Perfectly Strong Women: Kaylor Otwell

How long have you been practicing your trade?
28 years

What is your definition of a Perfectly Strong Woman?
There are a lot of hurdles on the path for women that aren’t there for men, especially in the music industry. But I think a perfectly strong woman doesn’t get hung up on the unfairness of it, but just pushes forward in whatever way she needs to, and holds onto the joy of what she loves doing.

Tell us more about your business.
Kaylor & The Tin Cans is an Americana/Alt-country band currently based in New York City. Lead singer and songwriter, Kaylor Otwell is originally from Birmingham, AL and has been writing and performing music for nearly three decades. Our music is inspired by traditional folk, blues, and gospel styles with stripped down, acoustic arrangements. Published releases include “The Tin Cans” (2010) and “Hell or High Water” (2016), which are both available on iTunes, Spotify and most other major digital platforms. Visit www.kaylorandthetincans.com or find us on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to hear our music!

What is one piece of advice that you would give a young woman aspiring to fulfill her dream?
Don’t wait for someone to discover you, or hand you an opportunity – create your own work, and your own opportunities. Decide what you want, and research how other people got it. Then develop a strategy – a step by step plan. It may not lead to the open door you had planned, but the work will lead to an opening somewhere, and prepare you for the thing you want.

Name the one woman who has been most influential in pursuing your dream/craft.
Patty Griffin, hands down. I cannot state enough how much I love music, have studied it, and have sought to take lessons from it into my song-crafting. I admire her steadfastness in keeping true to her style, without being concerned about how it would be categorized the industry.

As a busy woman, what is a time-saving technique or life hack that you would share?
Ideally songwriting would take place in a beautiful, quiet, atmospheric space, but who has time for that? I’ve had to find creative ways to work on my songs throughout my day. Sometimes I work on lyrics on my cell phone on the subway. Sometimes I work through new melodies or timing on my voice memo app walking down the sidewalk. I carry a mini keyboard with me most places, and if I have unexpected down time I work on arrangements. So even on days when I can’t afford a dedicated writing block, I find little snippets of time and make the most out of them.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Drag queens! Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with drag queens. I love the showmanship, the visual spectacle, and the bravery. It’s my goal as a performer to exhibit even a fraction of the stage presence of a drag queen.

You’re on stage all the time, what are some of your personal beauty & wellness tips on how a woman can feel confident?
I know everybody says this, but: take care of your skin! Sunscreen is a daily must – nothing ages a person more than sun damage. I am pretty lazy when it comes to beauty regimes, so I make sure my daily moisturizer has sunscreen in it – saves me a step!