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

Lina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Hold on to your keyboards because this is a long, but fantastic story.

Although, I’ve been getting booked since 7 years old to perform in front of crowds, I actually did not definitively choose the artist’s path until February 2021.

I had a spiritual awakening right in the middle of national television, while being a contestant on Wheel of Fortune!

In December 2020, I was going through a depression from a bad break up and decided to create a vision board, to get myself “unstuck” and out of the depressive pit I was in.

In order to get unstuck, I, intuitively, decided that the reason I wanted to live is to become a G.O.A.T., the greatest of all time, but in my own right. I was in awe of and inspired by people who were deemed “GOATS”, and vowed to spend a lifetime becoming one if that’s how long it took.

So, on a white poster board, I took a black permanent marker and wrote in capital letters “GOAT MOUNTAIN”. Then I underlined it.

Below that, I drew a big hill that represented a mountain and then a little goat stuck on the left side of the mountain.

That goat represented me. Scared, frozen, and lost.

Then, I drew a fountain at the top of the mountain that represented healing, green grass, money, love, abundance, etc. – all the things I desired and deserved.

So everyday that I showed myself love, whether it be that I saved money, put up healthy boundaries, got my nails done, etc., I’d cross out my old goat and draw another one closer to the fountain at the top.

I did this while simultaneously prepping for Wheel of Fortune.

When I got on the show, I’m in the middle of solving a ‘before & after’ puzzle, and I realize, the missing letters spelled out “MOUNTAIN GOAT”! The two most important words that have been keeping me alive for two months were staring me in my face.

I was in disbelief. And for .00000013 of a second, I had a conversation with a higher power, God, perhaps. The message I received was that I am EXACTLY where I need to be, going through the exact break up, being around the exact people, solving the exact puzzle and winning the exact amount of money from that puzzle.

It was in that moment that I surrendered and accepted my calling – to share more of my gifts to the world. Whether it be my love, my energy, my life story, my food, and most importantly, my music, I was going to do it with passion and resilience.

So from that day forward, I have more direction, intention, and have been operating solely on intuition, with music being my guiding light.

Lina, 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?

So I am both a performing artist and a chef/entrepreneur. I currently am know as the artist “Lina V” when I perform and own a hot sauce business called “Mama Lina’s Spicy Pineapple Sauce”. Music was the obvious calling, but culinary was a hidden talent, a hobby that turned into a business.

I am a refugee from Laos, that went to college in Iowa. I couldn’t quite find the flavors I grew up eating at home, so I had to hunt for them in groceries stores so I could learn how to cook the food myself. It didn’t take long for my college peers to catch on that I was cooking full out meals every day, and they began handing me their food stamps.

That’s when learned how to cook in bulk while developing my culinary skills.

Fast forward to 2021 in Los Angeles. I used to frequent a clothing shop/event space called “Goodmood.” It was a social space for creatives and artists to hang safely. We had the music, the social activities, the drinks bit what we were missing, was the food.

So every Thursday for about a year. I would bring platters of fried rice, lemongrass-baked chicken, and my Mama Lina’s Spicy Pineapple sauce – a family recipe that I felt, deserved to be bottled up and shared. I did it for free but would accept donations so I could keep up with it every week.

Soon, people began asking where they can buy my sauce, so I decided I needed to take it more seriously and figure out the business end of things.

I also do catering and meal plans. The culinary business is still in its beginning stages, but it’s taking off faster than I can produce!

The way my sauce ties into my music career is, I’ve sung about it in my songs and also, will do a free giveaway during my performance.

I am most proud of being able to keep the authenticity of my culture while still being able this make money doing what I love! I’m most proud of connecting with others through my crafts and seeing the joy on their faces once I share my gifts.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My number one reason and purpose for creating music is to heal, whether it be myself or others around me. Adversity from being a Laotian refugee in this country has taught me that we all need to face and heal from the past so we can live a more fulfilling and peaceful present and future.

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

The most rewarding aspect of an artist/creative is knowing that when you show up for yourself and tell your truth, you inspire others to do the same. I realize I am truly not alone in any aspect of my journey and that’s the most wholesome rewarding part!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/Linavmusic
• Instagram: @linavmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linavmusic?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@linavmusic4944?si=ZSsswEoUuJq7axoo

Image Credits

Dennis Saicocie

Saeng Douangdara

Alton Arnold

Aurelio Dueñas

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