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

Hi Lyza, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

When my daughter turned seven, I realized I would have to return to music fulll time. I’d made some big strides while performing in Dallas and was being asked for more of my time. It was a defining moment because I realized my work outside my home had to come after motherhood. I’d been sending demos, singing at weddings, background vocals for rappers, I’d finally released my own project and started picking up a little steam of my own until I realized how much it would take from my ability to raise my daughter. I’ve been a single mom since I was three months pregnant and I was her primary parent. I couldn’t keep up with the demand or the expectation and raise a healthy child. I made the decision to go into “hibernation”. I still sang on Sundays and for my private parties but nothing like what I’d worked toward. It was a change that would reshape my career. I knew I needed a career upgrade that involved more ownership of my time and more stability than auditioning and hoping for a break. I had to build my own lane and make room for my whole identity. I did that by focusing on home, business and last my passion. I’d do this for the next nine years. I proved to be painful but worth it. My daughter is healthy, grounded, compassionate. She’s an visual artist and I was able to homeschool her. I realized my career had to respect my home life and if it didn’t I’d have to create one that did.

Also, bombing “The Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston in the 8th grade was definitely a defining moment as a performer. I’d sang in a few plays and I was asked to perform for my eighth grade graduation. I agreed and absolutely bombed the song. In front of everyone! Although I was ashamed -and my family was too- I realized that I was going to bomb again and again before I made my way. I knew I loved music and I was willing to fail my way to success. Although that moment was terrible, it taught me that I was fearless and humble about my passion. .

Lyza, 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 consider myself a Healing Artist as most of the work that I do is designed to improve life and create more life! I like to include the word, “sexy” so no one thinks I’m a minister. I intend to act up and break too many rules for that.

I create music and musical experiences for my audience. Most events blend therapeutic art with partying! In my life, Art has been a healer in and of itself so to use it for the purpose of both healing and entertaining was a wonderful blend that allowed my whole self to show up. I recently released a song called, “Space”. There are two versions, one for listening and one for meditating. I have events called Iridium Nights, a therapeautic jam session, I inspire improv and therapeutic expression regardless of skill level. At the Mission Bay Park I host Musical Meditation, which is curated meditation music to my singing and guided meditation. I produce an event called,“Tell Me About Love: a concert and conversation party. In my life, Art has been a wonderful way to focus on emotional release without an actual therapist. Sometimes it’s easier to pay $10 to go to an event or $2 for a song, than it is to trust a new person with your life story or even pay this new person for every hour that they listen. There’s some thing more private and intimate about allowing self expression and music to encourage. The experiences are interactive, hilarious, sexy… beautiful. We heal and slay, so expect a side of fancy with your experience .

What I’m proud that I have found a way to uniquely incorporate my passion for healing and music without being handsy. I have created a lane that fits my truth. By remaining independent, I’ve been able to be very free, creative and hands-on. I have projects in the works that feed my creativity and my desire to be on the edge of expression. I have no limits.

What sets me apart is that I’ve blended my passion for healing with my business background and my artistic license. I’ve had a long career in business that has taken me from creative entrepreneurship with Sisterlocks, to the music business interning at Hidden Beach Records to being an financial system analyst for the largest commercial real estate company in the world. Although I never wanted to work in business, it was a blessing that gifted my art it’s freedom. I’ve been blessed to use my work skill set to keep my art authentic and free from negative influence. My business background also makes me more understanding of the nuts and bolts of it all.

As a Healing Artist, I provide “space”. No rules or doctrine, just opportunities to connect with the divine in your own way. I believe art is one of the last free forms of expression. it connects to spirit and allows everyone to hear, feel and perceive things that cannot be bought nor taught. I’m always keeping an eye out for business and artists that have similar passions.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing teams is difficult and knowing that is the first step. Know that it will not be easy but if your intentions are good and you truly care about your team it all works out. One of the first steps to maintaining high morale is being a part of an organization that values a high morale. Many companies simply don’t. However as an independent business owner and someone who works with music a.k.a. energy, keeping the social energy balanced and keeping your team members gifts in mind as you assign new projects and new responsibilities will only add to your success. Also, finding ways to incorporate your team members ultimate career and life goals into their daily and weekly workload has been very effective for keeping morale high even during trying sometimes. Lastly, create a rubric, a survey system, -I hate to get corporate but- Key Performance Indexes to help team members know how well they’re performing as well as how well you’re performing as a leader. I would also suggest studying personality types.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was that my business mind is not my musical mind. When I first started in music I took a very disciplined approach. I had to strip all my desire for control, force, rhythms and patterns. I had to understand that real music is not formulaic or methodical. I had to learn the process of creating Music would be different from my process of creating Business solutions. Music is all about energy, vibes, feelings, comfort or ease. Business is more about consistency, execution, force and pressure, all qualities that do not create good soul music. I had to learn two different modes of operation and once I did, the two different sides started working together!

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.lyzaeonline.com
• Instagram: @Lyzaemusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizaellenplummer
• Twitter: @ladylizaellen
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LadyLizaEllen/videos
• Other: SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/liza-ellen Super Fans IG: @ladylizaellen

Image Credits
Photographers: Miguel Pizarro, Manjera Newson, Lyza E.