Meet Andrea (Dreya Starr) Garcia

We were lucky to catch up with Andrea (Dreya Starr) Garcia recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea (Dreya Starr), 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?
Developing my self-esteem as a person was closely followed by finding confidence as a singer. When I was studying at the University of Florida, I had an existential crisis and was gripped by the fear of losing my voice, because I thought that if I lost it, I would have nothing left. This fear combined with my stage freight consumed me for months as I prepared for my junior recital and it made me think I would be worthless were I to stop singing. My stage freight was so bad that one day in our studio class, I blanked while singing for my peers and went through the song on autopilot, but the whole time I was lost in the sensations of anxiety within my body. My arms were numb and I couldn’t move my fingers, I had no control over my breathing, and at the end of the song I even felt like I had peed myself in front of the whole class. When I got to my seat, I realized I was first and foremost dry, then I noticed the adrenaline coursing through my veins. As my peers took turns singing their own songs, I ran a mantra through my head over and over again, trying to change the way my body responded to adrenaline. My mantra was “Nerves are unchannelled energy, turn the adrenaline into excitement.” I continued to keep this phrase in mind while I practiced and did other things(playing Mario kart) that tap into a “flow-state” to truly engrave that mantra into my subconscious mind. Once I started feeling the progress of training my mind, I started to unravel my fear of losing my voice. I felt like that fear of not singing was getting in the way of my progress in singing so I decided to mentally dive into that fear once and for all and allow that scary scenario to play out in my minds eye. I imagined myself as a different type of creative, like a visual artist or a dancer or even a music producer, and I realized that the value I bring into the world would never be affected as long as I held my purpose with integrity. I learned through reflection that I had so much more to offer as a person than the things I can do with my instrument, and that no matter the circumstances I can always find my place in the world by keeping an open heart. This mental clarity in regard to my value as a person, opened the doors of perception and possibilities for my voice. It’s like that saying “if you love it let it go and if it is meant to be it will come back” that’s what it felt like to shift my thoughts and expectations about singing. Once I embraced that fact I have a lot to offer as a person, I gained an unwavering confidence of my worth as a human being and I felt liberated from the fear of having nothing but my voice. I ended up conquering the worst of my stage freight and I had a very successful junior recital. Because of this, I felt I found my place in the world and my artistry began to blossom.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I wholeheartedly believe that music has more than the power to influence our emotional and physiological states of being and I know we can use it to our advantage. My end goal with this is to promote the potential of music as medicine.I want to make music that helps people process complex emotions and causes physical reactions like goosebumps and tears.

I have been moved by music my whole life and I want to move the world with my music. I want to bridge the worlds of Classical music with Pop music, by bring classical elements back into the mainstream. By combining both vocal and instrumental styles of the classical and pop genres, I can fusion the best of both worlds: the catchy heartening melodic completion of pop with the dramatic dynamics of classical phrasing. My artistry is unique to say the least, I am much more than meets the eye and the same can be said for my music. Unlike other classical crossover artists, I combine the classical and pop styles into one interpretation going back and worth between vocal textures. This is something that developed naturally through the production process of my album with the musical direction from my producer. Surrounded by the unwavering support of my team, I pleasantly surprised myself with the musical outcome. I am so proud of the way I’ve thrown myself outside of my comfort zone to find new facets and grow way past the lines I thought to be limits.
I am most excited to see how my sound continues to evolve as I write with other incredible musicians like Jorge Luis Chacin and his daughter Natacha Chacin.

I want the world to know that I have hope for a better future and I want to transmit that through my music. I want to be a positive force of healing through complex music that helps people cope with emotional wounds and disheartened spirits. I also have a a concept called Down to Glam which is down to earth glamour. DtG is the crossroads of beauty and nature, it embraces authentic beauty and appreciation for the planet and the miracle of life on earth. I think music is a powerful tool that we can use to inspire higher frequencies of wholesome manifestation.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The main 3 characteristics that have helped me get to where I am now are, 1) Musical Discipline, 2) A Desire to Always be Learning and 3) Faith.

Musical Discipline stands for all the time spent crafting my voice and developing my musical ear. I am a huge lover of warm ups and technical exercises because it’s like strength or marathon training for the voice. Singing when done professionally is basically a sport. Professional singers are on the same wavelengths with body/mind connection as professional athletes. This type of conditioning has been there for me when I’ve felt low and also when I’ve felt on top of the world. It provides a safe space where all you gotta do is go back to basics and take things from there no matter what the situation is. What you learn in your vocal warm ups are the functions you typically want to subconsciously take with you into artistic interpretations, it’s where you find your authentic tone.

A Desire to Always be Learning is super important in life overall. You can learn something new everyday, especially if you are in new situations. I have learned so much from the time I’ve spent writing, producing, and recording my album. I have learned from everyone around me, even when they don’t think I’m watching. I am a very observant person and I have my own unique way of viewing the world. That’s why I try to think like a sponge, absorbing everything around me and retaining what suits me best. I think adopting a “student of life” mentality has been one of the best things I could do for myself, it helps me keep an open mind in difficult situations and a joyous curiosity in every day life.

Faith. Faith is probably the MVP of these three core characteristics. Through faith, you can overcome anything because staying faithful keeps you open to new opportunities and on track towards your goals. Being faithful can help you leap and take the necessary risks to break the barriers and pummel towards your dreams. Faith has been instrumental in my life and I think it can be tapped into by releasing the need to be in control, and letting the universe take you where you wholeheartedly will it to.

I think you can develop these skills by setting the intention to change and following through with minor actions, which over time will create changes in not only your perception, but also your lifestyle.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed I like to disconnect from the outer world by honing in on my most basic needs. I grab some healthy comfort food and listen to music that feels like a hug for my soul. Sometimes I’ll do exercise to decompress and that is one of the best, most beneficial stress relievers there is. I also like to take bubble baths and use aromatherapy to help melt the tension away or I go to the beach for a while. I think being in nature always helps me reconnect with myself and it helps me feel grounded. When I first started shifting my thoughts into a higher place, I would use mindful meditation in everyday tasks and that changed my life for the better. Feeling every sensation in washing my hands for example is one of the best ways to come into the present moment.

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Image Credits
Carlos Rodriguez, Vomba

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