Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sami Michelsen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sami , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I think true confidence and self esteem comes from identifying exactly who it is you want to be in this world, and authentically being that person.
I think anyone who is trying to accomplish anything suffers from things like imposter syndrome and moments of self doubt. Even if you dodge all of that weight for a while, it catches up to you eventually. You end up asking yourself strange questions like, “What gives me the right to pursue this Dream or this Goal?“ I’ve found that the root of that doubt is, “Am I good enough? Am I worthy?”
The answer is always YES.
So the question then becomes, “Who do YOU think you are?” The constant effort to create that person will inevitably sharpen your sense of self and strengthen your confidence, but
you have to be able to trust yourself.
I’ve had to spend a lot of time alone with myself; consistently and continually checking in with Sami; making sure that I’m being trustworthy in the first place; being brutally honest. If I’m not being totally real with myself then all hell breaks loose. I have to have that trust to guide me; so I’ve cultivated a deep knowledge of and connection to self and to source…those are the things that guide me…sometimes I call that faith.
My mother always use to tell me to “Follow your Heart”…so when God puts a burning passion in your heart, it’s your job to follow it and see where it leads you; to find out who you can become in following that path and answering that call; all while finding + refining your authenticity along the way.
“Know thyself, and thou shalt know the Universe and God.” “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been singing for most of my life. Once I knew what it felt like to be on stage, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Performing in any capacity is exhilarating, but singing won my heart at an early age. There’s nothing quite like expressing your own heart through sound. People hear things beyond the sound and into the soul. It’s pure magic. In high school I wanted to be a filmmaker; specially a director, but I’m lucky in that I’m able to continue to exercise that creative muscle in my music videos. I’ve worked my way from gigging locally to touring with national acts across the US and Europe. I also front my own band in Atlanta: an Electro-Pop trio called Reptile Room ( IG @reptileroomofficial // Spotify + Apple Music: Reptile Room ). We all have new projects coming out: Bill is crushing remixes @billzremix // Sean has a solo project called Jaguar Beach @jaguarbeach // I am @samisingstheblues.
Before RR, I was in a rock band called Alchemy…we are talking about getting back together for another go of it.
We’re still on SoundCloud. (alchemyrock). I’ve been so lucky to be in the musical community; I’ve met so many incredible people and worked on so many radical projects like Phantom Electric @phantomelectric, Gas Hound @gas_hound and MammaBear @mammabearmusic. I’m very much in love with the process of making music and the camaraderie it inspires.
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?
The most important quality to develop, next to blind faith, is Honesty. If you can be honest with yourself, you know you can trust yourself. Your job is to know who you are and I think that only comes from an intimate relationship with honesty. Get to know yourself and thrive; you either follow your own heart or someone else’s.
Learn to say NO. With all due respect. Do things for the right reasons.
You never know how things will turn out or what will come back around; but, life is a circle…it all comes back around.
Say yes to the things you truly love, but protect your time. NO really helps with that.
Find something you are crazy about and get to know everything about that thing. Master it. Become so familiar with the object of your love (your art, your career, your relationship, etc) that you know it inside and out. Always be open and eager to growth. Learn everything you can and when you think you know it all, seek out an experience that will teach you something new. The journey is long and the adversity can be great, but the relationship you develop with your passion will be the light of your life, and it will never leave you.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Let’s start a band. Seriously. I’m looking for collaborators with big visions that might align with mine. Long term goals. DM me on IG or send me an email ~ [email protected]
Ideally musicians with a lust for life and a desire to make powerful and provocative art….and rehearse…and tour…and a bunch of other stuff…let’s push the boundaries. Most of all, let’s write some music that moves people.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @samisingstheblues // @reptileroomofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reptileroomofficial?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-michelsen-4b0b17131?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ReptileRoom?si=Zj4QssNf-SJPeV3l
- SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/alchemyrock
Image Credits
Barbie Margolies N/A N/A Sophia Wilson N/A Smiling Eyes Media Elevin Photography Sophia Wilson
