Getting To Know: TheARTI$t
We always made the mistake of conventionally thinking of the artist. For a long time, one was only considered an artist, if they could paint a canvas with beautiful strokes of paint. I beg to differ, a true artist can paint peace, and compassion for you and your transgressions through the melodies they sing, and vocals they stack. The artist is the truth-teller of every human being, they tell stories that we are ashamed of and shed tears through their lyricism that we the listener have been holding back for years. Life isn’t easy as we all know, but I was blessed with the opportunity to come across an artist who’s making it easier to bear through her talent. TheARTI$T is what I like to call a still water of vulnerability, and humanity. When you hear her music, you cannot help but see yourself in all of the ways you were afraid to. TheARTI$T has a talent that speaks to your soul while acknowledging your fears. Everyone can write a song, but everyone can’t write a generation to a place of healing and vulnerability. I was awarded the privilege of sitting down in an intriguing conversation with a talent that will go down in history. TheARTI$T, thank you for sharing you with me and my audience, you have a future ahead of you that is filled with abundance and success.
Who are you?
I am a different kind of individual, as cliche as it may sound. I believe that I’m different, because I look to my peers and come to understand that the things I’ve undergone whether we've both experienced these things have impacted me differently. In many ways, I had no choice but to be strong growing up, and that has shaped me into the person I am today.
Would you say your upbringing has had an influence on your sound today or was it a form of therapy for you?
It was a mixture of both, but it leaned towards the therapeutic side. Before I got into music, I always listened to music to fall asleep and do a multitude of things. Music was always an escape for me, I always saw it as me and the sound.
What or who inspired you to get into music?
It was a mixture of my support system, and my late brother who also did music, that experience lit a flame in me to continuously push myself in my career.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
It’s a fusion of an explorative hopeless romantic love story. I’m trying to be vulnerable, and speak on real-life experiences. My music is my life through sound and verse.
Your music has this melodic, vulnerable cadence that touches the heart of every listener. I must say I admire your willingness, to be honest in your artistry. Why is honesty in your sound important to you?
The act of honesty in my music helps me to become honest with myself. Oftentimes I’ve looked in the mirror from a place of denial about a lot of things. Making music helps with my personal growth and self-awareness.
Do you think your willingness to be honest in your music helps the listener to follow suit, and build a level of self-awareness as a result?
I hope that it does, I’ve received a lot of feedback that’s been very positive. I can see that I’m headed in the right direction, and being able to see people connect, and relate means a lot. I’ve had people come to me and admit the error of their ways, and I’ve had others come to me and confess that they were the victims. It’s exactly what I hoped it would be.
How do you accept feedback as an artist?
A person’s opinion is their opinion, so I can’t take it personally. If I decided to take it personally, that could put a blockage on my trajectory. I can’t expect everyone to love what I create, but I do take advice and I value my supporters' honesty.
It is clear that you walk with a spirit of humility, and operate from a sober mindsight. “Sober” … is a very honest and raw track, what was the process of creating this like?
The process of creating this song was easy, but it was also difficult. There was a situation I thought I had gotten over, and through the process of creating this song, I realized I hadn’t. It was amazing to see that I was able to put exactly what I had experienced into the song.
Are you proud of your courage to be vulnerable enough to create a song like “Sober”?
Yes, I’m most definitely proud!
What was the younger version of yourself like?
Joyful, I was a happy child, even though my situations were difficult to navigate. I was always dancing, singing, and playing around. I look at the younger version of myself that felt alone and didn’t think she could talk to anyone about things and see that she's come a long way.
Are you proud of the younger version of yourself?
Absolutely!
Was being a music artist always a dream of yours?
As a kid I always thought I was going to make it to the WNBA, I loved basketball. Then I grew a love for painting and clothing, so I considered taking the modeling route. Then modeling turned into music. I realized I had a passion for it, and would eventually find that I had a voice as well. I believe that music found me, but being an artist was always who I was, that’s why that’s my name “TheARTI$T” because that’s who I am, and it’s bigger than music.
What would you like to see in the industry?
I would like the world of R&B to shine.
What is one message you’d give to your fans who may struggle to embrace who they are and the talents they possess?
I would advise them to keep going no matter how many nos, and closed doors. I believe that’s why things are happening for me the way they are because I never gave up, even when I was given a hundred reasons to. Everyone has a time, and your time will come. Don’t look at the next person, and be discouraged or disappointed, once you build that faith in yourself, that’s when you’ll make room for the change you’ve been wanting to see. Put God first, and it’ll all come to fruition.
Any artists or supporters of yours, we should be privy to?
Fergie Baby, Kai Anthony, First Lucas, Rich, Big Knots, Tata (If you ever choose to share your beautiful artistry with the world, Styling By Chi will be waiting patiently to share your story).
What’s next for TheARTI$T?
I don’t know, but I’m trusting in God and my team.
Checkout “Sober” Today!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBooesbVuw
Stream “Sober” Today!
https://open.spotify.com/track/7hXhB8rKCEavG8XM4PJ50F?si=d3f544c5e69640dd
Checkout TheARTI$T’s LinkTree!
https://linktr.ee/Theartist.co?fbclid=PAAaZLlAcWvVX6DZ3Hvt72aCAZQ1MuvxgH5701Luc4Dzk1EdkicFQe9lzsKpw
Follow TheARTI$T On Instagram!