We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ANIIIYA. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aniya below.
ANIIIYA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.
I’ve been singing ever since I can remember. I used to watch 106 and Park on BET & TRL on MTV and these shows really made me want to become a singer. When I was 7, I got my first lead in my schools Christmas play.
I was not technically trained and never had voice lessons. Overtime, I’d listen to my favorite artist and mimic what they did. I would listen to their songs over and over until I got them down.
Over the years I grew into my voice and I was able to hone my own sound. My sound became a huge mesh of different genres such as soft rock, R&B, Pop, and Jazz.
I started taking music seriously, and professionally in college. I ended up getting close with a collective of artists in Orlando ,Florida and learned how to record and to write music to the best of my ability. After I graduated college I moved to Los Angeles and continued to learn myself and my voice. I used to drive around in my car and record songs on my iPad with the voice memo app. I had to write in unconventional ways and this allowed me to be able to write any type of song at any point in time.
I think knowing what I know now nothing would’ve sped up my learning process because I believe that honing your craft takes time and dedication. You have to try different things and see what works for you. I think that no matter what you do, consistency yields success. Just don’t give up!
The most essential skills to obtain is to learn the business. It’s one thing to sing, but it’s another to present yourself professionally so that others treat you as such.
I think that everyone has their own obstacles in life and there’s nothing that will change that. I would say for me, I am blessed but I have had to overcome adversities and different life situations. Through that, I’ve learned how to be self sufficient and to really utilize my blessings to help me excel.
Aniya , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I broke into music industry through the grace of God. I also networked and really took time to have full confidence in myself. This allowed me to meet people in the industry and to make lasting impressions. I took a lot of time to sharpen my skills and grow my confidence. This allowed me to move with confidence in all rooms and to have my name in rooms before I even entered.
I’m a singer/songwriter and I create music that is relatable and that talks about the experiences that I’ve been through. As humans, we are all very similar and talking about my experiences, openly, help other people.
I think as far as a musician, what sets me apart is my authenticity, my story, and my unforgettable voice. These things allows others to relate to me. I break down that will with my warm and inviting voice and when people take a closer listen, they realize that I’m saying something worth listening to. I am also authentically myself and I think that we are all different. Once we tap into our differences, it allows us to be set apart from the crowd.
I am most proud of being a mother. I feel like us mom sometimes I have so much on our plate that we neglect ourselves and our God given purpose and talents. I feel like I was born to be a mother and I was also born to change the world through my music, personality, and love. I want to reach my full potential and fulfill my purpose so that can show mother’s that it’s OK to continue to pursue our dreams and passions while being the best moms that we can be.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding thing about being an artist is the impact that I have on others. The bigger I get, the more influence I have; I do not take that lightly. I believe that my story can really help others and I relate to so many people. I feel like that’s the most rewarding aspect of being a musician. As I continue to grow (bank account included) I’ll be able to bless so many people and change my family tree. It’s truly bigger than music.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I feel like I’ve been resilient all my life but ever since I became a mother, it’s times ten! Being a mom is the hardest things I’ve ever done and I am also a full time student, musician, marketing executive for Afrovibes TV & Radio and so much more. There are days that I’ve thought about how hard everything is and I get discouraged, but I know that my son needs me at my best and so does the world! I have a purpose to fulfill!
Contact Info:
- Website: aniiiya.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aniiiyamusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: Aniya Nicole Gary
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniya-gary-12912b262
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ANIIIYAMUSIC
Image Credits
Hannah Damp Tay Butler