We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ti Steele. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ti below.

Ti, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I wouldn’t say that my work has been mischaracterized, but more so, that my work has caused me to be misunderstood in some cases. If you asked me, I would deny any major impact, but through casual conversations and compliments in passing, I’ve gathered that the outsider’s perception of me is much grander than what I experience in my mind’s eye. I know this isn’t a unique experience, but it is profound. Let me explain further.

I graduated high school with no clue what university to attend after getting into each that I applied to, and went on to go to my dream school that I’d seemingly forgotten to chance during the whole process. I fell into my true character then. Or at least began the path of finding her, outside of my country bumpkin hometown. Time went by and between different summers after then, I’d fly home and teach a week-long Hip-Hop intensive that I used to be a student of. I recorded my first “real” songs and released an EP; which was met with love and encouragement. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in just over 2 years. Upon returning home post-grad, I taught a seminar on musicianship to some who shared the same high school class roster as me. All of this in the span of three years. The list goes on.

All of this to say that it’s very rare that I lay out each of my accomplishments on the table before others, nonetheless before myself… but on the occasion, I usually get pretty visceral reactions. A mix between bewilderment, appraisal and inspiration lie at the forefront. All the while, I remain very nonchalant. In a way, very numb to the weight and importance of every single one of these feats. If I looked below the surface, this is probably because my eyes are always on the road and I’m terrible at taking inventory routinely. I throw caution to the wind and “just keep going,” instead of pausing to take in how far I’ve come, everything that I am now, and used to be.

It’s dually frustrating as it is amazing. All of the things I’ve done seem to be acknowledged with ease and effortlessness. Yet all the while, I fight to be seen as who I truly am underneath each achievement… I long to be seen as the light I am; partnered with, but not in summation of… Instead of living in the shadow of the magic that seems to be my art. It could come across as a big boast or claim considering I’m not even touching the ceiling of 300 monthly Spotify listeners, believe me I know. If you lived in my shoes for a moment, you’d come out just as surprised as me. Too many souls see me as super cool, super this, super that… but don’t see the loneliness underneath, don’t really hear the pain that lives in each lyric. They follow me on Instagram but don’t follow up in real life. The people around me, both intimate and miscellaneous, only see the outside of me and never seem bothered enough to poke underneath to really, and truthfully, listen to what I’m saying. This leads to some distorted version of Imposter Syndrome; where I feel like I’m meant to have the praise but don’t understand how they see the things I’ve curated and released, but just can’t see… me.

After some time and lots of contemplation, I’ve ended up at the conclusion that maybe I don’t let people see the blemishes. I only allow light for the beauty marks. It’s a very complex and convoluted thing to consider, because I only create art that is purely genuine, containing real events and lessons partaking in realtime, so you’d think I’d wind up open as a magazine in a clinical waiting room, right? I’m still not entirely sure. I doubt there’s a real tangible answer, or one that’s finite enough to soothe the angst that comes with not feeling seen. How real are you, really, if not acknowledged?

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 Ti Steele, and I’m a 22 year old Recording Artist, Engineer and poet, amongst many other things. I create many different forms of art, auditory and visual, with the intention to evoke feeling. That feeling varies and can lie on any beginning or end of any spectrum. It’s my goal to guide a listener through an experience. One that is freeing, reliable and most importantly, real. I make art because I live through it and it lives through me; we share a unique purpose. By proxy, anyone who comes across my creations has the opportunity to hear me out, and humanity seems to share the same problems with different details. So, anything that helps me get through life has some potential to help others do the same. I’m incredibly proud of my ability to communicate in a way that’s undeniably authentic. I’m proud of my ability to heal others just by being me, and sharing what I know to be my truth. I want people to get lost in the world, in the music, and within themselves. I long to be apart of that journey… A soundtrack, a therapist, a friend.

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

In my view, I think society just has to show up. Go to the shows, talk to the artists and share your stories… Be more present and encouraging. Don’t just like, comment and share the posts. As helpful as it can be, life is so much more than who you are online. Or at least it should be. The lasting impact lies outside of internet profiles and social media presence. We have to put the machines down and truthfully build a community. If Instagram and TikTok crashed today and never came back, where does that leave you? Where does that leave the art?

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

I wish I knew about the abundance of people in the world who long for the same things as me. People that you’d find in line at a concert, or at an open mic… Or a networking event. The biggest resource lies in the tongue. Don’t hide the wholeness of who you are. You might end up being just what the people in that same room are looking for. Join the communities within your comfortable community. Push yourself to awaken parts of you that lie dormant. Go outside, go ahead and don’t be scared. Everyone’s been in the same fear-stricken spot as you before in one way or another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TiSteele.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/TiSteele.wav
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeXl4YdoZTDc3j50JknP8NQ

Image Credits
Photos by David Hernandez, Faith Q, Boots and Soundstage USC.