We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lina Beach a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lina, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I got to Royal Studios. I was in school in Memphis studying music but not sure where it would take me – I didn’t really believe in myself as a musician yet. Then I got involved with the Mike Curb Institute for Music at Rhodes, running the social media for our collaboration with legendary bluesman Bobby Rush. He came to our campus and told us about his life, career and the blues. He brought us to Royal Studios in the heart of South Memphis to record a cover of “America the Beautiful.” That was the first time I stepped foot in that studio, the holy ground where my favorite records were created. I was in awe, taking videos as our college musicians jammed with Bobby Rush and Eddie Cotton, while Royal’s co-owner and producer Boo Mitchell ran the ship. I was so drawn to the whole recording process, but I stayed behind the camera.

I was out in the lobby with some other students when I met Boo. He picked up a guitar in the corner and sang something that made us all laugh. He asked what each of us did, and when I told him I ran the social media account, he asked if I could do the same for Royal. I came back the next week and had a front row seat as all these Memphis musicians I had looked up to collaborated on a project. I took all sorts of videos, but eventually Boo showed me how to help set up and assist on sessions—wrapping cables and plugging in mics, and whatever else was needed. That’s when I felt like “oh, I could do this!” I learned about audio engineering, producing, session playing, and songwriting by being there in the heart of it, watching these incredible records be brought to life. Still, I wrestled with imposter syndrome, not knowing where I was supposed to fit in the midst of it all. I loved all of it but I didn’t feel “good enough” at any of it. This changed when Boo heard me play guitar.

I was in the lobby teaching the other intern how to play “Isn’t She Lovely”. It was the first time I picked up a guitar to play in that sacred space. Boo was outside with some artists and came in saying, “Who’s playing that? You play guitar!?” Apparently I told him, “Ya, I really play bass too.” A few months later he tried me out on my first session, a remake of Al Green’s “I’m Glad You’re Mine” that his son Uriah had produced. I came in with my bass in hand, nervous and feeling all kinds of pressure to be recording at the legendary Royal Studios. But I loved that song, had listened to it for years, and stayed up studying Leroy Hodges’ bass lines all night. During the first take, Boo stood up out of his chair, “You sound like a 70 year-old black man!!” He brought me back in to record the guitar and was shocked, “You sound like Teenie Hodges”– the legendary guitarist and songwriter behind “Love and Happiness,” “Take Me To The River” and countless more. I was blown away. This whole time I had underestimated myself, caught in the tangles of comparison and imposter syndrome, not realizing the incredible gifts I had developed along the way. Then he told me something that’s changed my life forever: “You could make records.” And that’s what I did.

Lina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a 24-year-old Colombian-American singer-songwriter and musician with an old soul. Born into a musical family in Franklin, TN, fate eventually brought me to Memphis—my musical home—where I truly found my calling.

My parents gave me the gift of music from a young age. We sang and played piano every night, my dad taught me violin at age 5, and my mom brought my sister and I into studios singing on various projects with her. In middle school, I joined my church’s youth worship team and tried every instrument I could get my hands on, but I was drawn to the guitar. My mom taught me my first few chords—starting with “Kiss Me”—and showed me how to accompany worship songs. I caught the guitar bug, diving into everything from 70’s classic rock to acoustic folk. Then, I like to think that soul music found me.

One day in high school, I was out with a friend at our favorite hot chicken spot, when I heard “I’m Still In Love With You” by Al Green play on the speakers. It stopped me mid-conversation. I found the vinyl at a local record shop, and it became one of my all-time favorite records, on repeat as I moved three hours west to Memphis for college—the city where that music was born. I fell in love with jazz, soul, the blues, and all the magic that came from this place, and I loved being so close to it. Then I found my way to Royal Studios, and the rest is history.

Now, I’m working on my debut album “Little Sanities” with Boo Mitchell producing. I’m honored to be welcomed as the newest member and guitarist for The Hi Rhythm Section, Willie Mitchell’s studio band who recorded on 27 consecutive gold and platinum records at Royal Studios, and still tour and make music to this day. They defined the Memphis Soul sound, and now, I get to learn from the heart of it—making records in a space that’s so raw and real and feels like home. You can’t help but feel the spirit, and hopefully you’ll catch that “God in the room” moment like Willie Mitchell would say. The stories, the music, and the spirit of it all will stay with me forever, inspiring all I do, and hopefully the people that listen to my music, too.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My dad passed away when I was just seven. He was driving home from teaching a violin lesson when he was hit by a drunk driver. Tragedy struck our family, and our community stepped in–we never went without a meal, friends cared for us, surrounding my mom, sister and I with love and support.

I kept playing the violin, like he taught me. My dad’s violin had been damaged in the accident, but it was eventually rebuilt and became mine. For years I carried it on, but eventually, my passion faded. It felt wrong to give up something my dad had shared with me, but I wasn’t abandoning the music. I carried it forward.

The skills I learned from him, and my mom, laid the foundation for everything I do. The musical ear I developed has taken me around the world, strengthened my ability to learn songs quickly and play what I hear. And I still pull out his violin every now and then. I even recorded it on a couple songs for my upcoming album. One song in particular, “Stars,” just came to me when I was looking up at the sky one night—it felt like a conversation with him, and I like to think he heard it too. I feel his spirit in my music, and I think he would so be proud to see how far his little girl has come.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creator is knowing that my music can inspire and connect with people on a deep level. Music has always been my therapy—it’s helped me through so much, and when I started sharing it, I realized I wasn’t alone. To hear that a song has resonated with someone, no matter what they’re going through, is one of the most fulfilling things. It’s like your music takes on a life of its own and becomes something bigger than you ever imagined.

It also means the world to me when someone tells me I’ve inspired them to pick up an instrument, start creating, or pursue their passion. We’ve all faced self-doubt and imposter syndrome—especially as women in music. I want to be a source of encouragement for anyone who feels like they don’t belong or aren’t good enough. There are so many gifts within all of us that deserve to be shared, we just have to follow that voice inside and run with it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linabeachmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009013298487
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@linabeachmusic
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@linabeachmusic

Image Credits

Peter Batarseh
Bianca Holderness
Caleb Suggs
Logan Schaal
Jackson Hendrix
Jamie Harmon
Chloe Littlefield