We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Danaë. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
“STARLET” meant a lot to me. Early in my career, I allowed others to have a lot of say in the music I was making and how to sound. Once I let those people go, I put in a lot of inner work to try to find my voice again and ended up releasing a series of 7 singles. During that time of piecing those songs together, I was really coming into my own and on the path to self love. A music blogger reviewed a couple of those singles and called me a “Rising pop starlet” which was what planted the seed for this song. From there, I looked back to what being a starlet meant to me as a child and how it may have changed after navigating through the music industry and how discouraging people can be. “STARLET” became the anthem I never thought I’d get to write. It’s a reminder of how much I’ve had to endure, how strongly I believe in going after your dreams, and overall, reminding myself who I am. I’ve always had faith in myself and achieving my goals, especially when I was young, so “STARLET” was a letter to my inner child.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a Filipino-American dark pop artist and songwriter born and raised in southern California. I began my musical journey at the age of 7 with the piano, and later expanded to guitar and violin. I joined choir and orchestra in elementary school and graduated from Catawba College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business. My first job in the music industry was Merchandise Manager for various bands. I loved touring and learning behind the scenes, but really wanted to focus on my own music and tour for myself, so I began releasing original music. My love for the late 90’s/Y2K pop movement helped me gradually develop my sound of dark pop that balances deep sound and emotionally charged lyrics.
In 2021, I achieved one of my biggest career milestones when my single “Weigh Me Down” was nominated for Song Of The Year at the Wavy Awards, an award show focused on honoring minority talent within music. Additionally, I was selected for the GRAMMY NEXT program in 2022, which was a huge honor being recognized by the Recording Academy.
Since then, I’ve taken the stage at some of the industry’s most iconic venues and shows, including Wish 107.5, The Bowery Electric in New York, MYX Global, and The Mint in Los Angeles. This year, I started releasing singles that will be featured on my upcoming EP in 2024, a cinematic pop ballad called “i’m not sure what to do”, and a cinematic pop nightmare called “Kill The Killer”. In August 2023, “i’m not sure what to do” was nominated for Song of the Year at The Wavy Awards and we await for November 18th to find out who will take it home.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I knew about all of the AAPI communities that exist in the entertainment industry like the Asian American Collective, Gold House, and CAPE, just to name a few. When I first started in the industry, it was really challenging navigating as a Filipino-American woman because there was pressure to assimilate to the ideal industry standards. For awhile it was very lonely and I internalized all of my feelings.
Discovering and connecting with my community helped me feel seen and provided a supportive network of like-minded creatives who offer guidance, share experiences, and uplift each other. As unfortunate as it was learning about how similar some of my story was to others, it was very comforting to know that I am not alone and inspiring to know that it is very possible to achieve my career goals without having to suppress my identity.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
“The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron and “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert are two books that have made a huge impact on me within the last year.
For me, “The Artist’s Way” has reshaped how I approach both my creative process and entrepreneurship. It’s been a source of inspiration and provides practical tools for nurturing your Artist. I’ve learned the importance of self-care, developing creative routines, and embracing the transformative power of self-expression. This book helped me nurture my inner child and recognize its role in my creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.
On the other hand, “Big Magic,” sparked a bit of enchantment into my entrepreneurial thinking. It encouraged me to embrace fear, take bold risks, and invite inspiration into every aspect of my life. The book also pushes you to have a mindset where creative endeavors are seen as both adventures and practical pursuits.
Both books have become more like mentors to me and I highly recommend to anyone looking to explore and heighten their creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://lisadanae.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/lisadanaemusic
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/lisadanaemusic
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/lisadanae
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/lisadanae
- Other: TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@lisadanaemusic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yeqvyJgMHdQ4E3DwEs32N?si=XhrmoBUCTReDL8D0u4xEtA Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lisa-dana%C3%AB/597672295
Image Credits
Anna Azarov Ward 8 Studios Kris Florence