Meet Aster Canis

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aster Canis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aster, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence truly doesn’t come overnight. As a teenager I was really shy, it took a lot for me to speak up for myself. Because of that I learned to build my self esteem up in different ways. It started with my sense of style. I wanted to be the most unique person in the room without having to speak up, so I would wear a lot of statement pieces. I also took to writing lyrics more often to boost my emotional intelligence and that put everything in perspective for me.

As I got older I realized creating a persona online felt more comfortable than trying to market myself in person. Because of that I started to thrive artistically, which also helped with my confidence and comfortability interacting with people.

Now I am able to open myself up and be more vulnerable in life. Everything has flowed together beautifully, which feels magical. I want people to know that the more you open yourself up, the more you’ll be able to feel. Stay in tune with your emotions and make sure to take each moment in life as an opportunity to grow as an individual. There is no right or wrong way to do that.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an independent artist from the suburbs of Ohio. Music has always been prevalent in my life. My grandfather used to sing me to sleep when I was little. The peace I felt in those moments really helped fuel my love for the arts.

Once I was able to talk, I was singing. I would use the fireplace in my mother’s living room as my stage. I got my first guitar at 4 years old. Once I was able to write, I was coming up with lyrics. Everything clicked for me at a very young age.

It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get where I am today. There is a lot of trial and error in this industry, so I learned to not be too hard on myself very quickly. I couldn’t have done it alone, though. Once I met my music partner, I grew and blossomed tremendously. I will be forever grateful to them.

I currently am celebrating the release of my debut album Through The Veil of Flesh and Blood. It is a concept album about spirituality. My next step will be performing live at different venues and I am so excited for that. I am constantly creating art and thinking of my next project. The work never stops and I absolutely adore what I do!

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?

Looking back on my journey is quite difficult, as it was a long one. However, the quality of my art wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t have the experiences in life that molded me into the person I am today.

Trauma is a big player in my creative process. Learning to turn something so heavy into a creative lifeline has really been therapeutic. Pain can help create the most beautiful pieces of art. Without it my lyrics wouldn’t be as inspiring.

Patience is another thing that really helped me through this creative journey as a musician. When I was younger I thought things were way easier than they actually were. Growing up made me realize that you need it in order to do most things. Now I’m able to take the appropriate time to think, create, and grow without the constant pressure of wanting things done as quickly as possible.

Lastly, you can’t do anything in life without love. The love in my heart pushes me to want to write lyrics that truly speak to people. Music is about community and connecting with others. Love is the anchor to the big beautiful boat that is our existence. And, man, does it help make gorgeous art.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I have always had anxiety with most things in life. I am very familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Therapy has helped me find coping strategies that assist me in times of need like this.

Just know that all feelings are temporary. Breathe and try to put things into perspective. Stop worrying about the tiny stuff, just keep your goals in mind. Figuring out a good grounding activity can also help ease the stress. You are not alone and everything will come to pass.

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Image Credits

Tina Morrison & Sydney Hoffacker

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