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

Alright, Mari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I sat down and tried to do what I saw engineers do in sessions. For the first years that I would travel from Orange County to Los Angeles, I would try to find as many sessions as possible where I could sit and watch the magic happening in front of me. Finally, I went from an intern to a full-time assistant at a small record label in Orange County, where I could try a few of these sessions out with other artists. Once I finally configured a setup in my garage, I began recording and writing for myself and other artists. I never went to school for music, nor did I take any classes for vocal engineering; I thankfully have access to YouTube mentors and even friends who help me with questions regarding software, writing, etc. The biggest obstacle is ourselves. I have no excuses; at the end of the day, not many people do. It’s just a matter of how badly you want something – will you do everything you can to ensure you have the tools necessary to bring that to life?

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.

My name is Mari, and I am a Latin Pop singer-songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Music was not always the center of my life, but it was always something I came back to, which made it very easy to commit my life to it altogether six years ago. I grew up playing sports, and I played basketball in college. Sports and academics were my primary focus simply because it was the more secure route. However, I played violin and took singing lessons through high school. I knew it was what I wanted to do, but I was scared; I had no idea how, and neither did anyone in my life, including my parents and family. Throughout college, and once I graduated with a degree in Business Marketing, I sought any way to head up to LA and find a label accepting internships. I may have lied regarding my experience, but one small label in Orange County was kind enough to hire me as a personal assistant. I gradually became familiar with vocal production, A&R, songwriting, etc. Any chance I could get to work with people, I would throw myself in a session or watch my peers work so that I could learn. I also graduated during the pandemic, meaning only a few jobs were available, especially those involving live performance. However, once I got booked at one gig that allowed me to play outside, I slowly began to make bookings throughout Orange County and Los Angeles. I did many of these performances for free for at least a year to show venues the energy I could bring to their restaurant, party, etc. The free performances, stepping in so much piss, and the reality of the music industry were pretty challenging to navigate and push through mentally; even today, I still struggle, but I went door to door asking venues to allow me to play. I sent many DMs to artists asking me to let them write with them, but now I can say that live performances and other parts of my craft have allowed me to live independently in LA. I am very proud of myself because this goal was a massive part of my dream. I would love for fans to know how much I love connecting with them, how much I love creating moments where people dance and sing live, and how much I love doing what I do. My journey as an independent artist in Los Angeles has taught me the importance of staying true to oneself and valuing the purity of artistic expression.
I want young women and all aspiring artists to know art is a powerful self-expression transcending superficial attention. It’s about conveying your truth, emotions, and experiences in a way that resonates authentically with others. My brand stands for the belief that you can create meaningful, impactful art without compromising your values or seeking validation in the wrong places.
Art should be a source of empowerment and self-discovery, not a means to attract the wrong kind of attention. I am dedicated to showing that you can pursue your passion with integrity and respect, inspiring others to appreciate and support genuine artistry. By staying true to your vision and respecting yourself and your work, you can make a lasting impact and encourage others to do the same.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Many people don’t see that the choice we’ve made to make art more than just a passion is a risk because now you walk the line of staying true to your vulnerability but also needing to see a paycheck. It’s also an incredibly emotional journey. Every project involves delving deep into personal feelings and experiences, from expressing confusion and pain to hope, joy, and everything in between. This emotional depth can be exhausting but incredibly rewarding, as it allows me to connect with others profoundly. This kind of push and pull takes a toll mentally, and it takes practice to learn how to push art out consistently with your voice. In addition, the creative process requires significant time and patience. Developing an idea, experimenting with techniques, and bringing a vision to life takes a lot of trial and error, and sometimes, days, weeks, or years of work lead to a single piece that truly reflects what I wanted to convey. I wake up every day trying to unlock that light inside of me, and I recognize it doesn’t come from me – I am just a vessel God is using to see what he wants me to tell this world.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One particular story that illustrates my resilience, and what many artists endure, involves performing at various venues, especially during the transitions of the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduating during the pandemic, I was anxious to find a job, but not many places were hiring. Determined, I went door-to-door throughout Orange County and Los Angeles. My mom would drive, and I’d hop out with my business card and phone, ready to perform on the spot or sing for anyone willing to listen. However, no one wanted to hear me, and live music was a risky proposition during those times. Even after restaurants reopened, I continued my search for gigs.

One day, after facing rejection after rejection, my mom and I stopped at a small coffee shop to end the day on a positive note with an espresso. Out of curiosity, I asked if they hosted live music. To my surprise, they said yes, and I was singing there the following week. That experience taught me that all it takes is one yes to change everything. I’ve carried this lesson with me, whether in live performances or making music—one song, one melody can resonate deeply with people, turning into a whole stadium yelling your lyrics at the top of their lungs because they feel it too.

Since then, I’ve performed at numerous venues, both solo and with a band. Remarkably, for the first year of doing gigs, I wasn’t even compensated. I just wanted to convince venue owners and build a reputation, so they could understand the vibe I could bring to their space. I invested in myself and my craft, believing that my persistence and passion would eventually pay off.

Despite the challenges, whether playing in the corner of a noisy restaurant, dealing with stepping in piss, or not being adequately compensated, my passion keeps me going. It takes resilience to keep performing under less-than-ideal circumstances, but for me, it’s effortless because there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. I’ve tried the 9-to-5 desk job, and it’s just not for me. Connecting with people, making them dance, and creating music is what I live for—it’s what runs through my veins like nothing else.

This story is just one part of the resilience it takes to be an artist. Each day brings new challenges and uncertainties, but the drive to create and share my art keeps me going, no matter what obstacles come my way

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thisismarisworld.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismarisworld/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7iin0uCWkEGNZzzpmwAmQw?app=desktop

Image Credits

Dustin Ha – all images