We were lucky to catch up with Isis Destiny recently and have shared our conversation below.
Isis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
Growing up I loved everything about performance art. From guitar, viola, to singing. Dance to cheer.
There was a point when I began booking gigs for myself at 13, at local farmers markets and pop ups. I was showing up to the local open mic at New World deli every Monday to sing the songs I had learned that week. I fell off for a few years because I had a lot going on in my home life, but when I came back to music I began working on an EP. I was around 17 at the time when I was first stepping foot in a recording booth working with producers at Mosaic Art Studio to record an acoustic demo EP, yet life got in the way again.
At the time I lacked the ability to put the energy necessary into ensuring success within the promotion process of my project. I was young and going through a lot at the time, so I gave myself grace- I often pondered where I would be now if I had kept up with that momentum. I really had to put in the work to move past my emotions of feeling like I was constantly behind in my journey.. I am a firm believer that everything happens the way it’s meant to, Yet I 100000% wish I could have honed in all the stress I experienced into my music rather than turning my back on it when times got tough.
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.
Hi! My name is Amira Isis Destiny and I’m a Texas native, currently studying Audio and Performance Tech at Austin Community College.
Currently I’m building upon my solo career as a vocalist/ singer songwriter and improv singer specializing in jazz under my stage name (my middle name <3) Isis Destiny. I also have a project I started alongside my two close friends and colleagues, Christina Quintero and Jasmin Blue that we call <i>The Lover Girl Collective. </i>Groups like <i>ASCO</i> and <i>Gorillaz</i> were large influences in the ideology behind creating a group that emphasizes collaborating with other artists and making statements with our creations. What set’s us apart is our mission to create a collective that doesn’t only produce music but highlights dance and movement, visual arts, and a passion to connect/collaborate specifically with fem creators in our community. It’s a work in progress but to this day I’m amazed at the power of community and how following my dreams of singing has brought so many people into my life that are not only helping my dreams come to fruition but that are equally passionate about the big goals we hope to reach this year.
Music runs through my blood. My grandfather is a first generation Mexican-American that moved to the states in his early teen years when his family Mariachi band <i>Mora Arriaga</i> found success in a deal at a label in the states that brought them here to tour and inevitably settle down in Texas and Miami.
Nevertheless, I was always encouraged and supported by my family to hone my energy into my music and performance art. I was singing on stage by 13, released my first ep my 17 and my second ep by 22.
Most recently I went on my first self-organized tour- which is how my band came to be. I played so many roles from organizing run of show, to sound and PA set up and break down at venues, to managing and booking other artists on the lineup, to PR and Marketing for the tour. I learned so much about the many roles a music/ tour manager would take on. In the future I hope to lean deeper into my organizing skills and maybe one day help support other artists in booking and management.
Continuing the momentum of tour, I released 4 singles over the past 4 months and will continue to do a roll out of music videos and media to promote my new songs. The band is working on a rebrand and solidifying new members with the hope to release our first EP as a group later this year.
I believe that community is the fabric of music, and I’m committed to nurturing and growing that network.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I’ve witnessed the rapid growth in Austin’s creative community when spaces for artists to connect were readily available. Whatever the medium- community hubs, and network opportunities to connect and uplift one another is the best environment you can find yourself in as an artist. I found myself in a flow of networking and getting booked more frequently after connecting with the Underground Voices Open Mic here in Austin, Texas.
I had made so many new connections and that bled over into other creative pursuits and opportunities even outside of music. I went from open mics to all of a sudden needing to take a step back and really start assessing my worth as a musician, creative, and community collaborator.
I’ve watched other’s in my community experience this same effect, showing support and receving support is where I see the most positive ecosystems. (<i>emphasizes on showing up for others too!!</i>) I envision myself going from a small audiences to booked out venues, that happens within nurturing the connections I make along the way.
On another note, we’re very blessed in Austin because we have resources like Sonic Guild, HAAM off the top of my head- that support artists with access to health care and mental health providers. This is extremely crucial to supporting performers in the ability to really have a career in music long term. I hope as a community we can continue to create more accessibility within these types of programs.
Who I see truly creating change in the community is the people who are passionate about giving back to creatives and creating inclusive spaces for us to thrive. Look at Riches Art Gallery, or DAWA. They’re setting the bar for inclusive and affordable spaces for artists to exist while also making sure artists are getting paid rightfully for performances, pieces, craft. Post pandemic with an influx of creatives making the leap from 9-5’s to full time artists, we desperately needed a bar to be set.
If you’re just a lover of the arts, stay engaged in the community events that your local creative’s are putting together. Supporting small businesses and taking the time to indulge in the underground music scene in your area goes a much longer way in creating a positive impact than imaginable. There’s a lot to be understood about what’s going on in our community and the art that’s being created clues us in, these messages need to be received!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As a teenager I lived in survival mode, because of that I never took the chance to think about what I WANT out of life, living in that state had me skating by thinking 50% was my best. That isn’t the case anymore, lately my vision is clear. I feel the weight of time and of my choices in the best way, I’m learning to be more intentional and it’s proving to work in my favor.
One group that has inspired me (<i>that I mentioned briefly earlier</i>) is ASCO- an art collective from the early 70’s to the 90’s. They used theatrical performance and visual arts to protest injustice and uplift their community. I hope to be able to create pieces that have the same awareness and intention. I want to push myself to be the best version of myself spiritually, creatively, the whole 9 yards. I think that the better I become to myself, the more it will reflect in my art and music and dance.
We’re made to think that all of the work that creates a better world is done externally, I’m beginning to believe that the real work is done within. When we heal ourselves, that love and light bleeds into the world around us. I feel like I’m being my best self when I’m creating spaces for others around me to grow alongside. I see my friends doing better because we’re all pushing each other to be better and nurturing a space to be better, this is the biggest reward and what keeps me pushing on.
Contact Info:
- Website: isisdestiny.com
- Instagram: @isisxdestiny
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blubonnetbaby222
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/isisdestinyxmusic
Image Credits
Photos by Primrose photography and Joshua Hernandez