We were lucky to catch up with Alysę Nicholę recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alysę, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents weren’t perfect but no parent is. Although, one thing I value that my parents did for me is put me in situations that were best for me. They weren’t the best of friends but I’m glad neither of them kept me away from each other. I had my dad and I had my mom in my life and they always put me first. They let me be a kid. I also thank them for putting me in extracurricular activities like sports and acting. I played different sports like soccer, tennis, swimming, but basketball was my preferred sport. Basketball shaped a lot of my character growing up. It taught me how to take accountability, be a team a player, finish what I start, and that the little wins are the ones that matter the most. My whole family is the reason I do what I do, because they always supported who I am and without that solid support system, it can be very hard to keep going.
Alysę, 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?
My name is Alysę Nicholę and I am a recording music artist . I am from Inglewood, California in Los Angeles County. I moved to Atlanta and currently reside here to be around more creative individuals like me. I attended Georgia State University and graduated this recent summer, getting a Bachelors in Entrepreneurship… which was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Long story short I have been musically intertwined since second grade when I sang a song about kittens to my class. I have always loved music. Music has been my escape from the world. I loved to sing and write when I was younger. Acting made me love music more because I got into musicals as a kid and I loved the songs the most when being in a play. I have been performing ever since and use my music as my therapy and a way to send a message about who and what I stand for. I tell my fans all the time to stay boujie, create boundaries for yourself, represent yourself in the best way possible because that’s how you get respect, and don’t take no for an answer. If you get no for an answer you’re talking to the wrong person. Also stay educated. I want my fans to know that they don’t have to follow the societal agenda that is consistently being pushed on toward them to fit in. They’re other people just as boujie and classy, like myself, that are just like them and although we don’t mind getting ratchet every now and then, being a Boujie Gyal is just as powerful.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Society has to stop listening to microwavable music and start buying their favorite artists music. Artists are not starving like they used to be because we have less cost to put up when it comes to the music. We still don’t get paid enough for a stream though. Streaming doesn’t help artist what so ever. We live in a time now where the worst type of people want to be an artist because they see the fame and riches that can come with it. What the people don’t understand is that those artist burnout very quick like fast food. They are here for 5 months to 1 year maybe and then they fall off because their music isn’t that good. It was good for TikTok. Most of the artist that will give longevity are the ones that have been working for years to perfect what they do. That is why they stay around even when they don’t do well for a certain period. They have developed their skills to become great. We need that back in this industry or music will not be an industry we respect anymore. No respect, no money.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Record labels will change your life. Haha. I remember being 19 I believe when I met my first mentors. My Aunty Kiah and Uncle J, were the two people that humbled me real quick. They used to be in the industry and they would tell me what the real deal is about labels. Ignorance truly is bliss, because when you find out the truth in things, you look at things and certain people differently. I remember coming to Atlanta wanting to sign with a hot label that would make me rich and famous. I would be on global stages, all the smoke and mirrors people pay to see. In reality, thats not what signing really means. Every artist deal is different so I’m not going to claim I know every deal someone’s favorite mainstream artist has. I will say that if you don’t have leverage as in your numbers, image, fans, that label controls every piece of you and I’m sure this information isn’t new by now, but to some, this may be the best article they have ever read. So that is a lesson I had to unlearn, labels don’t care about your talent more than they care about your numbers. No fanbase equals no creative control.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alysenichole.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imalysenichole/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/imalysenichole
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRnkesubkOpOTaAkJHCW0AA
- Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/alys%C4%99-nichol%C4%99/1488820405 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1CkFfqnn8iTCC8rKIFnDG2
Image Credits
@thelyricalparlor @