Today we’d like to introduce you to Nariah Francois.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
If you got the chance to read my “ShoutoutLA” article then you’ve already heard my story, but in case you haven’t, I’ll share the brief version. I was raised about 30 minutes north of Atlanta in a city called Lawrenceville. I started singing and performing in front of audiences around the age of 7 and I credit that to my father who is also an artist and musician. That heavy influence of music and live performances definitely jump-started my own passion for music. From then on, I continued to develop and discover my own musical gifts. I’ve been blessed to travel the world doing what I love and I’m really looking forward to showcasing a new side of my artistry in this next chapter.
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?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road. It felt like as soon as I moved to LA, here also came adversity. Instead of being able to bask in the excitement of moving to a new city, worry set in early on because I was experiencing complications with my voice. I eventually found out that sinus issues and vocal nodules were causing my vocal ability to be limited. As a singer, when you hear a doctor use the word “nodules”, you immediately think that you will lose the ability to sing. I’m so blessed that I found the right doctors and was able to get the help that I needed, but I still didn’t know if my voice would sound the same after my procedure. My only option in that chapter was to have faith and remain positive. After weeks of no talking, vocal therapy, and the grace of God, my voice is now stronger than it has ever been. Taking that leap of faith ended up unlocking the door to so many great gig opportunities.
I would be lying if I said my past and current struggles don’t make me doubt myself sometimes, but this story alone serves as a personal reminder to always operate in faith and only focus on the things that are in my control while God takes care of the rest.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Most people probably know me as a background vocalist for recording artists, but my music abilities and experience is pretty extensive. Before I was a touring vocalist, I was a music director who arranged vocals for A Cappella ensembles. I currently use a lot of the skills that I learned as a music director with current projects and as a vocal performance coach. I’ve also released my own music. My most recent single that people can stream on all platforms is called “Cuddle SZN”.
What I’m most proud of is the music I’ve been working on this past year. I’m so excited for my supporters to witness my evolution with me. They have been patiently waiting to hear new music from me and I can say that the wait will be over soon! Putting my own music in the forefront has been a dream of mine for so long and I’m finally taking the time to make it happen.
Something that sets me apart from others is my entrepreneurial drive. Living from gig to gig is not for the weak, and over the years I’ve had to come up with creative ways to keep an income even when music gigs slow down. A passion project of mine that I started in 2020 is my sea moss company, LAVI Essentials. I have a West Indian background, so I’ve always known about sea moss and its healing properties. Three years ago I started making sea moss gel as a daily supplement for myself and that quickly evolved into me also making gel for my friends and family. Soon after, I turned it into a business. LAVI Essentials is a sea moss company that ships 100% wild-harvested St. Lucian sea moss gel all over the United States. LAVI also made its debut at local flea markets in the Los Angeles area this past summer. I’m proud to say that in a short period of time, my company has grown and continues to expand. My sea moss gels will also be available through local delivery apps soon so be on the lookout!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The music industry has changed so much in the past 5 -10 years due to streaming and social media platforms. Social media, (specifically TikTok) is now the place where many artists go to market their music in the hopes of their songs going viral and becoming successful. This system is volatile because there is no guarantee that your music will go viral no matter how good the song may be. Music labels are also relying on their artists to gain traction on TikTok, which now leaves the artist to do the label’s marketing job. I’m not so sure that this system can continue to be the industry standard because now we receive quantity over quality music. The streaming era also doesn’t put money into artists and songwriters pockets like it should.
Pricing:
- $25 – Organic Sea Moss Gel ( https://laviessentials.life/products/organic-sea-moss-gel?variant=31994825769019 )
- $35 – Pineapple Sea Moss Gel ( https://laviessentials.life/products/pineapple-sea-moss-gel?variant=37611549425847 )
- $35 – Elderberry – Ginger Sea Moss Gel ( https://laviessentials.life/products/elderberry-ginger-sea-moss-gel?variant=37611549098167 )
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/riahfrancois
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riahfrancois/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nariahfrancois
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nariahfrancois
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/nariah-francois
- Other: https://laviessentials.life/
Image Credits
Alexia Lue & Seoul Sessions
