We were lucky to catch up with Cherone recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cherone, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Music has been the source of both my confidence and insecurities. For a long time I used to judge my live performances on my execution. Did I sing every melody precisely? Did I engage with my audience? Did I look good? If I didn’t do one of those things, I would beat myself up for days. If I did, I would be filled with a sense of purpose and pride. I know now that approaching music that way is unsustainable. What has helped me break out of that self-sabotaging cycle is focusing on the aspects of music that bring me joy. Connecting with an audience member or hearing my band and I land on an interesting chord energizes me. I’ve learned that following the things that energize my soul is the key towards less comparing and more loving.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’ve been singing since I was eight and a songwriter since I was thirteen. I decided to go to school for Musical Theater to get a more hands-on approach to songwriting and performing. It was exactly what I needed! The music that I write is always setting up the stage for the message I want to convey. I draw inspiration from cinema and classic soul records. My very first solo EP, Analog Love, is an example of that and I’m ecstatic to share this project with LA!
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?
BE KIND TO YOURSELF! Being harsh and judgmental in the beginning of your journey can stunt your growth and paralyze your creativity. CONSUME ART! I find that exploring old and new records fuels me and supplies me with more tools as a songwriter and singer. EMBRACE EMBARRASSMENT! Putting yourself out there comes with the risk of falling flat on your face but I think recontextualizing the meaning of embarrassment can actually be empowering!
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon helped me deal with my habit of comparing myself to others. The book shines light on the many traps we fall into as artist and reminds us that our inspiration can be drawn by others. He brilliantly uses a family tree to illustrate how our favorite artists have used elements from their favorite artist and so on. For example, one of my favorite artists is Nina Simone and when I created a family tree I discovered that her biggest inspiration was Debussy. After that discovery, I went down a Debussy rabbit-hole and found elements from his music that I found deeply touching.
Contact Info:
- Website: cheronemusic.com
- Instagram: cheronemusic
Image Credits
Photography by Lauren Naylor
