Check Out Skye Cabrera’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Skye Cabrera.

Hi Skye, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Firstly, I’m blessed to have a platform so I want to use it to say I hope I live to see the day that Palestine is free, as well as all colonized peoples, from the river to the sea.

As for me –

I’m a Bronx-born and raised Dominican, Turkish and Greek writer, songwriter, and creative curator living here in LA for two years now. My story isn’t pretty, and it’s full of obstacles, pain, and strife, but also quite beautiful in how I’ve transmuted it. I’m here to share that writing saved my life, and I’ve lived to tell another day.

What brought me to this city was meeting my maternal grandad here at age ten doing his reiki work on people in Venice Beach in the late 90s. His work with homelessness folx & community left such a spiritual impression on me that I wanted to come here and offer my gifts to the community I would soon form here as well. He passed before I could be here with him, and all my family are east, but I found my people quickly as soon as I landed.

When I’m not hosting writing workshops where I help people turn their thoughts & poems into spoken word pieces to perform, co-curating open mic nights with Mi Clandestina, a Dominican-owned performance space unlike any other in Downtown LA, writing lyrics for musicians at Melrose Sound, archiving video reels for my chef & dj friends at Capicua LA a Caribbean party like no other, I’m ghostwriting songs for people you love to listen to but NDA’s won’t let me mention here!

I’ve always been writing lyrics and poems but decided to study music production at SAE in New York, and that led me to my internship at Electric Lady Studios in NYC. My first gig was three months with U2 sitting in on their sessions and fetching them Indian food at midnight. I got to listen in on their sound sessions as I helped plug in mics, and it made me want to provide the medicine of helping others write pieces of work.

My journey is long but some monumental things that led me to create were. In 2013, I had a brief mention by Madonna for one of my songs, and since then have been heavily working on recording my own songs as well. I took a music production course at NYU Tisch but am still a student and hope to record my own album in 2024, finally. And help others creatively direct their sound and lyrics as well. Ultimately, it’d love to be the person people call when they are in a music studio and can’t find the words. I want to help them find the words. I’ve spent a few sessions with singer Miguel just helping him find the words to his own songs through conversation and writing exercises. No credits, just organic moments triggering people to feel and write.

I’m a feeler and whether it’s on IG or in a book or an open mic, I spill my feels. I was Drake before Drake. Haha.

I’ve been writing since as long as I can remember. From journals to MySpace to spoken word performances in NYC for 15 years and here at DaPoetry Lounge. I have two books of poetry on Amazon for purchase and currently working on a 3rd called “Yaguate” out in February. A collection of love poems which will speak on the characters and people of the province my grandparents are based in, in the Dominican Republic. It’s important for me to time-stamp people, their legacies, and their stories, and that’s what I want to do. Help those people feel seen through my poems.

I think I’ve learned this year more than ever, people need to express their stories and who they are, and where they come from through any means necessary. Be it video or words. I want to encourage everyone to not let their music or words die inside of them and self-publish that book or break through the fear of speaking on stage. Your stories are valid, blue check attached to your name or not! Take one of my writing workshops, or call me if you’re a musician and can’t find the words. Read my poetry books where I talk about “coming out” and struggles to make it as a human and be inspired to keep going with me.

Ultimately, my dream one day, is to sit with people all over the world and help them Work through their emotions through a pen and get it out into something beautiful.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Not smooth at all. In New York, I had several moments of financial struggle where I had three eviction notices at my door and an apartment full of roaches. Sounds cliche but depression had my place looking like that film Joe’s apartment. Sounds like a film until we realize the film is our life. I’ve struggled with a schew of addictions from abuse, including food and alcohol addictions. Eating disorders. Moments when I wanted to die. Lack of resources for my creative ideas.

Sexism. Homophobia in workplaces.

In LA, in just two years I’ve had to move 4 times. I got a brief property management job that I thought would financially help me pursue my creative work, and the company fired me after five months, gave me two weeks to move, and left me in the street. Thankful for this city and it’s Angels. As an artist, at a certain age, you just crave a stable safe space to create, and how I navigated all of that, without my community, well it wouldn’t be possible. Every time I think it’s dust, someone lifts me up. We need eachother. We need our tribe. But then you think, this would be an amazing book one day. An amazing piece to share. A story on resilience to share at an open mic to help someone else And it makes your struggles meaningful. I guess it’s built my character. I’ve become

Resilient to change and find beauty in it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

It’s hard to pinpoint a specific thing that I do. I often just say “what do you need?”

Cause I have had my hand in a lot of projects. Especially Latinx projects. I’ve helped on set production with Maffio and Leli Hernandez for Mitu. I’ve taken photographs of friends when they need it for marketing. I’ve written songs for artists and sat in on sessions giving creative direction on sound. I think in this economy, you are better off being multidisciplinary and tapping into your full creative realm so I’ve been using all my skills and talents everywhere I can!

At the core, I’m a writer! It’s my baby and the most purpose I feel and how I most transmit connection with others.

You can find my books on Amazon.

Working on the 3rd.

Recording an album of all my poems.

Right now I’m working on a 12 month writing workshop for poets and writers who want to self publish or get brave enough to get on stage. I’m

Collaborating with friends like DJ Giselle Peppers on one for January 28th. I hope to bring immersive events where there’s music and oration. My aim is to bring back the old art of storytelling to this city. Host people like Aja Monet, and different poets. I want to create more spaces for QPOC to tell their stories. That’s the plan this year.
I’m most proud of the moments when someone at a writing workshop of mine says, “I haven’t written in years, I’ve been wanting to express this for years, thank you for inviting me” I get joy from witnessing other people witness themselves. Or when we are hosting an open mic at Mi Clandestina and someone who has never spoken out loud something they have written, and it’s like all these little boundaries break inside of them, and you see them glow externally cause it’s like they took a breath of fresh air.

I’m here to serve In whichever creative capacity I can and offer some kind of healing and help people, by being myself, and helping them be that too.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?

Listening to Lauryn Hill keeps me rooted in myself. I’m loving poetry from Fadwa Tuqan these days. Audre Lorde.

Dominican Spirituals. Batey, perico Ripao.

Tons of Bachata like Aventura on Spotify.

Dr. Sara Al Madani on Instagram.

Dr. Gabor Mate is a genius orator and speaks on addiction and trauma.

A little Esther Hicks & Rick Rubin & Wayne Dyer when I need to remember my purpose.

Terence Mckenna on YouTube and his wisdom on politics and Psilocybin

My boy Chef Vic Ramos and our voice notes back and forth on our IPHONE are the best podcast.

I think my

Favorite book has to be “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay – and the one I am writing now!

Pricing:

• Books on Amazon are $20 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Skye-Cabrera/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASkye+Cabrera
• Instagram: @skye.cabrera
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/SEpNTlXgMQg?si=tXPEGBMn_YVMaC-b
• Other: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-skye-cabrera/