We recently connected with Aria and have shared our conversation below.
Aria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I am very happy! Happiness is never linear but I live with a huge amount of gratitude each day. I think being happy and comfortable are two different things. Would I be more comfortable with a consistent, “regular” job? Absolutely. But I would always live with a nagging feeling that I could be living more expansively and I am happy that as uncertain as it is I am pursuing my purpose and choosing happiness over comfort.
Aria, 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 am a recording artist and two-time terminal cancer survivor. Graduating college with a BFA in music I released my debut album in 2017 and completed a solo four month US tour! After relearning to walk and talk due to a debilitating car wreck I now work in the cancer and mental health communities as a speaker and trauma coach while continuing to heal and empower through my music. I strive to help people heal through the things I had to and also make the tools I use accessible to everyone regardless of circumstance.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Often as artists we are taught that we will either be “making it”, selling out stadiums or “failing” and bankrupt and that there is no in between. In reality there are so many artists who make a living via multiple streams of income and no path looks the same. There is a ton of in between area that can give you a fully successful and fulfilling artistic career.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I think being real and unfiltered is underrated when it comes to social media success. I used to curate everything I did and not until I took the risk to be fully honest, speaking on my flaws, bad days etc. did my community really grow. People are craving honesty in such a filtered/edited world. Your social media doesn’t need to only be a highlight reel and people connect with you more when it isn’t. I often suggest that creatives lead with their life stories/experiences because there are many talented artists out there but only one person with your story.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.musicbyaria.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/musicbyaria/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ddTj2Uv3iiwNKCfKT3FOA
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@musicbyaria?lang=en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3G0IlPklJQobIsSWKEO5CZ?si=_2ZPnyV2Q0iYNOwM_k4qwA