We were lucky to catch up with Anastasia Rose recently and have shared our conversation below.

Anastasia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.

Risk is everywhere. Living is a risk. Stepping out your front door is a risk. Driving to work is a risk. We are inundated with risk, but we filter so much of it out. As a creative, risk is present as well, but somehow we are more paralyzed by it. This may be related to our art being an extension of our soul. Our soul can be rejected by others — and then what does that mean about us? Our soul also is an intangible way to “pay the bills” which is a common “risk” people cite as a reason to not pursue creative careers or passions (although, how many celebrities/real estate moguls/stock investors/venture capitalists can we count who have gone bankrupt or are otherwise broke or supported by their parents? Somehow, based on this information, I don’t think creativity is the antithesis to stability in a capitalist society…) Risk is everywhere — and I would rather risk some tight bill cycles than to starve my soul.

Anastasia, 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 industry, brand, organization, work, etc is all a little too convoluted to explain in a short response to this question. I am a professional musician and songwriter, but this extends further than what the associations to those words typically mean. I perform, but I also use music and expressive arts in my work as a therapist. I write music both as my own catharsis and joy, but also to help others process trauma, neglect, pain. I write poetry to explore my shadows and to encourage people to use writing as their weapon against their demons. I am a multi-instrumentalist because my neurotype dictates that the mastery of many skills (a self-proclaimed “Jill of all trades”) is more accessible to me than a singular focus. My artistic journey has served me and hundreds of others extended from me in some way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think many artists want to create something bigger than themselves — and many humanists want to leave something better than themselves. I believe I am at the intersection of those two beliefs. We all want to be understood to some extent and art, music, poetry, human connection can all be ways we achieve this, but only if we approach it from a nonjudgmental place. It is easy to judge art or humanity in a transactional and hypercritical society, but art and humanity, in my opinion, transcends all of that unnecessary discourse. Ultimately, my goal and mission with my creative journey is to reach that place of actualization to the best of my ability and support others on their journey to that as well.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Our society can greatly improve its approach to supporting artists, creatives, and a creative ecosystem. I see the answer to going about this as similar to supporting ourselves as humans — de-emphasize perfection, improve access to mental health services, and eradicate harmful comparison. Artists suffer greatly from performance anxiety or otherwise showing their work because it is a deeply vulnerable act and is akin to disclosing one’s own identity, thoughts, and desires. If we can develop environments where this vulnerability is met with love, care, and support, artists, creatives, and the creative ecosystem would be improved. In practicality, this also requires an emphasis on the value of this vulnerable act to have monetary reimbursement comparable to the hours of time and cost of materials and gear to be seen as customary. When artists are “starving” or experiencing burnout, this harms them and the creative ecosystem. This must be undone.      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.anastasiarosemusic.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/anastasiarosemusic
• Facebook: facebook.com/anastasiaandthemusic
• Twitter: twitter.com/anarosemusic
• Youtube: youtube.com/c/anastasiarosemusic
• Other: www.creativeremediesllc.com www.occamsrose.com

Image Credits
Chris Tracy Photography Rocky Montano Photography Gab Kaplan Anthony Ring Photography Morgan Elizabeth