Meet Breathless
Woman with long curly hair wearing a wide-brimmed hat, red cardigan, and black top, looking at the camera.

We were lucky to catch up with Breathless recently and have shared our conversation below.

Breathless, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Creativity, for me, is something I actively tend to. Not something I sit around waiting for. I’ve built a rhythm around it by consistently writing, recording, and releasing and incorporating playtime, even when I don’t feel “inspired,” because I’ve learned that discipline is what keeps the channel open. It’s all a part of the work.

At the same time, I leave space for experience to pour in my emotions, my environment, my relationships and all of it gets to be part of the music. I let the feeling lead the pen, whether that’s joy, frustration, love, or reflection, and I’ve learned to surrender to the process instead of trying to control the outcome. Keeping it fun is a big part of that too when I’m enjoying the process, experimenting, or building with my band and collaborators, the creativity flows a lot more freely.

A huge part of keeping my creativity alive is also protecting it, and that’s where self-care comes in. I’ve been doing this for over a decade, so I’m very intentional about avoiding burnout by taking care of my body, my energy, and my mind, whether that’s stepping away when I need to reset, getting outside, staying active, or simply giving myself permission to rest. When I hit creative blocks, I don’t panic, I shift. I might change my environment, tap into a different creative lane like teaching or performing, or just allow myself to create without pressure or expectation. I’ve learned that blocks aren’t failures, they’re signals to recalibrate or sometimes pause for a moment. The balance of discipline, joy, rest, and real-life experience is what keeps my creativity sustainable and evolving.

Young woman with long curly hair wearing a headband, sleeveless top, ripped jeans, and boots, standing with arms crossed.

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’m a bi-coastal emcee, songwriter, and performer building a career rooted in lyricism, live performance, and community. What’s most exciting to me is the versatility of what I get to do. I perform solo, with a DJ, and with my band, while also collaborating with artists like LiL MC (we’ve received the Local Sirens award grant together) and my group Femme Deadly Venoms (with music featured on CBS’s The Equalizer and Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia, all while continuing to create at a high level.

I’ve had the honor of performing on major stages and being recognized with awards and Grammy consideration, but what really makes it special is the ability to move people in real time and create spaces whether on stage or through initiatives like The Bar Exam Cypher where artistry, especially for womxn, is seen, heard, and celebrated.

Right now, I’m in a really expansive season creatively. I’m preparing to release my new project that I’ve been recording at Georgia State University’s School of Music with support from the Creative Industries grant through Invest Atlanta. My band, The Cosmos, and I are performing in Atlanta, while I continue to travel and perform in the Bay Area as well. Beyond the stage, I’m also deeply committed to education and community work, teaching hip hop through Soul Food Cypher in Atlanta Public Schools, which was recently featured on CNN. Everything I’m building is about longevity, impact, and creating meaningful experiences through music and culture. Long lasting connections!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three things have been most impactful in my journey: a deep love for the craft, and the diligence and patience to keep showing up for it over time. I genuinely believe art has the power to free and heal people, and that belief has kept me grounded through every phase of my career. At the same time, I’ve put in the work yo…hundreds of thousands of hours writing, rehearsing, performing, and refining, learning, understanding that growth doesn’t come from moments of inspiration alone, but from consistent, intentional practice and the willingness to stay the course. It compounds.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple but real: keep doing it. Don’t wait until you feel ready or perfect…just create, over and over again. Find your people, get around others who love what you love, and build in community because that energy will push you further than you can go alone. Most importantly, have fun with it because joy is what keeps you coming back, and the more you enjoy the process, the more sustainable your growth will be.

Woman wearing a large brown hat, long red coat, black top, ripped jeans, and brown boots, standing with hands clasped.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Oh yeah, I’m always open to collaborating. I’m drawn to like-minded creatives who are open, intentional, and serious about their craft, but still know how to have fun in the process. I move across genres and bring both rap and melody to the table, so I love working with artists, producers, musicians, videographers/photographers and creators who aren’t boxed in and are willing to experiment, build, and elevate the work together.

If you’ve got something dope, bring it to the table and I’ll meet you there. Whether it’s music, live performance, or creative concepts or shoots, I’m always down to build with people who have a strong vision and really good energy, organically. The best way to connect with me is through my social platforms or email so tap on in, introduce yourself, and let’s create something meaningful. Classic, if you will.

Contact Info:

Person crouching, holding a microphone, pointing forward, wearing black pants and sneakers, with dreadlocks and a serious expression.

Woman with long dreadlocks wearing a patterned headscarf and scarf, crossing arms, looking at camera.

Image Credits

Picture with blue hue is by Candid Cartel

All others by The Photo Shop Atlanta

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