We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cienna Alida. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cienna below.

Hi Cienna, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

This is such a good question. I grew up in a family where success was often measured by good grades, academic prowess and landing that dream job. My parents made a life for themselves where their hard work allowed them to have everything they do and they wanted to instill that in their children. And then there was me. I did do the whole good grade thing and got a job blah blah, and in that area its easy to measure “success”. I know when my reviews come back, or I get a raise that I have been successful, but I am a vocalist, and artist, a creative. How do I measure success there? I have learned that it can not be based on the amount I make, and in a world where competition is rampant, I can not compare myself to other people. I have learned that success comes from understanding where I am in MY process. Making goals and sticking to them. It may seem cliché, but I have been the person understanding that I have what it takes but have been so paralyzed by my own thoughts or life doing what life does that I do not make goals, I am not consistent, I do not take time to work on my craft, I sit and compare. As I have gotten older and slightly wiser, I have learned that it is me and against me. Another artist told me when I was having a heart to heart with her that I have to walk into a room like I am a giant. That really stuck with me because, my success comes from not only my ability to sing, perform, etc, but it comes in the form of my confidence, my determination, but ability to understand and learn from my mistakes, my ability to not take myself seriously and give myself grace, but in all things to do them to the absolute best of my ability. So to answer the question succinctly, to be successful, it takes self awareness, it takes graces to understand that you can and will fail but you move forward, it take consistency, and it takes practice to hone in on your strengths within your craft. I am still learning how to put those “success” puzzle pieces together but I do know that those are the right pieces.

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.

I have been singing for as long as I remember. I distinctly remember my parents telling me about the time when I was I school and we were getting ready to do a Christmas concert and the teacher sent me home with the song breath of Heaven by Amy Grant. My mother and father had me sing the song and to hear them tell it they were flabbergasted. I could actually sing. I am not sure why they were so surprised because I come from a musical family. My father directed the choir and played the organ by ear and sang. My mother also sings although she wont anymore. And my sister sang in the choir with me. Honestly it was support from my family and encouragement even if it wasn’t always wanted to step out and do the solo perform for an event my Godparents were giving. I have also made some terrible blunders singing, my mother always used to say I would lose my voice or get sick right before a big event. Luckily I have gotten over that but man I had some terrible solos and performances when I was younger. I listened to alot of gospel growing up and my first cd was Celine Dion that’s the way it is. (I think that’s the name). That was followed by a merengue greatest hits and destiny’s child the writings on the wall. I would sit and try to sing all parts of every song and that became part of what I did well. I could mimics notes and artists super well and that’s how I continued to teach myself how to sing.

Being from a bilingual bicultural family, I have the opportunity and pleasure of singing in multiple languages. My mother’s Puerto Rican roots run deep! And I love shocking the crowd who sometimes forget the African Diaspora touched many areas. There is a sense of pride that I get from singing and representing may different types of people and backgrounds and cultures when I sing and perform. I would like to think I can sing anything, from La India, to Whitney Houston, to Evanescence, to John Denver, to Stevie Nicks and everything in between. When I have shows that require me to do covers I try to take my audience through every genre of music they like and give them a rollercoaster of feelings as I sing. When I do my own music of course, it is very personal. Very much either written by me or written in a manner that captures the essence of experiences I have had.

I say it often and will say it again, I just want to be heard. I LOVE to sing and entertain and I want to be able to share my gift with anyone and everyone who will have me.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I do not know if this counts as a lesson, but perfection. I had to unlearn perfection. 1 there is no such thing, 2 its terrible to try to attain something that is not possible. I grew up as I mentioned before thinking that perfection was the only way. I have come to understand that as an artist and as a creative, perfection is not necessarily the goal. We are called to evolve, to change, to enhance, to create and promote growth and introspection in ourselves and others and sometimes those stories, those beautiful pieces, the best sounds come from a space that was not perfect, it comes from one that was a challenge, one that required more effort and didn’t quite make it to where we wanted. but was what we needed. So I have had to learn to stop comparing to what I thought perfection was and work on being a better version of me. I look at people who I highlight different qualities in their artistry than I do and try to use that as fuel to be more creative, or to find other ways to express myself. I want to be the best version of me but not perfect, if there is perfection there is no room to grow.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is seeing someone’s face light up when I perform a song that they requested. I never know what someone is going through and why people request the songs they do, but if I can provide happiness or a feeling of nostalgia or love or joy in that moment it makes it worth it. Performing is transactional, the way the crowd feeds off of us we feed off of them and that feeling of elation that I get because someone feels moved by something I have done is amazing!

Contact Info:

• Website: ciennaalida.com
• Instagram: Instragram.com/ciennaalida
• Facebook: Cienna Alida
• Linkedin: Cienna Wesley

Image Credits
Silent J Studio -Photography Pretty Dope Artistry – Danyelle Johnson Terrol Henderson – Photography