POESY- “The art or practice of composing poems”- Interview and Collaboration

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography. If you guys have not checked out her work and page yet I highly recommend it, she is so talented and gifted!)

Hello my beauts and welcome back to my blogging channel! Hi, hello, my name is Alyssa and I am so glad you chose to pop by and say hi! I have been blogging for several years now and absolutely love my hobby with a passion. I would not change it for the world. One piece of advice I would offer my viewers is to find something that keeps you busy and that you enjoy doing. It honestly took me a while to find out what my hobby was, but once I found it, I have never been happier. One thing that makes me absolutely adore my hobby, even more, is interviewing individuals from different communities. I thought of the idea a while back and literally thought to myself, “there are so many people from around the world with beautifully hidden talents, I would love to talk about them on my channel and show them off“.  I know for a fact if I had a hidden talent and a blogger reached out to me and wanted to write about me I would be caught off guard but in a good way! So, that is when I decided to reach out to different people, ones who inspire me a lot, ones who are beautiful souls inside and out, and ones who deserve to share their story with others around the world.  There is one lady in particular that has stood out to me over the past few months. Not going to lie, I do not watch too many television shows or series, I always end up missing an episode and I get far behind. I decided to watch a new television series called, “The Launch”, which looked very interesting to me, as I love singing shows (secretly wishing I could sing myself).  This show helps undiscovered artists shape the creation of new releases with the help of producers and songwriters.

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotograph)

While watching “The Launch“, one girl on the show caught my attention. She had a very unique and beautiful look to her. Not only was she stunning, but her voice was out of this world. Her voice is the type of voice that makes you stop what you are doing and just listen giving you goosebumps all over your body. Her voice has so much power, meaning, and feeling behind it. I think this is what I specifically look for when it comes to singers if they actually have the feeling and power of their voice when they are singing.  This lady, being only 23 years old, caught my attention right off the bat and I was rooting for her throughout her whole journey on The Launch. I am honoured and pleased to announce and share that I will be interviewing none other than “POESY” herself.

I remember clear as day, I was in the car with my mom and was in the parking lot of a grocery store. To let you beauts all know I do have two Instagram accounts at the moment, one was for my blogging account, but I decided to just use my main Instagram account from now on. I received a notification on my old account that someone just started following me. I didn’t think it was a huge big deal until I saw who it was that had followed me. It was none other than POESY herself, and I was in awe. I called my mom in the grocery store as I was just waiting in the car and told her the news, that POESY  and I were actually chatting back and forth, having a conversation. I asked POESY if she would be interested in being featured on my blogging channel discussing her music career and Launch experience. POESY was more than happy to be featured on my channel, and I was literally on cloud 9. How was this happening? I informed my mom of the news and she was ecstatic for me as she was a huge fan of POESY herself as well. Right away we played “Soldier of Love” and started dancing and belting it out. I will never forget that day and the amount of happiness that flooded my body. One thought that entered my mind when chatting with POESY was how down to earth she was.

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

POESY was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia.   She had lived on the east coast for a while,  and then eventually her family relocated to Ontario. Like myself, she watches too many Youtube Vlogs, and her bookshelf is colour coded to look like a rainbow. POESY was always kind of a musical child, as she started taking piano when she was 5 years old. POESY states, “I was never nervous to sing in front of people, which now seems kind of ironic because I grew up a very shy kid. The first time I remember falling in love with singing was when I was 9 years old and sang at my grandparents 40th anniversary party. My parents thought it would be cute if I performed something, even though I’d never really done it before, and since the party took place around Christmas time, I sang a Christmas song called ‘the Gift’. It was originally performed by Aselin Debison (who is also from Nova Scotia), and I remember thinking, “When I’m a teenager, I’m going to be a singer just like her.” After that, I just kind of got obsessed and singing just became a part of who I am. It’s weird to think of a time when I didn’t do it”.  I could not agree more with what you had said POESY! That is just like me when it comes to my blogging, it is hard to think of a time when I was not blogging. I feel like blogging has always been a part of me, just like your singing!

I then went on to ask POESY what her basic interests and hobbies were. POESY shares that outside of music, she really loves cooking. POESY explains, “The fanciest meal I used to be able to make was pre-packaged tortellini, but after a became (mostly) vegetarian a few years ago, I think it motivated me to become more creative and find ways to make veggies and beans taste just as good as meat. I also really love yoga – I’m still very much a beginner and definitely have a lot to learn, but it really helps me get into a calm headspace when things get hectic”. I love this. I have always wanted to try something new such as yoga as I have heard it’s extremely peaceful, calming and relaxing. This would especially be beneficial when times get really hectic especially since I struggle with anxiety!

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography) – How adorable is she though?!

POESY has been playing the piano for almost 18 years now (really wish I could play the piano!). I absolutely love hearing someone play the piano since I do not play any musical instruments. Now that I am dating someone who knows how to play the trumpet and piano, it’s so beautiful and peaceful hearing him play!  POESY also knows how to play some basic guitar which is awesome! She writes a lot of the guitar because she doesn’t understand where the scales are, so it allows her to get out of her head, and just write based on feeling rather than what key it’s in. After wanting to get to know a bit about POESY and her story, I wanted to get into some deeper questions that I know you beauts are dying to find out. I wanted to know more about POESY’s music career and how she got to where she is today. I wanted to know what her biggest challenge was to get to where she is today. POESY states, “the biggest challenge to getting here was honestly probably just surrendering and putting my whole self into this career. I had known I wanted to do music for over half my life, but I had always been too scared to jump in and commit 100% of my time to it. Now that I am, it’s definitely a lot of work and comes with a host of new stresses, but they’re good ones – the kind that motivates you to go after what you really want and challenge you to be better. And it’s so worth it. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been”.  I just wanted to say I am so proud of you POESY for putting yourself out there and showing the world your beautiful talent, you should be so proud of yourself because I am!

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

Who was your biggest supporter? “I’m very lucky to have always had parents who were very supportive of my artistic pursuits. From driving me to gigs to investing in my piano lessons, they’ve always been there telling me what you dream is possible. I also have an amazing core group of friends and a wonderful girlfriend who has always told me that what I’m doing is worth it. I know that not everyone who has big dreams is as fortunate as I’ve been in the support department, which is why a big part of my music’s message is to follow your heart because I’d love to be able to be that support for someone else”.  I completely agree I think it is so important to have parents, family and friends who care about you and support you 100%. I absolutely love your message POESY, you have such a genuine heart and I have not even met you yet! You can just tell, and this is rare to find. 

One question I like ask individuals is if they could go back and change the clock, would they change anything, or would they have done something differently? Often I sit back and wonder about this question personally, and there are some things I wish could have done differently for sure. Then again, you learn from your mistakes, and that is life. POESY explains, “I’m very proud of every decision I’ve made throughout my career – and while I guess I could say, “I wish I had started pursuing things more professionally sooner,” if I had, I wouldn’t have experienced the life-changing moments and struggles that made me into the person I am today. The only thing I might’ve done is taken some dance classes as a kid so I was more graceful on stage”.  I completely agree with you POESY, I wish I would have taken my blogging a little more seriously at the beginning as well, that way maybe I could’ve been further along at this point. But hey, you live and you learn! You are still young, beautiful and have your whole life ahead of you!

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

“…I get most of my clothes from thrift shops, and I think I always will to some extent. 
I love putting on pieces of fabric and imagine they’ve been through all kinds of adventures, both sad and happy. Maybe they’ve been on a plane halfway around the world, maybe they’ve witnessed someone fall in love, maybe they’ve been stained with tears, maybe they’ve been pulled tightly to keep someone warm. Maybe they were someone’s go to companion on a good night out, or maybe they were the dreaded ugly piece at the back of the wardrobe that someone’s Aunt Freida improperly gifted. Or maybe they were none of that and just a piece of clothing. 
Either way, I like imaging. It makes me feel like we’re all a little more connected to one another, like maybe one day I’ll stumble across something that belonged to one of you. The piece I’m wearing in these photos must have seen some wonderful stuff because I can’t help but feel magical in it ✨“- POESY

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

One of the biggest questions that I wanted to ask POESY and was very curious about was how she had got involved with “The Launch“. Also, what was her experience like on there as well. What an amazing opportunity! POESY shares, “I got involved with the Launch about a year ago when I was contacted by a member of their A&R team. They mentioned the opportunity to me and encouraged me to submit an application. I recorded a quick video of me strumming Zombie by the Cranberries in my bedroom and a few months later, I was on a VIA rail train to Toronto to film the Launch. The whole experience was very positive, welcoming, and nurturing. I had never been involved with television before (or really any kind of large-scale musical showcase) so I didn’t know what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of support and care I received on set from everyone. They felt like family and I left feeling like I’d just had the most unbelievable few days of my life” Wow! What an incredible experience POESY, you must be so proud of yourself! I know I am so proud of you, and I know that thousands of other people are proud of you as well! You are an inspiration to so many people, and I can not thank you enough for that!

Do you write your own lyrics, if so, what inspires you? “Yes! While I didn’t write Soldier of Love, because of the nature of the show, I do write all my other material and am in the process of writing a lot right now. I’m inspired by all sorts of things in life – namely, my own experiences or those of my family and friends. I’m definitely a proponent of ‘write what you know’, but I also like sprinkling in references to literature, poems, history, and mythology because I’m an English major and occasionally like to use my degree”.

What was one piece of advice someone gave you in regards to your music and singing career? “The best piece of advice someone gave me was to step away from the piano and be a full-fledged performer. A lot of the musical personas I look up to a lot (Freddie Mercury, Florence Welch, Lady GaGa) have a huge presence on stage and I think, while I always aspired to that, I never really felt like it was something I could exhibit myself. Sometimes all it takes is one person giving you permission to become something bigger than yourself to push you to grow into the artist you were meant to be. In short, don’t limit yourself and be open to doing things outside of your comfort zone because the payoff will be huge”. Wow, after reading this POESY I stepped back from my computer and took in everything you just said. I love how you emphasize not to limit yourself, and to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I feel like a lot of people can relate to this, and take this in. I, myself, have had some big opportunities come my way, for example interviewing you, and my anxiety does get heightened because it is a big opportunity for me, I do not want to mess up! I love the advice you share, it truly means a lot coming from someone so successful such as yourself. I know a lot of people will be able to relate to this for sure.

(Photograph was taken by @chelseabrimstinphotography)

Often, if we are starting something new we do not know where to even start or how to go about something. I wanted to know if POESY had any words of advice to someone who was just starting out in the music industry. POESY states, “Write a list of reasons why you love music. Why it makes you happy. Why it makes your heart sing. Think long and hard about it and get as specific as you can. Then hang it up or save it on a computer somewhere where you can easily see it. Anytime you make a decision about your career or come across a setback, remind yourself of why you love what you’re doing. It’s very easy in this industry to lose sight of why you started this journey in the first place, so being really concretely sure about why you love and want to do this will make it easier to both push ahead in hard times and take a moment to relish a good time”.  Thank you so much for the words of advice and wisdom POESY! I highly agree with what you are saying. I think it is so important to remind ourselves why we start something, and why we love it. I could not agree more with the “hanging it up” somewhere in your house to see. I think just waking up in the morning and seeing this will help brighten your day.

“…Cupcakes, spring days and sly smiles because hey, things might just be turning around”- POESY

Another question that I love asking individuals who I am interviewing is where do they see themselves 5 years from now. POESY explains, “I see myself as being an artist who is lucky enough to have a music career that can take them all over the world. I really want to travel and see as much as I can. I’ll be almost 30 so hopefully, I won’t be too stressed out. By that point, I’d also like to have two recorded and released albums under my belt.  I’ll have a tiny little dog that comes on tour with me, have the time to celebrate the highs and lows with my friends and family, and maybe be working on my first book”.  That is amazing POESY, and I wish you nothing but the best in your endeavours. You truly are going places, I have a good feeling about this! Just don’t forget this little old blogger when you are really famous! haha! I am praying for you, and wish you well!

Did you always know you wanted to become a singer? “Yes! I remember doing a school project in the 4th grade where you had to research what you wanted to be when you grew up. Mine was on a black bristol board complete with a red Hollywood-style curtain pulled back on either side to reveal the gold letters that read: “Singer”. I remember even then, my teachers were hesitant about the 9-year-old who claimed she was going to win Grammys and perform all over the world one day, but I always knew it in my heart”. I truly believe that this is going to be you one-day POESY, you got this, and you have a lot of people who are rooting for you like myself. You are so talented and you can do anything you set your mind to!

One question that I was really looking forward to hearing from POESY was geared towards her eating disorder. As you beauts know I personally suffer from an eating disorder myself, so I can relate and it really hit home for me reading her Instagram post on “Bell Let’s Talk Day”. POESY released a video explaining that one of her songs is in relation to her eating disorder and came out to share. I had to ask POESY about it, and if she had a message to those who may be suffering, like myself, at this time. POESY shares, “I feel like I’m not the best example of this. I denied my eating disorder for a really long time because the struggle I was experiencing felt more comforting than pushing myself to recover. Recovery was really hard, and I consider myself to still be working on it. I think it only really started getting better when I made the choice to choose a fully happy and healthy life, free from the grips of my disorder. I unfollowed every Instagram account that made me feel bad about my body and replaced them with people who were also in the recovery/body positivity community so that I saw inspiring messages from people going through the same thing as me every day. That made me feel a lot less alone. I also started to get into cooking, so that I found a creative way to enjoy food again. And most importantly, I opened up to people in my life and told them what I was experiencing. Once people around me knew, we were able to work together to find ways to make sure I was continuing to work towards a life where I felt comfortable in my own skin. The best message I can give to someone who is struggling right now is that recovery is hard; it’s more than being able to eat ice cream whenever you want or having pizza just because. It’s a choice that you make every day – it’s a process. And it’s okay to not be perfect at it every day. There may be times, even years after, where you still have bad body image days. But eventually, those will be farther and fewer in between and you will feel like yourself again. It might be a slightly different you than you knew before, but it will be beautiful and strong and so worth it”.  I want to personally thank you for your beautiful message to those who may be struggling. It is hard. It’s a very hard process, and it is nowhere near easy. I am on the road to recovery now, but getting there and admitting I really need help was not easy. I love how you unfollowed some Instagram accounts that made you feel bad about your body, and I think this step will help me greatly. I think following some more accounts which shed body positivity will help me on my road to recovery. I know it was not probably easy for you to share this with the world on, “Bell Let’s Talk Day”, but I truly want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing this. Not only are you expressing that it is okay to get help and not be okay, but you are being a positive role model for thousands of people from around the world like myself, and I can not thank you enough for that. You are beautiful.

“…Be who you are, love who you love, and shine as bright as you freaking can, no matter what that looks like, because you are wildly special”- POESY

Before I end this interview with the beautiful and talented POESY I would love to give a shout out and acknowledge the gorgeous pictures that I had shared in this blog post. Although I do not know the photographer personally, she has a gift and talent that is exceptional.  I absolutely love photography and I am always intrigued by the type of photography artists choose to do, and by far this is amazing and beautiful work. I highly recommend checking out POESY’s beautiful girlfriend’s work over on Instagram at “@chelseabrimstinphotography“. I would absolutely love to maybe book a photography session with her one time, that would be amazing. She is from Toronto Ontario, which I am super excited about! Keep up the fantastic work Chelsea Brimstin, you are going places just like your girlfriend POESY. Keep on shining! Beautiful work!

“…she made me realize that to love someone is to fall in love with their whole soul before you even realize it’s happening”- POESY

I want to personally take the time to thank the beautiful POESY for allowing me to collaborate with her and agreeing to be interviewed. I can not get over how amazing and talented you are, you are such a beautiful soul inside and out. You really are going places, and I will not forget the day you responded back to my message on Instagram! (me dancing full out in the car singing Soldier of Love with Mom cranked up). I love how down to earth you are, you were my favourite singer on “The Launch” and I wish you nothing but the best for your future endeavours. You completely made my day! Keep on being you, keep offering your beautiful words of advice and wisdom to many others around the world.  You truly are one of a kind and an inspiration to thousands of individuals such as myself. Keep on shining, and enjoy your wonderful journey. I can not wait to see you on May 11th at The Zoetic in Hamilton Ontario. Of course, I had to get VIP seats to see you, and I am counting down the days! Maybe I will even get the chance to meet you as well, who even knows! That would be a surreal experience! Love you POESY! I hope you beauts enjoyed this blog collaboration and interview with POESY. Be sure to follow her on Instagram and support her music journey! Much love xo.