LA and try and be a pop star. She just is my total hero. I just got to see her show in San Fransisco and it was so surreal. She is a genius. I always joke saying we are long lost cousins- my dads family is Swedish (Carlson is my maiden name – we dropped an s at some point to sound more american) and her last name is also Carlsson 😉 so it’s totally possible we could be related. Just putting that out there.

What are your future plans/goals in both blogging and music? Are you planning get back to recording any time soon?

I will definitely make music again soon. Since I produce it myself, I’ll just set up a mini studio in my home and make it as a hobby. It will be for my soul- not because I’m trying to impress anyone or make it my livelihood. I also want to write a musical someday! As far as the blog goes- I’m not gunna lie- I really see myself being a BADASS mommy blogger. I can’t wait to be a mom.