We recently connected with LadyPerez and have shared our conversation below.

LadyPerez, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

A little bit into starting my career, I finally got connected to social media, which was a pretty late start for me. My sister really had to push me to do it and that was my first mistake. As an artist, I should have jumped on the ball immediately when TikTok and etc came out – then maybe my following would have been a bit better.

But, when it comes to mischaracterization and being misunderstood, that was the result of what care with my social media profiles.

Being a person with multiple talents apparently can look like you’re a jack of all trades but a master of nothing at all. And honestly, although I firmly believe that one can never master the art of anything and can only constantly keep learning and adjusting how they perform their craft, other people would come to my profile and only see a girl who “can” sing, “can” model, “can” draw and acts from time to time. When in reality, I’ve been trying to make it my full time career.

I guess what I’m saying is, I’m a firm believer that all forms of art belong together. You need an artist and architect to design sets and costumes. You need models to model the clothes. You need actors to tell a story and keep people engaged in your show. You need singers to make a fire soundtrack!

So my question is, why is it so wrong that I’ve found a way to do it all and keep up with every talent I have?

Essentially, I have seasons for stuff. When I’m not wholly focused on one talent, I’m focused on another. But I never abandon any of them completely, I only give myself a rest from it every now and then, but always pick it back up.

I guess you could say I’m a busy body. I can never just sit still and do nothing. I have to always be doing something. So if you see me modeling, it’s because I haven’t found my next acting gig. If you see me singing, it’s probably in tandem with a show I’m in. If you see me drawing, that is something that I love to do in my spare time because nothing is more gratifying than being able to wear your own art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

It all started back when I was a little girl and the day that Michael Jackson died. Weird, right?

Well, I remember crying my eyes out when MJ passed away and singing his songs in my room when my mom secretly caught me. I didn’t find out until the very next day because she had me sing in front of everyone in the living room which, of course, I was nervous about. Though it lead me to a path of performance!

The only people that knew up until that point about my singing abilities were my best friend (my dad) and my sister. My sister and I would often stay up at night writing songs together and my dad and I would just be silly making up songs for every situation.

Eventually, my dad – who was the minister of music at our church – had out me and my sister in the church choir where I ultimately sang my first solo. The funny thing is, it was supposed to be a duet between my sister and I for Mother’s day. But because our mom got sick, my sister stayed behind to take care of her and that’s how I wound up singing my first and worst solo of my entire life 🤣 – Shackles by Mary Mary.

The church was so supportive and they still are to this day!

In the 8th grade, I began showing an interest in acting when I saw an audition poster for Ragtime. My soul lit on fire – even though I had never seen the show or ever been in a musical, I knew I HAD to be in it! My dad wrote up a contract where I had to keep up my grades in order to be apart of the show and you know what? My grades only improved!

From then on, I auditioned for more local shows and kept meeting interesting people! But, my grades and school also contribute to my career as well.

When I entered High School, I went to Youngstown Early College and because I was almost always the top of my class, I was inducted into the NHS and was scouted by the NAACP to be the Youth President. I was the President for about 2-3 years before I met my now beloved boss (and practically my aunt), Ms. Martha Robinson-Brogdon.

I was giving a speech one night at the NAACP dinner that was awarding high achievers and I guess she caught wind of my talents from Mr. McWilson. She gave me her business card and I haven’t left her side since. She is seriously the best boss I think I’ll ever have 💚💙

Over the years, we’ve done some of her original shows, toured Ohio and surrounding states with our Motown Magic Show and even done a Whitney Houston Tribute (which I hope we bring back soon)!

But my journey is far from finished and although my very first show was about 10 years ago, I have decades more of work to be done – and I’m more than ready for it!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I mentioned before, my dad was my best friend. He was my first friend in this world and the first of mine to leave it.

I was studying Music Recording at Youngstown State University and I was in my final semester, so I was excited and stressed at the same time because of my internship and senior project that I had to finish.

My dad was the proudest he had ever been of me – knowing that graduation was around the corner, I was at peak creativity and it was all about God. My daddy was the absolute BEST Pianist in the whole world! Even though he loved to brag on other musicians, because I knew who my daddy was, I was rarely phased 🤣

But, everything changed on March 18th. On that day, I was able to send only one last text to my best friend before God took him home.

I battled with myself a lot! I was having a hard time with losing my best friend, having a hard time going back to school, to my internship, interacting with other people.. etc.. I had a lot on the line at the time and I was counting on him being there to see the fruits of our labor. I guess he had to be there in a different way..

Before he died, I had asked my dad to be apart of my senior project by playing the keys and hearing that track is a huge part of what got me through everything. I’m grateful that we talked about death a lot because everytime I heard his piano playing, all I heard was what he once told me he wanted me to do if he ever died while I was in college.

He told me to keep going no matter what.

Never give up on my dreams, finish my degree and don’t stop my life for anyone – especially not the dead. Keep a smile on my face and allow myself to mourn, but get right back to business.

Doing what my daddy wanted for me has been what’s keeping me sane. And ironically, I actually had to do a show a few days after he died, but I wanted to do that show.

I needed to get away from everyone and everything that reminded me that he was physically gone. I needed to re-experience that wavelength that we were always on together. And that was God and Music. Even though the performances I did weren’t gospel, I still always view my performances as a praise to him, because without God, I wouldn’t have any of my gifts.

I still have my moments where I struggle, but who ever gets over the loss of their best friend? I know my dad never got over the loss of his family or friends. But he showed me how to keep going in the midst of grief.

Thank you, Daddy.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

If society supports the youth, their dreams, their goals and come out to see their shows, it would make the community a lot brighter, colorful and fun. Creating opportunities starts with support of a dream.

And when you hire an artist, please don’t ask us what our “real jobs” are. That is a huge insult to us. If you get paid to do something, it’s a job. If you volunteer your time in exchange for a service, that’s a job too – a non-profit job, but a job.

Be open to new ideas and new faces. Teach us like we’re your apprentice and not a subordinate because one day, the world will be in our hands instead of our oyster. Now tell me, just how good of a job so you want us to do after your time is up? Whatever your answer is, that is how you then need to teach the next generation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: LadyPerez_Acts & LadyPerez_Sings
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LadyPerez22?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lferguson9601
• Youtube: YouTube.com/MrsLadyPerez
• Other: TikTok: LadyPerez_22 General Instagram: Lady_Perez22

Image Credits
Photographers: Mia Turquoise Image & DjKennyKen (Kenny Reyes)