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

Hi Katie, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Not everyone who keeps going finds the outcome they were hoping for, but no one who gives up does. If you have a creative or entrepreneurial spark, if you have a mission behind why you wanted to start pursuing something you are passionate about, it’s imperative not to stop doing that unless you truly feel called in a different direction. Building a brand and making a dent in any market can be a long-term, painstaking pursuit, and it’s impossible to predict when a big jump in your brand’s success is right around a corner. If it’s something you cared about enough to chase, keep chasing. We can’t control outcomes but we can control our own actions, so just keep putting in the activity. No outcome will ever truly satisfy you if you don’t enjoy the ride.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Our band makes dance-y electronic pop music, with a focus on self-love and love and acceptance for others. I think that really stems from our journey to find self-acceptance. Unfortunately for one reason or another, so many of us grow up judging each other and ourselves, even subconsciously, and it takes a long time to undo that programming, to get to a state of loving yourself and everyone around you equally for who they are. Marty, my Bandmate/Husband, and I, are proud of the work we’ve put in to overcome that and we consider it a mission for our music to help others do the same. We hope our songs help people find self-acceptance and transcendence, all while having a great time!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is like a choose-your-own-adventure playground. You can have so many different amazing experiences here, but our favorite activities are things that allow us to really savor the area. We almost always take out of town visitors on a drive along Mulholland, with its amazing panoramic views. Some other favorites include checking out art at the Getty, bike rides through Santa Monica and Venice, breakfast at Eggslut or Muffin Can Stop Us, and family-style food like Korean BBQ or Dim Sum, although as we often have to tell our visitors, that is not happening all in 1 day. If we go out for a night of music it’s usually in the Hollywood area or Downtown, and we love to cap a night out with a slice at Joe’s Pizza or a burger, our favorite spot lately has been Bougie Burger in Van Nuys. Our prime Sunday excursion is escaping the city and going to Topanga/Malibu, grabbing coffee and a quiche at Cafe Mimosa (or a full brunch at Cafe on 27) before going for a hike or to the beach and ending the day with dinner and drinks by the water at Duke’s Malibu.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s so many people that come to mind and it’s really difficult to pick just one person but I suppose I’d want to dedicate this shoutout to my mom, Julie, for always being such an inspiration to me. She’s gone through a lot in her life and she’s been such a warrior, while still maintaining her positivity and optimism. She’s taught me what it means to fight but also how to appreciate life, and I’m so grateful for her example. She also kept me on my musical journey when I almost took a different turn in my life, so I owe a lot of my success to her for that reason as well!

Website: https://go.tartvandelay.com/tart-vandelay-website

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tartvandelay/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tartvandelay

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tartvandelay

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BnCe7NnWxC7dmKTQK7mhK?si=mnTOcVDeT9SbIhRIE9zk6Q
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tart-vandelay/1161910998
https://music.amazon.com/artists/B01LXRCUVX/tart-vandelay?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_wvurHczyIVHPqYd00R0SrQITP

Image Credits
Photos by Jaspreet Singh / Crazy Folio
Makeup & Hair by Patrick Santa Ana

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