Today we’d like to introduce you to Strawbalien
Hi Strawbalien, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Strawbalien and I was born and raised in Maryland. I grew up heavily interested and invested in various creative arts. I started making music on GarageBand when I was 7 years old, and began learning the viola at age 9. I always loved drawing, customizing my own clothes, taking pictures and being creative with anything that I could. I started taking songwriting a bit more seriously my sophomore year of high school. I made my first song to “Beef” by Playboi Carti and Ethereal, and persisted with writing ever since. A few years later after I graduated high school, I experienced a rainbow of heartbreaks and life changes, and it inspired me to get back into songwriting. I recorded my first full song on Bandlab/Garageband and posted it on Soundcloud. I began going to different creative spaces and testing my music out at out several open mics. I made it a practice to create something at least once a day and over time, I began to find my sound and feel more comfortable being myself in front of crowds. I started to gain a bit of traction locally and I found myself consistently being booked for different shows. I haven’t stopped since, and It all inspired me to really trust my visions, and to always expand on them instead of brushing them off or not finishing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In some ways, it’s been a smooth road because I feel like I’ve been met with a lot of support from different places, but it’s also had it’s difficulty. Facing things like creative blocks or anxiety can sometimes make the journey a lot harder and longer. Also, having a different style than what’s trending or most popular amongst my community can be tricky because it’s hard to fit into genres or categories. In the past it would be awkward to always be the only performer of my style in 99% of places I was going to. Being a black alternative artist in itself can create a spectrum between creating a fun new atmosphere and feeling somewhat displaced unless you’re somewhere that’s intentionally created FOR alternative artists. So overall, it has been a positive journey but it definitely has it’s hardship.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make various alternative genres of music including scenecore, techno, hyperpop and even some R&B. When performing, I feel like I’m definitely most known for my upbeat dancing vibes. I tend to perform at a lot of high energy ‘ragers’ and ‘raves’ that center around dancing, moshing and overall high energies. When I perform, I truly love to embody the energy of whatever song I’m singing. I love to dance, jump, and just spread good vibes amongst the people in the crowd.
I’m most proud of how far I’ve come in less than two years. I went from being nervous to share my music and perform, to people singing my lyrics with me, dancing and talking about how much they love it. I feel like my music is uniquely special to me and my soul, so seeing people have a good time to it, really means a lot to me. What sets me apart from others is that drive to create from MY soul. Not from any trends or sounds that are popular, but what is truly in my brain and of my visions.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Authenticity. I feel like truly being ME has allowed to me to succeed and gain positive feedback. Theres truly magic in letting yourself shine, no matter what people are saying or what’s popular. Being YOU will always reflect the realest vibration.
Contact Info:
- Other: https://tr.ee/-dkVw5dAoh
