Meet Bossi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bossi.

Bossi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Singer, Songwriter and Poet and have been in love with the arts for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories in life are of holding choir practice in my closet with my stuffed animals and sitting on the organ bench next to my grandmother as she led the church in song every Sunday. I was fascinated by and in love with creativity; the magical ability that some have to imagine something new into existence.

After college, I started my career in music in New York City. But after a few years, I had a crisis of faith, realizing how difficult it was to sustain a life in the arts. So I transitioned and built a career in hospitality. This new career path led me to leading marketing & cultural programming for top restaurants, hotel brands and commercial real-estate companies. Yet, even in these roles, I always gravitated towards the arts and was constantly scheming and finding ways to incorporate artists into all of the programs and initiatives I proposed.

And then life threw me a curve ball. At age 32 and again at 34, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Nothing clarifies your life like having to face your own mortality. As I sat across from doctors and heard the words, “You have cancer,” two thoughts immediately entered my mind. The first was that I wasn’t ready to go, I hadn’t made enough art yet. The second was that I hadn’t done enough to make the world a better place. And so it was clear to me that I had some unfinished business, that I still had something to say as an artist myself and that I cared deeply about serving others in my work. Once I had this realization, I knew that I could either choose to reorient my life in a way that maximized those values, or I could choose to ignore them and always have a part of me remain unfulfilled. Ultimately, I chose to take the leap, return fully to my artist career and also to build a platform to support other artists along the way, called House of Bossi. It was incredibly frightening to take that leap but I had learned firsthand that life is far too short, and hopefully far too long, not to pursue what truly sets our spirit on fire.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The path of being an artist and starting any business is rarely, if ever, smooth. From lack of resources, to breaking through the clutter, to finding your coconspirators, it takes a tremendous amount of perseverance and faith to create something new. During the pandemic, I personally experienced the onset of anxiety, which was very new for me, but ultimately in these moments, I remind myself that fear is part of life, it means that I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone. It can also mean that I’ve neglected things that keep me balanced and healthy. So when I start feeling anxious, I now look at it as a positive emotion; a reminder to stop, reflect and reorient to make sure I am always prioritizing my well-being first and foremost.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my work as an artist, I am committed to using my voice to speak up for women’s empowerment, human rights and the power of the arts. My shows are high-energy and fuse storytelling, poetry and music performance, taking audiences on an inspiring journey towards accessing their own unique power of expression and using it for good in the world. I recently released a limited-edition vinyl of my EP Run with Lions which is available on my website and tells the story of finding my inner roar, my inner Bossi woman!

As the Founder of House of Bossi, a platform supporting the arts that I started with my husband out of our home, we work to propel other talented artists whose voices we believe can help change the world for the better. From artist residencies to concert series, live theater, workshops and programs that connect artists to community and resources, we strive to ensure more art is made and more artists are thriving. Most recently, we hosted an incredible artist in residence named Halim Flowers; a painter and poet who was wrongfully incarcerated for over 22 years. Halim’s work urges viewers to embrace love above all else while commenting on societal constructs and narratives that have traditionally been used to harm communities of color. Working in collaboration with Halim was a tremendous honor and an experience that reminded me of the explosive power of the arts to change hearts and minds.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I moved to LA from NYC five years ago and there is so much to love about this city. Living around so much nature; access to the sea, the desert, the hills, the mountains. It’s all just a short drive away. I also love the creative community in Los Angeles. I do miss being able to walk everywhere in NYC, but I suppose we can’t have it all right? 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: iambossi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambossiofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambossiofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/iambossi
• Other: https://www.houseofbossi.com/

Image Credits
Images of Bossi with red backdrop by Amber Waller Images of Bossi with Halim Flowers by Amber Waller Images of Bossi in black suit by Kate Biel Live performance images and black and white band image by Taylor McWhorter