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

Shelbi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

As an adult, I’ve been fortunate to explore my career in music from a multitude of angles. I am a vocalist first —singing is what I was born to do. It’s my calling. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to a variety of projects that have allowed me to vocal arrange, produce, and collaborate on studio projects both for my own work and for others. But, nothing compares to performing live. The powerful, communal experience between the stage and the audience is palpable and what I love most about how music is experienced.

While my passion for music remains at the core of everything I do, I have always embraced opportunities in other disciplines that allow me to stay connected to the art. I am also a curator, a community advocate, and a dedicated policy champion for the arts.

Currently, I am a team member of the City of Austin’s Music and Entertainment Division. I stumbled upon this role and couldn’t have been more aligned. This has been such a transformative journey—both personally and professionally. It has given me a unique perspective on the often-overlooked intersection of entertainment and government. This relationship is rarely, if ever, discussed, yet it profoundly impacts the lives of creatives and artists. In policy work, the voices of constituents, especially musicians, are often silenced or disregarded, leaving them in compromising positions. But living in the “Live Music Capital of the World,” I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can help drive change, especially for BIPOC music professionals. My mission is to ensure that these individuals are not only shown appreciation but are also empowered with sustainable opportunities that allow them to thrive while doing what they love.

My path to this work has been as colorful. I have a background in both nonprofit and marketing agency work, with a significant chapter spent at a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Austin’s historic African-American heritage district. There, I collaborated with a diverse group of creators—makers, visual artists, musicians, and business owners—each contributing to the vibrant cultural fabric of our city. This experience, my first professional role out of college, was a beautiful introduction to the world of full-time work.

From there, I transitioned to a marketing agency, with clients such as Whataburger and Hulu series “Beef Loving Texans.” Here, I thrived in the fast-paced, client-driven environment. But ultimately my deeper calling always lay in returning to mission-driven work, focusing on the subjects and causes that matter most to me.

That realization led me here, to where I am today—grateful for this journey and excited to contribute to the future of Austin’s music and entertainment ecosystem. Every day, I have the privilege of working within the music industry. And when I pair that with my love for community building and being a part of sustainable ecosystems I couldn’t feel more aligned in this moment with what I do now. I get to interface with my community of music professionals and those who love music and make it possible for people like myself to have opportunities to create and perform. I get to learn about the latest on what will affect those communities in educate them on what to champion and what to eradicate. And I also get to create opportunities for musicians, artists and music professionals alike for those in the city that raised me.

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.

I’ve been singing all my life. As long as I can remember. I can’t imagine a life where there’s no music and I’m not singing. I laugh as I say that but music has been one of my longest love letters. Like many other talented artists we love, my journey started in a communal space. Church was where I found my voice. I grew confidence in my ability solely based off spiritual connection and gratitude for such a talent. It made me love singing so much that I actually didn’t care if I was good or not. Ha ha. I just knew how it made me feel and that was an experience I wanted access to every day of my life.

Growing up I would start performing in different spaces and this really fueled my love to create music that people could also enjoy and share in my life experience. Music is my first love but I don’t think anything matters more to me than connection – and performing is just another way I get to experience its gift.

I am a music vocalist based in the city of Austin. I am a Songwriter, Recording artist and performer. I’ve been an eager collaborator with peers and other music professionals. Worked on music as a songwriter, vocal arranger and featured artist. I really enjoy working in the studio – birthing something and seeing it through to completion – although my deepest love is for curating moments on stage and guiding the audience into a true experience as a vocalist. I loooove being on stage. But I also love serving as a background vocalist supporting some of the most amazing artists!

I am incredibly excited for the music that I will be releasing for the first time later this year! A long, necessary time coming – the culmination of years of growth, hard work, and self-discovery. But every step has led me to this moment—where I feel more aligned than ever with the artist I am and the sound I want to share with the world. The journey has allowed me to expand as a vocalist and a storyteller. It’s been a process of deepening my connection to the art and to the people who will ultimately listen. I’m proud of where it’s taken me, and I can’t wait to share it. This release will be a fresh beginning—one that I’ve been waited so long for. Keep up with me to see when it drops…

One of the things I’m most proud of is my ability to merge my love for music with my advocacy for the community. I believe in my work to support BIPOC artists and pushing for more sustainable opportunities within the music industry. Whether I’m performing, producing, or engaging in advocacy, I want to help ensure that artists have the resources and recognition they deserve. As I’ve gotten older, it’s always been about more than just music. It’s about honest, vulnerable moments and the people who come together to create them. It’s about creating opportunities for others, championing the voices of those who often go unheard, and fostering a community that thrives together. The work I do, both on stage and off, is a reflection of my deep commitment to art, culture, and the people who create it. I want anyone who encounters my music to feel not just entertained, but empowered and connected— every song and every performance is part of a deeper conversation.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe creating a thriving ecosystem starts at home. Are you in touch and aware of who your local creatives in artists are? How are you staying connected to your creative community if you’re a creative yourself? How are you supporting their work as artists or creatives? Are you paying to go to their shows? Are you buying their visual art? Are you sharing their work with your friends and network?

I grew up in the age of burned CDs and mixtapes. The era of people selling CD’s out of their car or at events and locals falling in love with their music and ultimately bolstering their careers as artists in their hometown. This idea of “hometown heroes” has always fascinated me – how a city that you live in can show you how much they rock with you by making you a “superstar.” After all that is how many artists back then were discovered. The people really did the work and put artists on the map. That level of appreciation is something I long for in today’s communities and industries. It makes the difference.

The best way to support artists and creatives is to identify and amplify those who are just down the street from you and falling in love with and rallying around them first before we so easily throw our money at Ticketmaster. Don’t get me wrong, I love artist discovery and have so many friends in my head who are states and continents away from me, but as an artist myself there is nothing like having the support of your peers in your community especially when it means investment of their time and capital support (buying art, attend shows, buying/streaming music, etc.). Thats what makes this work we love and give so much to sustainable – and it don’t get more supportive than that.

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?

I believe that the concept of knowing when to take a risk is a hard concept to understand – practically and person to person. I know it’s hard for people (friends and spectators) to understand why it’s taken me so long to release music. Why it’s taking me so long to really walk in being an artist. And truly just why it’s taking me so long to share my gift on a larger scale- especially in the world of social media.

The idea on when the time is right to “just put it out there” Is not definite or certain. I think it’s easy for people to say that our work of art and emotion should readily and easily be shared with the world, but if you really understand the pure essence of that idea, there’s nothing easy about it. Sharing such a thing takes time. There is so much that this life offers us to address whether that’s trauma or triumph, rewards or responsibilities, pain or pleasure. Any of these things can delay or knock you off your timeline to pursue or complete any body of work. For me life has been about protecting my nervous system and enjoying moments without feeling rushed or a sense of urgency. The way that things have played out for me, everything feels like it has fallen into its divine place. So even though I would have liked to share music much further in advance, I try not to get caught up in the sincere motivation and excitement of peers and supporters urging me to put any of my creative work out before I’m ready.

If I could share insight around this idea, I’d encourage every creative- or anybody working on any type of project that they care about in disciplines that they love- to work on loving each moment of this life and taking care of yourself because if the creative work is a part of that it will find its way to the world anyway. Try not to get caught up in deadlines that don’t need to exist. Even if you have something that you are proud of and love deeply if you don’t feel you are ready to share it, consult with your parasympathetic, your future-self, and anything/one else you trust to help you make a decision on what’s best for you and what you want in this moment/life. Ultimately, what I’m saying is don’t let nobody pressure you into doing anything you’re not ready to! You’ll know when you’re ready and THAT will always be perfect timing…

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @shelbialexandria

Image Credits
Jeremy Carr Jasmin LaShon