Katelyn Seary is a next-generation pop singer/songwriter whose passion was sparked by the legendary House of Mouse. A self-described “Disney baby” who witnessed the career evolutions of Disney-bred superstars like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato, Seary found that watching their concerts on YouTube brought her a happiness like no other. That feeling ultimately led her to pursue a musical career of her own, and despite being homeschooled, she found ways to perform by enrolling in music school and singing in showcases. It’s fitting that her first performance in front of an audience—at just six years old—was a cover of Cyrus’ hit, “The Climb,” and the standing ovation she received afterward solidified her passion to one day see her name in lights.

While still practicing music, Seary parlayed her homeschooling into an early high school graduation and a two-year head-start on college, all in the name of making time to write and sing her own material. As she says, “being homeschooled gave me the flexibility of making my own schedule at my own pace.” Over the years, she has learned to let the music come to her how it may, abandoning formality in favor of midnight inspiration. “Sometimes I will actually wake up from a deep sleep and have a melody pop into my head,” she says of her creative process. “I would then run out of bed and sing and record the melody, so I don’t forget it.”

The result is a burgeoning career, a “notebook worth of songs,” and a future discography that she describes as full of funky storytelling meant to make you dance (also a skill for which she has trained and performed professionally!). The funk aspect comes from her love of another set of Disney alumni who Seary says she would love to collaborate with someday: the Jonas Brothers. “I really enjoy their funky sound in their music,” she states, and she has also drawn inspiration from female artists of the moment like Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift. Seary hopes to one day see a sort of role reversal for her and the JoBros, a role that would see them in the audience of her headlining show at Madison Square Garden, singing along to songs that make everyone want to roll down their car windows and jam.

Writing is, of course, a huge part of Seary’s life, and her debut tracks, “I Don’t Know How You Do What You Do” and “Over Here,” are both derived from middle-of-the-night songwriting sessions. “I Don’t Know” uses a feel-good beat to explore her skepticism of a lover who seems too good to be true, while “Over Here” tells the story of a couple trying to rekindle the flame of a relationship gone stagnant. One other song, “Break Down These Walls,” is the first official song she wrote and features deeply personal lyrics that highlight the need for communication between two lovers.

Seary’s ultimate goal is one of hope and doing for her fans what her idols did for her. “I hope I get the chance to make people feel good when listening to my music as other artists have done for me,” she says. “I truly love the whole process of writing and recording my music and I hope others love my music, as well.”