An Inspired Chat with Stephanie Puchalla

Stephanie Puchalla shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Stephanie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
To speak with my own voice, even if it shakes.

For a long time, I was afraid I might not be smart enough, not academic enough. But I’ve come to understand that people aren’t drawn to perfection—they’re drawn to authenticity, to something real they can connect with. And that, in the end, is what truly matters. We all carry flaws and rough edges, and it’s often those very imperfections that create the deepest sense of connection.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Stephanie and I’m a musician. I compose and sing, always trying to let my soul flow through the music so that listeners can experience something personal from me. I’m drawn to clear, simple chord progressions, finding something almost philosophical in their simplicity. I sing classical music, and recently I’ve started reimagining pop songs as unplugged piano versions with a clear voice. My new instrumental album, Last Sip of Tragedy, released on August 24 on Bandcamp, features violin, oboe, piano, and cello, and will be available on all streaming platforms from November 15. It’s a project close to my heart, and I hope it invites listeners into a space of reflection and emotion.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was around the age of 14, when I saw my first musical “Space Dream”. I was completely amazed and thought immediately, “This is what I want to do—it’s my world.” I desperately wanted to go again, but it wasn’t so easy. Then a friend of my parents told me, “You have to imagine everything you wish for as if it’s already real, and then it will happen.”
So every night before going to sleep, I pictured myself backstage—meeting the cast, seeing the costumes, taking a photo with my favorite performers. And one day, the solution came to me: our school had a student newspaper, and I realized I could ask the management for an interview for our paper. I called, and they invited me! My friend and I went, interviewed everyone, took photos, watched the show twice for free, and even got autographs. It was magical.
Since that experience, I’ve believed that we all have a kind of superpower. It’s about visualization. That moment shaped me profoundly and showed me the power of imagining your dreams as real.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self: don’t be ashamed, and don’t feel ashamed for what you can’t do. Take your time to grow, and trust that everything happens in its own pace. Approach it with curiosity and courage, and be gentle with yourself.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
That’s a great question, and I want to answer it honestly. In the beginning, I posted content where I felt very confident—‘this is how I like myself, and this is what I want to show.’ Over time, that has shifted. Now I also speak openly about mistakes. I say things like, ‘Hey, I need to do this again, this didn’t work out.’
For example, I recently sang a song in French, and my pronunciation wasn’t perfect—I realized that after the recording day. But that’s exactly the point: it’s not perfect, it has mistakes, but I go through the process, sing it again, and it improves. I work on the pronunciation; that’s just how it is. Not everything succeeds immediately, yet the song is still released. For me, this honesty and persistence is a crucial part of who I am.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
It’s never too late to start doing what you love. The most important thing is to just begin! I started playing the piano relatively late, at 26, and back then I hadn’t thought about composing yet. I simply practiced out of intrinsic motivation, not knowing where the journey would take me.
At 40, I released my first instrumental album, Blurry Lights. It’s incredible—it grew and evolved over that time. Now I thought, I love the cello and I want to be able to play it too. So at 41, I got a cello and I’m starting again from scratch. It’s wonderful, it’s so much fun to learn something new, and yes, I play terribly so far—but I know I will improve. Something beautiful will emerge, because it grows with love, dedication, and without pressure. I can’t wait to discover the magic that awaits me

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Image Credits
Martina Puchalla, Stephanie Puchalla

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