We were lucky to catch up with Semiyah recently and have shared our conversation below.

Semiyah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on to date has been Remedial Education II, the follow up to my debut EP Remedial Education. In 2020, amidst the pain my community was experiencing I was simultaneously having a breakthrough personally and creatively, In 2021-22, an extension of the growth being cultivated was manifesting itself again in the music I was creating. These projects are milestones in my career because they reflect what I was going through in my personal life. With those projects, I created a space where I was my most vulnerable, honest, and even hurt. Remedial Education I and II are a soundtrack to my (continued) healing journey–the trials, triumphs, and the emotions that are attached to those moments, Opening myself up musically led to me also opening up in real life to those I’m in community with daily and those that I form connections with through my art. I believe that one of the core reasons my music resonates with others is because it is personal. This does not form the disconnect with my listeners that one would think; me being honest about my struggles compels people to do the same, then reflect, and apply the music to their own life. What it means to me, may mean something different to someone else, but the fact remains that it means something. My music was enough to make a person pause for a few moments and feel something–this is one of the best forms of success an artist can have.

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.

Music has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember, 2016 was the moment I started sharing my gift with the world. I spent quite a long time experimenting with different sounds, genres, until I finally felt in the space that was perfect for me. My goal with my music is to make people feel something the few moments I may have their attention. I intend to make the listener feels so much that not only will they reflect on their life or how they can be better, but also to put their feelings into action. To move them is to make them feel with ultimate goal of wanting them to act. I cannot make the music I do without being in touch with my humanity and the world around. The last few months as I have born witness to what is happening in Palestine, Sudan, and Congo etc, I hope this next round of music compels my listeners to empathize with the world around them and take action to make the world around us not just better, but safer. May the music compel my listeners to imagine a world beyond the world we live in. Through my music, someone learns a lot about who I am, what I go through, and what I value. I hope learning about those things will cause them to consider who they are and what they value in this life. Every shift I have gone through personally and creatively has allowed me to become the artist I am today. Every awkward lyric, odd melody, mediocre mix, was what it took for me to start the journey of becoming the best artist I can be.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect is being able to connect with my listeners through my music. What I had to experience or feel in order to create a song is all worth it the moment someone tells how much they needed it, how seen they felt upon hearing it. fills me with joy when a listener tells me in detail what a song means to them or how it helped them get through a hard time in their life. It is a privilege to provide light to someone in the midst of darkness, to touch them without even needing to reach out a hand, This is why despite the numbers, recognition, etc. my greatest success will be making people feel.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish that early on in my career I had known about Fiverr as it is the way I have found my music engineer Chris of the last few years. That platform has allowed me to connect with illustrators and designers that help visually bring my music to life. Canva has been a great aid in helping me create engaging posts to help promote my music and even cover art when booking an illustrator is not within my budget. Landr has been an exceptional help in distributing my music around the world as an independent artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.semi-yah.com/
• Instagram: _semiyah
• Twitter: semiyah__
• Youtube: Semiyah
• Other: Bookstagram: wellreadsinger

Image Credits
Joe Fazzo Aaron Blount Carnell L. Turner