We recently connected with Teliyah Bush and have shared our conversation below.
Teliyah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I do what I do because I believe in shining a light where it’s often overlooked. Northern California has always been a hub of raw, authentic, and diverse talent, from artists and musicians to creatives and entrepreneurs. But in the media and entertainment world, SoCal usually gets all the love. LA is seen as the center of culture, but NorCal has its own pulse, its own flavor, its own stories and those deserve to be seen and celebrated.
That’s why I started my podcast, Loca’s Vibe Check, to create a platform that highlights Bay Area stories and talent. It’s my way of giving NorCal the mic and the moment. The podcast features real conversations with local voices who are shaping culture and putting in the work, even when the spotlight isn’t on them.
It’s meaningful to me because I am that energy. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when someone from your own region gets a platform, how it inspires the next creative to keep pushing. So this isn’t just content creation or event hosting. This is cultural documentation. This is about making NorCal feel seen, respected, and elevated on a level that matches its greatness.
Teliyah, 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’ve been connected to the arts for as long as I can remember. By 14, I was already trained in singing and piano, and had been dancing and acting too. Performing and expressing myself creatively just came naturally—it’s always been part of who I am.
I later went to UNLV, where I really started to find my voice in the media and entertainment world. Through One Sound Group, I got the chance to interview artists like PnB Rock, Dyl, Dakota Gonzales, and Money Mazi (who’s signed to Birdman’s label) at the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. That moment was huge for me—it lit a fire. I realized I loved giving people a platform to share their stories and making sure the ones who often go unheard had a chance to shine.
That passion only grew when I worked on Seasons 2 and 3 of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix between 2018 and 2020. Being on a real film set was wild—and it just clicked. I knew then that I belonged in this space somehow. I felt at home in the creative process and wanted more of it.
Later on, in my role as a College and Career Development Specialist, I got to bring together my love for film and my heart for helping others. I helped launch a Filmmakers Academy in partnership with Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films to teach students with disabilities how to make their own short films. It was one of the most meaningful projects I’ve been part of. Joey and I even stayed connected and started working together creatively beyond that, which was super full-circle for me.
All of this led me to create Loca’s Vibe Check—my podcast that highlights Bay Area stories and talent. Everyone’s always talking about SoCal, but NorCal has so much heart, creativity, and hustle. I wanted to build something that gives local artists, entrepreneurs, and voices in the community a space to be heard, raw and real.
On top of that, I’m the MC and content creator for a Bay Area speakeasy-style steakhouse, where I host open mic nights and bring people together through food, performance, and good vibes. It’s another space where I get to blend creativity and community—and honestly, there’s nothing better.
What makes my work different is my why. I’m not doing this just for clicks or clout. I’m doing it to preserve culture, to spotlight the people who deserve to be seen, and to create safe spaces where folks feel like they can truly be themselves. I show up real, I show up passionate, and I bring my full self every time.
What I’m most proud of is building platforms that make people feel seen and valued. Whether it’s someone doing their first open mic or a guest opening up on the podcast, I love being the person who creates that moment.
If you’re a potential collaborator, client, or follower—just know that everything I do is rooted in love, purpose, and the power of storytelling. I’m here to create something that matters—and to bring people with me as I do it.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the best part about being a creative is seeing how what I do actually touches people. Like when someone hits me up and says an episode of Loca’s Vibe Check made them feel seen, or when I see someone light up after performing at the open mic—I live for that. Those moments remind me why I started this in the first place.
It’s not about going viral or being trendy. It’s about creating spaces where people can just be real—where their voice matters and their story gets heard. There’s something special about helping someone realize they’re not invisible, that what they have to say is important.
I especially love highlighting other creatives and putting a spotlight on Bay Area talent. I’ve seen firsthand how people in places like Las Vegas and LA go hard for their own, and it made me want to do the same here. The Bay has so much raw talent and soul, and I just want to give it the love and attention it deserves.
On a personal level, being creative is how I express who I really am. I get to mix everything I love—music, media, performing, storytelling, and building community—into something that feels true to me. And if that helps someone else feel inspired or empowered? That’s the best feeling in the world.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In my view, the best way society can support artists and a thriving creative ecosystem is by **truly valuing creative work as essential—not extra**. That means supporting us with real opportunities, fair pay, access to resources, and platforms that don’t just benefit the same people over and over.
A lot of creatives are out here building from scratch, especially in places like the Bay where it’s expensive and often overlooked. So giving local artists access to **funding, venues, equipment, mentorship, and visibility** is huge. We also need to stop expecting creatives to do everything “for exposure.” Exposure doesn’t pay rent. If you want the culture, invest in the people creating it.
It also comes down to community. Society should encourage people to **show up for local talent**—buy the art, share the podcast, attend the shows, repost the work. The more we pour into our own creative scenes, the more they grow. I’ve seen cities like LA and Vegas go hard for their artists—and the Bay deserves that same level of love.
At the end of the day, artists shape culture. If society wants a thriving creative ecosystem, it needs to treat creatives like the backbone, not the background.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @leilahloca
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@leilahloca?si=bfoZeuwnoA-7KCZu
Image Credits
@Prob_media