Meet Sonya Teclai

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sonya Teclai. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sonya, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I think it’s a combination between having a front row seat to watching my parents, grandparents and other elders lead by example by persevering through some of the toughest trials/tribulations, and this innate feeling in me to push forward and grow despite anything that happens. I’ve had my moments where I’ve been knocked down, but I don’t stay down for long. I find purpose in pushing through, learning, growing and creating. I also hate to feel stagnant, so there’s that.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a recording artist, writer, and overall creative, and I like to approach everything I do with a storytelling mindset—whether it’s music, visuals, or whatever else I’m creating. My sound blends R&B, hip-hop, jazz and alternative influences, but at the core, it’s really just about feeling. I love making music that people can connect to on a deeper level—whether it’s something they relate to, something that makes them feel seen, or just something that makes them understand a different perspective a little more.

Right now, I’m locked in on my next solo project, and I’m really excited about it. It feels like an elevated extension of this sonic world I’ve been building, and I’ve been working with Jason Podkulski – an incredible musician and my bandmate – to beef up the sound. It’s amazing.

Apart from my solo work, I’ve also been creating with our band SEND FLOWERS – bandmates Jason Podkulski and Greg Alexander. The energy with this project is different—it lets us blend our individual sounds and influences in a way that’s fresh, raw, and completely free creatively. We’re working on new music that I can’t wait for people to hear.

I’m also co-founder of Giant Minds Creative Firm, a creative agency Greg and I started that focuses on music production, photography, videography, creative direction, and social marketing. We’re working with some amazing clients right now and love bringing their visions to life in a way that feels authentic and impactful.

For anyone new to my work, welcome. And to everyone who’s been rocking with me—thank you. It means the world to me.

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?

Hmmm…looking back I think three qualities that were most important on my journey were being wildly ambitious, my work ethic and collaboration. There’s a type of invincibility that I’ve always had where I don’t feel like there’s a limit on any of my passions. If I want to go out and do it I’m going to do it, no matter what anyone else thinks. I think that energy is infectious and even early on when the talent wasn’t polished enough it still opened doors because it came from such a pure place. My work ethic never allowed me to stop striving and pushing to be better. I see women like my mom, extended family, friends, Beyonce lol who take their 24 hours and make magic with it through their multiple roles and it just makes me want to push for more. It’s exciting to know that each day you can lay the groundwork to your dreams and one day you’ll look up and see you’re living in it. Collaboration is my favorite of the three. I grew up with a lot of family around all the time, so I love to work with people, create together and learn from them. Whether it’s music, writing or anything really…everyone in each space/industry has their own world of knowledge to offer and their own style and superpowers. It’s cool to soak up game and when everyone’s ego is left at the door the things you can create really have no limits.

The piece of advice I have for people who are early in their journey is most will agree that God-given talent is undeniable, but if you want it bad enough and you don’t feel like you’re where you should be – outwork everyone until you get it. Being determined to cultivate and grow your talents, doing the work and humbling yourself in the process will work wonders for your career.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I love to collaborate and partner with people. On the music side: producers, writers and other artists are always great to work with. I’m also building out my team right now on the business side. They can reach out to [email protected]. Regarding Giant Minds Creative Firm, we’re always open to partnering with brands/artists/businesses. You can reach out to [email protected].

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Greg Alexander
Ogata

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