Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Symone Le’nae. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Symone, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
From a young age I knew creativity was my outlet. I connected with the arts more than anything else. Creative expression is my form of release and communication- when emotions are bottled up and I can’t find the words to say I go to my art. As a child I was always singing, dancing or painting. I always went back and forth between wanting to pursue a more ‘normalized’ career path whether that meant being a lawyer, working in healthcare or working within the science field as I love all things astronomy and studied it in school as I had planned to major in natural sciences. I also studied vocal in college and took Italian Opera but I ultimately dropped out to pursue my entrepreneurship and has led me to where I am now with my business, pursuing music and other ventures. I wouldn’t change that experience, I learned so much in college and met amazing people who support me to this day. I always recommend people to check in with their inner child, things that brought them joy and lit that fire within. I feel it is such an important aspect (self reflection) to move forward with goal setting and establishing a boundary for how you want to move forward.
Symone, 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 grew up in the Bay Area, California- Richmond, CA. Being from the Bay I’ve always had creative folks around me which added to my inspiration and drive to pursue the arts. As a young girl music and design ruled my life and continues to presently. I grew up teaching myself how to sing, my mother, grandfather and many family members always sang around me and it just stuck with me but, music always captivated me. As I got older I began drawing, painting, designing clothes, shoes, wedding dresses and couture… I even had an entire book of designs my mom kept. Moving forward I now own a jewelry design business (LovexStone) and continue singing. My mother is who ultimately inspired me to take my love for crystals and earthly elements into my own aesthetic- she’s an amazing designer herself and she never ceases to amaze me with her talents! My mother is my biggest inspiration. As I continue my love for the arts, I am most proud of my continuous ambition to explore new ventures and trust myself- doubt, comparison, fear all dwell in the back of my subconscious but everyday I work on my art is me stepping over those feelings and that in itself is huge. One day at a time. This path is not in any way easy but it can be incredibly rewarding. To make people feel grand, smile, see themselves in their own radiant light is everything to me- everything I do is rooted in compassion- love- adoration and I hope others feel that when experiencing me, my art and spirit.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Just being able to connect to my true self while inspiring others to do the same. That’s the beauty in creating art specific to you; it’s having a community of people who resonate and vibe with a shared experience. Also, Personal growth, especially as the creative process often involves pushing boundaries, trying new things, and learning from failures, which for me, leads to a sense of achievement- completing a creative project can bring a profound sense of accomplishment, I see it as a representation of your efforts and abilities.There is so much wrong with our current society and we are only moving farther away from our roots, so it is always a blessing to have the ability to stay true to myself. My creativity is my spirituality, it’s synergy and it’s all connected. Again, this isn’t easy and there are ups and downs- pressure from this modern world to be something you don’t want to conform to. In a Nipsey song called “Blueprint” Bino says “All that pressure but it can’t defeat you” and that is basically a mantra I say to myself everyday. Anytime I receive a message from someone just saying “thank you” for inspiring them or giving them hope is a rewarding experience. I wish this inner freedom for everyone in some form if possible.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is that sometimes life has other plans for us on this journey. The path is not linear and there will be turns, u-turns, backroads you may have to take. I thought by this time I would have everything I planned to have when I was 18 and in many ways I actually do but the journey was not how I planned or anticipated it to go. I never planned on breaking into tech and working years in the industry instead of focusing on my art. This is where I fell into sadness because I felt something was missing although I was providing for myself and my family, something just felt off and it was my lack of creative expression. It was a blessing though, because I learned an abundance of new information, developed new skills and took care of myself and my family. It’s important to understand that a redirection doesn’t mean the end, just a different journey and sometimes that voyage changes us in ways we needed. The journey is not the destination rather the impact your creativity has on yourself and the world around you.
Contact Info:
- Website: LovexStone.com
- Instagram: Symone Lenae | LovexStone
- Facebook: LovexStone
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/symone-wilson-417177280/
- Youtube: Symone Le’nae