We recently connected with Aly (Aly-Slay) Campbell and have shared our conversation below.
Aly (Aly-Slay), appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I have taken a lot of risks in my personal and professional journey, and I’ve never liked the idea of just remaining comfortable or part of the status quo. I know I was put on this planet to inspire others and make a difference with the talents I’ve been blessed with so that starts with me being from a small town in Ohio and knowing that would never define me. I sought out opportunities in the arts my whole growing up and my parents encouraged this exploration. Even in a small town, I met people from all walks of life and different backgrounds. I had a calling in my heart to move well beyond the small town I grew up in and right after college and a lot of hard work and preparation, landed my first job in New York City where I stayed for 10 years. Many people couldn’t understand how a woman from a small town could make it in the big city or why that was even a desire for me. However, I quickly proved them wrong. Throughout this time in New York City even while maintaining a full professional career, I always found time to nurture my music and artistry. After 10+ years of living in NYC, a city I loved, I knew and felt a calling that it was time to also grow in the next biggest market, Los Angeles. I moved to both NYC and Los Angeles not really knowing anyone and have survived and thrived and continue to grow. I know I am meant to be in these places and rooms, and I continue to grow my career professionally and in music in this beautiful city of Angels now nearly 10 years in here and am so grateful my journey has led me here and that I’ve always been a natural risk-taker and have been willing to be bold and take these leaps. You find the best things in your life through them.
Aly (Aly-Slay), love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hi! I’m Alyson (Aly-Slay) Campbell and I am an R&B and Hip-Hop Singer-Songwriter. I have been in music my whole life, growing up singing solos in school and church from a young age, learning the piano at my Grandma’s knee (while also being kicked out of her studio to go on and truly practice with another teacher!) and receiving my B.A. in Journalism and B.A. in Music. I have studied in-depth music theory, ear training and am classically trained. I’ve sung in children’s choirs, state choirs, college and semi-professional choirs including in several opera performances in New York City including with American Ballet Theatre, Carnegie Hall (twice!, grateful!) and in Los Angeles. I really discovered and begin carving out my lane and finding that my tribe was Hip-Hop and R&B in 2021 after growing up my whole life performing music, studying all genres, and so much more. I founded my company, Music to Change the World in 2021 as I truly believe music can change the world and is a universal language and with time and establishing my own platform, I want to use that to continue to bring more artists together from various genres not typically thought of together. I am proud of so many things! I’m proud of myself for moving from a super small town and making it in both NYC and Los Angeles. I’m proud of not sticking to what was comfortable and continuing to mine and find new opportunities. I’m proud of myself for forging new pathways and helping people find their voices and pour into their brands. I’m proud of myself for establishing two companies, Heart & Soul PR in 2015 and Music to Change the World in 2021 and growing those. I’m proud of myself for putting in the hard work to continue to go and grow where I need to be and know that I am ultimately living out my purpose.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect is community and letting your music literally be your tool. Music is a universal language and my voice is my instrument. In rooms I have been given the talent and ability to bring people together and unite them, entertain them, make them feel something special. That is what’s most rewarding – helping people feel and come together.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think there are a lot of misconceptions about creatives and their journeys. So many people only see the finished product. They get to enjoy the art and yes, enjoyment is what it’s about. But they don’t always see the work and the time and the investment that goes into the enjoyment that they love. Creatives have a tough road. There is little funding for independent artists, especially if they are self-funded and it takes money to make money. It’s a constant pouring into your business as a creative even as you continue to move in the biggest rooms and with the biggest names. You could have a big name feature on your track for example, but, did you know that that artist needed to pay for that feature, along with paying the amazing engineers and producers that do their jobs to record you, to mix and master and to make it sound the best it can be? And the buck doesn’t stop there. Then, there is all the marketing that goes into it. There is no one “foolproof” way to make it in this business. It’s continuous trial and error. It’s continuing to keep putting yourself – and ultimately your art – out there for the world to judge. This business is not for the faint of heart. But we do it because we love it and are called to it, and we know that our art will make a difference because this is our purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.musictochangetheworld.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/musictochangetheworldnow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjK8GHX1mjU6fPJXg7nc_Eg
Image Credits
@markmennie @shotbywriggz