Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Seraiah Nicole Frazier . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Seraiah Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was in high school. Attending the Philadelphia High School for the Creative & Performing Arts as a major in theater, minor in film. Even though theater was my major it opened the door to so many artistic forms. My classmate told me about spoken word club and I decided to go with her. For the first time I felt safe. The words that I’ve been writing privately can come to life as a performance. I had never done such a thing. Every week Iof my senior year I’d go attend spoken word club, the Friday perform with PYPM (Philly Youth Poetry Movement.) This space showed me that there is a world of kid poets that exist. That there’s space for me to thrive, that I don’t have to be in a box. So I did just that. Every week produces new pieces and trying to memorize them in time for slam. Toward the end of the program we had a slam competition. My team and I made it to the semi finals by performing a poetry piece I created titled “Melanin.”
This included a my singing & songwriting. I made a chorus that interweaves through my poem & the additions that my friends added to it.
Together we brought to life an amazing group piece that later became my first ever single. I never wanted to be boxed in. If I was going to create I wanted to do it my way. So that just what I did. Scared & shook em up I didn’t know how people would receive it. I performed “Melanin” anywhere I could. It wasn’t just for me, it was for my community. Melanin is a pledge to blackness. To loving every shade, to not dimming your light. Because this song filled me up it then filled others in the black Philadelphia community. That lead to paid opportunities to simply express myself & encourage others. As for the poetry club team, we won semi finals and that gave us all the confidence we needed to continue. After high school I stormed into creating in avenues I couldn’t believe. I’m grateful for this experience. Fusing theater, poetry & music.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Seraiah Nicole. I am a multi- creative who expresses herself through soul & jazz music, spoken word poetry to say the least.

After high School at CAPA for theater I needed a creative community. That was all I knew. I then created open mic & showcase events with my friends & for community. They wound up being successful. Art & food & people are always a great combination.
These events helped me build a creative eco-system that is so supportive til this day.

I would perform my newest poems, songs & my favorite thing is to fuse poetry & song. That’s how a lot of my music is. I love to feel encouraged through art, so when I write I write to encourage myself in hopes that that what I need will help someone too.

Once of the things I’m more proud of is performing at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, working with the Sixers. Being from Philly it’s a full circle moment seeing the Art museum every day, taking trips, then to perform was a dream come true. Just like the Art Museum, another pillar in Philly is the NBA team the Sixers. I was asked to create an original piece about Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. I did just that & it aired during Half Time. I touched the game ball, brought my whole family to the game & so much more. That was an exhilarating feeling! I always wanted to play basketball but that felt great to still show up as an artist & be accepted with open arms & perform a piece that is about King, Activism and encouragement. It felt very real to me.
I want people to know that I strive to create intentionally. With God being first, then creativity second. When people experience me (performing or not) I want them to feel seen, acknowledged & challenged to continue to be their best self.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Growing up I went to church every Sunday with my family. I learned to have faith in Christ. To always treat others the way you’d want to be treated. To be an example of love everywhere I go. This concept shapes the music I make, the spaces I go & perform. Gospel is my root. My family is my root. Soul food & Sunday dinner at the table is my root. I come from love & that’s what I always want to share through my art. Love. Just that. God is love.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started building my social media presence by just being myself in camera . It feels nerve wrecking. To be vulnerable with yourself & share it to the public but sometimes that’s the best thing to do. Not only will you feel better after doing so you’ll inspire/encourage others who may have needed to see your post. I urge people to be intentional & consistent with self before building a following. Check your intentions. Ask yourself “why am I doing this?” Come from a pure place & the rest will follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: Seraiahnicole.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/seraiahnicole
• Youtube: Seraiah Nicole

Image Credits
Rose Golden