Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie P Boolean. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Stephanie P , 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?
It’s really true when people say that children closely watch what their parents do or what they’re like. I like to say I’m a mirror of my father’s confidence. I saw how that man carried himself, how he spoke and even the respect that followed him in rooms. I admired that and I knew it was something I immediately wanted to borrow from him.
I like to call myself ‘Nyarsibuor’ “The daughter of (Sibuor)” which was my father’s nick name for a Lion. Though sometimes it may come across cringey when people ask me, the value of that title is what makes me wake up every morning, look forward to walking into rooms and showing my worth despite my background, papers, the color my skin or my gender. Regardless of the outcome, I believe no one could ever knock me off that high horse.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Stephanie P. Boolean. A Kenyan – New York based Afro Jazz/AfroBlues singer and performer. I am a Music Business/Management Graduate from Berklee College of Music and have experience in sync licensing, vocal coaching and performance for roughly 3 years now.
I grew up singing in my local church and christian elementary school and from a tender age I was drawn to telling stories through music. I never really knew how I was able to adapt and immerse myself in different musical narratives but I count those as my lucky gifts that allow me to connect to my community.
Over the years, I’ve been singing for live audiences and some of my most magical moments in music happened when I was sharing the energy present with the Audience. That sense of connection and vulnerability in that space is what makes music spiritual and more powerful for me.
My mother is very big on hosting and I wanted to honor her with creating Immersive Live event productions. This led me to pursue my Masters degree in Live Music Production and Design at Berklee NYC to be able to recreate performance spaces Offering accessibility for artists to share a gift that chose them is what I believe I am driven to do. I’m interested in small intimate spaces rather than large rooms and halls to maintain that sense of intimacy at al\\l times.
I’m mostly drawn to working with artists that are in the developing stage. Helping them build their narrative and story behind their music by exposing them to different of audiences from various walks/cultures. Giving them the opportunity to hear how their music helps people through their different stories of love, trauma, pain and successes and hopefully create deep relationships with new audiences. As a career, this could potentially cause me to shift hats of being a booking agent, promoter or even an event producer.
So far, in my Masters program I have been very fortunate to tap into the different technical aspects of producing a show by gaining experience in the Audio/visual and Lighting umbrellas of Live Productions.
I’m currently working on an exciting upcoming project this coming May at Berklee NYC with my Co-producer JahQuan Richards from the US Virgin Islands on producing a pop up concert experience entitled Beba Beba in a local Kenyan Minivan known as ‘Matatu’. It will highlight a vibrant fusion of the Kenyan and U.S. Virgin Islands cultures embodying a spirit of unity and celebration where our passengers (audience) will embark on a musical journey to New York.
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?
In everything, give it your best and God will do the rest – we all have goals of where we need to be but it never happens in the blink of an eye. Sometimes we are forced to be in situations that we necessarily never want to be in, but these situation turn out be stepping stones to where we want to be. Even in this tough places, put your entire heart in it. Never do anything half-heartedly.
Define who you are – make your rules as you go. Know your boundaries, strengths and weaknesses. Understand your limits, and create a system that works for you. Once you find what makes you unique, your purpose grows a little clearer day by day.
A rejection is God’s protection – you are not built for every situation but you are built for YOUR situation. Like most people, I’ve had to deal with a lot of rejections and nothing humbles you more than that. Every door that opens up for you was purposely left open for you.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Believed in my gift.
Where I come from, Music was not considered a stable career plan and I always tried to stray away from making it my number one plan to avoid disappointment. It was only when I saw my parent’s commitment and belief to push me towards it, that I got the courage to make the move and pursue it.
It is still not easy and I’m not close to where I want to be but the light in their eyes never dim. They still manage to inspire me move past every curve in my music career to make it worthwhile.
I’m truly grateful for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spboolean.wixsite.com/stephaniepboolean
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniepboolean/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-p-boolean-ochieng-7aaa11183/
