We recently connected with Wasani and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Wasani, 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?
I truly believe in fostering gratitude. Every morning, I remind myself of specific things I’m thankful for, like my supportive community, my loving family, and even overcoming unexpected creative and financial challenges. This sets the tone for the day and keeps me grounded. On top of that, I’m constantly pushing myself. Mastering new skills is incredibly rewarding and boosts my confidence in everything I do. And finally, dancing is my favorite medicine and meditation. It makes me feel powerful, present, and deeply connected to my body. That feeling of flow translates into every area of my life, whether it’s facing a big audience or navigating creative roadblocks.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
After three years in the music industry, I yearned for creative independence. In 2015 a transformative psychedelic experience sparked the creation of WHOA, my clothing brand and self-sustaining music career support system. I began with unique, hand-painted and tie-dyed t-shirts featuring our logo to promote our music. Each one I created was completely different and very abstract in order to make sure each one was one-of-a-kind. The t shirt designs became so popular that I ended up creating a full collection consisting of 7 different pieces in 2019. Shortly after designing my first hat and discovering bleach’s magic in 2020, I created a niche for myself. Since then I have personally designed and sold over 5,000 individual pieces. My brand’s networking and advertising have significantly boosted my music career, leading to about 100 gigs in 2023 alone, and countless collaborations with other artists and brands. The growth of WHOA has been very organic and I’m grateful to continue sharing my music and WHOA’s unique creations worldwide.
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?
My first two jobs, and actually the only two I’ve had, has been a manager position in which I work 10-15 hours per day and as much as 40 days in a row. This demanding schedule developed my ability to consistently invest long hours into my own business. Networking and promoting, like passing out free CDs with my music and social media links since I was 14 years old, has been a key component in building my own brand. You have to be okay with putting yourself out there and embracing discomfort. It’s through pushing past your comfort zone that you will increase your ability to problem solve without allowing the judgement of others to cloud your vision. Lastly, finding time for yourself is one of the most important aspects in building self confidence and self love. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will ? Remember, self-belief is the foundation of building anything valuable. So find ways to nurture it through your journey.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
Throughout middle and high school, my mother was my unwavering champion, granting me the freedom to express myself without judgment or constraints. By the time I started writing and recording music at age 14 I felt so free to express myself with no constraints that I was able to develop a lot of my own style and experiment with different genres. I had my first musical performance at age 17 and ever since that first gig she has always been there at every show to show her support. My mother has been a college professor for over 15 years and when I made the decision to take one year off after high school to find my true passion before attending college she never discouraged me. I actually never ended up going to college because of finding my love and passion for music during that gap year, and I eventually started working with major record labels within two years of taking my music journey seriously. She has been a major support every step of the way and has nothing but praise to give and unwavering love.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wearewhoa.art
- Instagram: @wasaniwhoa & @wearewhoa.art
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/wasani
- Other: www.wearewhoa.art/epk www.wearewhoa.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
Ashley Kaplan William Schwerd
