We were lucky to catch up with Lua De Morais recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lua , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I must say PlayBug, It’s a kids show on YouTube where I teach languages through music and bed time stories while playing a character I love “Mel”, with the goal of not only educating, but uniting generations. I work on this project with both my daughter & son: Sharon & Lian, (23 & 21), and it’s very fulfilling not only as a professional in the arts of writing , acting, singing , & creating a show from beginning to end, but as a mother. This for me is an honor that I simply can’t describe in words!
I’ve learned so much about postproduction, since always being more the creator and executor of things, yet till a certain point.
I’ve also got to meet amazing professionals and collaborate as well. It’s been really challenging and given me lots of satisfaction and pride to see my kids grow in the fields of music production (Sharon, is the music producer of the show), singers / voice over actors (both).
Lua , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’ve been a singer all my life, I always loved all the performing arts, yet, being a mom really young, I only got to go to acting school after the age of 30, once my kids where a bit older. This experience changed my life and I then produced (wrote, directed, etc.,) a couple of musicals. One in Chile with other females (including my daughter), between 2016-2022, called “Actitud Femenina”, and one last year here in a LA, called “Wings”, which is a solo act about my life story.
I was born & raised in a cult (“The Children of God”), it was American origin which is the reason why I speak such good English. Yet, I was restricted for most of my childhood and teen years. Wanting to be an artist or “famous” was a reason to be punished and feel extreme guilt and condemnation. I felt guilt most of the time and thought something was wrong with me when all I wanted was to change the world with the passion & love I felt, and needed to express through lyrics, melodies and stories I wanted to tell. This marked my life & it wasn’t until I became a mother that I realized it was ok to feel what I felt & I broke free from what I was taught was the only truth.
Today I live in Los Angeles, I can sing and write about whatever makes me happy, I’m free to express myself & do what feels right for me. I am challenged daily and can finally be who I always felt I was meant to be. I’m not sure if this makes any sense, yet, freedom is honestly what I cherish the most, since I didn’t always have it…we take simple things for granted, yet, many people in the world still don’t have this and it’s scary, I wish it wasn’t that way. Women especially in some countries…it breaks my heart & I wish I could do something about it, because I’ve been in similar situations, in free places.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I see how artists struggle, I struggle myself. We dedicate long hours in creating things, May it be writing a book, recording an album, producing a play, etc., we invest our lives in creating things to make people smile, feel identified, heard, etc. We may even be at times, peoples voices, source of strength, we inspire others to be motivated and happier on a daily basis with our music, message, etc. We may also help create awareness and change, & may have power to educate and also inspire masses, yet, at times we can’t even pay our own bills. It’s so hard to make a living while giving to others most of the time.
I feel there could be specific programs to support artists, (artists who are really giving their lives to make a difference in this planet), there are so many things that could help us do what we are meant to do with less stress and worry about how we will make it to the end of the month.
This has been an issue all my life as an artist and single mom raising 2 children with my craft, though I’ve been very lucky and blessed (to this day), yet, I see it and know exactly what it feels like.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://luademorais.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luademorais/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/luademoraisartist/
- Twitter: @luademorais
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@luademorais?si=pzta4WXg2lDw8uGP
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3htROTWOKdiJy2beosTCYx
Image Credits
Lord Zane
Jesus Ocegueda
Oscar del Aguila
Amy S.
Schuyler Dorsey