We caught up with the brilliant and insightful AngieOnMars a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, AngieOnMars thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Learning the craft is a wonderful journey but its not always easy. For me it’s learning to tap into my creative expression by diving deeper into who I am as an artist, as a person. Learning my roots. Detangling the vines and understanding where I come from, understanding biological traits and adopted faiths. What am I composed of? What’s are my genetic breakdowns? Really sharpening up on those basic skills and principles (Mind, Body, Soul) allows me to portray my most authentic self when I create. It’s the experiences, it’s the people, it’s the emotions. Going through cycles and puzzles of patterns that allow me to heal from past traumas.
Bridging the gaps between the virtual and physical realms. Knowing that my environment plays a huge role in the way my mind is shaped. Having this foundation gives me a better understanding to help me decipher the unknown.
I am thankful for the ever so talented producers I have met so far throughout my journey. Big shoutout to Jeremy Branthoover (JB), SomtheInvader, King Diza, and Sylvie the Scientist. Just to name a few. These producers each hold a unique ear and skillset that helps me to connect to a higher connectivity bringing me closer to source.
Allowing me to make room for mistakes and unexpected events/issues. I think there’s a level of information that when understood; it can enhance our sense of coincidence. Having this aligned awareness of spontaneous signs puts us in a sweet spot to help us manifest at a greater capacity. Which is why I don’t think you can speed up the learning process. It’s those anomolies or trippy experiences, that I go through that seem, almost indescribable. The things that I can’t change, the ups and downs, learning how to work with people that I that help build character and allow me to elevate into my higher self.
Curiosity, discipline, and critical thinking skills are important. Making connections and nurturing bonds and relationships with people go along way. Having to finish tasks and holding myself accountable goes a long way in reaching a level of success. Even if it takes time, knowing that each idea holds its own weight and significance in the completion of my long term goals. Keeping my integrity and morality levels in tact. Focusing and being grateful for what is tangible and alchemising what is intangible in order to sustainably build a future giving a platform for longevity to compound in a way that lasts forever over time.
Obstacles that stand in the way of expanding my consciousness at the moment would have to be not having my own personal space to create freely. Sometimes I feel limited in my resources or shorthanded in my available network/team. Worrying about when the right people will come into my life. Learning to bridge the gap between doing what I love and having the financial means to create effortlessly. Accepting that not everyday may necessarily be a creative day, where ideas flow naturally it may very well be a self care day. Sometimes I need a sprinkle of wine or spark of cannabis to open up the portal to an infinite reality of creativity.
Learning to be okay, with not knowing what the universe has to offer. Its easy to tell myself to trust the process and know its in divine timing, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hard. Knowing that I control my reality and its really just me vs me. Another big one for me was struggling with identity and feeling comfortable and confident to be me. All good things take time and I can’t wait to see where I’m at in 5 even 10 years from now.
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
My name is Angelina Khan. I go by the artist name of AngieOnMars. I melodically rap, sing and song write. I own a company called AngONauts Global where I distribute and publish creative works and content. I first started tapping into my creativity in 2018 where I started expanding on myself as an artist while studying science at Penn State University. I went through a lot of hardship and personal growth that really helped me unlock my creative talent. This was only the beginning to creating something truly beautiful.
I started writing poetry. Any thoughts or expressions that I felt held meaning or significance; I would jot it down in my notes and save them. It wasn’t until I started to experience feelings of love and heartbreak that gave me a new found outlook and purpose for creating. Motivating me to want to build a career and lifestyle for myself. This was around the first time I started listening to instrumentals and beats from BeatStars and other sources such as Soundcloud and YouTube to get inspired. One night on campus, we finessed our way into the music building; recorded my first single “Drippin” along with a few other records that night. We literally touched the stage the next day downtown at a nightclub called Envy opening up for Riff Raff. I came to the realization that I was more than just a rapper/singer, I was an entertainer.
After this performance, is where I met a good friend of mine and the first producer/engineer I ever worked with Jeremy Branthoover (also known as JB). Super talented genius. Jeremy had a unique way of understanding my thought process and really listened to how I would speak and flow connecting too my inner core. Authentically capturing my tone or cadence engineered in a particular way that translated exactly into how and what I was thinking into record. We created records such as “Goodvybe”, “Benz:Audi”, and “Dear, Angel”. All of which were released on the Phase One project on platforms.
In the beginning of 2019, is when I met Somutochukwu Obiejesi (also known as SomtheInvader) whose also a producer, friend, and creative. Somto’s allowed me to unlock my roots and connected me more towards hip hop and Caribbean styles. The beats he created were more afro-centric and had a lot of bass and high hats that allowed me to make more commercial or catchy records such as “Swervin”, “YKTVs”, and “House Lime”. We also released a collaborated mixtape together called UFOz and is one of the main producers on the project From Another Planet. Producing records such as “Zoomin”, “Feelings”, “GBE”…etc.
I believe what separates me from other creatives is my ability to put out music for me. Being able to connect more personally in way where I’m singing or rapping from a place of experience. Music is a therapeutic and almost spiritual process for me. I can’t help nobody if I can’t help myself, so some of my music is me just finding myself as an artist. And if people can relate and find meaning in the art that’s even better. I am aware that not everyones going to always understand the mindset, or thought process in which the words were formulated from. I believe that art is subjective to the eye or mind of the beholder. People have their own interpretations, which then transforms the art into a whole new form and I find that fascinating.
Being an independent also has its perks too I can release songs/projects on my own timeline and not feel rushed or pressured to create. Grasping the analytics or strategizing has almost become a bit of a game. Finding my sound and my consistency is a continuous process of artist development. Making sure I’m better than the record I released before. To be able to go back and say “wow, I remember exactly what I was feeling on this record” or the amount of excitement in the room creating another. In certain situations the storyline written allows me to remember certain events or experiences too. Challenging the intellect of my pen to write more articulately, more efficiently in my speech is a priority.
I am proud of the person I am becoming. I am forever growing and elevating into new versions of myself. Allowing me to be confident in who am even when I feel like its just me. Believing that I am on the path to success and believing that I will achieve and attain success is important to me. Knowing that I have family and friends who not only show love but support my journey throughout my timeline is infinite.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I wanna have as much fun with it as possible. Committing to making music with passion and continually unlocking different characters and different flows. Becoming the best version of my highest self. Tracking my growth process and ultimately creating in such of a way that positively impacts the world is what matters to me. Raising the vibrations of the earth is imperative. If we can create our reality through manifestation then theoretically when magnified through a certain frequency makes it easier for the vybes to be transferred or enhanced. I think music can change the world.
Music has the power to touch a persons soul in a way that can effect moods, thought process, and levels of productivity. Different genres, sounds and tones trigger nostalgic elements that teleport us into another world. Expanding on the arrangement or the positions of words. When arranged or placed on paper almost becomes orchestrated in such of a way it almost sounds like a symphony.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I absolutely love watching the YouTube podcasts and episodes! Those might have to be my favorite. Because if anyone loves a good visual…its me. I watch different channels for specific content. I just watched the Hart to Heart conversation with JAY-Z. Talk about education. He touched on some very profound topics that I think young entrepreneurs and creatives don’t often hear enough. As well as the Luc Belaire, “Self Made Tastes Better” episode. MajorEnergy!
Its always a good day when we can pick up some gems and gain Wisdom from the Elites. Rick Rubin has epic conversations! He has one where he’s having a conversation with Pharrell that I found enlightening. I’m learning as I go along and let’s just say I have had little to no guidance or true mentorship. Seth Rogen also sparked my interest heavily with his brand HousePlant shown through AD. SuperElite!
I wasn’t really one to read books or enjoy the task of reading but lately I find that I enjoy reading through the ebooks. There super trippyyy but I find it better to have different apps to open up on my iPhone instead of only accessing social media apps all the time. (Totally had to break out of that habit.) As of recently, I started reading Deepak Chopra and his teachings. What I wish I knew when I was 20 by Tina Seelig really spoke to me as a young entrepreneur and creative. It changed my perspective and opened me up to a new world of information. Learning attributes about myself that I found were of comparison.
Watching interviews and documentaries too I believe helps a lot in breaking down the business mindset. A boy from Medilin, Mama I can Fly, Jeen-Yuhs, Halftime and In Wonder were documentaries that gave me that hunger to create. I watch interviews like Assets Over Liabilities or even Drink Champs breaks down entrepreneurial thinking. So grateful to be able to attract this type of information from people who have actually reached those milestones of making multi-millions and billions of dollars. How they are able to making their money work for them through different lanes of innovation.
Contact Info:
- Website: angieonmars.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angieonmars_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi1hXgLw4RtMFr3pv9uL-tQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=FMBHP73dYtnLKZaGgvnYlg&utm_source=ishare https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=FMBHP73dYtnLKZaGgvnYlg&utm_source=ishare
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieonmars
Image Credits
Photographer for purple swirl photo is James Johnson.