Life & Work with Tyesha Renee Warner of South Central

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyesha Renee Warner.

Hi Tyesha Renee, 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?
Of course. So—I was born in Austin, Texas, and honestly, music found me early. I was just four years old when I joined the Little Angel choir at church, and from that point on, singing became my safe space. It’s how I processed the world. I didn’t have the words for what I felt back then, but I had melodies.

I grew up on the greats—Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, India Arie, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Musiq Soulchild, The Roots, D’angelo, The Isley Brothers, Luther Vandross….. there are so many more I can name! Their music didn’t just sound good—it meant something. It made me realize that music could be both healing and revolutionary. That stuck with me.

I’ve always been an alchemist in that way. Music became the place where I could process emotions I didn’t have language for. I taught myself how to write songs at eleven years old, and by sixteen, I recorded my very first original track, “Slow to Speak,” which is still up on SoundCloud and YouTube. My senior year of high school, I came back even stronger with “Appreciation,” featuring local Austin rapper Read Richarts, and another one called “Roses.” Both are still out there for anyone who wants to see where it all started.

In high school, I was in the varsity choir, winning UIL competitions, singing in church plays and Sunday’s with the adult choir, but I was also dreaming bigger. I wanted to use my voice to move people—not just emotionally, but spiritually. In college, I took a break from music to step into leadership and advocacy work. I became the person who organized, who spoke out, who built community—and all of that made its way back into my art later.

I officially came back to music in 2017 with “Queen,” and then released my self-produced album The Year of Purpose in 2019. That project was really for the people like me—healers, seekers, lovers, and the lost. Folks trying to find themselves and be okay in the process.

Then in 2021, I packed my life into a suitcase and moved to LA. No plan. No connections. $300, and just a calling……crazy faith. Since then, I’ve been blessed to collaborate with artists I admire—Lizzy Jeff, Arnstar, ScienZe, Londrelle, Toni Jones, Supanova Slom, Planet Asia, Honey Blu—and I’ve carved out a space where I can be both an artist and a businesswoman. I started Noetik Media to help other creatives and small brands show up online with clarity and confidence.

When I’m in LA, I choose South Central—specifically Leimert Park Village—because it feels like home. It’s more than a neighborhood to me; it’s a cultural heartbeat, a sacred ground where art, resistance, community, and Black brilliance all converge. Leimert has become my second home over the years. I started as a barista and cashier at the original Hot and Cool Cafe, where I was eventually promoted to supervisor and then into marketing and events. That space introduced me to some of the most creative and powerful people in the city.

My friend and former coworker, Honey Blu, started an open mic called Brave Space right there in the cafe—an open mic that welcomed everyone, drew crowds off the street, and created space for healing and raw expression. That energy changed me.

Today, many of my clients through Noetik Media are Leimert-based vendors and creatives—folks who want to shift from selling on the street to building sustainable digital businesses. It’s an honor to support them, because I know what Leimert has given me: community, purpose, and a deeper connection to the ancestors and culture that live in every drumbeat, every poem, every moment shared on that sacred ground. Moving to LA activated me in a way that Austin never did….

It hasn’t been a straight path. There’ve been deep losses, growing pains, moments where I had to fight just to stay grounded. But I believe everything I’ve been through was part of shaping who I am today.

Now, I not only see myself to be a singer, but also a Sound Healer and Medicine Woman. My voice isn’t just my gift—it’s my offering. And I’m finally in a season where I can say I’m doing the work I was born to do.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Whew… smooth? Not at all. But I’ve learned that the road doesn’t have to be smooth for it to be sacred.

I’ve faced a lot of challenges—some seen, some silent. Growing up in foster care since four and being adopted at nine meant I was already navigating identity, grief, and belonging before I even fully understood those words. I carried invisible weight into school, into friendships, into every room I walked into. Being “the adopted kid” or “orphan” came with a set of assumptions and quiet stigmas. It took me years to learn I wasn’t broken—I was just different, and my difference was divine.

In my teen years and early adulthood, I struggled deeply with depression, especially in moments where I felt unseen or misunderstood. Even after I started releasing music, there was always this voice in the back of my mind asking, “Will they get it? Will they get me?” Add that to the financial pressure of being a first-gen college student, trying to make something out of nothing, and constantly pouring into others while running on empty—it was heavy.

There were also spiritual and emotional lessons I had to learn the hard way. Boundaries. Self-worth. Letting go of survival mode. I’ve had moments where I lost everything—home, friendships, clarity—and still had to show up and sing like nothing was wrong. But that’s where I learned how to alchemize pain into art. My music has always been my medicine, but I had to learn how to give that same healing back to myself offstage, too.

Even moving to LA was a leap of faith. No safety net. No major co-sign. Just me, my purpose, and the belief that I was called to do something bigger than my circumstances. And there were moments I wanted to give up—when the opportunities weren’t flowing, when the money was low, when I felt isolated in a big city. But each time, I returned to the truth: I’ve made it this far not by accident, but by alignment.

So no, the road hasn’t been smooth—but it’s been sacred. And every bump has made me wiser, softer, and more powerful than before.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
So at my core, I’m a Soul Songstress and Medicine Woman. I use my voice not just to perform, but to heal, uplift, and connect. My music lives at the intersection of soul, spirit, and story. Whether I’m singing live, recording in the studio, or writing for myself or others, my intention is always the same—to offer something real, something people can feel.

I’m known for having a voice that carries warmth, power, and truth. People often tell me it feels like I’m singing to them, not just at them—and that means everything to me. Because I don’t create to be perfect; I create to be present. My first official project, The Year of Purpose, was written in a season of deep transformation, and it still resonates with people navigating grief, growth, and rebirth. I’m proud of that. I’m also featured on several incredible projects like “Praises” by ScienZe and Nappy High, Afi El’s “Preview,” and background vocals on Londrelle’s “Kingdom Child.”

Beyond music, I also run Noetik Media, a digital marketing and creative agency where I help other artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits show up powerfully online. I specialize in web design, branding, social media strategy, and creative direction. It’s been beautiful to merge my love for storytelling with my skills in marketing and visuals. I love helping people bring their vision to life—from the soul outward.

What sets me apart is my ability to move in multiple worlds at once. I’m just as comfortable on stage as I am in a strategy session. I’m not just an artist or an entrepreneur—I’m both. And I don’t believe you have to sacrifice your spirit for success. I make space for both the sacred and the strategic. My life is the bridge between purpose and performance, healing and hustle, softness and power.

What I’m most proud of? The fact that I’m still here. Still showing up. Still choosing myself. Still choosing joy. I’ve made it through things that could’ve broken me—but instead, they built me. And now I get to use every lesson, every lyric, every client, and every creation as part of my offering.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a few ways to connect with me, and honestly, I’m always open to aligned, soulful collaborations.

If you’re a creative, small business owner, or nonprofit looking to level up your digital presence, I’d love to work with you through my creative agency, Noetik Media. I specialize in web design, branding, content strategy, and helping people show up online in a way that feels authentic and powerful. You can visit noetikmediaservices.com or reach out to me directly on Instagram @noetikmedia.

As an artist, I’m open to performance opportunities, background vocals, co-writing sessions, sync/licensing projects, and anything that allows for storytelling and healing through music. I’m always excited to connect with producers, musicians, filmmakers, and brands who are creating with intention.

If you just want to support the journey, stream my music, share my songs, or follow me on socials (@tyesha.renee). I’m grateful for every listen, every share, and every soul who feels something from what I create. You may also email me: [email protected]

Whether it’s through music, media, or meaningful connection—let’s build something beautiful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.noetikmediaservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyesha.renee/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyesharwarner/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialtyesharenee
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tyesharenee