Bold Journey

Written By SunQueen Kelcey

August 26, 2025

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelcey Ledbetter a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelcey, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.

I avoid burnout by doing a regular audit of all the things I have on my plate.

This audit includes labeling tasks that:
-are priority
-what can be completed in less than 2 mins, so do it now
-what can be removed entirely or
-put on hold until I have the capacity

I’m very self-aware and know that I get overstimulated easily. Too much on my “to-do list” or excessive social interaction leads to burnout for me. So I have to be strategic about catering to my needs. It may sound calculated and that would be a valid assessment, lol!

It took me years to learn this about myself. I thought it was fixable or that I just couldn’t handle life (in general) since I didn’t know anyone that could relate. It wasn’t until I had one of the darkest depressive episodes in my life that I finally went back to therapy to find answers and treatment. The inattentive ADHD diagnosis was expected but discovering that I am on the spectrum was eye-opening.

My emotions are intense and my senses are heightened. I have synesthesia as well. Sounds (especially musical chords) sometimes present as colors to me. But the fact that I absorb so much energy and information everywhere I go is the reason I had to develop a mental and emotional filter as a coping mechanism. I carve out ample time alone after being around people all day. And I also stopped making plans with people when I’m in a good mood! Some days I don’t want to be talked to, touched or looked at. And honey, those days are unpredictable LOL!

Other ways I avoid burnout would be:

When a task seems too difficult and time-consuming; I outsource it.

If my newest ADHD hobby uses too much mental bandwidth; I simply quit. To me, a hobby should be challenging but fun. And when it stops being those two things, I lose interest! No point in actively choosing to do something I hate especially if it isn’t necessary for survival.

I consider failure a natural part of life. And I’ve failed at so many things, I can easily tell when pursuing something new is worth it or not. Which saves me time in the long run.

I’m comfortable with not being a jack of all trades. I have my limits. I’m not superwoman, I’m not always strong. I’m soft, I’m resourceful and I know when to let go if something just isn’t working.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a professional singer/songwriter and band leader. The genres that speak most to me are R&B / Soul, Rock, Gospel and HipHop. I remember my mama playing the 90’s R&B songs in the car when she picked me up from daycare and my dad introduced me to Rock N Roll and Gospel when we’d hang out on the weekends together! So my musical influences are truly all over the place.

I have always wanted to pursue music ever since I was a child. In high school, I was a classically trained vocalist but unsure of the path to take in college. I attempted pursuing a degree in Biology because I love science but that was a massive failure. However, it lead to me finding my first band to sing with in the Greensboro area. And my humble career blossomed from there.

Since then, I’ve released a full-length album, taught songwriting lessons to the public, sang on festival stages like Shakori Hill, NC Folk Festival, Raleigh Pride, FOX 8 and more. My band, “SunQueen & The Soular Flares” will be releasing an EP on September 13th! And I am SO EXCITED for that project to drop!

We also have a few shows leading up to that special moment and all the info can be found on our website: www.sunqueenandthesoularflares.com

Fri Aug 22 from 6-9PM – Black August at the Hyers
Fri Aug 29 from 6-9PM – The Tonight Show at the Hyers
Fri Sept 5 from 6-9PM – Line Dancing at the Hyers
Sat Sept 13 from 6-9PM – Meet the F.A.M. EP Release Show at the Hyers

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think the most useful qualities for me are soft skills, ability to organize groups, being observant, a great listener and sharpening my administrative skills.

Soft skills are important because you don’t have to be an expert in your field for people to want to work with you. You just need to be approachable, professional, willing to listen and learn. You have to remind yourself that not everyone will like you and that’s okay. And you need to practice enforcing boundaries because some people take advantage of your kindness; equating your generosity to being a pushover. Focus on cultivating solid connections with people who enjoy your company and want the best for you.

I’m analytical and a natural observer. I sharpened that analytical skill from interacting with so many different people over the years. It became easy to tell when someone would make a great friend, musical partner or none of the above. Eventually, you learn how to spot the red flags in those you need to avoid.

The third area of knowledge would be my administrative and light bookkeeping skills. I stumbled upon these skills. I don’t know if it was my ADHD or not but I worked a wide variety of jobs in the past including janitor, pizza delivery driver, camp counselor, event bartender, hoarder-home cleaner and more. It wasn’t until I landed my first receptionist role in my early twenties that I fell in love with everything administrative! I absolutely love spreadsheets, and organizing the many aspects of my life.

Artists are typically terrible at this part and I can understand why. It is the most time-consuming and mentally draining part of managing your brand.

These are nightmare words to us creatives:
-calendars
-contracts
-taxes / finances
-marketing
-inventory
-clear communication
-closing deals

But the more you learn about these things, the easier it will be to navigate this industry. It can also reveal some truth to the old adage; less is more. Imagine having to keep up with ALL of these things when you have 5 different businesses, 10 different unfinished projects and your money is split up across 8 different accounts. Keep it simple until you can successfully handle more.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I would spend it just like I am now. The simple things in life bring me the most joy. I find peace in music, my family, friends, food, therapy, reading, comfort and pretty things. I’m childfree by choice but I’m an auntie and Godmama aka Dri-Dri (short for Madrina in Spanish). I love spending time with my babies!

Plus, I’ve experienced a lot of life already and I have seen how unforgiving and cruel the universe can be to some of the kindest people.

I lost my father to cancer when I was 13. My mama, sister and I lost our home in a house fire a year after that. One of my closest cousins died in a car wreck on my 21st birthday. I’ve recovered from eating disorders and substance abuse but lost family members from overdose. I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease and two mental health conditions within the same year. We recently lost one of our most beloved cousins who had just turned 51 to a homicide / home invasion but three months later my grandpa died at the old age of 88. Again, life is unpredictable.

Being so familiar with death and loss can make you cynical but it can also put things into perspective when you see true suffering on a global scale. I recognize my privilege as someone who has their basic needs met plus a strong community, access to healthcare and the ability to practice self-care. I’m grateful for my life and the people I get to share it with.

I don’t want to rush toward the end of it. I’d rather pace myself and have no regrets along the way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photographer #1: Devan Daniel (Stack D Media)
Photographer #2: Jon McLawhorn

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SunQueen Kelcey
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