Art & Life with Lilli Passero

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilli Passero.

Lilli, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Ahh! Telling “The Story.” Always always ALWAYS a daunting task. I always either under or overshare, so bear with me…
To start, I grew up in a very creative household with “Renaissance folk” parents. They played older music for my sisters and I, featuring the iconic GREATS of Jazz and The Great American Songbook. I grew up going to Broadway shows and museums, took dance and art classes, sang in school choirs and performed in school musicals.

I continued my performance education at Carnegie Mellon University where I received a BFA in Drama. Post graduation, I hit the ground running and auditioned for as much as I could. I booked a guest spot on the NBC Comedy, “Go On,” starring Matthew Perry (and, yes, meeting and acting opposite “Chandler” was totally very very cool), as well as a handful of indie films. During a lull I realized I’d lost my motivation for my new “auditioning” career, so when my agents dropped me I took it as a sign to do some personal work on my spirit and my psyche. For the record, I was fully warned, by more than a few people, not to do this. But, I figured, better now than when I’m 50 years old. I decided I wasn’t going to be of much value to myself, to anyone else or to any career if I didn’t have a solid idea of who I was and what I had to offer. So, I “took a break” from pursuing acting.

It was during this time that my co-worker at The Six Restaurant, and friend, Actress/Director/Producer, Lana Inderman, introduced me to her music producer boyfriend, Robert Max. I was always singing and humming around the restaurant, and she thought I might benefit from exploring my more musical side. This introduction ended up changing the course of my entire life. Robert taught me about energy and faith and what huge roles those things play not only in life but especially in the life of an artist. An impenetrably strong foundation of knowledge, both musical and spiritual, was laid for me and has carried me through every moment of my life since.

In 2016, I was convinced by my parents to do something I not only never thought I would do but had promised myself I would never do. I auditioned for a reality talent competition show. Completely certain that my talents would never translate into a competitive arena such as this one, I was continually shocked as I made it further and further along from audition to callback to 2nd callback to Blind Audition through round after round of NBC’s “The Voice.” I feel incredibly grateful to have made it to the Top 9 and to have had the experience of working with my coaches and peers on that show.

Post “Voice” life has been as surprising, fruitful, and full of growth and learning as I could’ve hoped. Most people are very upset and confused when they learn that being on a show like that doesn’t automatically take your career to a level of relieving stability. I try to explain that, for some, it might. But as it is in life, everyone’s paths are different.

In the last six months my band, Lilli &the Honey released it’s first single, “Did Ya Know?” and played a sold-out show at The Troubadour. I just finished a five week run of an ensemble drama called, “Gabriel,” at North Coast Repertory Theatre and am now starring in my first movie musical; a jazz-opera-esque short film a la “The Umbrella’s of Cherbourg” called, “Miranda’s Marionettes.”

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work is kind of eclectic! As an actor, I’ve found myself playing mostly nurturing and empathetic characters, which resonates deeply with me. I’ve always been an empath and a nurturer, and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how to take the abilities that come with those instincts and use them as my superpowers rather than feel weighed down or burdened by them. I am, of course, a work in progress.
Musically, I’ve always tried to write from a place of authenticity and love. I’m not a harsh or hateful person, and I hope to make that come through in my music.

“Authenticity” and “Love,” and the sub-genres that fall under their umbrellas, are the messages I’m most passionate about exploring and sharing.  A sub-genre, if you will, of Authenticity, is Honesty. My mom once told me that lying to her was the worst thing I could do to her. While it took me years to understand what that really meant, I never forgot it. And, being a kid who hated eating her vegetables and thought it was incredibly clever of her to hide them in a napkin and pretend to have eaten them, I was certainly no stranger to lyings and omissions. This is where my understanding of Authenticity began. Any kind of lie now gives me total anxiety, and I take great pleasure in oversharing and being as honest as possible. I’m not interested in nurturing darkness, and lies are nothing but shadow casters. A sub-genre, if you will, of Love, is Kindness. Like all humans, I have experienced pain. I know what it feels like to be on the other end of cruelty and insensitivity. We are all living on this planet together, and we are all doing our best. I think Kindness is one of the most important practices there is. And not just outward Kindness. The Kindness that we pour into ourselves is what gives us strength and allows us to radiate through times of strife as well as on the daily. It is like oxygen. These ideas are both my message and my inspiration.

Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
This is an interesting one. I think having a really strong tribe is incredibly important. I’ve heard that it can be useful to surround yourself with talented people, because they motivate and inspire you. But I have found surrounding myself with kind and supportive people to be just as important. And if they are all those things, that is a true gift worth holding on to. Having a community makes the impossible feel possible. Whether you’re an actor asking your director friends to help you with your self-tapes, or you’re a photographer asking your actor friends to model for you. There’s so much more possibility, I believe, in collaboration and in sharing than in being a lone wolf.

When it comes to surviving on a low income, I’ve found living as simply as possible to not only be essential but also incredibly freeing. I will encourage any young person/struggling artist to relax on going out all the time. It is the best way to lose your money faster than you’ve earned it. Obviously going out is fun sometimes. But I don’t recommend making it your norm. Learning how to nurture yourself at home is a long term investment in yourself and your life.

For my side hustle, I served at restaurants for many years until I couldn’t do it anymore. I now take odd jobs and am in the brainstorming phase of starting a side business. My bank account isn’t as full, but I’m wildly happier.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The social media platform I use the most is Instagram, though I’m also on Twitter (honestly very rarely because I don’t know how to be brief) and Facebook.

If you want to dive down a “Voice” hole, you need look no further than Youtube.

If you want to listen to Lilli &the Honey, you can find our single on all streaming services and/or watch our live sessions at North Dwarf Records also on Youtube… (and keep your eyes and ears open for our first music video release coming very very soon!!) We are also on Instagram and Facebook always under “Lilli and the Honey” or “Lilli &the Honey.”

Also, we are playing a show at El Cid on May 19!

If you want to check out my film and television work, I would suggest heading to my IMDB page. Some of the films I’ve done haven’t been released yet but whatever is out I’m sure could be dug up on the good old interweb.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lillipassero
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lillipasseroofficial
• Twitter: @lillipassero
• Other: Instagram.com/lilliandthehoney

Image Credit:
Outdoor photograph taken by (my fiancé) Jason Goldstein
Indoor photograph taken by Sophia Schrank

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