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.

Lynese

Growing up was hard for me because I never really fitted in. I leaned into music more and found my passion for singing at a really young age. People didn’t understand me and didn’t care to but they noticed my love for singing. I would get teased a lot and I would withdraw from time to time. Over time, I learned people don’t like what they can’t understand which is fine. This really helped be build character and to focus on being real instead of being liked. Read more>>

Jay Hill

Yes definitely. There are a lot of misconceptions in particular with electronic music DJ’s & producers for some reason that doesn’t seem as present in other genre’s. People see a few photos and videos of you DJing and they think you’re spinning in clubs /festivals every weekend, partying & doing drugs etc. Yet those photos /videos are really only representative of one night amongst many nights when most of us are hustling in the studio. Read more>>

Jeremiah Jacksun

Thank you, Canvas Rebel magazine for speaking with me today. To your question, we all have a story to tell. The only difference is that some of us are brave enough to take the first step and start the process in order to share with the world. I am one of those people who decided to take on this journey and share my narrative with the world. I am not your average person, I am someone who has been through a lot in my life and made it out alive, stronger than before. Read more>>

Luke Dapuzzo

I feel most Belmont bands have the same path of playing house show shows and gaining a gain base solely of students from the school. We tried starting in this path but have always felt like the outsiders in the scene having such a different sound and musical background. It wasn’t until we started breaking out the cycle and start trying to open for more established artists we saw things start to happen for us. It was a big leap of faith but I think it played out well in the long run Read more>>

Justin Nealy

My whole rap and entertainment career, over more than a decade has been misunderstood and mischaracterized. I know I don’t seem like a typical rapper. I don’t walk, I don’t talk, dress, act, rap like any of the others. I’ve always been judged. Djs, producers, other rappers and even newly found fans. People would laugh at me…. that is, until they see the show or hear my music. I never changed myself. I never gave up my pride and who I am. I did that because when people told me to switch up. Read more>>

P.T. Parker

Yes, I feel this way a lot. Looking at all of the topics, the topic of misunderstood speaks to me the most, but I do not have a specific story to share about my work being misunderstood, as misunderstood has been a common theme throughout my existence. From when I was a child up until now, my ability to communicate what I hold internally has been an uphill battle. Most of the time, I’m not convinced who I am in communication with has actually received or interpreted the communication as intended. Read more>>

Melise Hill

The tattoo industry has definitely been viewed in different ways over the years. Fortunately, as it’s gained popularity over recent years, most people are accepting of people with tattoos, or at the very least are intrigued by it. That isn’t always the case though! When I started tattooing a decade ago, my parents questioned at first whether it was a viable career choice. I had so many people assume it was just a side hustle and would ask what my full time job was, or whether I was still doing that “tattoo thing.” Read more>>

Brittny Winston

Sometimes I do feel my work has been misunderstood or mischaracterized. I feel this way because there has been a time where people think modeling is just all fun. I even had someone tell me I’m “wilding out”. Modeling is actually a job. I mean yeah, I do have fun, but it’s not all glam, glitter, and entertainment. You have to work hard in the modeling industry. I have learned not to take people seriously when they say negative things about my modeling. I work hard for my dreams and passions. I believe my hard work shows in my modeling. Read more>>

Callie Lee

At times, see i’m a black woman from Atlanta, Ga with the appeal of an R&B and HipHop artist. Though I love all genre’s of music and write several styles of music my heart has always loved pop music. I’ve been mischaracterized for such a long time that I decided I needed to completely rebrand myself. Thus sparking my rebrand that launched November 5th, 2021. Read more>>

Brittany Bolduc

Starting my professional art career in the tattoo industry was definitely met with some judgement initially. Not only the general public, but even family (generally my parents generation) were pretty pessimistic when I first vocalized wanting to move this direction. I was met with people saying I wont make any money, Ill always struggle in the arts. That maybe I should follow other things I’m passionate about or interested in. Read more>>

Kristen Grundy

There have always been misunderstandings and mischaracterizations about my work. The thing a lot of people do not realize is that I create all of the aspects within my photos. I conceive the idea/character, cast the model and find their wardrobe, put together sets and props, and shoot on a set location or completely composite the set with photos I have taken. I do not just pull images off the web and composite them together for digital art. There is a lot more going into creating the photographs than most people realize. Read more>>

Pamela Koons

I think cross stitch and fiber arts as a whole are almost always misunderstood or mischaracterized. Close your eyes and envision cross stitch–if you’re a Millennial or older you probably think of Precious Moments or Disney characters, angels in picturesque landscapes or those brightly colored birth samplers that spell out your name, birthday, weight and height. Well, my work is nothing like these examples. Read more>>

Christopher Broom

Yes, I feel that I have been misunderstood and mischaracterized in my field of work. As a pastor, I love to have fun, enjoy life, and change lives in the process. I have never been one to do things traditionally or normally. I have always pushed the proverbial “needle” forward and challenged the status who of doing things. Read more>>

Devin Shacklett

All my life, I’ve found myself misunderstood. The art that I produce is a reflection of that. Sometimes we misunderstand what is uncommon or not grown from the beaten path. A lot of times as humans we forget that we are spiritual and all uniquely different yet a reflection of the different sides of God. To be misunderstood is merely one’s choice to not understand. The music and art that I create reflects and connect to those that understand. It’s more important to pay attention to simply that. What’s understood never needs to be said. Read more>>

Don Die$el

I believe as an artist or creative, it’s easy to be misunderstood, mischaracterized or misinterpreted. As a hip hop musician and cultured songwriter from the inner city, I’m usually connected with a certain type of artistry or music. I am set on being different and bringing forth MY OWN sound, image, and legacy so much, that I’m only focused on that and not fitting in to the normal characterizations of rappers. Read more>>

Bo Harris

I think for the long time ever since day one I’ve been in entertainment business people thought my voice was fake and I was putting on a show the entire time and that’s not the case people think it’s a character when’s it not and they are in total shock when they realize it’s not a character or fake and nothing about me is fake. And at the same time they can’t accept it because they don’t like being wrong and they’re jealous they don’t have my deep baritone voice. They try to put label on me and that usually backfires. I just look at it like this people gonna be jealous. That’s all there is to it Read more>>

David Johns

Quite A Few Years Ago, There Was A Couple A&R’s In Nashville Looking For Talent And I Had To Meet With Them At The United Artist Tower On Music Row, I Was Obviously Stoked To Be Meeting With Big Wigs, But What They Said To Me Was That Nobody Wanted To Hear A Caucasian Rapper From Nashville With Gold Teeth Rapping Hood Shhh, That If I Was From Memphis,Houston Or Some Other City Then Maybe But Nashville “No” And That I Was Not Easily Marketable… I Definitely Left That Meeting Feeling Misunderstood,Mischaracterized,Judged, And Defeated Read more>>