RECORD PLANT 

One of your first industry leadership experiences was as Studio Manager and Vice President at Record Plant, a studio that produced some of the most hits and Grammy Award-winning songs in the world! You were constantly working to create an empowering studio experience for such a diverse range of creatives. 

What environment did you strive to create for an artist when they walked into your studio for the first time?

The music that artists are making is so magical and healing for so many people, and this truly begins in the studio— it’s all a chain effect! So I’m all about bringing good energy and making sure they feel comfortable enough to create. 

I grew up in a very tiny reservation, where I was around so many people that felt like family. That’s why when it came to creating a safe space for artists, I loved bringing that same family feel and making them feel at home, especially in a world where people always asked for their art and took from them. I built that comfortable space through adjusting the lighting, the way the studio smelled, and even through cooking! If it was a cold day in Hollywood, I’d be making my grandma’s chili recipe for everyone, then all of a sudden, will.i.am would come in and grab a bowl! 

Through ten years at the studio, I got to fully build and nurture this family dynamic, from Pac-Man tournaments to impromptu magic tricks with the artists. 

One of my favorite stories is when Alicia Keys came into the studio with her young son, who was having a play date. They were hanging out, and I was making mini pizzas. I finally invited the kids to come and cook with me. Soon after, Alicia stopped her session and started making pizzas with the kid. We were all just sitting here crafting our little pizzas, and this little activity just created such a great energy and safe space for Alicia and her family. 

How do you adapt your approach when welcoming artists who have different creative processes, styles, and personalities? 

I allow them to turn the space into their own. When artists would come in, I encouraged them to cover the walls with posters, tapestries, and to bring the lighting and scents they loved. It was to the point where for certain artists, we knew the flowers or the candles they liked, so we’d run out and just make that happen for them. 

How do you think creating this sort of studio space benefits the industry as a whole?

I think in the industry, there’s been a pattern of isolation, where artists simply focus on their own music. This takes a bit of the magic out. I approached this by building a space of pure human connection— nothing more than that!

As a result, I witnessed so many cool collaborations. There are 5 studios in our space, and one night we had Justin Bieber, will.i.am, Hit-Boy, Britney Spears and Waka Flocka in separate studios. They slowly started to come out to the shared space we built, to grab snacks, play pool, and take breaks. Then by the end of the night, they were all in will.i.am's studio, creating a song that came out just a month later. I just remember seeing this happen so organically through creating an environment where they could truly connect and mingle. It was absolutely rejuvenating. 

GIRLS MAKE BEATS 

You are the LA chapter leader of Girls Make Beats, a nonprofit driven to educating and empowering girls in music production and technology. Can you share a moment from your time with Girls Make Beats when you truly saw the program’s impact?

I was at Record Plant in 2017, before I joined Girls Make Beats. I was asked by Girls Make Beats to take their students on a tour, and I instantly said no, since it was a private studio. I soon realized, though, that I was the only girl in the entire building (and I was the boss, anyway!). So I said “you know what? Come on— let’s do a tour.” 

I’ve always done as much community work as I can, but at that time, I’d never stopped in my grind of working in music to see the disparity when it came to the gender gap in the industry. So when I was giving these girls a tour, I was only thinking “cool, this is probably my good deed for the day. These kids will go back to Miami, and I’m not going to see them again”. 

Shortly after the tour, Girls Make Beats sent me a recap video, where they’d asked the students about their favorite parts of the tour. I expected them to say something about Britney Spears or Justin Bieber having recorded at the studio. Instead, one of the 11-year old girls said “My favorite part was when we saw the boss’s office, because I’ve never been in a studio, and I could see myself doing exactly this.” Instantly, the lightbulb went off for me. I understood how important it was that they saw a woman who looked like them in this leadership position in the industry. I needed more girls to feel this way. 

Giving the tour and seeing the results taught me that the only way to bring about change is for somebody to be that leader and take the first step. So I called the founder in Miami, and asked her if we could expand this program. Next thing we knew, we had launched Girls Make Beats LA in 2018. Since then, we’ve carried out partnerships with the Recording Academy and Netflix, we’ve helped launch a Music Producer Barbie doll, and so much more. 

This is where my passion and purpose collides— I want to show girls that they can do anything they dream of, and they are meant to be in these spaces. 

COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS

You regularly attend and lead a wide range of live events (music industry conferences, summits, and workshops). 

What do you believe is the power of live music industry gatherings?

I think certain events are needed depending on where you are on your career path. However, finding a solid community is what remains consistently important. 

For example, if you’re an emerging artist, open mic nights are one of the most beneficial community events. There, you’re surrounded by a ton of people who are likely on the same journey as you and will support you. At the beginning of your career, panels and workshops are also really inspiring and motivating. Additionally, the more that people see your face at these events, the more comfortable and open to collaboration they tend to be. 

What have you taken away from participating in spaces like these? 

A big takeaway I’ve gained from these events is to take more pictures! When you actively document your industry experiences, it not only serves as a reminder of who you interacted with, but it also gives you the ability to look back on what you’ve accomplished and the spaces you’ve worked hard to get to!

LIFE, JOY, AND MOTIVATION 

I love staying updated on your recent endeavors through your social media posts. Through it, I’ve observed how you consistently cultivate joy - you show up for and celebrate your community, you deeply appreciate everything in life, and you are intentional about sharing what you love (like your dream to one day open a fresh juice bar x record shop!). 

What motivates you every day, and what keeps this joyful mindset alive for you?

A lot of times, we hear “don’t look back— keep moving forward”, but slowing down and looking at all the cool things I’ve already done really motivates me! 

As for my joyful mindset, it comes directly from the way I choose to think. In fact, my phone screensaver (the first thing I see when I wake up every morning) is a quote that reads “smile, think positively, and inspire!”. There’ve always been people who are like “you’re silly” or “you’re doing too much”, but this intentional joy is what I love about myself. Thinking differently and choosing happiness is how I’ve gotten through everything in life. My passion now is to be so authentically myself that it allows others the ability and freedom to live like this as well! 

How does the joy you cultivate in your everyday life translate into the way you lead and collaborate in music? 

The more that I exude this joyful energy, the more it inspires others to relax and release. Therefore, being in the music leadership roles that I’ve been immersed in my whole life, I realized I wanted to help influence others to chase joy and their passion in all the work we do.

TRACKS BY WOMEN - FINAL QUESTION

 Lastly, what is the one piece of advice you would give aspiring female-identifying creatives, or you wish someone had given to you? 

The most important advice that I would give young women is to not allow anyone to define who you are, and to not let them base your value on just the things that you can give to them. 

Also, build something you own— something that is fully yours and no one can take from you. That could be a piece of music, or it could be a community that you build around you. It could even be your own happiness…

…Owning my happiness through creating these special little moments is the best thing I can do for myself as a creative. This year, I’ve added acupuncture, cupping, massages, facials, I buy flowers, and I make my own smoothies. I’m intentionally adding activities that benefit me as a being, and they don't even have to be grandiose. In fact, I just made myself lunch (I made my own tacos!) and felt really cute about it. I encourage you to put your health and happiness on the highest level of your to-do list! This happiness-forward mindset applies to the creative process as well— remember the importance of mental health and self-care. “Grinding” breaks down eventually, and it can feel so much better to simply flow through all your new endeavors.