We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany Nicole a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I believe I am happiest when I’m creating. Being a creative is like the easiest hardest job because it comes so naturally when your in tune with yourself. Making something of quality comes so easily it feels more like your a vessel for something meant to be made, rather than making something up from scratch. I say it’s the hardest because YOU are the vessel so when my music doesn’t perform well I criticize no one but myself. I push myself to learn about marketing, publicity and things of that matter because while I’m creating I am the master of my craft, once I’m done and ready to put it out I feel like a baby trying it for the first time, I know nothing. The only reason I’ve considered having a “regular job” is so it would be easier to fund my creative work. I’m confident I will be successful enough to accomplish my goals, have freedom with my work and help people like 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 have always wanted to be in the music industry since before i can remember. My family tells me I used to refuse to sing the songs we did in preschool because “I made my own” I only learned this fact about myself recently but it sounds just like something I’d say. I took piano lessons (taught by my mom) guitar lessons, and kept so many notebooks full of songs and poems throughout my teenage years. When I was 18 I was in a really tough situation and that’s when making music was the best coping mechanism I had. I was outside at night making songs on my phone or computer purely for myself. I used to be shy about sharing my music with others because it was so deeply personal to me (and still is ). Now I love sharing it because seeing people
Relate helps me to remember I’m not alone , I hope it does the same for
Them. When I moved to portland in 2020 I had one thing on my mind, getting in a professional studio. Which I had no idea how to go about, so every person me and my friends met in this new city we(mostly them I was still shy about it ) brought up my music and, hoped to make a connection. We eventually got a hit in 2021, and I had my first session. I’ve been dropping music ever since from rnb to alternative to rap. Whatever I’m feeling I write down, I always want to stay true to that. I’m proud of myself for coming out of my shell to share my creativity with others I organized my first solo show in 2022 and told myself it was a win whether I failed or flourished because I was learning and I still am. I think there’s a lot of peope
Out there just like me sometimes scared , always thinking , never giving up. I wanna be someone people see as an inspiration to walk in their own light.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I was 18 I had a falling out with my parents, my principal, my coaches, and friends. A lot of people I looked up to or just looked to for
Support weren’t being real to me. At that time I was doing track & entertaining offers from colleges whilst living home to home. My friends passed me around on there couches arguing over who wanted to keep me. I had 100$ every month. A couple friends were genuine & my brothers were there for me. I still managed to find a way to smile and graduate even when I being purposely separated from my only black friend in school because I was suddenly a “bad influence” despite my perfect record before I wasn’t living at home. When I graduated I got 2 jobs & promised myself I would never be in a situation where I have no control again I needed to rule my life after a few months of staying with my brother helping him with rent, and some help from friends. I managed to save enough to get my own place in Portland. Since then I’ve never been in that place and I never will be again.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I’ve had to unlearn and I’m still unlearning to this day. Is that healing is not linear the “it’s okay not to be okay” statement really true. Besides my creative journey my life has been a roller coaster since the day I touched down. As an African American and adopted child I struggled with my identity and place in the world because there’s no set in stone attachment that says “this is where you come from, this is who you are”. I struggle with anxiety and depression like many do which is attributed to improper healing from a lot of situations in my life. It’s okay to talk about our struggles it’s okay to not have it all figured out, it’s okay to be sad. Whatever we feel is okay. I still remind myself this constantly but I’m learning to trust the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbio.to%2F2icytour%3Ffbclid%3DPAAaaDtvItanz5h-ieGK9ioTGQUjdZHNLWM7SUalzxvrnyVT-ARcrFMy6xZ8o&e=AT3iZrDqGfNleZHrLGye-PL2XfmANWQCHYOctnBPSoFUmkYAW6aqsUK8DqGjdwde4phsCRqPtwPshTgtaN-K4pSwd1c2iA5gOlocpexWNi2fOIpk96B2Pw
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tiff2icy?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiff2icy?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tiffanyyforrest?s=21&t=hqHVV2Y5u57MPqTScMe0qQ
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tiffanynicole2928

Image Credits
@minizlab @shotby.geo