Meet Carlina Ricca

We recently connected with Carlina Ricca and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Carlina with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I believe my work ethic was passed down to me. Coming from an immigrant family, I have witnessed hard work throughout my childhood, and I have let it become my standard. I became forever grateful for the roots my grandparents planted and for the life they have grown in the United States. If they did not have a dream for a better life, I wouldn’t be in LA right now pursuing my dreams. My mom’s work ethic has always inspired me as well, seeing her work a full-time job and mother two children. I feel very blessed to always be surrounded by such hardworking people. I truly thank my family for making me the hard worker I am!
This work ethic planted in me has been a driving force for everything I have accomplished, whether academically or artistically. I have always had an internal motivation for my goals. A lot of time, it was simply because I knew I could accomplish them. As I continue my career in the entertainment and music industry, I not only believe, but I am certain that I will be successful and achieve all the career goals I desire to!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a singer-songwriter, dancer, actress, musician, and choreographer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, I moved to LA to pursue my career as a performer. There is so much to do within the entertainment industry that I find myself putting myself out there in every outlet. As a recording artist, my music can be described as a sultry blend of jazz, R&B, and pop, often featuring my alto saxophone. I am very excited to announce the release of my debut album, “Life’s Seasons”, which is available on all streaming platforms as of March 29th!

Music and performance have always been in my life. My earliest memories of music were at my nonno and nonna’s house. I cherish these memories, all of us dancing and singing in the dining room after dinner. My nonno and nonna inspired my love for music, dance, and performance. As a little girl, I became passionate about performing and knew I could pursue it if I wanted to!

When I was two, I began studying dance, eventually dancing competitively. At age eleven, I began vocal training and picked up the alto saxophone through the school’s band program. As I reached my teens, I participated in the high school’s musicals, finding my love for musical theatre. I was a proud “band kid” in high school participating in the marching band, jazz band, and choir, always hanging out in the music wing. My original plan to study engineering in college changed my senior year. The hard work and passion I felt through my extracurriculars encouraged me to follow my dreams. I decided to study Musical Theatre at AMDA College of the Performing Arts. I spent my first two years of college at the New York campus. I learned so much and after graduating from the Associates program I was thrilled to learn more! I came to LA with the same curiosity as I did my freshman year; a new city with plenty of new connections. I graduated from AMDA College, here in Hollywood, earning my BFA in Musical Theatre.

Since graduation, I have released my first studio singles, “Winter Blues” and “Summer in New York”, which are on, “Life’s Seasons”. My most recent single is “SOS” with a music video in the works. I also would love to invite readers to my upcoming gig in LA! I will be playing Breaking Sound Unpublished at Rudolph’s Bar & Tea on April 10th at 7pm (ticket info: https://tixr.com/e/135270).

Along with music, I have danced for Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder Celebration and played “Vanessa” in the upcoming movie, American Spark. I continue to use social media to spotlight my love for performing with monthly themes such as “Love Thru the Decades” and “12 Days of Song”. I enjoy using social media as a tool to spread my passion and to inspire others to follow their dreams!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

My hard work, passion, and desire to learn have been most impactful on my journey thus far. For me, these three qualities work together. As I mentioned earlier, my hardworking mindset is what keeps me motivated to accomplish my goals. This “not-giving up” attitude is fueled by my passion for music and performance. Because I have this strong passion for the arts, I am ALWAYS hungry to learn more! Even though I have graduated college, my learning will continue throughout every stage of my career.

Although I am also at the beginning of my journey, I have advice for the readers. You become “hardworking” by working for something you really want. If you have a goal and a plan to reach it, you are a hardworking person. You are already on that path to achieve whatever your dream is. We all have a passion, the hardest step is finding it and figuring out how you can make a career out of it. Ask yourself, what brings you joy?” “What do you love to share with others?” You may have multiple passions, I know I do! Are these passions related? Take the time to ask yourself questions and experiment with the possibilities! Learning is not done when you pass the exam or when you receive the degree, learning is continuous. Always be hungry for more information both within your field of work and of the world. Do not restrain your knowledge to what you know, expand your knowledge and you will notice a difference in your way of thinking and how you navigate through your work. If you are a creative like me, continue to play the student! Take class, go to workshops, collaborate with others…the more you learn the better you will be!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

As an artist and performer, I am ALWAYS looking for people to collaborate with! Regarding my music career, I am excited to connect with more musicians in hopes of forming a network to record and perform with. Since I am a hard worker, I, of course, want to work with hardworking and self-motivated creatives. I surround myself with a community of people who inspire me, who are passionate about their craft and have a willingness to learn more! If this sounds like you, you can connect with me via the contact page on my website (carlinaricca.com) or on social media (@carlinaricca).

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Heather Tabacchi

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