Rising Stars: Meet Eliana Alicea

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eliana Alicea.

Hi Eliana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Everyone’s familiar with the phrase “when it rains it pours”, and that’s exactly what happened in 2018 when I hit a rock bottom that eventually catapulted me in the direction of what is now a promising career as an up-and-coming, Los Angeles based, Pop Artist in the Music Industry.

It was in this pivotal moment in which I lost everything and everyone in my life (to put it into perspective, I was literally living in my car at the time) that I had the ultimate reality check, which I credit to saving my life from fully spiraling into a self-destructive path.

The sudden realization that the only thing I had left to live for was music triggered an epiphany that, in truth, all I’ll ever TRULY have FOR CERTAIN was the music/vision that existed within me… An epiphany that made it clear that the ONLY thing that couldn’t ever be taken away from me is my music.

During this time period, I remember being invited to my friend’s place one day so that I could have a safe place to sleep for a few nights, and in the midst of that experience, I had an acid trip where I vividly remember having a light bulb “aha” moment… I distinctly remember having such a sudden, intense inner knowing that I needed to devote my life to pursuing my music fully and professionally, rather than treating it like a hobby.

In that moment, I had such an immense clarity and a deep understanding of my mission in this life. This “inner knowing” spoke to me, and I knew that I wasn’t being punished by the Universe when it took everything from me, but rather, it was tough love, a redirection in order to teach me the most crucial lesson of my life; That if I wanted a REAL shot at true happiness and long-lasting fulfillment, I had to fully commit myself to the journey I was about to partake in.

I could never have predicted all that awaited me on the journey… At the time, I was just a wide-eyed dreamer with nothing to lose but everything to gain; and gain I did.

Although I’m still in the infancy of my overall career, I can honestly say that so far, I’ve already gained so much;

I’ve gained courage, knowledge, advancement in my talents and in my craft, I’ve gained many inspiring and like-minded artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to my network, I’ve gained monumental growth as I endlessly create myself, I’ve gained my freedom from the trap of the “Rat Race”, I’ve gained many experiences that I would’ve never dreamed of experiencing without my musical pursuit, I’ve gained meaning in my life which continues to fuel me as my motivation to be the best version of myself, I’ve also gained the will to continue bettering myself on a consistent basis (something I could never commit to before in my life), I’ve gained confidence, I’ve gained the discovery of my true identity (which is forever in a state of evolution), and the list goes on.

The most surreal aspect about how everything unfolded in my journey was how quick the Universe responded to this inner decision I made about my life and my purpose. – Literally, the VERY NEXT DAY (following the acid trip that I mentioned earlier) someone sent me a message on social media after noticing that I had made a post announcing that I was looking to get back into music. The message said something along the lines of; “I saw you were looking for a place to record, there’s this studio walking distance from my apartment”… The rest is history.

The name of this particular creative-hub was “Defined Enterprises”, and it was the first studio (of MANY) that took me in, quickly becoming a second home to me (as it was for many other talented misfits).

Located in Altamonte Springs, Florida; it has since been shut down, however, it made a permanent impact of great significance on my journey and my overall perspective as an artist.

The Owner (Brill Adium) basically mentored me, nurtured my creativity, and encouraged my potential.

He was extremely hard on me and quite harsh in order to instill a level of work ethic and perfectionism that made me what I am today. – This initiated all of the Artistic Development that’d took place in the following years, which was incorporated throughout the metamorphic process of implementing my “new identity” that served my highest purpose.

From that point on, I was launched on a networking journey that continued to unravel before my eyes, and with each manifestation of mine slowly coming to fruition one by one, I became more and more courageous, more determined, and more trusting of the Universe.

The paralyzing fear that can come with taking the path less traveled on was something that I gradually became more equipped to combat the further I progressed because in my heart, I knew that none of it had happened on accident.

I knew it all happened the way it did for a reason, and the journey that brought me here was all the confirmation or proof I needed to carry on with faith (that mindset, however, took time and patience before I was able to fully adapt into it).

Fast forward to 2020; I’ve now proven myself as an artist of value and of gargantuan potential, and I began to catch the attention of industry professionals with connections and opportunities in the local music scene.

I knew that in order to fulfill my potential as one of this generation’s newest female pop artists, that I’d have to expand from my environment. – Knowing this; I impulsively hopped in my car with a friend and a couple of suitcases (literally SUCH a spontaneous, manic decision), and I drove across the country (from Florida to LA) with no real plan, with no real money, with no real connections out west, and with no guarantees… I just knew that if there was one thing I’d learned from my journey;

It was that risking it all when the odds don’t seem to be in your favor is EXACTLY when / where the real magic happens…

Despite the many obstacles I was faced with when I first moved to Los Angeles (the lack of resources, money, etc.), the same exact process that happened when I first devoted myself to my passion (where somehow the Universe immediately began to work with me in order to assist in co-creating my reality, and how it seemingly pulled the most unexpected opportunities out of thin air for me with divine timing) began to unfold yet again… but this time the chapter was elevated to a whole new level.

My move to LA came with some of my lowest lows and my highest highs that I’ve ever encountered in my life.

Don’t get it twisted; I’ve faced countless setbacks, obstacles, betrayals, failures, rejection, unforeseen financial / health emergencies, etc. when I moved to Los Angeles… It was by no means a fairytale with smooth sailing.

Yet, simultaneously, I was incredibly blessed by being instantaneously, and seemingly miraculously, supplied with all of the connections, the resources, and the experiences that I specifically needed in order to climb up my ladder and not only survive but really thrived, in my story.

Within the very first month of relocating to LA, life began providing me what / who I needed in order to expedite the process of establishing my place in this city and in this industry.

I don’t really know how it all happened or how it happened so fast… The best way I can explain it is this;

When you’re cornered in life and your back’s against the wall, close your eyes and force yourself to jump.

You really have to force yourself to take that leap of faith into the chaos of forward momentum.

Don’t overthink because the next thing you know, you’ll wake up realizing that you wasted all of your life merely thinking instead of doing and trusting.

Everyone is eventually confronted with a choice (as I was); Either evolve or repeat.

I made my decision, and the entire universe conspired with me to fulfill that choice once I did.

So close your eyes, and jump into the direction of the timeline you want to create because realistically, I shouldn’t have survived out here… yet I have. Somehow that choice has led me here, and I’m never looking back.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was in the pivotal moment in which I lost everything and everyone in my life (to put it into perspective, I was literally living in my car at the time) that I had the ultimate reality check, which I credit to saving my life from fully spiraling into a self-destructive path.

It was in this pivotal moment in which I lost everything and everyone in my life (to put it into perspective, I was literally living in my car at the time) that I had the ultimate reality check, which I credit to saving my life from fully spiraling into a self-destructive path.

The sudden realization that the only thing I had left to live for was music triggered an epiphany that, in truth, all I’ll ever TRULY have FOR CERTAIN was the music/vision that existed within me… An epiphany that made it clear that the ONLY thing that couldn’t ever be taken away from me is my music.

During this time period, I remember being invited to my friend’s place one day so that I could have a safe place to sleep for a few nights, and in the midst of that experience, I had an acid trip where I vividly remember having a light bulb “aha” moment… I distinctly remember having such a sudden, intense inner knowing that I needed to devote my life to pursuing my music fully and professionally, rather than treating it like a hobby.

In that moment, I had such an immense clarity and a deep understanding of my mission in this life. This “inner knowing” spoke to me, and I knew that I wasn’t being punished by the Universe when it took everything from me, but rather, it was tough love, a redirection in order to teach me the most crucial lesson of my life; That if I wanted a REAL shot at true happiness and long-lasting fulfillment, I had to fully commit myself to the journey I was about to partake in.

I could never have predicted all that awaited me on the journey… At the time, I was just a wide-eyed dreamer with nothing to lose but everything to gain; and gain I did.

My move to LA came with some of my lowest lows and my highest highs that I’ve ever encountered in my life.

Don’t get it twisted; I’ve faced countless setbacks, obstacles, betrayals, failures, rejection, unforeseen financial / health emergencies, etc. when I moved to Los Angeles… It was by no means a fairytale with smooth sailing.

Yet, simultaneously, I was incredibly blessed by being instantaneously, and seemingly miraculously, supplied with all of the connections, the resources, and the experiences that I specifically needed in order to climb up my ladder and not only survive, but really thrive, in my story once I took the necessary leaps of faith required to level up.

Within the very first month of relocating to LA, life began providing me what / who I needed in order to expedite the process of establishing my place in this city and in this industry.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well… I’m Eliana; an independent, up-and-coming, Los Angeles-based, Dark Pop / Alternative R&B Artist.

The combination of my lyrics, melodies, concepts, and aesthetic is my attempt to bring my audience into my sometimes ominous yet ethereal dream world.

My style is a fresh new take on Pop; what I call “Dark Pop”. – A refreshing sound with Pop and Hip Hop elements blended together.

I juggle vulnerability with an undeniable energy in my work, and I tend to balance dark messages (inspired by the human condition) with a bounce that makes it easily digestible in today’s urban musical climate.

If you’re a fan of artists such as The Weeknd, SZA, Jessie Reyez, Billie Eilish, Joji, Doja Cat, Rihanna, Halsey, Kanye West, 070 Shake, Rosalia, Frank Ocean, or James Blake (to name a few of my biggest influences), then my sound is something that you’ll likely appreciate and/or resonate with.

With lyrical themes (before you ask; yes, I write ALL of my lyrics entirely myself) of love, betrayal, growing up, grief, loneliness, self-discovery, and liberation (to name a few); I use my voice as an instrument that intertwines with the dynamic, immersive beats; creating an authentic, compelling, sonic world for the listener to get lost in.

The message that I hope to share with the world through my music (and my brand); is that in order to avoid succumbing to your darker side and allowing it to consume you until you’re transformed into a bitter person… you MUST embrace your dark side, and also FEED your light side.

For instance, although you may have been the underdog in your life or have felt alone and depressed… you can USE that to fuel you, rather than allowing it to define you or discourage you.

I want people to know that they aren’t alone in being weirdos. I want them to know that there’s something worth saving in themselves. I want to urge people to fight for their truth (because it’s always worth the fight).

Furthermore, I want to share a genuine connection with my audience, because after all; the most sacred thing about music is the connection which all understand as “the universal language”.

This saved my life, therefore I want to share this perspective with all of my supporters in order to inspire them.

I’ve performed at numerous venues, shows, festivals, and events in my (still early) career; Including the Supr Music Festival 2019 in Orlando, Florida, SXSW Music Festival in 2019 in Austin Texas, Art Basel Festival in 2018 in Miami, Florida, among many others.

I’ve still only been in Los Angeles for barely a year now, and I’m sitting on 90% of my upcoming work (my next single will be dropping mid-November). I’m still just getting started!

As I make my way through the maze that is the music industry, I continue climbing with grace; knowing that my music and my brand will continue to speak for themselves (I just let my work do all of the talking).

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Self-Help books in general (on success and spirituality) have made such an impact on my self-growth. A few noteworthy ones were: “The Alchemist”, “Think and Grow Rich”, “How to Build an Empire”, and “Success through a Positive Mental Attitude”.

I’ve also spent hours on YouTube many nights watching inspirational self-help videos, psychology videos, spiritual enlightenment videos, and philosophy videos to help me have a greater understanding of myself and the world around me as a tool to improve myself.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: elianatheghost.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elianatheghost/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elianatheghost/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elianatheghost?s=21
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLJxWLrFE6VckMyyhSmbj6g
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hcUnlXV76BYaApYzLg8SA

Image Credits:
Benjamin Church, Nathan James