Meet Sheena Burton

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sheena Burton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sheena below.

Sheena , 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.
Confidence and self-esteem are not easy traits to come by, let alone maintain. I have been well aware that I am very charismatic, which has felt natural to me. As a child, I was very social and outgoing, and I loved to put on a show. I was enthusiastic about music and theater arts & developed that love initially from my home. That is where I was introduced to music of all genres. This was a pretty regular thing to always hear music playing, so I fell in love with singing at an early age. I knew at 4 years old that’s exactly what I wanted to be after witnessing Mariah Carey on TV. I started early on as a young child putting myself out there at school taking music and dance classes. All of those opportunities of singing and performing for an audience would increase my confidence each time as I became familiar with the stage/ performing process.

Fast forward to adulthood, I enthusiastically explored and chased my dreams as a singer by trying to find local gigs I could perform and be a part of. Getting my feet wet initially as a backup singer, and then later on as the lead singer of a band, my confidence and self-esteem had to be there. I believe it comes from a darker place if I am honest. The odds have been stacked against me earlier on in my journey, it really left me no choice but to persevere over the things I wanted that weren’t easily in reach. It really developed from the adversity of the things I experienced in my life that I had to learn, grow, and heal from.

Everyone wants the best life they can live, and sometimes things out of our control can detour our plans. I developed confidence and self-esteem because that’s how much I wanted to experience music on that level from my point of view. Not by watching and living through my idols, even though I defiantly enjoyed them and gained so much inspiration and healing, while learning how to express myself through my own artistic expression. I had no support or encouragement even as a young kid getting started. I was even told to ‘shut up” but I never did because even if others closest to me didn’t love and support me, I was at least going to provide that to myself. I had to go at this all on my own which I did and I have even continued on now as a whole adult with completing and releasing my very first album. It was a very vulnerable experience, but I laid it all on the line because once again, I was doing this for my soul’s evolution of freedom and fulfillment inside of me, no matter what the world may say.

I keep trying to better myself as best as I can and although good things take time, my confidence and self-esteem come from the fact I have a clear conscience and intention because much of what I do although I am perfectly imperfect is out of pure love, and wanting to best for others while experiencing deep connection. When I am connected to those truths of vulnerability, self-love, and honesty, it keeps my confidence and self-esteem in good standing.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an artist, a multifaceted artist. I am a singer, songwriter musician & holistic practitioner. What is most exciting about being a musical artist is that has always been who I have known myself to be at my core, and having the ability and creativity to express myself. Being able to share my philosophy and life story through my lyrics and visual art. My music brand name is SLMSONGS. “SLM” pronounced as “Slim” is an acronym of my name which stands for Sultry, Love, Music. Music that heals your soul, music that inspires. I always say if you wanna get to truly know me, my songs will tell all. There lies the truth of my life story through it all. I consider my songs to be therapeutic by nature having a lesson I’ve endured or had to overcome, and then the blessing of coming out of the other side. My songs are spiritually transformative and touch upon mental health matters. My intention is for the listener to find their own stories and or learn from mine. To feel seen and heard, and not alone or discarded. To be celebrated in their healing journey and rising to the next level of their life.

This year on my birthday back on May 1st, 2023, I released my first album “Color Pain”. This album was years in the making, and the latter half was completed and couldn’t have been done without my producer and dear friend Michael Edison. He made a trip from Houston to our home in San Diego and we completed my project in my home studio built by my husband Morray Burton. My album features 7 songs, connected to the theme of the 7 Chakras related to my personal energy centers, sharing my experience with healing each Chakra energy center. Chakra (chakra in Sanskrit) means “wheel” and refers to energy points in your body. They are thought to be spinning disks of energy that should stay “open” and aligned, as they correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body that affect our emotional and physical well-being. When you go through deep-rooted pain in life, it can really shut you down mentally, putting your mind in a negative space. Learning how to heal my pain is what my album is all about. “Color Pain” is the story through each layer and experience through my time as an early adult from my mid-20s- early 30s while holistically healing my body mind and spirit. You can check out my album on all streaming platforms by searching SLMSONGS.

The other side that I have to my brand is my “lifestyle” where I practice and offer, therapeutic healing modalities, such as Yoga, Reiki energy healing, life coaching, card readings, sound healing, meditation, ecstatic dance, and more. My lifestyle brand is called Escape the Matrix 33. It’s a space where people can take a break from everyday life and receive self-care sessions with me out in the heart of nature. You can find us online at, escapethematrix33.square.site to learn more.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back the quality I would say was the most impactful on my journey was the ability to “persevere”. Had I not cultivated that course of action, despite hardship, I would not have made it to where I am today. The advice I have to share for gaining strength in this area is building tough skin, by facing your fears head-on and finding a way when there is none. Never giving up on yourself even if your path is longer or more challenging. It is building your character and there is a reason for the season you are in, with so much to be learned, and once you learn everything you are meant to, your life will change to the next scene and course of action.

Forgiveness would be a successful quality to develop. When you have truly understood what forgiveness is, how it works, and how to apply it to people, and situations in your life, you have a lightness within your energy that will push you further than others who may be holding on to past hurts and things they can’t change or control that happened previously. Forgiveness is true freedom, educate yourself on it and apply it to your life.

Education- Never stop learning. I’m currently back in school majoring in Psychology. Knowledge will help you navigate your life decisions so much better. Along with working on yourself as a person by taking up personal development, and spirituality. Learning about health, wellness, and self-care. These qualities, skills, and abilities have all been so impactful for me and have changed the course of my life.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My husband Morray, has truly been by far the most helpful person by my side who has assisted and encouraged me to become the person I am today. He has never stood in my way and has always provided a way forward for me to access my dreams both spiritually and materially/physically by working firsthand with me on my projects, as he is an artist himself. This itself has been super inspiring to bond with my partner on this level and experience life events together. He had such a strong foundation spiritually to be such an encouraging lover and friend who has my best interest and will support me with anything I choose to do no matter what. I am forever grateful to god for placing our paths together.

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