February 2021 Member of the Month: Alexa

Who is your favorite musical artist, and why?

There isn’t one specific musical artist that I can declare as my all-time favorite yet. At the moment, however, I would say BTS is a current favorite. From their story to their music, I am inspired and more fervent about music because of what I’ve learned. I’ve always loved artists who use their platform for good, and I see that they are a group who genuinely try to. They make music that heals, especially with their most recent album, which I highly recommend. But, I think overall the main reason I really like them as musical artists is because they are honest through their music, allowing it to transcend many barriers in the industry. They’ve shown that they’re just a group of people who all love music, which factors into them being genuine artists. Whenever I listen to their music, I don’t always understand what they’re singing/rapping without translations, but I do feel they’re conveying something impactful. Listening to them speak about the music they create and their personal stories have really inspired me into perhaps trying out the music path in the future.

Where did your passion for music stem from? Is there anyone who inspired you in particular?

Ever since I was little, I loved music. I remember loving musical movies/shows like “Mamma Mia!” – I love it so much until this day. There was just something about Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried that just encaptivated me. Aside from that, I remember listening to the radio in the car and absolutely loving whatever came on, and I’d immediately try singing it or even pretend that I was in a music video. From movies to songs on the radio, all of those memories were ways that my passion for music began. However, at first, I would say I treated it just as another thing that I did. Yet, because of people in my life, music became an irreplaceable constant. There are people that I personally know and don’t know who I owe for gifting whatever it was to me. I can’t specify one person, but every person shared some piece about music that gradually turned into this love that I have for music. I picture it as a tapestry that is only growing larger because people just keep inspiring me. If it weren’t for the people I’ve encountered, I wouldn’t have been comfortable in using my voice or I wouldn’t be enjoying music the way I do. And, I believe that I will only encounter more people who will inspire me.

What have you discovered about yourself or others through working at TCC?

Working at TCC allowed me to discover that music is always going to be in my life through the people around me. If it weren’t for the people I encountered, I wouldn’t have found the love for music that I have; joining TCC grew this love that I have. Having been surrounded in an environment like TCC where the people are genuine about their love for music only amplified this love that I have. Aside from that, the encouragement to be genuine and the freedom to really create and be yourself is something that motivates me to be who I am in the work that I do. I realize that people, even people you’ve never met in person, can become large impacts in my life. TCC allowed me to be honest and let more people in my life.

What is the most rewarding part of working at The Cantabile Collective (TCC)?

Throughout my time in TCC, the most rewarding part would definitely have to be the people. Although I’ve never met any of them, I think I can say I’ve made conversations with a lot of them that I will cherish. And, as I mentioned before, it’s an encouraging and understanding group of people that really let me be myself through music – there’s always people who like what you do, which is extremely encouraging. We’ve become a community that shares each other’s interests and a lot of have bonded over shared interests. It may not occur constantly, but when it does, it becomes a very special moment between us. Apart from that, it sort of feels like a safe space because people share the good and bad sometimes and we all try our best to provide whatever it is they need, even though we’re all busy. For instance, college acceptances would be announced and we’d celebrate simply by messages, which may sound like nothing, but, for me at least, I love seeing that I’m a part of an organization as such.

What extracurriculars (clubs, organizations, sports, etc.) are you involved in outside of TCC?

Apart from TCC, I am involved in a few music-related extracurriculars, particularly in school. Performance is what I mainly do in school. I’m involved in the praise and worship team, where we’d perform in chapels, assemblies, and normally retreats. Since eleventh grade, my friends and I started a theatre community/drama club called KVTA. KVTA is a space for younger students who share the same zeal of the performing arts, and we’d basically share our experiences and teach them what we know about drama. Outside of school, I volunteer in UNMUTE and I am also a part of iFeminist.

What are your dreams or aspirations in life?

I hope to actually pursue a music career, if life allows. I’ve spent a long time searching for what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become, and recently, I found that music was the answer. When I was searching for that answer, I feel that this entire time the answer was right there, but I chose to ignore it, simply due to fear. Compared to the people in my life, music is, I guess, an “unconventional” or not “ideal” choice of path. However, I’ve decided to hopefully try it out after I graduate. There is an array of fields in music that I would like to explore, more specifically becoming a music producer. Despite having more experience in performing, at home, I’d spend an immense amount of my time listening to the story behind the production of songs or albums, watching recording sessions, or watching documentaries about musical journeys. From there, I gain a lot of insight and I see how there are a lot of musicians who truly put thought and their heart into what they create. Honest and true artists – I want to help people find their voice through their stories, if that makes sense. Yes, I want to find my own as well, but I truly want to heal people with people who have the same intention and zeal. I want to transfigure people’s visions into music that heals, no matter the language and so on. Through this path, I see it as an opportunity to give back to the people who breathed music into my life.