Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Azaria

Introduction of the project

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

My earliest memory of music is wobbling around my dad’s recording studio being fascinated by the buttons, the big counsel and the stories my parents would tell about them falling in love in a band. My life was engulfed in music since before I was a baby, it probably will never change lol but definitely the way it shows up ebbs and flows as I grow and develop in life. When I was little my father would play guitar in our backyard with my mom, brother and maybe their close friends after a bbq. Music was always Love and Love was always music to me.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

As I was made from music, it is something that is very close to my heart that I use as a source of therapy and connection to myself, the God/Universe and others. The passion and my ability to write about my feelings came naturally from the age of about 5 or 6. I made myself a little yellow song book and would write little lyrics and melodies in it. However, the act of singing did not come as naturally. As a child I would spend hours in the studio and in my room by myself practicing singing. That discipline and work ethic grew my passion for not just the music but the action of birth and creation of it when working on artistic projects inside and outside music today.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

The song “Can’t Help Your Man Loves Me” was a personal project of mine that came through the experience of finding love in challenging places. I connected to the heart break and pain I had inside me over the months before recording, to create poppy pleasure and help others heal to overcome their own struggles in the song. It is a song I prayed over and struggled to sing during the recording because of the painful contents of the experiences I went through. However, I believe it is a testament to how I love expansively regardless of the circumstances, while also learning healthy boundaries to do so. I also put the venus frequency 221.23hz (love) and recorded it in 432hz (relaxation and calm), so people can be healed by the song and feel the transformative love inside of me I learned from healing myself from the circumstance. – hence why it sounds like the song is tuned differently compared to the standardized tuning of 444hz frequency we have in music we listen to today. It’s a song of alchemy, in a space where most people would want you to feel shame in the experience. I love looking at it as a space of intentional healing and love in a place where a mess makes a miracle. I intend to use that same way of creation in the rest of my music and artistic endeavours in the future. Hence why it takes me forever to put out music lol (ha ha ha) ; ).

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Sensually Honest. My music aims to create pleasure and truth in our body, mind and soul. Every note (in key or note) is intentional in challenging or changing the listener (even if it is out of tune). Very Cancer Sun and Scorpio rising of me lol I want people to feel connected and seen in my music regardless of what they have been through. My music comes directly from my heart and soul, but I want it to be for intentional fun and healing to raise our connection with self and others.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Don’t listen to others’ opinions. Though I have had great success in my career, in some areas I compromised my vision to appease others’ need for control. I think at the end of the day musicians and artists are here to emote and everyone connects to the person they need to. If you feel strongly about anything in your artistry DO NOT COMPROMISE. I was told at 23 that I would not amount to anything in my career if I didn’t make it by 25, However, I had my big break performance at Pride Toronto 2023 when I turned 25 and I still create music with purpose and impact in different ways to this day. Imagine if I gave up before that. The things I am experiencing now at 27 would never have happened. lol Also, God or the Universe always has a plan, just listen to your heart to receive it.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

Studio One has become my best friend. lol I am so grateful to be able to learn such a great program by KR Moore.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

A little biased by my Mentee R. Flex. Their music is so lively and Pop/R&B infused while also being unapologetic about who they are while also showing others they can be themselves as well. ALSO, THEY ARE A PERFORMERRRRRRR! I love a good show! Vocals and everything.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

This is a fun question as a psychic medium lol. Sometimes my music comes from what I experience in that moment or the past. But also it comes from either a future that will happen or what I am manifesting. For example, my song “O.N.S”, talks about the wonderful and colorful intimate life I have had (and currently as a single woman) after my break ups with boyfriends. “Turning 21” was my emancipation song from stopping working on music with my father and listening to my mother every step of the way in life. It allowed me to take my own life and career in my own hands; I am so grateful for that. What I love about how I make music is that it is always connected to my life, I never want to make music if it’s not created by my own experiences. That also means I have to live life to create more music. So as I get older it is never rushed. It is always aligned with the stars lol I am such an alchemist

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

It’s ok to feel. A lot of times we are stuck in life because we are not allowing ourselves to feel through it. I have learned from my favourite musicians, Lana Del Rey, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, The Police, Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Donna Summers, that feeling will let your music not only be successful with the masses but also for your own integrity and heart beat of it. It is ok to feel through your feelings regardless of what they are, without judgement.

Another message is to always reflect and be intentional with yourself and your life – that is how magic in your life is made. My life has been meticulously crafted by me and God, I want people to know that regardless of their circumstance their response is so powerful and life changing for themselves and others. My music is a reflection of the decisions I have made in my life, my responses, reactions and outcomes of that intention (like in magic) but, we all are magic and our life shows us how we use it.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

Never give up on yourself and trust your intuition. The external part of the industry and (capitalism lol) will make you believe that it is a rat race, but it is what you make it and how you want to connect with your art. Also, everything is always divinely timed and possible. Opportunities could have been missed or changed because something better was coming – because there is always something better coming. At age 13, I was offered a record deal by a major label. My parents said no because they did not want that strenuous life for me at a young age and as I grow older I am more appreciative of their foresight now because I have a much more fuller, well rounded life outside of just making music. If they said yes, I wouldn’t have had the friends, home, experiences and connection I do with others if my life was solely around recording records and touring. Just know there is always something made for you and your biggest limitation or block could be your biggest blessing.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Scotiabank Arena or Rogers Centre packed as a headliner with amazing opening acts of artists that I support and singing with my Mom – if she would want it lol lol lol.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Mariah Carey. She has written a lot of music I personally connect to and I have taken so much inspiration from her as an artist and as a person. It would be a dream to write a beautiful ballad and pop r&b track for fun with her. Or just have a conversation.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

All social media is @azaria.thealchemist and Spotify

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@azaria.thealchemist

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vsiUkG2QAMUAA20gyfTLv

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@azaria.thealchemist

Releases: https://www.youtube.com/@azaria.thealchemist/releases

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@azaria.thealchemist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azaria.thealchemist/

What’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I would like to focus more on having a positive impact and healing while also reaching a wider audience. Being a psychic medium on a spiritual journey has made me more cognizant on how we can impact others. I have become more thoughtful on the music I put out and how it will impact the world. No more writing music out of “I need to get a hit and become famous”, it’s more along the lines of I can use my gifts to heal and do good, for example bringing awareness to tough spaces in our lives, fundraising for causes like mental health or uplifting underrepresented communities. I also want to take a step back and support more artists. I do mentoring through Women in Music Canada and other channels and I would like to uplift more artists that may not feel like they can have their art heard and seen in ethical ways. And also more music. Fun, Sensual, Sexual, Creative, Deep Music. Becoming more of the Woman I am has woken up a space in me that makes me feel this way and my music will definitely reflect that.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

Ummm that I am a real person that is going through issues like everyone else, I may take alternative ways in getting where I need to go because I am Azaria. My brain thinks differently and I love and own who I am fully. I love to read and learn; I also don’t like hearing the word no because I always know there is a way to get a yes. lol ; ).