As an artist, we frequently draw inspiration from our lives or those nearest to us. We take direct experiences or even stories from the ones we love and begin to create magic. Love has always been, and I believe will always be, one of the most inspiring things an artist can draw from. Many times, there’s not much we can control in this arena, but yet it has a way of taking over us and our lives, at a blink of an eye.

I believe, there’s a certain amount of self-love we must have and recognize from within ourselves. As someone who started in the music industry at such a young age: I have grown up, I have learned many lessons, I have evolved within myself, and I have found parts of me I never thought I could confront. When you’re an impressionable kid entering your teen years, the opinion and criticism of others can consume the very fabric of who you know yourself to be.

From being made fun of because my singing voice was high pitched, to being told “you got it” only to follow up with, “but your weight is an issue”. My self-esteem began to tank! How do you take the good with the bad? I mean, some of the industry’s leading exec’s, producers and label owners were telling me I was good and bad at the same time. At least, that’s how it felt for years. I unknowingly began to internalize the things going on outside, within. Soon enough, not being able to identify who I was at the core, unable to sustain relationships and feeling a level of inadequacy that bled through different areas of my life. But what do most of us do? We push through. We move through storms with our raincoats as if it’s just another day. We put on a shell of protection that numbs us from those insecurities we should be addressing.

As a young adult, I was presented the opportunity of going to Japan. As scared as the change was in my life, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Going to Japan provided me the opportunity to spread my wings a little and get to know myself. To really find some understanding within, face the demons I always kept hidden, and finally make the choice to fall in love with the person in the mirror; me. As I found more ways to love myself, the more I began to truly identify who I was as an artist. I would pull out the pen and pour my thoughts out on paper and then the mic. As I continued to evolve, so did my music. I began writing about what was in my heart, instead of focusing on whether it was a hit or not. Things shifted and my focus was now geared towards the impact I could have on someone else’s life and allowing a different message to reach people from within my music. This new chapter in my life led to a new influence in my artistry; self-love, self-worth, feeling free, a touch of sexy, but most importantly… always choosing yourself first!

Love, like music, is a universal language. It can inspire your way of thinking, influence your decision making, challenge your perspectives, and offer resilience where once there were none.