DeAna Fai shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
DeAna Fai, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Absolutely! When it comes to the music and film industry that I’m in, I’m glad that I’ve taken my time before working with some industry professionals and before signing some contracts. It gave me the time to consider different desires in the stages of my career as some of my short-term goals did change as I made strides in this business.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello everyone! In a nutshell, I’m DeAna Fai, primarily a Pop-Soul and RnB Artist and Songwriter. I have several credits in television and film that include “My Favorite Five, Hey, Mr. Postman!, Perfectly Single, Catfish Christmas, A Heart For Christmas, The Holiday Proposal Plan,” etc., all of which you may have seen and heard my voice on platforms like LifeTime, Netflix, BET Her, The CW Network, Pluto TV, Amazon Prime, Apple TV and more! I am also the host and creator of “DeAna Fai presents Kings & Queens of Entertainment,” a virtual podcast that started during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in hopes of creating a space for entertainers to receive their flowers, shed light into their craft, and also connect with fans in various ways. This dominoed into me creating a spinoff that focused primarily on giving back to nonprofits supporting health and awareness. A plethora of other entertainers joined my show as guests to include Claudia Jordan, Rodney Perry, Erica Hubbard, Rebecca King Crews, D-Teck, Lady Luck, TT The Artist, Sharaya J., Makeba Riddick, Rosemary Rodriguez, Courtney Nichole, Tehran Von Ghasri, Erika Ringor, Brandon Broady, Hannon Lane, Carrie Bernans, Candace Wakefield, Tyrell Crawford, Kenneth Okolie, Dunlap Exclusive, Rayshun LaMarr, Melvin Jackson Jr., Angelique Bates, D.J. Pryor, Stevie Boi, Rob Gordon, Jackies Boy, Tony Dofat, DJ Babey Drew, Shanti Lowry, Angela White, Sprague, etc.
In addition, I have other projects coming out this year along with a Christmas Romantic Comedy titled #WorstChristmasEver starring Taja V. Simpson, Bill Bellamy, Shanti Lowry, Tamala Jones, B.J. Britt, Tyler Lofton, Maurice Hall and Mo Ashley. This project includes my song “Christmas Magic” that will debut as one of the playback songs in the trailer and in the film.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I think there are some moments in my life where I can definitely say really shaped how I see the world but most importantly, my life. I came close to losing my dad in 2021. I lost one of my closest aunts the same year, whom was really instrumental in me becoming who I am as an artist. And most recently, I lost my grandmother this year. It just made me think that I can’t be afraid to take risks that may be beneficial for me because in the blink of an eye, we may not have another chance. Having the mental capacity to believe in yourself and trust yourself is also half the battle but, having faith in God to get you through and through is blessing.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I think one of the challenges I’ve had to learn in this industry and in life is that you can want something for someone else but, you can’t allow their mindset to infiltrate yours especially if it’s a constant “tug a war,” leaving you with heartache, confusion, anxiety, etc., all of which prohibits you from focusing on what is necessary to make you the best version of yourself.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
From my experiences, I’ve been told that talent, and working to be the best at what you do, is how success is achieved. However, it’s not all the way true. As simple as it may sound, I’ve learned that your mindset can be an obstacle in achieving your dreams. You can have the talent, but if you don’t have a relationship with God and believe in yourself, then you can sabotage what’s ahead. Being diligent in your work is a part of it, but the resilience in knowing that you can create another lane for yourself within your career when nothing seems promising, is a “mindset” that must be considered to overcome any curveballs that may come your way. Your mindset dictates how you move, how you see the world, and how you become a blessing to others.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe that the beauty in life is that God gave us spiritual gifts to do a variety of things. As I go through the different stages in my life, I believe I am moving in the direction of what God has for me. That is, doing what I love in music, film, television and being a blessing to others as I live out my dream.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: deanafaiofficial
- Facebook: therealdeanafai
- Youtube: DeAna Fai
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