Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Ortega.
Hi Sasha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Compton in a mobile-home park, but was privileged enough to attend a costly elementary school in Bellflower. I’ve spent most of my life now in Lakewood, but many of my friends and experiences live in Long Beach. I graduated from LBCC and CSULB with degrees in Jazz Studies, and in that time, I learned the most about discipline. That education empowered me to pursue my own voice with a great foundation to spring from.
Music and emotions have always been the biggest pieces of me. I started writing songs late in the game, around 19 years old. Soon enough, it became my primary channel of expressing myself. Now, it feels as though the best way to get to know me is through my lyrics. I’m scared of people, so indirectly communicating through song has defaulted to being my cop-out form of communication. I’d agree that it’s not the healthiest, but I’m in the midst of meeting myself where I’m at.
I’ve worked various jobs since I was 18. From a photography studio and waitressing 10pm to 6am before school to karaoke rentals and a pool hall, with sprinkles of music-related jobs throughout. I’ve supported myself financially for the last 5 years or so, ’cause my mom always tried to keep us “responsible”; and because we really needed it. She didn’t want us to make the same mistakes.
I do it all for the love of my future. I play this game to give myself another day of being bad at guitar and crying for the wrong reasons on a sunny day. The life I’m living might take at least a decade of consistency before it’s lucrative, but I hope to make it a fruitful journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I had an abusive dad (shockerrr), and any LMFT can concur that my scary, sad childhood has shaped who I am today. It’s shaped how I view people, how I avoid people, and how close I let anyone get to me. I’ve been in therapy on and off since 2018, and I’ve learned that unpacking the boxes that weigh your spirit down is crucial to a new reality, but incredibly difficult. I can share that I’ve struggled with my mental health since I was a kid. I used to self-harm- now I just live with anxiety and disordered eating. I take anti-depressants and I go on the walks, yada-yada. I try my best to be better for everyone and my own sake.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I classify myself as an indie artist! 🙂 I am a jazz-vocalist/lover by trade, and I write original music to perform for people. My writing is emotion-driven, mixing poems with candid thoughts about heartbreak and acceptance. I’m most proud of my lyrics and their identity with the soundscape beneath it (aka music…haha). Besides catharsis, my favorite part of playing is when someone says they’ve resonated with my lyrics. I carry heavy thoughts and bleed them out through sonic papercuts. It’s not offensive enough to deter anyone, and for those too scared to bleed, my songs can be the outlet and space to reflect.
I’m unconventional in the way that I promote. As much as I want my music to be what provides for me and paves higher roads, I’m oddly in no rush. I feel the pressure when I’m asked the pragmatic questions: “What’s your marketing plan? How are you going to grow your fan base? You have to make content. And sell merch. And your soul.” These are valid points, but I trust myself and the slow burn- I really believe that great things take time. I’m really enjoying the process of being present in my life, and unhooking my identity to solely being a musician. Music is my business partner, but I still need it to be my trusted friend. The possibilities will grow with our relationship.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I used to think that quitting my job at Starbucks was a huge risk. I received a big scholarship that’d pay my rent for the rest of the school year, and I was getting overwhelmed trying to make my work/school schedule compatible. I put my 3-weeks notice in on my 24th birthday. I remember thinking it was a monumental move for the rest of my life. It was a magnificent gift to not have a job, and to JUST be a student for the first time since high school.
I have a hard time not giving myself a hard time. Growing up poor puts you in a cage where you think you don’t deserve more. You feel like you’re not allowed to live the way cageless people do. Even now, I pack my schedule prioritizing work, because to pursue music more seriously means making less money while you figure it out. That cage has protected me from risk my whole life, and I’m grateful for the protection but I do see where it’s limiting me. I’m starting to outgrow it through recognizing that I am my own protector, and bigger things are waiting that require the risk of stepping out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sashaortegamusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashaortegamusic/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sashaortega9979
- Other: https://sashaortega.bandcamp.com/
Image Credits
Image credits to @pacific.coastphotography
“Solo Guitar Set” image credit to @citrusfruitsnaps
