Following is an interview with Laura Aiisha Haykel regarding her path in life and her upcoming debut CD release party at Babeville:
What is an Empowered Femmepreneur?
It makes me giggle reading this question… I use the word ’empowered’ quite a bit. And then that funny word… ‘Femmepreneur’ which usually invokes either a confused look or a huge smile. I love the French language and like to create my own words, so when I started an accountability and support group for women entrepreneurs in Buffalo a few years ago I called it the ‘Femmepreneur’ group. Just a little something different to shift the energy a bit and have some fun with it. Now back to your original question… to me an empowered Femmepreneur is a woman who is stepping into her power and potentials by choosing to monetize her gifts and talents so that she can free herself from the 9-5 and be her own boss, which for single Mom’s like me can create a whole lot of needed freedom to be available for my daughter when needed 🙂
Are you an artist? A musician? A healer?
Actually I’m all three! It’s funny to think that I pigeonholed myself on the ‘business’ end of music/entertainment for years, secretly wishing I was on stage, when really and truly I’ve been a creative all my life. I’ve always loved to sing, dance, create routines, do gymnastics, I had a short stint as a painter when I was pregnant at 19, I also played piano and violin when I was growing up. All the while I always felt this direct connection to ‘The Divine’ whatever you conceive this energy to be.. I always felt a deep reverence for life, the seen and unseen, the magic and mystery of it all. I’ve always been an empath, which means I have the ability to pick up on how others are feeling or their state of being, I’m intuitive and can tap into what someone is going through without having to hear too much from them, I have a divine sense of timing and just happen to be at the right place at the right time. I’m usually calling people just as they’re thinking of me and normally run into dear friends on the streets of Manhattan. I also realized my ability to see through the bullshit of a situation or experience and assist others in getting straight to the heart of the matter. I’m great at assisting others to tune into their purpose, potentials, worth and beauty.
How would you describe your music? Is it original?
My music is all original. I’ve just launched my debut recording with 5 original tunes and a bonus track. It’s a blend of soul, pop and world music with reggae and hip-hop influences. It’s deep, it will ignite your light inside, uplift your vibration and take you on a journey through word and sound. I’ve been told that the chorus for my empowerment song (see, there’s that word again!!) sticks in people’s heads.. they hear it when they wake up in the morning and it helps them get going… ‘get up get up right now… get out of your way….’
How did you come to embody the music? Where did you get your start?
This has been a journey… For whatever reason I felt so tender about sharing my voice on stage. I would sing my little heart out in the shower, the car, at home etc., but the thought of singing in front of others?! I would just clam up. It wasn’t until I turned 30 that I was working with a life coach in Rochester, NY. I would walk into her office singing and she started telling me, ‘Laura, your voice is like butter baby! I could listen to you all day long!’ So we started talking about it and I came clean about this dream I’d had since I was little, to share my voice, energy and message with the world through words, songs, movements. Around the same time I had been hearing a voice in my inner being telling me to go to Karaoke. So I started to go, and after 4 weeks I was bored as hell! So I said to myself, ‘I’m going to start a reggae band!’ And I found two other guys on craigslist who wanted to do the same thing and we built a 10 piece reggae band over the next 6 months. I was the lead singer, co-writing, managing and booking the band.
Our 5th show we opened up for reggae legend Toots & The Maytals on the main stage at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY. It was reallyfrickin’ awesome!!! I ended up leaving that band after 1.5 years because it wasn’t the best fit. It wastraumatizing to walk away from something I had poured my heart and soul into, but it was necessary. I laid back for almost 3 years when the creativity bug bit me again. About 2 years ago songs started to flow through me again. I started recording them and came out with a song called ‘Missin’ &Lovin’ (you’ll have to wait for the full length album release to hear that one!) Then ‘Get Up’ came through… and now I’ve got my first solo recording with 5 original songs!! Sofrickin’ awesome!!!
When listening to your music, should one, hum? Meditate? Dance? Reflect?
Honestly… there is a song on my EP for each one of these actions.. you will most likely find yourself dancing, humming, singing, meditating, reflecting, jumping around, whooping it up and having fun… some of the songs may move you to tears of joy, tears of letting go, tears of hearing the words from inside your own heart being reflected to you through me 🙂 I want to know from you… what do you do when you listen to my music?!!! haha
What musicians/artists inspire you?
Oh man, the list is looooong….. Bob Marley, Ella Fitzgerald, Maya Angelou, Darlene Love, Tina Turner, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Toumani Djiabte, Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Queen Ifrica, Peter Gabriel, U2, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Alycia Keys, Lauryn Hill, Enya, Björk, Bahamadia, Myles Davis, Quincy Jones, Tupac and the list goes on and on!!!
What else inspires you?
For me… life on the daily. I have always had this deep reverence for life and all that is.. I feel humbled by my experience, it brings tears to my eyes. I’ve put myself through a lot in this life and to see how far I’ve come and how completely blessed I am.. there simply aren’t words to express how thankful am.
How have you changed over the last year?
In the most profound ways… I’m learning about myself on deeper and greater levels. I’m coming terms with the past, learning how to let go, how to clear out the old to create space for the new, how to give thanks and continue to show up in the face of adversity, doubt, fear and all of life’s hiccups. I’m also remembering that it’s OK to be me fully.. to take up space, to share my voice, my gifts, my dreams with the world and to trust this deep inner knowing that all is better than I can even imagine in this moment… Life is up underneath me, life has got me on all sides in all directions of space and time.. it’s not up to me to KNOW HOW everything is going to unfold… it’s up to me to show up and trust the process on the daily. I took a BIG leap of faith investing my own money in my debut recording project, and stepped waaaay outside of my comfort zone putting myself out there like this.. taking this bold step shows me, without a doubt, how far I’ve come.
Tell us about your upcoming CD release party. Who should attend?
My CD Release party is from 7-11pm on June 19th at 9th Ward/Babeville ALL AGES. Tickets are $12 in adv/$15 at the door and partial proceeds will go to a fund I’m starting for a village I’ve started visiting in the southern region of Senegal West Africa, called Adeane. You can get tickets at Rust Belt Books. Babeville, Terrapin Station and online via the Babeville website or by clicking here.
Also, the first 30 people to arrive will get a FREE CD and an extra special treat from me 🙂 We’ve got local sponsors doing giveaways, great performances lined up, hot young female DJ Yama and good vibes you can take home with you!!
I want anyone who is remotely curious to check it out, to be there… I realize folks don’t know me or my music because I’m just stepping onto the scene… so anyone curious can get a FREE download of my single Get Up by clicking here.
Also, anyone who likes to dance, be in a good vibration, be uplifted by live music, dancing and other special surprises… you need to be there! If you love to support local arts, creatives, positive music…you need to be there! If you need to get out of your own way and do something fun and new to tap into your playful side… you need to be there! So pretty much, if you’ve made it to this part of the interview… YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!