Lily Kobelt
 

Lily Kobelt

A foot in the door

Music student Lily Kobelt is looking to break into her industry thanks to the B.E.S.T. Projects Fund

Lily Kobelt is an artist striving to perfect her art while yearning to stay true to herself. Not an easy task when that art is music, a highly competitive field where only a few lucky hopefuls get noticed by talent scouts and recording labels. But the Lennoxville native feels confident thanks to the 10-week internship she spent at Studios Piccolo in Montreal, where she got an exclusive look into the music business.

“I received an email about the B.E.S.T. Projects Fund over the holidays,” she remembers. “I started reading it and thought, ‘They’re going to help me achieve my dream if I just submit my project?’ I started to think about how I wanted to improve as an artist. What would I want to do? My internship could help me so much more than being in a classroom, and this is not an opportunity that too many people get. It’s amazing!”

Lily spent her summer understanding the technical side of the business, shadowing several technical and engineering positions at the studio. ‘‘I discovered what sound I was looking for and how to better communicate with the engineers, which makes the recording process that much easier,’’ she says.

The 21-year-old even got the chance to produce a recording for an artist. She also made connections with record label owners and producers and gained a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in the industry.

Lily credits her program with putting her on the path toward becoming an independent artist. “What Bishop’s has taught me is that you can take different talents and skills and put them together,” she says. “I really want to be able to make my own decisions when it comes to my art. Nowadays a lot of people are told: ‘If you want to make it, this is what you have to do’, and they have to listen to everyone else. I look up to independent artists who are entrepreneurial and doing what they want and showcasing who they really are. That’s what I would like to do,” she says.

Lily knows she is fortunate to have received the opportunity. “It’s very hard to get these internships,” she says. “Usually, aspiring artists and musicians can’t get an internship like mine because they have no experience. So getting my foot in the door is enough for me. Spending time in the studio was a dream!”