Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dominique Senshi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Dominique, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful musical project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly my latest single, “Dreamland”. I actually finished the song a couple of years ago, but it wasn’t until this year that I finally released it. What makes this song so meaningful to me isn’t just the process of creating it, but the journey I went through to release it. As a singer-songwriter, crafting lyrics and melodies comes naturally to me, but in today’s music industry, content and aesthetics are just as important to an independent artist’s success. Back when “Dreamland” was finished, I couldn’t quite visualize the content or creative direction it needed, so it stayed in my vault, waiting for that spark of inspiration to ignite.
Fast forward to 2025, and that spark still hadn’t come. I started to feel discouraged and, over time, I lost confidence in my ability to succeed as a musical artist. But then, a distribution company (Music Man created by “Big Ass Kids”) reached out to me and encouraged me to release it—content plan or not. One of my mentors, Carolyn Ortiz, shared an important piece of advice: sometimes inspiration follows the release, even though traditionally, it’s better to have everything planned out first. So, I took a leap of faith, picked a release date, and, just like that, creative inspiration flowed. Suddenly, I could see the colors, visuals, and imagery that matched “Dreamland”, and I knew exactly how to bring them to life.
I dove into content creation, learning how to use apps like Canva and CapCut to design and edit videos that turned my vision into reality. The release of “Dreamland” brought back the confidence in me that it had ironically taken from me years ago. Now, it holds a special place in my heart as a powerful reminder of my resilience and my ability to take back my own power.
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.
Hey everyone! First off, it’s a pleasure to meet you! I’m an independent singer-songwriter and musician. Originally from Santa Ana, California, I moved to Texas when I was around 11. Now, I currently reside in Austin, TX, but carry that chill laid-back Cali energy with me wherever I go. I’m a blend of two rich cultures being both Black and Vietnamese.
Growing up, my eclectic family had a world of music spinning in our home, which sparked my deep love for all kinds of genres. My grandparents introduced me to classic rock legends like The Beatles, along with Vietnamese music. My parents brought Hip-Hop, Gangsta Rap, Soul, and R&B into my life. My oldest uncle immersed me in the sounds of the ’80s and the Bee Gees, while my youngest uncle surrounded me with Indie, Post-Hardcore, and Emo bands. With such a wide array of influences, I ended up resonating most with Jazz, Hip-Hop, and R&B. Artists like Amy Winehouse, Ella Fitzgerald, Pharrell, the Wu-Tang Clan and Stevie Wonder are my major inspirations. All of this variety kept me singing and creating silly songs as a kid. When I turned 15, a birthday gift—a Taylor acoustic guitar—changed everything and marked the start of me seriously writing my own music.
Beyond music, I’ve always had a profound love for anime. I navigated through my childhood by picking up life lessons from anime classics such as Naruto, Samurai Champloo, and Sailor Moon. The powerful yet kind characters in these worlds pushed me to keep moving forward and spread positivity, no matter what challenges came my way. That’s also where I found the inspiration for my artist name, “Senshi,” which means “warrior” in Japanese. I try to live and create in a balance of light and shadow, which allows me to write everything from fun, upbeat tracks to moody, sultry ones.
As a true music lover, I’m determined to use my “liquid sword” to explore and master all genres, aiming to become one of the most diverse artists of all time. I want to be known simply as an artist—no labels, no genres, just pure expression.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My primary mission on this creative and musical journey is to spread healing through my music while remaining true to who I am, authentically and fully. With every song, I send a prayer that my words and melodies will resonate deeply with as many people as possible. Along this path, I aspire to build a life of financial freedom through my creative endeavors, becoming an inspiration for others by showing that it is possible to break free from the limitations and constraints of the world. With the financial freedom I aim to achieve, I plan to create and invest in charitable organizations that give back to underserved communities, the environment, fellow creatives, and beyond.
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 feel that it is important for non-creatives to understand how much personal and financial investment goes into creating a song or an album. Most non-creatives, rightfully, assume that artists simply record and upload freely, which, in the beginning, is often what many artists do. However, for independent artists pursuing music as a career, they often have to reserve and pay for studio time. Personally, I am blessed to have an at-home studio setup, but not many people have that luxury. Beyond that, finding and paying an engineer to mix and master your songs is another investment. Additionally, you may not find the right engineer for you on the first try. Some artists choose to invest their personal time by learning how to mix and master their music themselves, often on top of having a full-time job or career that consumes most of their day or night. And to top it all off, there’s artwork, photo shoots, music video shoots, creating content, and more. This is why I consider any independent artist to be a one-man army, and I would love for non-creatives to view us as such as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/dominiquesenshi
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominique.senshi?igsh=aWxraTF1Zm9ueTd1&utm_source=qr
- Twitter: https://x.com/sensitivesenshi?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dominique.senshi?si=FgeDabTnNaLv4bpf
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/fggCe4R9882qpUY47
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1NerKIRgV8F8T7gZqr2fUL?si=FLzjAGQkQFCVHPvzhY3aFA
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dominique-senshi/1595647944
https://dominiquesenshi.bandcamp.com
@dominique.senshi
Image Credits
Darius Jenkins
Ryan Bilawsky
Playstudio Photography