Latest / The FEEL Podcast: Women’s Empowerment, Emotional Wellness and Self-Leadership with Melissa Crook / Living Unapologetically with Keldamuzik: Confidence, Creativity & Representation in the Music Industry

Transcript

Living Unapologetically with Keldamuzik: Confidence, Creativity & Representation in the Music Industry · The FEEL Podcast: Women’s Empowerment, Emotional Wellness and Self-Leadership with Melissa Crook

0:00
Hello Melissa Crook here on the field podcast.
0:03
Welcome to today's episode are ways to engage with living
0:07
unapologetically with Kelda Music confidence, creativity and
0:13
representation in the music industry.
0:15
These ways to engage are as follows.
0:17
Everything Kelda Music names has the word diva in it, meaning
0:23
confidence, independent, motivated, and empowering others
0:28
to do the same. Think of a word that encompasses
0:31
you similarly to your character traits, something that gives you
0:35
strength, power and confidence. Keep that word with you and
0:40
remind yourself of it when you need it most.
0:43
We hope this really helps you as you listen today's really
0:47
empowering episode with our new friend Celta Music.
0:50
Thanks so much for being with us.
1:07
Hello, welcome to the field podcast this week.
1:09
I'm so excited to be with you. We have a guest today that comes
1:13
from a background that I haven't been able to highlight before
1:17
and haven't been able to share about before, and I'm super
1:20
excited to have her here today. I think she's going to have so
1:23
much to share with us. She has such an, I think it's,
1:27
she has one of those lives that a lot of people, especially when
1:29
you're growing up, you're like, oh, that would be so cool to do.
1:32
Well, she's doing it, but it's also requires her to take really
1:37
good care of herself through it so she can do it and do it well.
1:41
And she's been really smart and how she's diversified herself
1:45
and really market yourself so effectively, but always in a way
1:49
that's authentic to her. And, and so I'm really excited
1:53
to share Kelda Music's story here with you today.
1:56
She describes herself as entertaining, creative,
1:59
ambitious, outgoing, passionate. She's an entrepreneur, she's a
2:04
musician, she's a producer, she's got a beret line.
2:08
I mean, she's doing all the things Kelda Music.
2:12
Welcome to the Field podcast. Hi, Melissa, Thank you so much
2:17
for having me, darling. I'm so happy to have you.
2:21
Let's get into it. All right, Talk to me about
2:24
yourself care. You are on the road, you are
2:27
traveling, you're doing lots of things, you're performing this
2:31
and you're in a, an industry that can be tricky for women to
2:35
navigate. Within all of that, there's a
2:38
lot of, there's still what areas that need to be worked on for
2:43
women in the industry, for Black women in the industry, there's
2:46
we, we are making steps in the right direction, but we have not
2:50
arrived yet. So we would imagine you've got
2:52
to take care of yourself well so you can show up the way you want
2:56
to in all of these situations. So talk to me about what you do
3:00
for your prioritizing yourself care.
3:04
So I make sure I at least get 8 hours of sleep a day.
3:07
Sometimes I I get more than that.
3:09
It really depends what kind of day I had.
3:12
For example, I hosted an event for the entire weekend and I
3:16
just remember, you know, the first day after hosting and
3:20
going home I told myself I'm going to hibernate for the next
3:23
10 hours. And I actually slept for about
3:26
12 hours and woke up refreshed, re energized the next day ready
3:31
to go. And sleep is very very
3:35
important. If you do not have sleep, it's
3:37
just it, it will break you over time.
3:40
And also drinking a lot of water and exercising.
3:43
No, get your heart rate going every day.
3:45
Break a sweat, you know, even if it's for like 15 minutes.
3:48
Pick up some weights, you know, do something that you know,
3:50
where you're resisting, you know, your muscles.
3:54
So I just really think it's, it's, it's healthy to kind of
3:59
live that lifestyle when you can, Not all of us can do it
4:01
every day just because we have busy schedules and, and hey, you
4:05
know, even families, you know, mothers and fathers can't do it
4:08
every day. They have to take care of their
4:09
children, go to work. So the least you could do is get
4:14
enough sleep and drink a lot of water.
4:17
Yeah, no kidding. I mean, self-care really does
4:20
come down to taking care of your health.
4:23
That self-care is healthcare. And sometimes we get lost in the
4:27
other things that are involved in.
4:29
Everybody loves spa day and all those other things.
4:31
But you got to do that basic stuff.
4:33
Have you had lunch? Have you eaten a healthy meal
4:36
today? Are you drinking your water?
4:38
Have you moved your body? So those basic principles are so
4:41
important. Thank you so much for that.
4:43
Confidently setting boundaries. Boy, I would imagine this is
4:48
something you really have had to learn to do to protect your time
4:53
and your space and, and, and making sure you're moving and
4:59
operating in spaces that feel authentic and safe and welcoming
5:03
and, and aligned with who you are.
5:05
And also sometimes not every good thing it's the right thing
5:10
or the right time. So learning, sometimes you got
5:12
to say no to even do the good things if you want to show up
5:14
well in the other things you've committed to.
5:17
So talk to me about your boundaries.
5:19
Yeah, no, I'm, I'm so glad you mentioned that.
5:22
Like I was talking about that with my business partner the
5:25
other day. Like not all opportunities are
5:27
good opportunities. And once you reach a certain
5:30
level in your career, you can't really backtrack and go at the
5:34
at the beginner level again. You really have to continue to
5:38
keep growing and elevating. There's been a few times where
5:41
I've been offered to, you know, to, you know, perform an event
5:45
or record something or host something or even, you know, act
5:50
in a, in a project. But you know, they'll, they'll
5:53
sometimes try to lowball me or they'll try to say, Oh, well,
5:57
there's going to be a lot of good PR involved and IMDb credit
6:01
and everything. And I'm like, that's cool.
6:03
But I'm kind of past those days now.
6:06
Like everything I do is is paid. It has to be, you know,
6:10
sufficient amount of income that I generate to make tell the
6:16
music brand still thrive. You know what I mean?
6:19
And and I think that's very important for anyone.
6:22
You know, you're protecting yourself, you're protecting your
6:24
brand. So you just can't take anything
6:27
just because it looks cool or maybe because someone else has
6:30
done it. You know, you really, really
6:32
have to carefully pick your opportunities wisely and and
6:36
it's OK, It's OK. There's going to be another,
6:39
bigger opportunity that's going to meet your standards, meet
6:42
your requirements and make a whole difference in your career.
6:48
Yeah, I'm so glad you mentioned that.
6:50
It seems like time and time again women run into this over
6:56
and over again of people trying to lowball, people trying to,
6:59
oh, but this. But that's like, no, I have.
7:02
I'm experienced. I'm a veteran.
7:05
I know what I'm doing here. Pay me what I'm worth.
7:08
Pay me for my labor. And if you're not willing to do
7:11
that, that's fine. But I'm not, I'm no longer going
7:16
to lend myself to that. And I think we have to.
7:20
And sometimes women are afraid to say no.
7:24
They're afraid something else, an opportunity won't come along.
7:26
If you're doing the good work and you're continuing to be
7:30
authentic to yourself, other opportunities, you know, will
7:34
present themselves. And also, people pick up on when
7:38
they know you value you, they will not continue to try to
7:42
lowball you or get you for lower than your worth if you're
7:47
continually clear. No, this is where I'm at.
7:51
And I think that's a really important thing for women to
7:54
hear and remember. Yeah, definitely.
7:58
I agree. And yes, as, as, as, you know, a
8:02
woman and then as a black woman, we really have to work harder
8:05
than anyone else to prove who we are, right.
8:09
And, and there's some things that we have to do that, you
8:12
know, we're not really into doing or comfortable doing, you
8:15
know what I mean? And, and that goes maybe even
8:17
for like just the, the, the, the standard regular working woman,
8:23
you know, who has to work 9:00 to 5:00, but maybe out of all
8:26
people, she has to work harder or file more papers, stay later
8:29
after work, you know, meet her numbers.
8:31
Just something that's just going to keep her position there.
8:34
Because, you know, there's been a lot of stereotypes about us.
8:38
And unfortunately, there's nothing that we can do about it,
8:42
but continue to be us. And whatever stereotypes are out
8:47
there, you know, it's really just people projecting or, or
8:52
their own perception of how they want to think about black women.
8:57
And, you know, I, it's just crazy.
9:00
Like, you know, I grew up in the suburbs.
9:02
I grew up in San Jose, which is about 45 minutes away from San
9:05
Francisco and maybe about 40 or 35 minutes away from Oakland.
9:09
But, you know, being out here, you realize like, whoa, you're
9:13
alone. You know, there's not that many
9:16
black people out here. You know, everyone's cool, but
9:19
there's not that many black people out here.
9:21
You really do kind of have to sometimes, you know, meet people
9:25
eye to eye in a, in a different way to where you know, you're
9:28
not attacking them, you're not threatening them.
9:31
And you know, you're, you're just trying to be normal like
9:34
they are. There was a time in high school,
9:37
I remember I was waiting outside for my parents to pick me up.
9:41
And I remember this girl who, you know, wasn't black, and we
9:48
were sitting outside talking on the grass waiting for both of
9:50
our parents to pick us up. And she said, oh, you know,
9:53
just, I just want to let you know, can you like, not curse in
9:57
front of me when you talk? And I was like, I've never
10:00
cursed in front of you. What are you talking about?
10:03
But that was just her mind frame, you know, And it probably
10:08
came from her parents, and it came from her parents.
10:10
Parents, you know, thinking, hey, all black people curse when
10:13
we talk and we're all a bad influence.
10:17
And I was just like, OK, you have issues, darling.
10:24
Yeah, you want that and that and that's just it.
10:27
That's not your issue. That's her issue and it's but
10:31
those micro aggressions over time and not being able to show
10:36
up feeling safe is your authentic self that takes a toll
10:40
on you. So talk to me about how you
10:42
navigate the mental, emotional, physical health aspects of
10:47
dealing with those kinds of comments because people are like
10:51
01 comment. Those comments pile up over time
10:54
and it's exhausting to walk out your door, I would imagine.
10:58
I don't know. I can't, I can't live your life
11:01
because I'm middle-aged white woman.
11:03
But I've watched enough to know and have enough friends in your
11:07
space to know that my God, to just be able to get up every day
11:11
and walk out the door and just be who you are without all these
11:14
preconceived notions and judgments.
11:17
The amount of performing that you feel like you have to do to
11:23
just get by on some days, I would imagine just in life,
11:27
we're not even talking about your workspace, we're just
11:29
talking about in your. Neighbor just in life, I you
11:33
know, I could, I could walk in a store right now and
11:36
automatically, you know, some people are think I'm going to
11:38
I'm, you know, I'm going to steal something.
11:40
I'm, I'm going to, you know, start arguing and being loud
11:44
and, you know, just going crazy or, or if I'm asking for help
11:49
for something and you know, it's kind of like, oh, you know, is
11:53
there a problem? No, there's not a problem.
11:57
I just have a question about what I'm getting here before I
12:00
pay for it. And I just want to know, is this
12:02
the correct item or whatever, You know what I mean?
12:04
So it's just like people, they take everything out of context
12:09
and I've, I've experienced it, I've seen it, I have family
12:13
members who experienced it, friends, everything.
12:16
So, you know, it's just really we have our own backs and we
12:21
have to know that we have to watch out for ourselves.
12:23
And saying that, you know, I always hear is, you know, you're
12:27
born alone. You die alone.
12:33
Wow. So what do you have practices in
12:36
place that help you move through and navigate all that stuff?
12:40
So you just because I can't imagine, I think I would just
12:42
walk around angry all the time if I had to deal with that, but
12:45
that's not healthy either. So how do?
12:47
You, you know. How do you manage that move
12:49
through that? Yeah.
12:53
You just learn to keep to yourself and my thing is I let
12:56
people come up and talk to me. I don't come up and talk to them
13:00
and you know, if they feel that I look friendly enough to talk
13:04
to, then come talk to me. You know what I mean?
13:07
At no micro aggression. If I look threatening to you, if
13:11
I look like someone that you cannot, you know, walk in public
13:16
being seen in public with, then hey, bye.
13:20
So I, I, I just say, you know, I, I keep to myself.
13:25
Exactly, exactly. Keep to yourself in your own
13:28
business. And that's the best way to live
13:31
life at this point. Yeah.
13:35
Well, and you and you have your people.
13:37
I'm, I'm guessing that you have you people that you know, are
13:40
your people that, you know, you can trust, that, you know, have
13:43
your back. They're safe.
13:47
Yeah, yeah, definitely. And, and just, you know, being
13:54
around your own people really, really does mentally just, you
13:57
know, put you in shape. And, and I'm not saying that we
14:03
should only be around our own people, but when you are around
14:06
your own people, you're, you're more comfortable, you know, in
14:09
the things that you say you do, that your actions, you know, not
14:14
everybody may be used to some of the things you do.
14:17
So I at, at the end of the day, like they say, can't we just all
14:22
get along right in the perfect world?
14:23
That's how it should be. And, and there's places where
14:26
people, all of them get along right?
14:28
And then there's just places where, hey, watch your back,
14:32
watch your step, watch your back.
14:34
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And just having to be aware of
14:37
that, I think it's so interesting if we could all move
14:40
to a place of being curious and curious about people's stories
14:45
and rather than judgmental and making assumptions, boy, we
14:49
could, it could be a lot safer for for, you know, for people to
14:54
land and live in the I those relationships, those spaces that
14:58
you know, you can go to and land and see when, you know, when
15:02
things are tough or just in general.
15:04
That's such an important part of our health.
15:06
It's an important part of knowing that we have places we
15:10
can that people that love us authentically and and with no
15:15
attachments, no other expectations, no strings exactly
15:19
where we are. So, yeah.
15:21
And I think that, you know, is this is just another example.
15:24
We just have so much work to do in this area.
15:27
So I appreciate you sharing about that because that's it.
15:30
That's a vulnerable space and it's unfortunate that we still
15:34
have to have these conversations, but we but, but
15:36
we do because if we, we have to continue to bring light to this
15:40
and bring it to the forefront. So thank you so much.
15:43
Exactly. So you show up unapologetically.
15:48
This is really, it's really beautiful the way you show up
15:51
unapologetically as yourself. Talk to me about your journey to
15:57
getting to that place, what it took to get here, and what it
16:01
looks like for you to show up unapologetically for other
16:04
women, especially in the industry where it's hard to get
16:08
a leg up. So just talk to me about that
16:10
unapologetic journey. So it goes back to boundaries,
16:15
right? Knowing what you want to involve
16:18
yourself in, who do you want to involve yourself with?
16:21
Who do you want to surround yourself with?
16:23
And also also being confident. When you're confident in
16:26
something that you do, then you know you're not lacking anything
16:30
else. And, and no one could tell you
16:31
that you're lacking anything else.
16:33
And that's the whole part about confidence.
16:35
That's the whole part about, you know, being a leader, being a
16:40
leader in your field, being a leader to other women because
16:43
you're saying, you're saying everything that the next woman
16:46
wants to say. But maybe they're just, they
16:49
don't have the same ambition as you do, right?
16:51
Or the same drive. So we always need a
16:54
representative for each other, right?
16:56
And that's why we have so many artists, entertainers, you know,
17:00
politics, everyone that speaks up for us till this day.
17:03
And I feel like I'm one of those leaders.
17:07
You know, when, when I started Tams Berets, you know, I started
17:10
donating to a lot of hair loss organizations and I told my
17:13
story as far as why I created Tams through my music.
17:18
You know, I, I, you know, my pen game is just like off the chain.
17:23
So when I write, I'm always having women in mind.
17:26
When I'm writing, I'm writing from our perspective.
17:28
I'm saying what the next female wants to say, you know, whether
17:32
it's good, whether it's bad, whether it's, you know, a little
17:36
nasty sometimes, but not that kind of nasty, but just you know
17:40
what I mean. There's just so many topics to
17:42
cover in our world. And you know, I I just feel that
17:47
in order to be unapologetic, you have to believe in yourself and
17:51
you have to know what you want in life.
17:52
And that's why I created the diva brand behind everything.
17:55
Everything I name has diva in it, you know, and, and, and
17:59
especially as a hip hop artist, I am, you know, that's what I
18:02
call myself held the music AK Diva and the, the, the, the idea
18:08
of diva. It's more than just being a
18:11
bitch. You know what I mean?
18:13
Sometimes you do have to be a bitch to get your way, but it's
18:15
more about being confident, independent, motivated, and
18:19
empowering others to have the same kind of mindset that you
18:22
do. Yeah, I I'm glad you brought
18:27
that up because I think it's real interesting.
18:29
There are still a lot of stigmas.
18:30
What women are called a bitch for, especially black women, but
18:35
a man could do the same thing and he's assertive and powerful
18:40
and you know all those things. And so even just knowing like,
18:45
OK, call me what you want, but this is how I'm showing up here
18:48
and I'm going to do it and I'm going to bring others along with
18:50
me confidently is so important that it's like, man, there's
18:54
still those. It's so interesting.
18:56
I'm like, oh, that's interesting.
18:58
So that person and that person are really responding and
19:01
reacting and leading and moving in the same way.
19:04
But you've decided she's this and he's that.
19:07
I mean, those are the things that we're still, you know, and
19:09
it takes continuing to do that, continuing to show up and
19:13
apologetically, not letting those stereotypes and stigmas
19:18
slow you down. That is going to someday enough
19:21
of us can come along together and do it together.
19:23
We will slowly change these stereotypes, these stigmas,
19:28
create more safe spaces. So thank you for being a voice
19:31
in that arena. We need many of them.
19:33
We need more of them. I think we're in a time.
19:36
Yeah. We're in a time in this world,
19:38
in this country, where creative voices and true voices are more
19:43
important than ever. And it's.
19:46
I agree. And it.
19:47
Just and that's why it's like you got to speak up for what you
19:50
want. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
19:54
And it's hard and it's exhausting.
19:56
So again, going back to those, drink your water, get your
19:59
sleep, eat your food, because you got to have the feel to keep
20:03
moving forward and doing these things.
20:05
I know, I know. Is it so true?
20:08
All right. The importance for you of coming
20:11
back to your why and your values in in what you do what, What is
20:16
the why and the values that keep you focused, keep you centered,
20:20
keep you moving forward. Well, I would say what I do
20:28
keeps me sane, right? If I'm not doing something I
20:33
love, then I'm no good to the world.
20:35
I'm just going to live a boring life, sleep all day and not
20:40
really be active. You know, I, I, I, I, I'm, I'm a
20:43
performer. I'm into performing arts.
20:45
I'm into arts. That's my passion.
20:47
That's where I feel I can excel in.
20:50
That's where I feel like I could exercise my talents in.
20:53
And so if I can't do what I love, then that will just it, my
20:58
soul will slowly start to crumble.
21:01
You know what I mean? So, and it prevents me from
21:04
having anxiety. It prevents me from thinking too
21:07
much, overthinking. And not only that, when you
21:10
realize how fast the day goes, at least you're doing something
21:14
that passionate of, of yours and also investing in yourself.
21:20
There was something, a quote or something that I read the other
21:23
day that if you're not working on your art every day, even if
21:28
it's just sending one e-mail, even if it's attending 1
21:30
audition, 1 recording session, whatever, then you're not
21:33
passionate about what you do. You must must be attentive to
21:39
your passion. Yeah, yeah.
21:43
That was such a good explanation of that.
21:46
Thank you. And and it's that passion and
21:49
being aligned with that. We've got to have the arts,
21:53
we've got to have this music. We've got to have these spaces
21:56
for people to create and say what needs to be said in a way
22:00
that can connect to people. There's ways that music and
22:04
musicals and theater create that, that it is a unique
22:09
connect point that it gives the opportunity for people to hear a
22:14
story of someone else's experience in a way that they
22:18
might not be willing to or have access to otherwise.
22:22
So got to continue. So just in doing those things
22:25
that light us up and are so important to our story.
22:30
And so thank you for doing that and being a voice to that again.
22:34
And for that explanation, that was really good.
22:36
Yes, of course. Talk to me about living out of
22:40
your own expectations versus others.
22:43
You very clearly do that. And you know, it's very
22:46
interesting because from the time we're little kids, we get
22:49
these scripts about how the world expects us to show up.
22:54
And it's wrapped in all kinds of cultural narratives and stigmas
22:58
and stereotypes of what's appropriate for a little girl, a
23:01
little boy, a little girl from this neighborhood, a little boy
23:04
from, I mean, all this messy stuff that we start getting
23:08
scripts on when we're little kids.
23:11
And so by the time we get too old enough to really decide on
23:14
our own, there's a lot of garbage to unpack to get to
23:19
like, wait a minute. That's not who I am.
23:22
And that is not my, and that's not what I care about.
23:25
That's not my value, You know? So talk to me about getting to
23:29
this point of really being able to live authentically out of
23:33
your own expectations and communicating that to others.
23:39
It wasn't quite accepted at first, especially when you're
23:43
surrounded by people that have no idea what it is that you're
23:48
doing. They're just like, OK, whatever
23:49
it is you do, you know, and you kind of have to just keep
23:53
proving it to yourself that you need to keep pursuing your
23:58
dreams. You know, when I was a kid and
24:00
I, I was going to auditions and being pulled out of school to go
24:04
to auditions, to audition for like major clothing brands and
24:07
cereal brands, beverages, everything.
24:10
You know, my teacher was just like, you know, what is this?
24:13
If she wants to act, you know, we have a theater here.
24:16
We have after school classes and my mom's like, no, no, no, this
24:21
is Hollywood. And a lot of people can't relate
24:24
to that. Exactly.
24:25
Nowhere near the same. And so it was really hard for
24:30
people to accept that. And they look at it as a joke.
24:33
They look at it as, oh, well, everyone wants to be a star.
24:36
Everybody wants to be famous. Everyone wants to, you know,
24:39
make millions. But what they don't understand
24:41
is the hard work that you have to put in to get there.
24:43
And sometimes you're not. You may not make it all the way
24:45
there, but you're at a certain comfort level where you're OK,
24:50
where you're at and you're able to, you know, feed your family
24:54
and keep a roof over your head and, you know, still be content
24:58
with the level of success you have.
25:00
So it was always difficult thing when it comes to talking to my
25:06
family or friends. And hey, you know, I have
25:09
rehearsal today. I have a show today, I'm doing
25:12
this and that. And they're just like, wait,
25:14
what? So that's why I started
25:17
surrounding myself by people who do this, who do what I do,
25:20
because we have conversations about it all day.
25:22
We could support each other. We could, we could uplift each
25:25
other and not talk down to each other saying, well, you need to
25:28
snap in a reality and, you know, go to school and, you know, find
25:34
a find a job. And, you know, it's just like,
25:37
OK, that, that that's cool. But anybody could do that
25:40
anyway. Why not do something that again,
25:44
you are passionate shit about and just keep throwing shit at
25:48
the wall and see what sticks? I thought that absolutely,
25:53
because you said that's so true. Any day of the week I can go out
25:57
there, get my degree, get the job, whatever.
26:01
But this thing that's not any day, I mean, I got to go and do
26:06
that now. And this is what I'm called to.
26:08
And you said something so important about surrounding
26:11
yourself with people that believe in you, that want that,
26:16
that believe in that dream with you, that support you, that
26:20
aren't constantly questioning you and doubting you.
26:23
And that's, and it can be tricky with family.
26:25
They want what's best for you. They want you to be healthy and
26:28
well, but at the end of the day, having people that trust your
26:32
judgment and trust that you're doing something that you feel
26:36
that is the right path for you and having, you know, having
26:38
that support system. So think that is so valuable.
26:42
Thank you for that. Yes, yes, of course.
26:46
So this next one is about all of our layers, all the things that
26:50
make up who we are, what we do, the choices we make, all those
26:54
things. Talk to me about accepting the
26:57
layered aspects of yourself and what that layers journey has
27:01
been like for you because I'm sure it's, I mean, you've got a
27:04
lot of pieces in your work world that you're dealing with in your
27:07
world outside of work you're dealing with.
27:10
So talk to me about those layers.
27:14
Yeah. So each layer defines who I am.
27:17
Like you said it it makes who you are.
27:20
And however you manage those layers determine how far you're
27:25
going to get, how how how you're going to interact with the next
27:31
person, how you're going to take on this task, this challenge,
27:35
this hurdle, this hump in the road.
27:37
And for me, having, you know, personal layers, I challenge
27:42
those personal layers for every, everything that I experience in
27:45
life, good or bad. And I never step out of
27:50
character within those layers. One thing that I was always told
27:54
my whole life is you need to be the same person that you are
27:58
with everyone you meet. You shouldn't be a different
28:02
person, shouldn't be this quiet person in front of you know,
28:06
your family, but then with your friends, you're loud and crazy.
28:10
You know, those are just, you know, personal layers, right?
28:14
And then we have professional layers.
28:16
We have layers where, OK, I'm a businesswoman, I'm a
28:21
entertainer. I'm, you know, a marketing
28:24
person. I'm, I'm an actor, I'm a content
28:28
creator. I, you know, I do it all.
28:30
And I think by matching your personal layers with your
28:34
business layers is what's going to make who you are.
28:38
And again, that determines how you interact with people, how
28:41
you approach opportunities, how you're able to reject
28:43
opportunities and not think too much about it.
28:47
But it if anything, it helps you move on and to move on to bigger
28:51
things. Yeah, I love that.
28:55
I love what you talked about, that consistency of being the
28:59
person that you are consistently across the board and not letting
29:04
because it's really easy to just put on the mask and conform to
29:10
the situation and just not put up with whatever pushback.
29:15
But then that's not being authentic to you.
29:17
And I think when we're not authentic to ourselves, we feel
29:20
that angst. We feel that angst in our souls
29:23
and it tugs at us. So I love how you spoke to that
29:26
being consistent and true to you are in all these multiple
29:30
faceted areas. Talk to me a little bit if you
29:33
don't mind, about about the berets and the story behind the
29:39
berets that you've created. Yeah, so the Brays are called
29:44
Tams. I discovered them during the
29:47
pandemic because obviously it was during the time where we are
29:50
all trying to learn another skill, another opportunity we
29:55
could create for ourselves. And for me, I felt that when it
29:59
comes to the berets, no one has ever branded this in pop
30:02
culture, in hip hop culture, the Black community.
30:05
And I feel that it it makes the impact.
30:08
It's a, it's a new type of accessory that we can appreciate
30:11
that can apply to any race, any gender, whatever, right?
30:16
Kids, adults, old people. I just feel that it's something
30:21
new that's being brought to the table.
30:23
You know, everyone is, you know, creating their own wig line,
30:26
their own, you know, makeup, clothes, shoes.
30:31
That's great. But nowadays you have to think
30:34
outside the box. You know, what it, what is it
30:36
that's missing and what's going to hit when you create it?
30:39
It's almost like supply and demand.
30:41
You know, people love to wear wear hats.
30:43
Well, why don't you wear the world's flyest beret, you know,
30:47
So that's how I created it. Yeah.
30:52
Yeah. So that's how it came about.
30:53
And because of the berets, I've been, I've been open now to the
30:58
fashion world. I've been hosting fashion shows.
31:00
I've been recruiting models attending, you know, hosting
31:04
auditions and giving the average person an opportunity to feel
31:08
like a supermodel on the runway. I love that.
31:14
That's so fun. Thank you so much for sharing
31:16
that. So talk to me too about you are
31:20
in a working in a lot of different arenas.
31:23
Was that always your intention? Did you have an intention of
31:26
like I'm going to act, I'm going to sing, I'm going to do and but
31:30
you ended up doing a multitude of things and you're very savvy
31:34
entrepreneur, businesswoman within all of this.
31:37
Was that always the plan or is that something you kind of
31:39
realized along the way was necessary to be to continue to
31:46
be relevant and provide yourself with multiple opportunities?
31:52
I always felt that it's necessary.
31:53
You know, I started off acting, but as I started dabbling into
31:56
other parts of the entertainment industry, modeling, even
31:59
singing, writing, rapping, and now back to acting, hosting,
32:06
producing, managing my company, you know, you know, having the
32:12
beret line. I just realized that you have to
32:15
really expand yourself because if you concentrate on one thing,
32:20
you have a million of other people that that are doing the
32:22
same thing. So why not compete in everything
32:25
you can? Again, it's like throwing shit
32:27
at the wall and seeing what, what, what sticks, but making
32:30
sure that you are good at all those things.
32:32
You know what I mean? There's people who are like, oh,
32:34
I could act, you know, I, I could rap.
32:37
I could, you know, but it's like, OK, but can you really?
32:41
Can you? Yeah.
32:44
You know. So it it's just all about
32:48
knowing what you're capable of and developing other talents to
32:52
increase the opportunities for yourself.
32:56
And again, so that you're competing, you become this, you
33:01
become this, you know, triple, triple, quadruple threat to
33:04
people and you're untouchable because it's like, whoa, I can
33:08
call her for anything, you know what I mean?
33:10
So it's, it's just unless you're born like to, unless you're born
33:16
with the, the gifted skills like Michael Jackson or Beyoncé, you
33:21
were, you know, hey, you don't have to do anything else if you
33:23
don't want to because you're extremely good at what you do.
33:26
Then hey, yeah, then you got it. You got to expand, yeah.
33:31
Yeah, Yeah. I love that.
33:34
Thank you for sharing that. I think that's really smart and
33:37
makes a lot of sense. It's good planning and also
33:40
tapping into all those parts of you.
33:42
I mean, because there's different seasons in your life
33:45
are going to bring opportunities in different areas and you never
33:48
know what's possible. But so continuing to tap into
33:51
all those areas that you're creative and you've got multiple
33:55
areas that you've been able to tap into and utilize.
33:58
So I think that's a really great example of that of not and not
34:02
selling yourself short, you know, be.
34:04
Curious. It's like what?
34:06
Else can I do here? What a yeah, yeah.
34:09
What else is possible? So good.
34:11
All right, in living out feel, finding empowerment, embracing
34:16
layers, which is the name of our podcast, you, you do that.
34:19
You, you are empowered. You've embraced all the parts of
34:23
who you are. You know who you are.
34:25
You present as who you are. Talk to me about how that
34:29
impacts your relationship with yourself as well as your
34:33
relationship with other people. Yeah.
34:37
So it just helps me understand who I am and what I'm capable
34:40
of. And again, what makes me feel
34:42
good inside, what makes me feel accomplished, what makes me feel
34:46
that I fit in with this team or this group or this area of
34:52
people and how it impacts my relationship with others is we,
34:58
if we have something in common, which I'm sure we will, there's
35:01
always something we can talk about, right?
35:04
We don't have to hate on each other.
35:06
We don't have to dislike each other.
35:08
We don't even have to. We could be cordial, that's
35:10
cool. But why can't we all be friends?
35:13
Why can't we all interact and communicate with each other?
35:16
And it starts with who you are. If you're happy with yourself,
35:19
then you'll be happy with anyone in the world.
35:24
Yeah. And you're not looking for other
35:26
people to affirm that. You know that already about
35:29
yourself. So you're not looking for anyone
35:31
else to do that for you. I think that's such an important
35:34
piece of that. So, yeah, thank you so much for
35:37
that. All right Mean 5 activities that
35:41
nourish you. Five activities that nourish me.
35:46
Writing, believe it or not, but talking to myself.
35:54
I don't know why I feel like when I talk.
35:56
To myself, I do it. All the time, yeah.
35:58
When you have conversations with yourself, you become a better
36:01
speaker to others. And I know it's just crazy, but
36:05
so yeah. Yeah.
36:07
Writing, talking to yourself, as well as some sort of meditation,
36:15
that always helps. And also when we talk about
36:20
self-care, you know, get a massage, get a facial, be in a
36:23
quiet space with candles and, and with oils and just being
36:31
treated like a queen. I think that helps us with our
36:35
soul. It helps us soothe our soul and
36:37
it just helps us have a better understanding of how comfortable
36:41
our body can relax without doing a whole bunch of other stuff.
36:46
Was that the third one? And then exercising, exercising.
36:52
Even if you just take a walk for a few minutes during the day,
36:55
just do it. You'll feel so much better.
36:57
Go outside when you wake up in the morning, you know, shine
37:00
some light through your, your bedroom or your house.
37:04
You know, we all need some sunlight.
37:06
You know, we we need all of those natural vitamins to to
37:10
naturally keep us healed and to prevent us from getting sick
37:16
quicker and from, you know, being depressed and having
37:19
anxiety and just feeling down and out about life.
37:23
So yeah, yeah, I think it was that 5 or 4.
37:27
Yeah, that was, that was we're good.
37:30
I think that was 5, but they were all good.
37:32
I, I lost track, but they were all good.
37:34
And I love that. I love that last one though,
37:36
because I think those, all those pieces getting that sunlight,
37:40
just get it all. That impacts your mental health,
37:43
your emotional health. It makes a difference when you
37:45
sit quietly with yourself and just allow yourself to
37:49
decompress and relax and settle. And that also allows you,
37:55
especially as a creative space, to come back and be creative
37:59
with fresh ideas because you're rejuvenated and you've loud
38:02
yourself that time. Exactly, exactly.
38:06
And your body will tell you, hey, I need to rest.
38:10
And if you don't listen to your body, things are going to end up
38:13
going to the left. And, and sometimes if it goes
38:16
left, you might not be able to come back.
38:19
So you have to listen to your body, listen to your body,
38:22
listen to your doctor, listen to whoever it is, read blogs.
38:28
You know, listen to, you know, some people think it's it's easy
38:31
to read blog sites from celebrities who talk about, oh,
38:35
hey, I'm a vegan today, or, you know, I'm joining the 45 mile
38:40
run for whatever, you know, no, those are good to read because
38:45
just mentally it makes you feel motivated.
38:48
It makes you feel like, hey, I can do what they're doing.
38:51
So yeah, just absorbing all the natural, all the natural things
38:56
that life is giving you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
39:01
Thank you so much. So good.
39:03
All right, Kill the music. Tell people where they can find
39:06
you. Follow you.
39:08
All the places and spaces that your work, your music is, your
39:13
product lines are available. Yes, so you guys could visit my
39:17
website. It's my official website,
39:19
itskeldamusic.com, KELD AM UZ ik.com and everything's on
39:25
there. My social media, my newsletter,
39:27
my music, my videos, TV show for raise.
39:31
Everything you want to know about me or anything you want to
39:34
purchase from me, it's all on the website.
39:38
OK, great. And that's all going to be on
39:40
our website embracinglayers.com on the resources page.
39:44
Is that also on your website? Can people see where they can
39:47
follow you on social media? Yep, all my social media buttons
39:51
are there. OK, perfect.
39:54
All right, my dear, thank you so much for being with me today.
39:58
I've appreciated this conversation so much.
40:01
Thank you for how you show up in the world and tap into that
40:04
creativity. Keep doing what you do.
40:06
It's important. It matters.
40:08
We need it. And listeners, check out Kelvin
40:13
music. Check out all that she offers.
40:16
Tap into your own creativity. Be curious.
40:20
And when you run into someone who has a different background
40:23
than you or the examine and get curious, how am I judging them
40:28
for who they are? Or am I living and judging by a
40:32
stereotype and get rid of the judgment and get curious, ask
40:35
questions, know their story. Let's dismantle these things
40:40
that are out there to doing harm and allow us all to show up
40:46
authentically and safely as ourselves in all of our spaces.
40:50
And that's my my challenge to you this week.
40:52
But first, go check out Kilda music and find out all the ways
40:55
you can support her. Listen to her, see her work,
40:58
purchase a really cool beret, all those things.
41:01
And thank you again so much for your time this week.
41:05
Thank you. Love you guys.
41:08
All right, take good care everybody.
41:10
Have a great week. Hello, Melissa Crook here.
41:16
Thank you so much for joining us on the Field podcast today.
41:20
Finding Empowerment. Embracing Layers.
41:23
I hope you found today's framework and resources
41:27
supportive and informative. To learn more about all that we
41:31
offer here at the Embracing Layers Network, visit
41:34
embracinglayers.com. You can go to our contact form
41:39
to schedule me as a speaker for your next conference, workshop,
41:42
or seminar. You can go to our book page to
41:46
order our book, The Jessica Garrison, our wonderful and
41:49
talented writer and author authored with my support and
41:54
engage with this framework in written form with your journal
41:58
or in a book club with other women inviting them on this
42:01
journey with you. You can look at our resources
42:04
page for all of the helpful and insightful resources our guests
42:08
offer and share. You can find the schedule for
42:11
our weekly Together We Feel Women's panel conversations that
42:15
we're holding each Monday on our YouTube channel, and you can
42:19
find the links to all the spaces and places.
42:22
You can then follow engage with us on social media and join our
42:27
engagements that are happening on our Sub Stat site.
42:31
There is also a donation page where you can donate to support
42:34
our work to ensure we can continue to bring you these
42:38
incredible guest conversations and support.
42:42
Thanks again for joining me this week.
42:44
Share with your friends and give us a review on your favorite
42:48
listening platform. Your feedback helps us ensure
42:52
we're bringing you the content that will best support you and
42:55
having an empowered Embracing Layers journey.
42:59
Take good care and thanks for giving us some of your valuable
43:02
time today. We truly appreciate you so
43:06
deeply.