Valerie Seas – Losing My Balance (SeasMix)

Check out the new song from Valerie Seas – Losing My Balance (SeasMix)

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Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
I was born and raised in Florida to Honduran parents. I’ve been singing since I could talk and rapping since I got to college. I really owe my musical expression as it is today to the Poet’s Inc. and Hip Hop Collective organizations of the University of Florida because it wasn’t until I met the people in those groups that I learned to really express myself.

It started with poetry and then spiraled into writing songs and raps. I always wanted to write but felt trapped in my hometown and couldn’t figure out how to unleash my creativity in a positive manner until I went to UF. The students in those clubs gave me the leeway to completely be myself and it honestly changed my life. All of my life I wanted to do music but without those college experiences, I wouldn’t have figured out who I really was which means my art wouldn’t have become what it is today.

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
Losing My Balance (Seasmix) is one of those tracks where you spill your heart out. I honestly recorded it in my room right as I was crying and that’s why you can hear such raw emotion in the verses. I could have re-recorded it in a quality studio but I love how real this track is and I think people can identify with it better in it’s bare form. The track is about my first and thus far only serious relationship and it depicts how I was completely in love and becoming dependent on the guy.

I’m basically describing how I’m suffocated by the relationship and it’s ups and downs and I’m looking for an answer in God because he’s the only thing you can really rely on in life. The song is pretty intense but I tried to give hope in the last verse. To this date, it’s my favorite song that I’ve written because it was just completely honest and naked. I also really did write part of the verses in a dream, that’s how the whole song came to be. I heard the words in a dream and immediately woke up and went to writing. It wasn’t until later that I finished the song though.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
Getting into the industry is the hardest. You meet people all the time who really like your music but it always seems to end there. It’s really difficult to find somebody who’s actually willing to invest time into helping you build your brand as an artist. Also, the industry is obsessed with you showing them you can fit into a mold. I’m a ‘white looking’ Hispanic female singer/emcee from the suburbs, it’s hard for me to give them that niche they’re looking for. I’m just trying to do me but they want some cookie-cutter shit. It gets frustrating but I believe real music will conquer and that’s what I give when I make songs; my heart and soul.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
Stage fright has always been my enemy. I’m usually a clown in normal life but when I get on stage I begin to feel suffocated by the pressure of performing perfectly. In order to overcome that anxiety, I forced myself to perform a million times. I think what really helped though is finding the song with the right energy to start your set off with. Once you do that, everything feels comfortable and you’ve set the mood for a great night. Having a dope band to back you up really helps too though because then you just vibe and have a good time with people you can relate to.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Trying too hard to be cool. I’ve met too many people who dress a certain way or try to act a certain way to make themselves look the part. That shit is whack. I believe in just making good music and being yourself. I understand there are certain things you have to sacrifice in order to make it but I don’t think originality should be one of those things.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Grind, grind, grind and talk to as many people as you can. I got some of my best contacts while working as a waitress. Be humble too. Nobody wants to work with the person who has their head up their ass. People can feel when you are genuine and it makes them that much more enticed to work with you. Perform like crazy and get your fans’ contact info, don’t just give them yours.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
My absolute favorite way is to break into freestyles at parties. I only do it when I feel it but I’m usually feeling the vibes when music is playing so luckily it happens for me often. I don’t sit there and steal the show, I just say what I have to say if I feel the urge. People respect it and become curious about who you are. That’s when you’ve got them because they can see it’s real.

Other than that, I’m not too keen on promoting. I do it because you have to but I’ve never felt comfortable trying to get people to like me. I’m much better at just doing what I do and when people see it ,they either dig it or they don’t. Promotion is key though or else,you can’t continue doing what you love because you have no funds for it. So I’m trying to learn to like it better. Twitter is cool because it feels less invasive and you can just talk to people without the whole “yo this is my music you should listen it” thing going on.

Where can people visit you?
My music is available on iTunes, Amazon, CDbaby and also at:
valerieseas.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/thevalerieseas
www.reverbnation.com/valerieseas
soundcloud.com/valerieseas
Facebook me at: www.facebook.com/ValerieSeas
Twitter: @ValerieSeaNotes