Meet Serene

We recently connected with Serene and have shared our conversation below.

Serene, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I believe that creativity stems from discipline and willpower. It is a skill that can be developed like any other skill. I wasn’t always like this though. I used to think that creativity came in spurts, only when inspiration strikes, however, the more I worked on my creativity, the easier it was to access it. That’s when I realized that it’s just like anything else. If you want to get good at it, and keep it alive and ready whenever you need it, you have to practice using it. Because of this, I try to do at least one creative thing a day, whether it’s writing a new song, drawing a graphic, editing a video, singing a new song or even singing an old song in a new way, I always try to make sure I use one creative muscle a day. This is also nice for me because I tend to get bored with routines, so by changing the creative task that I do, I can keep myself on my toes!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a singer, songwriter, and podcast host. I love creating music that tells a story and connects with others. I primarily make Pop/R&B music, but I’m passionate about most musical styles. Because of this love of storytelling, I now host a podcast called Behind the Lines were I interview artists in the LA area so that they can share their stories as well.

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?
Discipline, Adaptability, and Curiosity

It’s one thing to want something and hope for it, but it’s another to work for it. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize that someone isn’t going to pick me out of a crowd and give me everything I’ve ever dreamed of. It’s possible, but it’s also luck. There are ways to position yourself to be put in a place where your chances are increased and you can be ready when someone does come knocking. Discipline is so important to being an artist because it can be easy to get caught up in an addicting song or a performance that felt a little off or a not so nice comment left by an observer and end up getting stuck. As an artist, you have to be your own biggest fan and make sure you’re continuing to persevere.

This brings me to the next point of adaptability. Things are not always going to go as planned. Working with other creatives, I’d actually say it’s more than likely not going to go to plan or the plan was never even fully fledged to begin with. Being able to think on your feet and be flexible is such a huge part of being an artist, or any creative. I argue that it adds to the creative workflow when you have to adapt.

Lastly is curiosity. There’s a certain amount of exploration and wonder that goes into being an artist that I feel like is embedded in every creative. I’m constantly asking myself “what if?” This curiosity also helps me in everyday life, allowing myself to try new things which eventually may turn into inspiration for my next track, visual, or beat.

These three qualities keep me going

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
This year I really focused on performing live. I started the year with really bad stage freight so, in an effort to get more control of it, I challenged myself to do a performance at least once a month. Not only did my fear start to diminish, I got more comfortable on stage and started playing with a band on occasion. Now, I can’t wait to get back on a stage. The nerves are still there for sure, but it’s such an exhilarating experience and it also makes me want to write more so that I can have new songs to share. I’m so glad I challenged myself because it made me grow in more ways than expected!

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,