Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

LaLo Towers

I feel that to this day I’m still misunderstood, and I’ve come to terms with the fact that it is what it is. The main reason I feel this is because I have so many vibes and don’t necessarily have a single sound that I produce or stick to. I just vibe with the moment and go from there, even now that I’m starting to play with a band backing me, the songs sound nothing like the studio version. With a live band there’s more feel and definitely more energy. Nonetheless in being misunderstood for so long I’ve learned and remind myself daily that I’m not for everyone. The simple fact is that not everyone will understand me & I have no control over other people’s perception or emotions and that’s okay. Read more>>

Shaadie Nunnally

Yes I feel that all that time as a black male in the hip-hop scene from the Bay Area. Looking how I look, I automatically get boxed in to a certain type/style of rap. yet when you actually listen to my music, the lyrics & how I present myself & material, you’ll see that I’m usually far from what you expected in a good way. I come off as street & hood, which is true, but the end result is that I’m more substances filled, witty, conscious & smooth with rough edges. It takes a little while to catch on to my style, but once you do you become hooked to my authenticity. Read more>>

Siobhan Monique

Often vocal artist are placed in one specific category, to help better define their art and creativity to the masses. The need to categorize and compartmentalize my art by others was paralyzing. I grew up with a heavily influenced Jazz and Gospel background. This influence began the foundation of my vocal journey. After graduating from University of South Florida, with a degree in Music Studies, that influenced was expanded by the sounds of Debussy, Shubert and Beethoven. Read more>>

Yvette Bennett

I’ve been in many situations when I felt like I was either misunderstood and mischaracterized due to the fact I know my worth or my value. One thing I won’t do is let someone low ball me . The hair business is very competitive but when it’s a million people doing what you do , you just have to make sure that it’s only one of you. I also realized that you can’t satisfy everyone and I’ve learned to be satisfied with that knowing. Be who you are called to be but never be less than what you are. Read more>>

Manny Mo

I take a lot of pride in being a Canadian born immigrant and being bilingual. Unfortunately sometimes that can work against me because people tend to characterize me as a “Latin” DJ. It can be a bit frustrating because I like to see myself as very versatile in regards to what kind of music I play. I always prefer to read the crowd and make sure I’m fitting the vibe of the venue as well as keeping patrons engaged. At the end of the day its up to me to showcase my abilities and show folks the musical knowledge I’ve accumulated over time. Read more>>

Joshua Lamar

Constantly. People have preconceived notions about me. They think that I do R&B, Rap, or make beats or something like that. So, even before going into my art I feel like there is pre-established disconnect. But, going into my actual music I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how, just like me, layered it is. Read more>>

Karrington White

I do, at times, feel misunderstood and mischaracterized in my life. Daily, embracing my non-binary life provides a new layer of misunderstanding from most people who have yet to venture beyond a traditional experience of gender identity. I am often misgendered by people in my life, offered different opportunities based on my gender appearance, and face discrimination in public spaces. These experiences teach me how to grow thicker skin, the importance of community, the value of self-love, and how to live without judgement. Read more>>

Ben Rose

Many people have been confused by certain aspects of my novels. In Everybody But Us there are those who have accused me of an anti-Christian bias. That is not even close to accurate. I attempt to explain a theological understanding that is inclusive rather than exclusive. I present an interpretation of Holy Writ that is as liberal as The Deity worshipped. I also describe the horrors of Conversion Therapy and religion gone wrong. Read more>>

Jason Elmore

I started out as a heavy metal guitarist in a popular band in a small town. I had always been a fan and student of various genres of music since beginning to play guitar at the age of 13. After years of being very rigidly confined to one style of music, I felt like I wanted to express myself in more musical ways than just heavy metal. So I delved head-first into blues music and developed a love for the genre and began playing blues gigs as a solo artist. I soon quit the heavy metal band, even though they were becoming successful on a larger scale, Read more>>