You are known for your role as “Jasmine” in the One-Leg short film. What intrigued you about this character?
Jasmine is a teenager that does not ignore her instincts.
She is the heart of the family and cares deeply about the safety of her loved ones. She comes off as young and easily scared, but she manages to overcome her fears and becomes the level-head to keep what family she has left together. I personally can relate to Jasmine in this manner. Growing up, and even now, I have never ignored my instincts. If something feels off, pay attention to that. If something feels right, keep going.
How do you describe your style of acting?
My style of acting all stems down to opening myself to understanding who my characters are and what their goal is. Are they soft spoken or naive? Do they come from a healthy background or do they have secrets? Are they a force to be reckoned with or is it a front? Knowing these little details helps me decide the best way to portray these characters, because they are real people. At the end of the day, they aren’t that much different from you or from me. Having the ability to empathize is one of the many ways I feel for my character, but it’s also the most important.
As a singer/songwriter you blend the world of Pop and Contemporary R&B. Tell us about your first album released in March, “Love & Madness.”
I wrote my album, ‘Love & Madness’ during times of change and harsh realities. I realized who I was and what I wanted, and coming to terms with myself on that is the basis of this album. It takes you on a journey of self-reflection, dreams, passionate love, and goodbyes. All of what I was feeling at the time, especially during the pandemic shutdown COVID-19. I was either high or low and sometimes both at the same time. I thought I was losing my mind. Hence, the “madness”. But in that madness, I found a deeper understanding, love, and respect for myself. I found growth. Something that I hope for others to gain while listening to this album as well.
What many do not know is that I developed the hardcopy CD from scratch including the edits, layout and visuals on my own. As an independent artist, I make sure to put countless hours of work into every single detail and each content that you see released today. I made sure when creating this hardcopy CD, that others would find it both nostalgic and keepsake.
Much of your inspiration is drawn from your personal experiences. What is your favorite song?
My favorite song on the album ‘Love & Madness’ is Dinner Table. It is an ode to myself and my flaws. We all have flaws, but it is both humbling and a huge step in the right direction to admit that to ourselves. I sat at a table reflecting with all of the different versions of myself and told myself “Hey, you’ll push the people you love away if you cannot admit your mistakes too”.
How important is being authentic when writing music?
Authenticity when writing music is extremely important to me. I write all of my songs and will continue to. My songs are, in a way, my diary that everyone gets to read from and/or take a journey or lesson from. I feel it is best as an artist and a person for my listeners to know what they are hearing is real. There is comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your thoughts, and I aim for that in everything I write.
Tell us about your hit single, “Power.” Why is this resonating with audiences?
‘Power’ is an exaggerated reflection of the world we live in today. It’s what people think about when they go to work but find taboo to talk about at a dinner party. It showcases that there are important things in this life that go unnoticed or ignored because of the endless pursuit of power as an excuse for wrong-doing. It’s the statement, “Power made me do it” in this song that further accentuates lack of accountability. With abuse of power comes consequences that are hard to accept.
Giving back is important to you, tell us about your nonprofit, School of Arts. What is your mission?
I’m only in the beginning stages of my journey. I do plan to open Non-Profit locations/schools for the arts in the future. Everyone should have the opportunity to express themselves and be heard. There shouldn’t be a price tag to that, and that’s why so many talented individuals go unnoticed. It’s debilitating to not have a safe or creative place to express oneself. Part of my duty is ensuring that there is always a positive and encouraging space for those who may not have the resources or are less fortunate to do so.
What can we expect to see from you next?
I’ve got a lot coming up next! I was just starred in another short film called “Mahogany’s Revelation” where I play the main character, Mahogany. I am working on a bunch of other projects from videos to music content. There is so much more coming and soon! I am looking forward to the future and am beyond excited to go on this artistic exploration with everyone. I am forever thankful for the support of my family, friends, and listeners.
Power (Official Video):
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