Meet Spike Yee

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

Spike, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

As creatives we often fall into this self conscious pothole that prevents us from fully becoming who we know we are, deep down. I think most artists are very self aware people- sometimes too aware, unfortunately. This leads us to doubt our own skills from time to time and we like to let our self deprecation get the best of us. I don’t think that we ever actually overcome the imposter syndrome, it just comes with the territory of a hyperactive mind. This lifestyle is full of highs and lows and the trick is to just ride it all out. It’s a constant battle between the heart, mind and soul, and I’ve always believed that the best way to make it through is just to work at maintaining a healthy balance. The ego always tells us we’re destined to be great, but our internalized awareness sometimes becomes our worst enemy in that sense. We just have to remind ourselves that we wouldn’t have gotten this far if we weren’t already good at what we do.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am just trying to grow my artistry and develop my brand. I love making music and creating art, it’s been the fuel to my fire for the last ten years. I’m on a mission to destroy stereotypes and be a voice for my demographic. Asian Americans need a voice in this country, and I feel like music is the most effective way to represent that.

I aim to inspire and motivate through art. I want to speak to the people who don’t have the same opportunities to express themselves in a healthy manner and let them know that there is always an option. This was a struggle for me growing up, so I use my music as an outlet and that is honestly one of the best parts about being a writer- to be able to express my emotions and dive into my own brain to find my own answers that I’ve been searching for. If doing so also helps others achieve something similar, then I’m happy.

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

Obviously having a music background helped expedite my growth on this path, but I really think one of the most important skills needed is listening comprehension. When people give advice- listen. You can’t think you know everything and expect to better yourself. There are plenty of people with more experience and life lessons, and when they share them it’s often for a reason. If you’re trying to grow as an artist you need to be able to accept criticism. Humility is big for me, mainly because I grew up in a traditional Chinese household and this is what we were taught. Be humble, but be assertive. Don’t let people walk all over you, that’s how you get taken advantage of.

Other than that, be free. Free from the chains of external validation. The only validation you need is from yourself.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I step back from it all and meditate (or pray- same thing). As I said before, maintaining a good work/life balance is key. Don’t overload yourself too much in one day. Write out a checklist and tackle a few things at a time, otherwise burnout is inevitable. I know people who just front load all of their work and I see the toll it takes on their mental and physical well being. I never want to be like that.

It’s ok to take breaks especially in the arts- whether it be for an hour, a day or even a week. We can’t do everything all at once. Acknowledge it, accept it, and then keep it moving.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Grayson Hall
Zach Ross
Pittsburgh Flyover

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