Rising Stars: Meet Erinn Alissa of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erinn Alissa.

Hi Erinn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Oh boy! Ok. I have been singing and very into music since I was very young. I was also a dancer and actor and I always knew I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else with my life but performing and expressing and creating. I received a BFA in musical theatre, and a minor in dance, and set off for a career in theatre. I was working professionally, on national tours and off off Broadway shows, but I quickly learned that the lifestyle of living in hotels and traveling all around was not for me. I also didn’t like living in NYC. So, I moved to Los Angeles, got more into acting, and still did some musical theatre. However, the pressure of the acting world really got to me and yet again I found myself unhappy and wondering what to do. I ended up leaving the music and acting world completely for a bunch of years, pursuing other “more practical” routes. However, as much as I tried to run from all of it, I just couldn’t escape the pull. I picked up a guitar and started learning and immediately songs started pouring out of me, and I felt like I had found “home.” That was almost 15 years ago, and I have been doing my music career in some form, for that entire time. I have been a full time singer/songwriter/cover artist for the last 7+ years, playing 200 gigs a year at weddings, events, wineries, hotels, etc. All while still doing my artist work, which has taken the lead this past year or so.

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?
Ha. No. As you already read, there were so many bumps in the road. Getting to where I am was took a lot of determination and hard work, creating a career from scratch, by literally pitching myself to any place I thought might want music. Over the years, that has become much easier, as I have places that hire me over and over, and the momentum picked up. Working as a musician full time is the most amazing, beautiful, soul fulfilling thing I could ever do! But there are also many challenges. I’ve noticed that this year in particular, many places have lost their budget for music, or don’t hire as often, or have tried to lower their payment. I book my own gigs, I drive all around, I do pretty much everything on my own, which can get lonely. And building an artist career right now is also challenging! Not only are there millions of talented folks, but now we also have AI “artists” and music taking over. Making music is expensive, as well as again, as an independent artist, having to do mostly everything myself. I co-produce all my music, I’m the vocal engineer, I shoot my own music videos and content, do my own graphic design, social media marketing, style and creative direct, and all of the behind the scenes things, etc. I would not do anything else with my life, but sometimes it’s a lot!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a full time singer/songwriter/musician who performs 180-200 gigs a year here in the Southern California area. I’m also an independent artist and co produce and release my own music. I have had a few songs licensed for independent projects (with hopefully bigger sync licenses to come!!). I was a finalist in the American Songwriter national songwriting competition, my songs have been played on radio stations, and I have received lots of great press for my music. I am most proud of creating a full time career in music for the past 7 years, becoming a producer (that is a new role for me this year), and also I’m really proud and excited to share all of my new music- I have 8 more songs that I’m working on to release in the coming months and they are some of the best songs I’ve written so far.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
BE YOU. That’s it. I for many years tried to be what I wanted to be, or thought was cool, but that’s not the way to go. Be the most YOU you can be. And if people dig it, great. And if they don’t, oh well. Your authenticity is far more compelling than anything else

Contact Info:

• Website: https://erinnalissa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinnalissamusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ErinnAlissaSelkis

Image Credits
No credit for main image (at mic) and the hotel cafe pic

Black and white with guitar is Roy Dunn

all others are by Gabriella Miranda