We recently connected with Alyse and have shared our conversation below.
Alyse, appreciate you joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
When I look at my parents I view them in away that I think most 30 something year olds do, they loved me, they sacrificed alot for me to get to where I am, and they were people trying to raise a family while raising themselves. Both of my parents worked alot but they still imparted small nuggets that helped get me to this point and for that I am forever grateful.
As a teen I would see my dad in a state of reflection after a long day of work. Sometimes on early Saturday mornings, he would unknowingly torture me. Loudly chatting a million miles a minute and feverishly cutting the grass, my dad was outwardly thinking of his master plan. I would often hear him trying to figure out how to solve this week’s most pertinent issues. As a kid, I never understood what weighed so heavily on his shoulders and why he was always trying to fix it. However, as an adult; I now have a more realistic view of how hard all of it was to keep together. As I look back on these moments there is 1 major lesson that sticks out. No matter how hard the problem is if you encourage yourself and strategize, you can win. I saw my dad elevate and rise to every problem he has ever had: financial, educational, spiritual, relational. Often times he would quickly find a solution. But sometimes it took a little time but he would never quit. I definitely think I get my tenacity from him and frequently find myself in deep thought and in full blown conversation when trying to conquer my next feat.
My creativity found its home with observing my sweet and introverted mom have spontaneous moments of dance randomly populate her body. These are some of the sweetest memories I have of her. She would do her best impression of her favorite gymnast, Dominique Dawes
Or figure skater, Oksana Baiul. She graceful glided across the living room to go start dinner. You would never know when these jolts of fun energetic moves would consume her. They just would. My brother and I would lock eyes and bust out in uncontrollable laughter. And I know you are thinking what profound life lesson has this taught me? The lesson is so understated but so necessary for a full happy life. Have fun and don’t forget to be yourself even when you are serving others in the monotony. In life we have to do so many things for so many people and while doing that we tend to lose ourselves. But my mom always found a way to make herself happy while helping others along. I use that same mantra today as I work in jobs that are not ideal to fuel my passions and
get me closer to a full-time life of creativity. Having small random moments of joy helps catapult me to continue to achieve in a world that can feel stagnant.
Alyse, 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?
Music is something that I felt was always within me but I was very shy to share it with the world. A large part of that I attribute to not knowing what I wanted early on in life other than people pleasing. So because I just wanted to make everyone happy I did what regular people do. I went to school/college, I played sports, then I got a job at a fortune 500 company. Mission accomplished right? Wrong on so many levels. I didn’t dare to dream. So at the ripe age of 25 or 2 steps from death according to most music executives, I started taking music serious. Sure I sang in church and family choirs but I didn’t start to think I could actually make my mark in music until my late 20’s. At 29 I released Claudette’s Garden and I am so proud of the art my collaborates and I created. The visuals, the vocals, the lyrics. It was the most true form of myself that I have been able to capture and I am really excited to get back in the studio and do it again later this year. My goal when I create is to be more honest with myself than the last time. And within that honesty I hope to inspire the same for the people who consume my art. The main question I ask is did I make you feel something?
Once I became honest with myself about music alot more of my life has fallen into place. I have a passion for makeup that I am beginning to explore. I’m not an everyday full face kind of girl but I love the transforming nature of makeup. After countless nights of watching Scratched by Kat Facebook live videos and Nikki Tutorials on YouTube, I am deciding to leap out on faith and start my own beauty brand. Summer of 2022, A the Beauty Brand is set to launch. Lashes, lipgloss, and accessories will be the first items released. I’ll eventually expand to hypoallergenic full coverage foundation and eyeshadow. The brand will be featured in petite custom vending machines in Oklahoma, Texas, and Indiana. Products will also be available online www.alyseuknow.com
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
NFTs are like the darkest depths of the ocean. There are so many beautiful possibilities coupled with so many unknown dangers. I think they are the wildcard of investing. But I definitely think they will be apart of the future. I wouldn’t bet all my money on them but you would be a fool as a creative not to have a basic understanding how they work. Main stream artist like Tory Lanez have made millions outside of there music contract with NFTs. Its no reason us little guys can’t learn to make money with them too.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Don’t complain is a lesson that is ingrained early on into most people. But as a super literal, highly anxious kid, I took that lesson a little to far. I remember feeling terrible and having fevers and I barely had the courage to say I didn’t feel good. I suffered in silence alot and it was no ones fault but mine because I didn’t complain. I didn’t say something. Eventhough I try to practice the philosophy of gratitude I definitely complain more (but no longer than 5 minutes). And my quality of life has improved significantly.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alyse-uknow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyse_uknow/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Alyseuknow/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alyse_uKnow
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/alyseuknow