Today we’d like to introduce you to Asanté.
Asanté, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began singing in church at the age of three. My family lived in Mount Vernon, NY at the time. I didn’t discover my passion for music until I was about ten years old, though. By then, my mom had moved us to Greenwich, CT to prepare us for life via a better education, but I had an acting manager in NY, NY.
When my manager refused to submit me for Disney’s: The Lion King on Broadway, we took it into our own hands. I’d been blessed to see the show with my mother just weeks before and at intermission I told her, “Mom, I can do this.” My mother never doubted that and we sent in my headshot and resumé. After an extensive audition process, I was told I’d gotten the role, but that they were opening up a new show in Las Vegas and wanted me to be a part of the original cast. That experience genuinely altered the direction of my life in the most beautiful way.
Since then, I’ve expanded upon that and honed my gifts. I’ve been on American Crime, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G and other shows. I only started making original music a few years ago, but I’ve committed to evolving my sound and appreciating the process, as well as every blessing along the way.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I attended high school in Sherman Oaks and one of the biggest struggles was just the transition from being homeschooled, while doing shows, to going to a private high school (basically starting over). I wasn’t as focused as I could’ve been on music and took for granted many of the resources I had access to. In retrospect, I actually see it as more of a blessing than a struggle though. I needed to reintegrate into a lifestyle that forced me out of my comfort zone, as most of “show business” naturally does, as well. Every stage of my life has been preparation.
I attended USC, majoring in acting, and still was still unsure about making music, but when I finally started recording what I was feeling, I felt the release… that cathartic “breath” that I attend for others to feel when they hear my music. The main struggle that hindered me was my own uncertainty and doubt; doubt that I didn’t experience until it was self- imposed.
Beyond that, it’s been smooth. I’ve been embracing the minor “setbacks” and taking them as lessons.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a singer/songwriter who intends to bring others freedom from themselves when they listen to my art. Freedom from self-doubt, from anxiety, from worries that we give so much weight until we realize that they only carry the weight we, ourselves, allow them to. Yes, that’s easy to say, but I want my music to bring that feeling.
I wrote a song called “Superpowers” that reinforces the idea that we ALL have powers, whether we realize it or not. It’s just a matter of tapping into them. A matter of figuring out what our individual, God-given gifts are, then using them to help others discover theirs.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’ve been blessed more often than not, without a doubt. Whether it’s the people in my life, the places I’ve been, toxic situations I’ve been removed from or even just random conversations.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @asanteervin Youtube: Asanté
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nPaM0yRnWXlJsMDEyRKnh?si=58cge-WCSZeVQIV3GIl-gA
Image Credit:
Medusa Cover Art: Christine Hahn and Brandon Arreaga
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