Today we’d like to introduce you to mesmi.
mesmi, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Hi! I’m mesmi, an indie artist who grew up making all sorts of things. Previously a closet creative, it was really difficult for me to come to terms with my love for a performative art like music, but a quarter-life crisis involving solo camping trips gone wrong had me going for it. Now, I’ve developed from a singer/songwriter into a producer/mixer as well, and I just released my self-produced album Slow Bloom. That baby took years, so I’d love y’all to peep a listen!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I started out as a singer/songwriter, and that’s still the heart of me. I love songwriting, and my favorite thing is when the words and music fit together perfectly. To me, a good song has this magical way of piercing you straight through your heart. I grew up a little emotionally starved, so music helped “feed” me, let me break through certain shells and gave me room to explore.
In the past few years, I’ve gotten more experience in the studio and learned production and engineering, which is more and more common for many with how increasingly accessible technology is. Like a lot of other indie female artists, I’ve had my share of work experiences gone wrong and songs that got backed up; I honestly found learning the tech to be almost necessary for getting, or even just trying to find, the sound I wanted and to express myself creatively. I hope to keep getting better so that I can help others coming from similar places. If anyone is interested, the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative has a really illuminating study on the statistics of women in music.
I’m naturally drawn to other creative work too, and overall, I’m always looking to get closer to some sort of truth or element of freedom. Within myself, unraveling a thought or feeling… In my music, I hope that people feel heard, a little less alone, that they receive some balm for the weary cracks in their soul.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
I definitely feel that and can understand the need to connect with other creatives. It’s funny how something you love so much can make you feel the loneliest ever.
I’m still trying to figure this out myself, but my advice (aka my advice to myself) would be just to get out there. This was easier to do pre-pandemic, but things like going to events, especially community-oriented ones, and paying attention to what resonates with you. For me, as an Asian American woman, I’ve met some wonderful people in spaces that have been supportive of those particular elements of who I am.
Also, try to keep an open heart. Don’t be afraid to initiate something, and don’t take it personally if it doesn’t work out. There will likely be a lot of disappointments, things that don’t happen, people that flake (I feel like musicians and general Los Angeles culture is notorious for this), and it’s really easy to get jaded. Learn from those things, check in with yourself, but try to stay open.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I just released my debut LP Slow Bloom (http://bitly.com/slowbloom)! It’s available everywhere online, as am I. Would love for people to give the album a spin and let me know what they think 🙂 All my socials are on my website, and people can grab their own copy of the album there too (http://mesmi.xyz).
As an indie artist, any kind of support is always very much appreciated! There are a variety of ways to do that, from sharing the music to joining the email list. For anyone who’s interested, you can peep that on my Linktree (https://linktr.ee/mesmix).
Contact Info:
- Website: http://mesmi.xyz
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mesmix
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mesmixmusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mesmix
- Other: Stream Music – https://fanlink.to/mesmi-
music
Image Credit:
Main Image: Janis Yue
Multiple Images: Janis Yue, VATOCA
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