We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Liska Yamada a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Liska, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
As a performer, imposter syndrome is something I constantly struggle with. I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome it, but I have minimized how it affects me. When I was first starting to get calls for some higher-level gigs, I found myself questioning my skills and whether I was deserving of a job. When I first began studying the harp, there was a relatively small harp community in my area. The few professional harpists that worked in the city were extremely territorial and protective of their jobs, which even at a young age I realized was not a healthy mindset. My first few years in Los Angeles I sometimes found myself feeling intimidated by harpists who had much more established careers. I have a close friend (also a harpist) who encouraged me to reach out and network with other harpists and musicians because the community here is much more nurturing and supportive. Now if I have a gig where I need to use skills I’m not as experienced with, instead of being fearful, I know that I can reach out to others for advice without feeling inferior. Having confidence in my experience combined with a continued desire to learn and grow became more important than letting fear of failure control me.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a professional harpist who performs and teaches throughout the Southern California area. While I received formal classical training, since moving out to Los Angeles in 2015, I have been focused on performing more contemporary styles of music. I have had some amazing opportunities performing with Pop and R&B artists and have enjoyed bringing those musical influences to my solo performing for private events and weddings. It is a common misconception that the harp is only a classical instrument and is limited to playing angelic music, but recently my clients have been delighted to have me perform custom arrangements of contemporary songs from artists like Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, etc. on the harp. I enjoy that every job I perform is different, and working with each client to enhance their event through music continues be be rewarding.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say organization, creativity, and professionalism. The majority of my work comes from referrals/ word-of-mouth. It is essential as a freelancer to be as organized and efficient. Whether it’s meeting deadlines, responding promptly to any emails/call, or being on time to a job it can be easy for something to fall through the cracks when you’re working alone. Colleagues, clients, and contractors will absolutely remember anyone who is difficult to work with, and it can mean that you lose out on future work. Keeping your calendar updated and a list of tasks is crucial, especially for anyone who is self-employed and works by themselves. I set multiple reminders and alarms for myself on my phone and it has saved me so many times. I always treat every gig with the same attention to detail and know my limits. There are certain seasons throughout the year that tend to be busier than others. It can be tempting to accept a lot of work to make extra money, but I realized that I would sacrifice the quality of my services if I spread myself too thin.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
As someone who mostly works solo, I am always open to collaborating with others on projects! So far this year I partnered with a couple of local artists for their gallery openings. Live music can truly enhance these kinds of events and engage your audience, especially with an instrument like the harp. It adds an entertainment factor as well as creating a beautiful visual for any setting! Working with composers or producers who want to explore the harp’s unique sounds or performing with dancers or photographers on projects has been another great way to expand the harp’s audience. I also love to connect with event coordinators and venues who often need entertainment and live music for their clients.
Anyone who is interested in collaborating or connecting with me may reach out to me through social media or through my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.liskaontheharp.com
- Instagram: littleliska
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@liskaontheharp
- Other: TikTok: Liskaontheharp
Image Credits
David Suh Derek Brad
