Daily Inspiration: Meet Anastacia Byrne Gibbs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastacia Byrne Gibbs.

Hi Anastacia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Pacific Palisades, California, I grew up in a household of educators, with both parents teaching for LAUSD. My passion for guitar and music was ignited early by inspiring teachers: Dale Schatz, who led the Guitar Club at my elementary school (tragically lost to the recent L.A. wildfires); Carole Kaiser, my junior high choral teacher at Paul Revere Jr. High; and Linda Badran, my high school choir teacher at Palisades High School. Their mentorship shaped my path, leading me to a lifelong connection with music, including a current role in Steely Jam, a Steely Dan revue where I perform with the woman Carole Kaiser introduced me to in Jr. High (Amanda Barnett), as well as guest original artists like Tom Scott.

I began playing guitar and piano in second grade and writing original songs by fourth grade, performing them at talent shows and at venues like McCabe’s. Some of those early performances, captured on audiotape (yes, the kind rewound with a pencil), still exist from my seventh-grade gigs. I have a huge box filled with audiotapes that I recently discovered during a recent move. It has some gems like a demo tapes and live high school performances, and even a demo tape by Gretchen Peters who my husband discovered when he worked for a publishing house in Colorado. There are some really fun musical memories in that box that I really need to digitize soon.

In high school and college, I excelled in acting and music, earning awards and a Bank of America scholarship. I shared the stage with future stars like Jennifer Jason Leigh, Penelope Ann Miller, and Forest Whitaker.

At UCSB, I played in a college band, crafting what was then called “New Wave” music—now considered alternative rock. There, Paul Lauer and I had a ‘college band’ that performed at clubs in Santa Barbara and frat parties. Paul transferred to UCLA when he joined Glass Target, a Santa Monica-based band signed to Unicorn Records, he invited me to audition. I secured the role after their lead singer fell ill, bringing my original songs and co-writing with Paul. Though the band dissolved due to youthful ambition and differing visions, the experience was formative.

Until the last few years, I always had a real job while pursuing a career in music. Do I regret that? Not really because it taught me a lot about business, managing money and discipline. All which are needed in what Joe Walsh said (when he was a guest speaker at my orchestration class at UCSB), “They call it the music industry for a reason”. That really stuck with me.

My acting background opened doors to voiceover work, including commercials for Axe Recovery and character roles in two video games recently dubbed for the U.S. market. I also sold 14 vintage songs (under Stacie Byrne) to a music library for placement in TV, film, and commercials. Today, I perform with several bands, while continuing to record original music available for free on YouTube and other platforms. My goal now is to sell one of my songs to a name act and finally have a hit song to add to my list of life’s accomplishments.

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?
I have three children who are now grown, and will say that balancing a real job, motherhood and pursuing a career in the artis is a balancing act for sure. I used to say, “I’m juggling plates”, knowing that one might fall to the ground and break. Will Smith said one should not have a Plan B because then they will never pursue their Plan A. I agree with that for some, but for me, I do think one can do both, because getting a paycheck helps take some of the pressure off of making a living in the arts which can be really difficult and challenging. Having a job helps pay for the new keyboard, the better microphone and takes some of the pressure off.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I used to feign humility when it came to my voice. But I now own it. I have a great voice and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I can sing anything and in voiceover, I can also mimic well. As far as songwriting goes, I am continuing to learn and do better. Sometimes I hear a song like, ‘The House that Built Me’, by Tom Douglas and I’m just floored. I want to a better songwriter and continue to take classes and study the best in order to improve at that.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I know Oprah said do what you love and the money will follow, but I don’t think that’s always the case. I prefer to hang my hat on what Maya Angelou said, ‘…Don’t make money your goal….’, because that is the opposite of a real artist’s journey, at least in my opinion. Also, don’t listen to critics too much. Some advice is good. I was lucky enough to visit the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville for the first time with a group of friends from drama and music. There were 12 of us and one of the 12 produced a documentary about the venue. We all got to listen to original artists performing original music. They were all amazingly talented. Afterwards, we all shared who are favorite artists were and why and every single one of us, when forced to choose, liked someone different. A man I record with said, ‘Never forget that lesson’. Everyone has different tastes and you should never try to change your art to fit into someone else’s vision of what you do. Stick to what you love and you will find those who love it too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anastaciagibbs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastaciabeegee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anastaciabyrnegibbs
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnastaciaByrneGibbs
• Other: https://fervor-records.com/stacie-byrne/