Today we’d like to introduce you to Royce Correa.
Hi Royce, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I always tell people I began my creative journey even before I was in my mother’s womb. My parents are originally from Colombia and came to LA with big hopes and dreams. I credit them for showing me the value of hard work and ambition. They ended up finding work at two of the big studios, so when I was born I felt like I was destined to pursue entertainment and the arts. I grew up in the Valley and would find myself walking around the movie sets with my parents as a little kid. These early experiences really opened my mind and imagination. By the time I was five I was already drawing and painting, eventually winning some competitions throughout the LA area. Even though I excelled in the visual arts, I always loved performing on stage. Growing up in a Colombian household, I was constantly around music and dancing. Those experiences sparked up my passion for performance, and eventually put me into talent shows, dance crews, and even full productions in college, eventually making my way into numerous films. I never wanted to limit myself as an artist, and feel like creativity should never be restricted. Because of this, I think my story is just beginning!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Never. I think most days it’s a struggle. A lot of life gets into the way of being an artist, and just to survive can be very difficult, especially in Los Angeles. But even more so, things are so competitive, and at times can feel lonely. Most people have told me to not pursue this path, and take the “safe route. But at the end of the day, I think I would regret never have tried than knowing I gave it my all. When things get hard, I just think of the artists I really look up to and remind myself that they started from the bottom as well. For example, Bad Bunny was working at a supermarket at one point. So things like that really help me get through things and keep me motivated.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do a lot of different things. My process is very in the moment, so whatever is inspiring me at the time, I try to express it in whatever way I can. Recently, I’ve been dabbling a lot in music, so eventually, I want to release more soon. I also want to hopefully do a new summer collection of paintings, and have a showing somewhere in LA. But overall, just living life and having different experiences, and wanting to share that with others is my main goal in my art. I think my unique blend of being from LA, but also my deep ties to Colombia really sets me apart from others. I think all of that is shown in my work, whether it be music, art, or dance.
What were you like growing up?
I think I was definitely a bold kid, but still a sweetheart. I knew from a very early age I was never meant to fit in. Being named Royce, and Colombian wasn’t quite the recipe for success for fitting in. So I owned that and just tried to be myself and not be scared of what people thought. As a result, I just enjoyed dressing differently, being a class clown and just having fun. These are all still true to today, so at times I don’t think I have changed much!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @roycecorrea
- Twitter: @roycecorrea
- SoundCloud: @laroycemusic
Image Credits
Jonathan Gruaz
