Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia Smith.
Hi Anastasia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a lifelong creative with a passion for words; I’ve been a writer and rapper since I can remember, and I’ve got some background in piano. I started my musical career by writing lyrics for other artists. Within the past few years, however, I’ve really begun to focus on growing myself as a performing artist and stepping into the spotlight as my own brand.
For me, making music is has been a way to mark the chapters in my life. My discography tells the tale: my first projects are very rap-heavy and aggressive, the next few are more experimental, and yet another chapter follows me into a more confident phase – both conceptually and sonically.
When I look back over my career, I can identify recurring themes of growth and innovation. Even during low or difficult times, when I wasn’t writing much or at all, I was still developing myself and my story. And I’ve got a few stories to tell!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This road has not been entirely smooth, but of course life is what happens to us along the way. A challenge I’ve had to overcome several times is self-doubt. Questioning and second-guessing myself have been dangerous pitfalls. The longer I live, though, the easier it becomes to know how to question myself in healthy ways.
What’s worked for me thus far is noticing and changing how to speak to myself, how I treat myself, and how I relate to myself. When I treat myself with love and compassion instead of criticism and anger, I’m a better Anastasia.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I call myself a Rap Artist. I pride myself on treating my craft as art: nothing more, nothing less. It’s not difficult to rhyme words; there are apps for that. But it takes some thought, some imagination and human quality to make poetry of those words. To add nuance to the mundane. That’s what I bring to the game.
As an artist, I strive to paint a picture for my listeners. To tell a story not just with my lyrics but also with my cadences and melodies.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I have learned (to my delight) that I am a resilient person. It’s so easy to look at our setbacks and failures and criticize ourselves or wish we had done something differently. It takes work and energy to think past those things and love ourselves for the way we bounce back. The way we work it out or work around it.
It’s not always easy, but I pick myself up and dust myself off as often as needed to make my point and say my truth. I am proud of that.
Contact Info:
- Email: letsbookanastasia@gmail.com
- Website: anastasiahera.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasia_hera_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anastasiahs
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/anastasia_hera
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrD0k3lawzKAp7yvXxKy1nQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/theanastasia/sets/kale-yoga-full-project
Image Credits
Michael Blue Smith Cameron Boldon
