We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ina Bochian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ina , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from the stories of my ancestors who came before me, Am Yisrael, translated “the people of Israel.” Given everything that has transpired on October 7th, 2023 and thereafter, the cry of the Jewish people as a whole is: “Am Yisrael Chai,” which means, “The people of Israel Live.”
For years I wrestled with my own willingness to live and even my identity as someone who is ethnically Jewish but not raised religiously Jewish. Without getting into too many details about my Judaism and how I came to practice, I revert back to something a fellow Jew, Remi Franklin, said to me when I was wrestling with my self concept. He said something to the extent of, “A Jew is a Jew is a Jew and you can find a community that will accept you amongst our people.”
At the time, my life seemed to be falling apart. There was nowhere I felt a sense of acceptance or belonging. I had an incredibly skewed self concept due to harassment and bullying, which occurred most of my life. When I was younger, I got bullied for my red hair and my Jewish nose. When I was thin, I was ridiculed for having “chicken legs,” and looking “anorexic,” but when I gained weight I was called “too fat.” Other times, I was rejected or harassed due to my ideology or way of thinking. Seeking community and acceptance was difficult until I found my neshema (my soul) within the Jewish people.
Since connecting to my roots, I found strength in learning about the perseverance of my ancestors, the Jewish people. The closer I got to Am Yisrael, the easier it became to finally breathe and find the light within me. By leaning into the power of the tribe, something ignited inside me, like a flame that slowly started to burn into a blazing fire. Now, I have no choice but to live and uphold this battle cry for my people who give me strength and resilience to become the best version of myself. The Jewish people helped me connect to my innermost self, while also reminding me that my purpose in life comes from survival and simply existing. Of course I want to also thrive and pay it forward, so that my light can help ignite the light of someone looking to connect to their neshema.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a fine artist, author, and songwriter, I have been immersed in creative expression since I was seven. I started painting and writing when my parents emigrated to America from Romania. Awaiting a visa to reunite with them, I developed my artistic gifts while living with my grandparents in a small village.
While my passion for painting and writing has been a lifelong journey, my pivot into songwriting and music production is a more recent endeavor, having begun just a year ago. Across these varied mediums, I consider myself a storyteller at heart. At times, I convey narratives through visual art and prose, while at others, I craft lyrics to introduce a new dimension to the tales I wish to tell. My artistic progression has been a natural and inevitable outcome of following the rhythmic beats of my heart as I weave stories through my work.
I am the founder of an apparel brand called Just Enough Faith, which, like my other creative pursuits, is deeply rooted in storytelling. Through my brand, I pose a question to my audience: Can you summon “just enough faith” to navigate through the day? Perhaps even just the hour? Or during particularly challenging moments, the minute?
At times, the answer is regrettably “No.” Some individuals do not overcome their struggles, and there are those who have departed from us prematurely. In a recent, tragic event, the brutal massacre on October 7th extinguished the lives of thousands, abruptly ending their journeys. This chilling atrocity, perpetrated against the Jewish community, represented an unfathomable evil at the hands of Hamas. These external adversaries openly celebrated heinous and savage acts of terror, while their supporters rejoiced in the streets.
Regrettably, individuals grapple with internal struggles akin to wrestling unseen adversaries. These internal terrorists may show up as feelings of worthlessness, addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, or the combination of complex battles of the soul. Not everyone finds the faith to face the next day, yet I encourage those with “just enough faith” to continue to fight, embrace hope, and persevere in life. As Am Yisrael and allies of the Jewish people await the return of hostages, may we collectively inspire the world to live unapologetically and persevere with unwavering faith.
My goal is to inspire purposeful movement and ignite passion through my art, brand, and songwriting narratives. I aim to encourage everyone encountering my work to discover something worth embracing fervently. Regardless of circumstances, I strongly believe in the transformative power of positive thinking and “faith,” capable of creating miracles, even for those who may not initially believe.
Through my upcoming single, “Kerosene Scenes,” I aspire to inspire those who have experienced loss to transform the memory of their departed loved ones into a blessing. I encourage them to craft the life they dream of, thereby celebrating the lives of those who left us too soon.
This song was initially inspired by a friend grappling with mental illness, whose life ended prematurely. The day after her memorial, I penned the song while walking dogs by the lake. Subsequently, I enlisted the support of the twice Grammy-nominated producer Zak Jablow, Laev, who agreed to assist with production. Drawing on a connection from my time on the set of the TV Show Empire, John Allen, a friend, collaborated on the melody. In a collaborative effort, John, Azaria Cooper (the other soloist), and I worked together to prepare the song for demo recording a few days later.
Shortly thereafter, I found myself in the studio with the legendary producer Ricciano J Lumpkins, fine-tuning the demo to be sent to Zak. This entire journey felt surreal as none of it was initially planned.
Ricco, known for his work with legends like Whitney Houston, Brandy, Monica, TLC, and more, welcomed me into his studio adorned with Platinum records from my favorite artists. It felt like stepping into a museum of greatness, and being there was both humbling and gratifying. Ricco’s encouraging words, “You have a light about you; I saw it as soon as you walked into the studio,” added to the incredible experience.
Ricco’s affirming words provided me fuel and “just enough faith” to propel the project forward. Along with Zak, we continue collaborating on this ongoing project because I am committed to giving the song the rightful place it deserves, ensuring the memory of souls gone too soon is duly honored.
The significance of words cannot be overstated; they possess the power to build or shatter a person. In my work, the utmost priority lies in the choice and use of language. I strive to be recognized as someone who adds value, speaking words of affirmation, rather than contributing to the destruction of love, dismissing, or disrespecting individuals who may already wrestle with feelings of inadequacy.
The weight of our words is often underestimated, as we may never fully grasp what someone is going through. Personally wrestling with doubt and depression, this recent project has challenged me immensely due to its sensitive nature and my internal conflicts. Amidst the struggle, someone I cared about disrespected me on many levels, leaving me feeling empty and utterly worthless. The sting lingers, especially as they labeled me as useless, adding salt to an already deep wound. Anyone who has experienced a toxic and manipulative relationship can relate, but the toughest thing about healing is overcoming the ugly words that flow like venom throughout my whole body, making me feel like I want to crawl out of my skin every day since.
I have been called a lot of things in life, but no one has ever said that I am “of no use,” as though I am an easily discarded piece of trash that brings no value to the world or people. Having heard those words, I spiraled and experienced an existential crisis. Those who know me well are well aware I am not myself lately and probably at my lowest point in life, if I am completely transparent.
Despite a month of unraveling, literally looking for reasons to want to live and find joy in life, my team and friends rallied around me, lifting me from the dark abyss. With their support, I brushed off the dust and, with gritted teeth, pushed through, forcing a smile even as I felt my soul implode. Some days are more difficult than others. Just recently someone publicly discredited me and humiliated me, trying to pass it off as a “joke,” and I was immediately triggered into the dark space in my mind that screams, “You’re nobody. You’re worthless. You’re nothing.”
The person apologized later, but my immediate reaction following the unnecessary exchange of words spoken carelessly was to sob for hours and hours. Thankfully, a couple of friends stuck by me and made sure I didn’t completely fall over the edge. Unfortunately people don’t think before they speak, but years of therapy has taught me to address things as they happen with the hope of healing myself and helping others heal.
Striving towards self-healing and aiding in the healing of others is a Jewish concept called “Tikkun Olam” which basically means to repair, improve, and heal the world. I think about this concept and the idea of “Am Yisrael Chai” (the people of Israel live) because our duty in life is to want to live and make the world better. No matter how low I get, I never want to go back to a place where I think about dying more than living, especially after October 7th.
Forgiveness and new opportunities to do better are worth it when the person is genuine and the damage isn’t irreparable. The recent situation that rattled me was worth reconciling and unlike the inciting series of events that led me on a spiral. This brief incident, however, was nowhere near as detrimental or harmful because the person was humble enough to apologize, understanding how their words triggered something deeper. I am so grateful for the experience, even if it opened some wounds because these open wounds gave us a chance to have deeper conversations about the impact of words and actions. From this place of humility and transparency, we can at least build a friendship and have a positive impact on others.
Some bridges can never be rebuilt unless the person has a complete transformation and shows signs of genuine remorse through words and actions. Not everyone has that in them, which means they will continue to be cancers of our society that deteriorate themselves and others, carelessly moving through life without thinking of the damage they have done to others, while the rest of us work towards healing and rebuilding. My job as a writer is to show what healing looks like and also the consequences from perpetrators of unhealed pain.
In light of the unnecessary darkness spawned by unfortunate events, I opted to release both the demo and an alternate version of Kerosene Scenes. Despite adding to the project’s cost, which poses challenges on limited funds, the value of surviving and narrating a story of hope for those absent to physically hear my project outweighs any financial constraints.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my journey, three qualities I’ve cultivated over time are: 1) being coachable, 2) perseverance, and 3) a commitment to relentless learning. No genius exists in isolation; growth thrives in a collaborative environment.
Achieving greatness requires being coachable and actively seeking guidance from leaders in the field. I actively pursue the best mentors, embracing constructive criticism as a means to grow. Regardless of external opinions, whether from those uplifting or undermining, I understand that my success hinges on the resilience to persevere, moving forward despite the unseen progress forged during sleepless nights and early mornings.
I intentionally surround myself with individuals who are more successful, talented, and better educated, as there is always something to learn and skills to sharpen. I carefully select who I engage with and how I utilize the information received. Furthermore, I actively seek resources to fuel my growth—whether through reading books, taking classes, attending lectures, or gaining hands-on experience in areas that require refinement. The commitment to continuous learning is a constant in my journey.
For newcomers in any field, my advice is to align with individuals already in the positions they aspire to. If you aim for a Grammy nomination, seek a mentor who has achieved that. Embrace humility to receive feedback, yet maintain the determination to consistently apply that feedback for continuous improvement. Success is inevitable when surrounding oneself with the right mentors and consistently working on improving one’s craft.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
In complete transparency, the individuals I aspire to collaborate with the most, aside from Eminem and Drake, are already a part of my life. My friends are my heroes.
In my world, everything is personal. I don’t subscribe to the notion of “just business,” and I won’t collaborate with anyone who utters the phrase, “It’s not personal, it’s business.” The work I pour my life into is not merely business; it’s an extension of my soul, a connection to individuals who fuel my passions and creativity. My business motto is, “My business is all personal and I stand on business like I stand on what I love and live for.”
Collaborating with Zak Jablow is one of my proudest achievements. I’ve admired him since the day we met, and feeling incredibly blessed to work alongside someone I’ve looked up to adds to the fulfillment of this experience.
Furthermore, I am incredibly proud of his most recent project, Laev, “With Clear Eyes & Love in Your Heart.” I hope this is just the beginning for both of us and look forward to future projects with one of the greatest humans I’ve gotten to know over the last decade.
I’m also blessed to call Nigel and Miles Holt my friends, and collaborating with them on music or art would be a dream. Miles, also a mentor, never fails to hype me up when inspiration is needed. Nigel, an exceptional performer and musician with his Friendship Club apparel brand, is someone I’d love to partner with on a special collection. Alexandria Willis, a talented designer specializing in custom-made shoes and leather goods, opened her store recently, a moment that filled me with pride. Collaborating with her on anything would be incredible. My friend Danny Jacobson, a musician, songwriter, and exceptional vocalist working on his solo project, is someone I’d love to co-write and produce with.
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, there are several artists I’ve crossed paths with and aspire to collaborate with, such as the fine artist Matt Smiley. I’ve also assisted on projects alongside photographer Jason M Peterson, and collaborating with him in the future would be incredibly fulfilling.
The essence of collaboration, for me, lies in its organic nature. It cannot be forced or driven by aspirations for virality through associations. True collaborations unfold naturally, reflecting the alignment of people meant to come together, much like how the stars aligned with Zak, Ricco, and John. Art, in essence, mirrors life.
Life often presents bumps and detours, yet sometimes they lead us back to where we began. Regardless of my future collaborations, I hope to inspire readers to pursue their dreams, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and faith in one’s purpose. This journey, guided by a belief in something greater, resonates with the essence of creation. I believe in G’d and find significance in being alive, creating akin to the creator, and spreading love and joy through art, writing, and music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ina-bochian-creative-services.square.site/
- Instagram: @iaminab_
- Linkedin: Ina Bochian
- Other: Just Enough Faith Brand Page @justenoughfaithllc
Just Enough Faith Art Collection Page @justenoughfaithcollection
Image Credits
Personal Picture: Michael Tinley Pic 1: Miles & I ( 📸 Michael Tinley) Pic 2: Me (📸 Alexandria Willis) Pic 3: Nigel & I (📸 Michael Tinley) Pic 4: Me in studio (📸 John Allen) Pic 5: Alex & I (📸 Nigel Holt) Pic 6: Imani & I (📸 Vivid Visions @visionaries_shop) Pic 7: Zak & I (📸 Samantha Humphreys) Pic 8: Me in NYC (📸 @FreshAzFox11 )
