Meet Taquirah

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taquirah a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Taquirah , 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?

My resilience has been shaped by encountering numerous rejections throughout my journey. While I often celebrate my victories, it is the significant setbacks and the valuable lessons they bring that truly define my character. I am dedicated to analyzing my past actions meticulously, always striving to enhance my approach. An experience during my college audition process stands out as a pivotal moment in learning how to navigate rejection. I vividly recall auditioning for Point Park University’s dance program and being cut after my initial attempt. The emotions of sadness and rejection overwhelmed me, highlighting the feeling of surrendering control over my future opportunities as a performer. Determined not to accept defeat, I decided to undergo a re-audition with the support of my high school friend, Zoe Linder, and her mother. By participating in classes alongside current students and showcasing my work ethic and talent, I managed to secure a spot in the program. However, upon reflection, I declined the offer because I sensed a lack of initial recognition of my abilities. Despite admiring the program’s versatility, I believed enrolling would entail a constant battle to prove my worth as a dancer, rather than being valued from the outset. Therefore, my decision to re-audition was driven by a personal desire to demonstrate my technical proficiency, dedication, and passion. The multitude of rejections I faced significantly contributed to my ability to confront and resist the word “no.” Through this process, I have always remained steadfast in my self-worth and potential. Understanding that some may take longer to perceive my capabilities, I have learned to interpret “no” as “not now” rather than a reflection of my inadequacy. I am deeply convinced that my future holds great promise and boundless opportunities.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a singer holding a bachelor’s degree in Performance Arts from UNCSA, passionate about performing. I am fortunate to have connected with artists in LA who share my unique and bold approach.I will be performing for a BreakingSounds show in LA October 16th ! This show with be an acoustic performance featuring Rian Knight and I. I also have the opportunity to collaborate with designer Bettye Marie Benton and hairstylist MoNeisha Watson . Meeting them both has been a blessing. The people on my team are incredibly innovative and driven, serving as a great source of inspiration. Currently, my primary focus is on releasing my album and focusing on building my band I am excited to have a complete team supporting me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three most impactful elements on my journey have been patience, perseverance, and practice. I have had to work diligently to reach the level I am at now, and though I am not yet where I envision myself, my patience with myself has been crucial in never giving up, especially in the face of rejection. A habit I cultivated was studying videos of artists I admired, incorporating their techniques into my own style. Being a late bloomer in my craft, I dedicated myself to self-study and extensive practice, particularly drawn to jazz singers for their emotional depth and tone. While many assume I received extensive jazz training for my vocal tone, it truly stems from God and my musical influences. My strong perseverance is rooted in my faith and unwavering belief. I understand that not every performance will be flawless, but I take each imperfection as an opportunity for improvement. To young artists, I would impart the advice to have faith and believe in themselves — a seemingly cliche notion yet one that has been my saving grace. Despite moments where I felt I performed poorly, my faith and determination fueled my resolve to improve. Embracing mistakes and seeing them as stepping stones towards improvement has been instrumental in my growth.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

My biggest challenger right now is creating visuals for my upcoming album. As an artist who doesn’t work a 9-5 I have to be extremely savy with my visuals. I know with the proper team I can create a visual that my childhood self is craving to see!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Joshua Bone

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