Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Sutton.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all started the day I was helping my church move out of old building or I was there while the moving was going on, granted I’m about 12 or 11 at this time. I remember looking across the room where sunlight coming in through the glass of the entrance door of our chance building onto a small keyboard that was rested on a wall. I asked my dad I asked my (step) mom if I could take it home (I was young and ready to explore new things). That worked out my dad at times would show me chords and gospel songs as well as the famous heart and soul. Then for a brief time of like six months, I remember I was taking lessons with a piano teacher who lives in the subdivision next to mine. My dad had asked the teacher how long would it take for me to play as church musician, “she said two years” he said in less than a year and that’s exactly what happened. After that six months, I was just put straight into the church playing every Sunday, improv melodic music and played for choirs. But with that being said, this process wasn’t paved with gold. There were many times as I was growing I was kicked off the piano because more skilled usually adult musicians would play these things sort built me. “Pain grows you and the embarrassment of not being good, caused me to go harder to improve quicker” One memory of being kicked off I hold in my mind as perhaps the turning point of where I had been to where I am now. It was an afternoon service and my brother, who played the drums, and I were playing at a church because we were the only musicians prolly about 15 now and in the middle of us playing I turn around to a door opening behind me and very flashy (big watch, much jewels) guy makes a stern look at me and says “GET UP” I was hurt in that moment. My identity of piano being everything was being shattered right before my eyes seemingly in this moment, I’m sort of exaggerating but the guy was super rude to us in his approach. I always remember that day though and lived with the thought that ” I want to be so good that they can’t kick me off anymore” “that they ask me to play” fast-forward 5 years to now I’m entering new arenas and I’m almost in a similar situation of negative things happening to force me to improve but at the same time I’m grown tremendously to the point where music has become an essential part of my life. Writing this, I almost tear up remembering how far we came and that this whole life that has been created for me all started with that one piano that was in that old church, Glory to God. I look around in my room/studio and it’s like a dream. Everything I need I pretty much have and as far as where I am with music now is that I still play for my church but I now play everywhere else to. The past consistency has created a career for me. It’s a journey, and I look forward with wide eyes awaiting what’s next.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Similar to what I stated in the previous prompt is one me getting over my ego so I wouldn’t feel insecure of my skill but at the same time using that ego or sense of pride to push further into this gift and opportunity God has given me gift. The same problems of yesterday occur now, I have to deal with my ego as well as other people’s ego who may feel we’re in a competition, not recognizing that life is a gift and this is a collaboration to move us all forward.
Tell us about your music – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I perform what you could call jazz music it’s really a fusion of several genres if put best. My whole idea is reaching more people with this light inside of me because if I just play strict standard classical music, automatically someone who has never heard or relates that type of music to an elitist society who cares nothing about them will automatically tune me out but if I mix it with something though know if give them a vibe that makes them want to jump out of there seat and dance I have accomplished a mission in my eyes. So let’s say I am an artist.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for me is doing the things that I said I wanted to do in a previous time. So, for example, a goal for me was to play gigs consistently and be able to do music as a career. I’m doing that now but there’s a bigger scale that I want to get to. So I’ve tasted some success but I strive for the most I can be as long as God permits me to.
Contact Info:
- Email: csuttmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/csuttn
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