We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alicia Betancourt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Alicia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Growing up I would love to sing. You’d catch me screaming my heart out in the shower or humming around the house. Unfortunately, I was tone deaf. I remember watching a video of me practicing for an audition for my middle school talent show. I would describe my performance cringe worthy. That awakened a desire to improve my musical ability because of my love to sing and I have a competitive spirit. With sports, school and being as shy as I am, I didn’t know how to do it all so I kind of gave up.
Entering high school I was essentially thrown into an elective theater class to fill my schedule. It gave me an opportunity to pick up a once loved hobby and learn what it was to become creative, think outside the box. Four years I spent dedicated to musical theater/acting in high school and 1 year in college to get me outside the comfort zone and really explore myself. This was the closest I’d get to professional help. Sadly, the dream went dry yet again.
When I met my fiancé I found out early on that he too was in love with music. I’d tag along to all his studio sessions and hang out with the artists he was meeting. He was the one who truly encouraged me to pursue music more than a hobby. I now get the amazing opportunity to work with some very intelligent artists in the music industry to further my career in music and I even signed a distribution deal with the Elizabeth Music Group that is sculpted around helping artists find their path. I believe investing in and immersing yourself with like minded people will always benefit you to your greatest ability. I wish my younger self had the knowledge to be surrounded by people who believe in them and want to see them accomplish their greatest goals, which I now possess. The biggest accomplishment was to learn to embrace my faults, make the music for myself and push through when the negative outweighs the positive.
Music is so therapeutic for me and releases all the stress the world gives a woman. Another big obstacle is learning how to get my followers to engage with my content and push my music out there. I feel as if there’s immense pressure to do everything right. Social media doesn’t relieve that pressure but is so important in the music industry, you’ve got to be good at it to get your music out there so I am still learning the little tricks the algorithms put out. But of course, everyone has a different music taste so getting on the right track for you and your audience can also be a pretty difficult. I am currently looking for my unique sound and seeing what I like and what I am good at.
If I could go back, I’d let myself know that it is okay to stand out if it means you are following your passion and dreams. We aren’t put on this Earth to worry about what everyone else thinks. I’m practicing being vulnerable and true to myself and if that helps other people pursue what they love then I am all for it.
One last obstacle that stands in the way for many artists like myself is knowing where to start. It looks different for everyone. Not everyone has the money to spend on expensive studio equipment or sessions to record. Money can stand in your way but it shouldn’t stop you. Make connections, meet people at your local shows and I promise someone out there will help you get on the right track. I like to think about it as a snowball effect, you start off small by posting a video on you tube or make an Instagram reel, and after a while your snowball will get bigger and bigger and pretty soon you’ll be exactly where you need to be to learn and to improve!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Alicia Betancourt but my friends call me Ali. I’m a 24 years old independent artist and I work in education. I am a proud Mexican American woman who strives to continuously work harder. If you are new here or curious to hear the nitty gritty things about my life, welcome, but beware, you might fall in love.
I’ve always known growing up that I love art and music. I always found myself coloring, drawing, acting, filming and singing…Especially singing. I remember there always being music in the house or my dad blasting corridors in the car so loud I would walk out speaking Spanish. I grew up in San Bernardino, California with my parents in my grandparents’ little yellow house with my two other siblings and uncles. Surrounded by chickens and dirt, I would always go outside in the backyard and sing to the animals each day almost like my own little princess movie. We moved in between Cali and Oregon a few times but by the age of 8 we officially stayed in Clackamas, Oregon. Throughout school, I bounced around different classes surrounding the idea of art but none really stuck like my high school acting classes. There, I was given the opportunity to explore the different versions of myself and somehow slip my way into the musical side of things. As I did musical theater, I learned simple choir tricks and breath control, but also how to keep a healthy voice. I always found myself playing the piano in the little rooms for choir practice, singing and trying to write music to piano keys. I was never good at playing the piano though. I found peace being alone with the music, finding myself there almost everyday during my free periods just sitting and thinking. I’m a big believer that music is therapy. Growing up I didn’t know much about my feelings and triggers but it was always soothing to be locked up in that room and feel everything when I felt I had nowhere to go. I struggled a lot in high school with my mental health. When I was alone in that room I would forget about it all. But all good things must come to an end, right?
After graduating in high school, I lost that little tiny room with the piano, leaving me to slowly let go of something I wanted to pursue. I tried to continue my dreams in college, but with work and everything going on in my personal life this was the end of the road, leaving me to say goodbye to college and my inspiration with music.
Would you believe me if I told you the universe has its reasons? Maybe it wasn’t my time or maybe I need to spend that time with a sick relative. I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason and I needed to be there for my family.
Once I truly let go of the idea of music, I met the love of my life. This man would have the same amount of passion for music as I yet I didn’t want to disappoint myself with the probability of it not working out. I followed him for years as he went to studio sessions, did shows, and met other amazing artists. He made me comfortable with the idea of trying again. And I did.
As I celebrate my 24th year of life, I have two singles out available on all music platforms called “Hold me back” and “Alright” under my artist name Alí. Now that I am truly pursuing music, I find myself looking for more and learning more! I’ve been building up a photography/editing business on Instagram under “betancourtaliphotography” for a while now to help me with my craft. I’m currently working on “Betancourt Exclusives” where I can soon offer packages on video editing and photography currently on the hush hush, so you’re the first to hear. As I continue to work on my own small business I learn about all the discipline and hard work that goes into a business and its products. Getting on a strict schedule for writing and recording, trying to build a business, work and spend time with family and friends is so difficult. Something I’ve learned to do is to start scheduling everything out and really dedicate my time wisely. I want to be able to write, sing, film, edit and upload all on my own so that I can become a beneficial asset to myself and to others. I think diverse skills are the most valuable characteristics I have to offer and maybe one day we can all work together. I want others to feel heard and appreciated for their services and just for being good people. I think something that sets me differently than others is I want to see everyone win. I will always make sure I interact with my fellow peers’ accounts and businesses if I have the chance because I know how difficult it is to find your crowd. If you have a friend or family member who is trying to pursue their passions, I ask you to please show them the support if you really care. Share their reels, tell people about their services, listen to their music. I am so happy I am surrounded by amazing people who love me enough to continuously show me support. I’m so proud I have built up the courage to release those two singles and am so excited to show you all what I have cooking up in my little pan dulce oven. My hard work will eventually pay off. If you are a fan of my music or want to collaborate on a project don’t be afraid to reach out! I love meeting and working with new people. Those listening to my songs, there’s not enough thanks in the world I could give you. Cheers to finding our inner peace with art!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Nothing feels better than pouring everything into a song or edit and seeing the people around you react with the emotions those projects are trying to display. Knowing that someone out there is listening to my songs and relates in a way or needed to hear something positive makes me feel heard, a little less alone in the world, and that I’m actually doing something for more than just myself.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I want people to explore their passions. My goal is to not only share my art but make a pathway for others to follow. I want to prove to myself that I am capable of anything I set my mind to and I want to set an example for my younger siblings by not giving up no matter how difficult it might be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/businessalibet
- Instagram: @Alicia.bet29 and @Betancourtaliphotography
- Facebook: Alicia Betancourt
- Youtube: @Alicia.bet29
Image Credits
Cameron Nicholson, Rachel Betancourt