Today we’d like to introduce you to Love.
Hi Love, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been a musician for a little over a decade now. But the harp was never something I could’ve imagined playing. I never even saw a harp until I started taking lessons when I was 25. I was in community college and one of my professors was a professional harpist. I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever heard. I asked her so many questions all the time and it got to a point where she was just like “Do you wanna take lessons with me?” And who would turn something like that down? So I did just that. I took one semester of lessons with Caroline Reyes before I graduated. When I transferred to USC, I knew harp was something I had to continue playing. I figured out how to get lessons there, but I knew it wouldn’t last long. After the second semester of playing, I started renting a harp and paying out-of-pocket. I would live stream on TikTok and practice. I went from having 50 viewers to over 500 every time I went live. Honestly, TikTok is what inspired me to continue playing even when I couldn’t afford it. They encouraged me so much. I would practice every day until I got blisters. I worked really hard for almost a year and a half until I bought my own harp. From then on, everything changed.
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?
The only struggle I’ve had was staying with it in the beginning. It is one of the most difficult instruments to play WELL. However, I had a really positive experience branding myself a harpist and putting myself out there. At first, I was terrified because I did not grow up playing this instrument. I also never played classically. There was nothing about me that fit the mold of someone who plays the harp. I worried that I wouldn’t have support or I would come off as a “fraud.” I reached out to one of my favorite harpists Gracie Sprout who plays for Jhené Aiko. I didn’t think she would respond, but she did and we had a Zoom meeting where I just asked a bunch of questions. She helped reassure me that I would do great and connected me with resources to really get into the community. The community has been so welcoming and it has been a reminder that you can do whatever you want. Yes you should know and respect where things come from, but you are allowed to be innovative and unique in your expression.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m most known for being the singing harpist who incorporates and blends multiple genres from Hip-Hop and R&B to Classical and meditative. What sets me apart is my unique sound and style. My bright red hair. There aren’t many harpists and there aren’t many harpists that sing. And of those select few, only a handful (literally) are black, as black people make up less than 4% of orchestral musicians in the US. I can count on 1 or 2 hands the amount of black harpists I know. While I’m proud to be bringing something distinctly unique to the industry, I dislike the lack of representation.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson has been to always be confident in who you are, even when it doesn’t fit the mold. We shouldn’t aim to fit the mold. Always know the rules of the game and play to win, but stand firm in who you are as you do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovekeyyz.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/aharpistnamedlove
- Other: https://TikTok.com/@aharpistnamedlove
Image Credits
For the main photo in blue: @henryinfocus
