We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexis DeLaRosa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexis below.

Alexis, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Back in 2000, my parents took me to Disney for my 5th birthday. I loved all things Disney – I still do to this day. Well one of our full days we spent in Animal Kingdom and on our list of plans was to go see a show … Festival of the Lion King. I vividly remember we had ground seating & being in awe of looking a stage completely surrounded by its audience. If you’ve seen the show, you know that is filled with grandeur – puppets, stilt walkers, dancers, fire, and of course vocalists. The show begins with these 4 vocalists as they lead us through the story of the Lion King. They open the show with the iconic song “Circle of Life” in beautiful harmony. Those FIRST chords I knew … I knew I wanted to BE them. I wanted the honor of telling these stories .. and the JOY of sharing art and music to inspire others in the same way.

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.

Music has been a part of my life from the very beginning. Growing up in a Hispanic household – my mother is Dominican and my father is Puerto Rican – there was ALWAYS music playing. I was heavily influenced by salsa, merengue, bachata, jazz and as I got older punk rock, pop, r&b, musical theater and classical styles. Performing was always an extracurricular throughout my formal education until my Junior year in high school when I decided to dive into more formal classical training, and performing in jazz and a Capella ensembles throughout college, as well as musical theater productions.

Today, my focus as a vocalist and performer is broadening my skills in the theme park entertainment world, growing with the new jazz group my partner and I have put together – the 239 Collective, and going after musical theater productions that inspire and challenge me.

I am most proud of my authenticity as a performer. It can be tricky to feel a strong sense of identity when you play in many different roles or sing in a variety of styles, but as the years have gone on, I’ve worked rigorously to tap into MY most authentic sound. I’ve devoted massive efforts to sharpening my skills as a performer and continue to do so to be able to put my best product out on stage – whether that be for a stage show or local themed event!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

In a recent performer with this new Jazz group I’m a part of – the 239 Collective – a 96 year old woman came up to me after the show and said “I can’t believe I had to wait all my life to see something like this … I’m just thankful to be alive to witness you all bring this music to life”. I cried. That sentiment is the most rewarding part of being an artist for me. Bringing stories to life, transporting an audience, stripping down to the most vulnerable parts of myself to share with others through music and performance … I wouldn’t trade it for anything. To know that every single time I get in front of an audience, there is an opportunity to inspire someone, to bring hope or peace or joy is the highest honor.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are so many resources that have contributed to my philosophy in building my brand as a performer, professional, entrepreneur and how I lead my life in general, but I would say there are a core few that stand out :

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein

“The Compound Effect” was one of the first self-help books I read and it was small but impactful. It’s core message is that small behaviors when compounded over time yield huge results. It was a helpful reminder of the value of consistency in my life, whether that be an hour of practice a day, or 30 minutes of physical activity. Then, “The Artist’s Way” came into my life at a point when I needed it most. I was a fresh Florida resident, didn’t have any friends or a community yet and was working through some personal struggles. The entertainment world was still hurting from the pandemic and no auditions were happening, which was the main reason I moved down here to begin with – to perform! This book re-ignited my creative passion and offered so many activities and strategies on how to pour back into your creative soul to be able to tap into inspiration more often. Lastly, “The Universe Has Your Back” offered me language and perspective on my spiritual beliefs, reminding me that faith is personal and individual and does not look any specific way.

All of these happen to be books but there are a handful of podcasts, courses, mentors and other resources that have helped me build who I am today as a professional and as a woman.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playgroundlexi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playgroundlexi/

Image Credits
Anthony Fratto