We were lucky to catch up with Nina Kasuya recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

For most of my adult life, I have had a day job in addition to my creative career. I worked for over a decade doing administrative work in higher education, trying to convince myself that it fulfilled my passion because I care deeply about education. During 8 of those years, I was also a middle school musical theater director- and anyone who has worked in public education know that “director” means producer, choreographer, lighting designer, set designer, build crew, graphic designer, front of house, stage manager, parent punching bag AND director. I was teaching privately, gigging in LA, and traveling the country as a vocal educator and performer, trying to balance it all. Being busy was my personality and that made me feel validated.

A few summers ago, I was forced to confront my mindset around the culture of work. I was in Vegas because I was hired to sing background vocals for some shows at the Westgate Casino. Each night after rehearsal, I would rush back to my hotel room to do work for my administrative job and teach voice lessons on zoom. Luckily my public school students were on summer break so I had one less thing to worry about. I was overworked, overwhelmed, and trying so hard to convince myself that this is what I wanted. Having a day job didn’t make me less of an artist so it would be irresponsible to reduce my work load and income, right? Being busy makes me feel validated, right?? Who needs joy and contentment when you are just fighting to survive capitalism?

As with many other folks whose jobs weren’t halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, I continued the intense pace of my life through lockdown until I was forced to face the fact that my priorities had shifted. And for some reason, on a random evening in June on a blue velvet couch in a room in the Westgate Hotel in Vegas, my brain decided “now is the time.” My heart started pounding and I started sweating as my body turned into a fist. My brain was working overtime trying to justify the fact that I hadn’t wasted the last decade of my life. Thirty years old and I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing with my life. Thinking about all the choices I’d made up until now made me want to throw up. Textbook existential crisis. Lucky for me, the other singer on the gig was my best friend, so I frantically texted her and she helped bring me back to myself.

I ended up resigning from the admin job and the middle school job. I also may or may not have cashed in on my vacation hours for the entirety of the two weeks notice I submitted for the admin job as payment for the things I had to deal with :). It has now been almost two years of earning a full-time living from my creative work. I am happier, I feel empowered by my work, and my bills are still payed. I have always been confident because I was convinced that the voices in my head that guided me were my own, but I think that night in Vegas was the first time that I allowed myself to actually trust myself. I didn’t realize how much of other people’s projections I had picked up along the way that I had disguised as my own instinct and desire.

I don’t know if there is anything that could have sped up the process of getting here. I think everything in my life leads me to each next point and I am grateful to be able to keep learning and growing as an artist and human.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a working singer in los angeles doing background vocals, session work, and singing with several groups. Singing with other people is one of my favorite things to do!

I teach and mentor artists. I have been a featured educator at Boston Sings A Cappella Festival, Milwaukapella, Los Angeles A Cappella Festival, and the SheSings/WeSing Vocal Festival, teaching a range of classes including solo singing workshops, group masterclasses, choreography and movement, and an inclusion-based discussion titled “Diversity, Dancefloors and Decolonization.” I have coached vocal groups throughout California, I work with students at Icon Collective College of Music, and in my private studio I welcome students of all genders and voice types.

I am a writer and composer. I have been working with a few colleagues (Leah Ashton, Molli McIlvaine) on a musical about humanity and structures of power through the lens of Eleanor of Aquitaine. I am also a collaborator on a musical based on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

I am an actor. In February of this year, I was in a production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune by Terrence McNally. Playing Frankie challenged me in ways that I didn’t expect, and forced me to grow as an artist and a person. She is messy, firm in her beliefs even when they get in her own way, and full of heart- the way we all are. This production is one of the things I am most proud of as a performer.

I feel very fulfilled having my hand in a lot of different projects. I love the fact that, as an artist, I don’t have to stick to one lane. I hope to continue building strong collaborative relationships and living a creative and artistic life.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

The best way to support artists is to support artists! With your dollars, with your time, by telling your friends about art/artists that you like so they can invest dollars and/or time. Support artists unions and legislation that allows artists to get paid! And invest in arts education for students of all ages!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the ability to say yes or no to projects that come my way. When I’ve worked for other people, I haven’t always had the autonomy to choose. Being able to align my work with my values is such a privilege and it feels extremely rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasuya.kiyoko/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ninakasuyamusic
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kasuya.kiyoko