We were lucky to catch up with Alaya Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alaya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

From my earliest memories, music was my native tongue. Melodies were interwoven into the very fabric of my being. I exchanged ordinary childhood moments for piano lessons, adolescent gatherings for rehearsals, and countless nights of sleep for the pulsing rhythms of improvisation. A cycle, repeated for 18 tireless years. Three months post-graduation, a degree in Jazz Piano in hand, I found myself back in Taiwan. Seated before the worn piano of my childhood, the familiar notes flowed from my fingers, my hands moving with machine-like precision. But, amidst the perfect chords, something vital was missing.
The revelation hit me as I glanced at an old photograph – my first, modest award. There I was, a big grin lighting up my young face. Then I realized, the missing piece. The joyous passion that once infused my every note. Somewhere in the relentless pursuit of skill and accolades, I had lost my emotional bond with the piano, the music, and myself. A passionless musician is merely a mathematician with nimble fingers.
With a heavy heart, I closed the lid on my piano and left.
Ironically, The wall I had hit after a 20-year climb was of my own making. The following months were a search for my lost self, my buried creativity. Then, quite unexpectedly, I stumbled upon the world of graphic design. Like finding an oasis in a parched desert, I felt a flicker of desire – the longing to create. But a yawning abyss lay between my past and this newfound passion, an abyss that seemed insurmountable. Fast forward three years and I’m now a proud graduate from SAIC, with a Master’s in Graphic Design to my name. I’ve made friendships, navigated challenges, and most crucially, reconnected with my inner creative child. The one who wore a constant grin of pure joy. Was I certain of a successful transition across this chasm? No. One can never be entirely certain in life.
Sometimes, it’s just a leap of faith.

Alaya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Alaya, a visual designer, book creator, and musician rooted in the beautiful city of Chicago. My creative pursuits revolve around exploring character relationships, identity, musical notation, and artistic structure. My multi-disciplinary background affords me a unique vantage point for creative problem-solving using visual language. I aim to communicate complex narratives in a simple manner and vice versa.

My work is deeply influenced by the multitude of emotions I’ve experienced throughout my life, from the deepest sorrows to the heights of love. This emotional depth enables me to communicate in a way that resonates with my clients and audience. During moments when clients struggle to communicate what they’re seeking, I can empathetically decode their unspeakable needs and transpose these emotions onto creative mediums. This ability to capture and manifest raw emotions through my artistry sets me apart, offering visually aesthetic works that communicate both emotions and concepts.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and a creative is undoubtedly the connection. I firmly, unwaveringly, believe that art, in all its forms—visual, musical, or physical—is a manifestation of emotion and experiences. It is a language that surpasses verbal communication, transcending barriers to unite people beyond cultures and societies. During my creation, I am not just putting words on a piece of paper or creating notes; I am crafting an emotional narrative, a beacon for others to connect with, relate to, and find solace and peace in.

Every stroke of my brush, every note I compose, and every word I pen down, is an exploration of my own feelings and experiences. As these elements merge into a whole, resonating with others who might be feeling or felt the same way. From unity comes power and this shared emotional landscape is what makes art so powerful.

The ability to be the peace and unity in someone’s world, it can’t get more rewarding than that.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This is a lesson I had to unlearn, twice.

My story finds its roots in the Japanese concept of Honne and Tatemae. Growing up in a strict Asian family, I found myself caught in the delicate dance between my Honne – the suppressed feelings and desires that dwelled beneath my surface – and the Tatemae – the socially approved facade I was expected to display. The societal longing for approval consumed my art and emotions, leading me down a path where my artistic skills bloomed, but my personal resonance wilted. This was the first lesson I had to unlearn.

Chapter two of my unlearning journey began when I stepped into the visual communication industry. As I grew older, I fully tilted the scale in the other direction, prioritizing my desires while completely disregarding society’s views.. My emotions erupted, creating extremely unique artistic expressions to the point where it was absurd. I soon realized it can’t be called communication if it echoes in an empty hall, and so, I had to unlearn this lesson too.

After a 25-year-long journey, I have finally found the equilibrium between these extremes. A dance between my imagination and reality, between my identity and societal expectations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alayalee.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alayyalee/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaya-lee-7b4bab200/