We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Powell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, why did you pursue a creative career?
Pursuing subjects in the Arts allowed me to sharpen my creativity skills. Creativity is one of the most sought-after traits by employers today as it leads to innovative thinking so that people can think outside of the box and come up with new solutions. Ever since I was a kid, I was the daydreamer, imagining the possibilities and wonders of the world. I always immersed myself in imagination and fantasy, yet remain grounded enough to turn my daydreams into reality. Having a creative mind allows me to do new and exciting things and engage myself in a way that gets me one step closer to reaching my full potential. One of the the greatest things about creative and artistic people are imaginative, curious, and spend a lot of time quietly reflecting on the topics that hold their interest and allowing their minds to wander.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
While there are plenty of music photographers in the industry, I believe what sets me apart from others is that I’m a “fan girl” and fan girls have become the backbone of the music industry. The definition of a fan girl is an overly enthusiastic female fan. It’s also an idea that has been weaponized by others, especially men, in order to silence femininity within the music industry. The fangirl is looked at as crazy,
obsessive, hysterical. etc., but it’s not like that at all. However, it’s the fangirls that have effectively handed many musicians their careers and are often responsible for the virality and hype that surrounds the most famous artists and bands. Because I pride myself as being a fan girl, it opened up a door of endless possibilities starting out in the industry. Luckily, I didn’t face too many challenges starting out, as I was determined to get my foot in the door one way or another. In fact, it was easy for me as there were lots of volunteer opportunities through concert production companies, and I was able to gain experience and start out that way. I also had a friend who was able to get me my first photography gig. If there was any lesson I learned along the way, it was to make meaningful connections and seize every opportunity, big or small.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a sucker for museums and anything to do with dinosaurs and space, and the Museum of Natural Science offers just that! It goes from dinosaur bones and fossils that were underground for millions of years before their discovery to solar systems that are out in the far reaches of space. They also have a really neat butterfly exhibit which is so beautiful. Two other interesting places to visit are the Space Center, you can explore amazing spacecrafts, have interactive experiences and even meet astronauts. And the Downtown Aquarium. There’s close to half-a-million gallons of water that houses these fish and other sea creatures.

When it comes to food the two places I recommend are Caracol and Hungry Like The Wolf. Caracol is among one of the top Mexican restaurants in the city, and is considered a fine dining kind of place. The second place is right up your alley if you’re into 80s. It’s one of my favorite places to visit because of it’s 80s themed menu, cocktails, vibes, ambiance and decor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout an organization called, Girls Behind the Rock show. GBTRS is the largest online platform and resource for women and gender-nonconforming people in the music industry. They were founded on and stand for the principle of female empowerment within the music industry. They are dedicated to providing empowering and meaningful opportunities for people of marginalized genders pursuing a career in the music industry. I’ve been a part of this organization for awhile now and they have always been so supportive.

Website: pausethememory.com

Instagram: krisexplicit

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenlpowell13

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