In this inspiring conversation, we dive into the world of AB Lass, a passionate artist who blends music and poetry to express her unique voice. From singing with her mom in traffic to writing poetry at just eight years old, AB Lass has always been surrounded by words and melody. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and creativity, as she navigates the challenges of being an immigrant and a woman in the arts. Through her bilingual artistry, she hopes to bring solace and joy to those who, like her, navigate life in two languages. Get ready to be moved by her story of resilience, passion, and the unwavering belief in the power of self-expression.
What inspired you to combine music and poetry in your AB Lass project?
Words are a huge part of my life. For as long as I can remember, I’ve sung. My mom and I used to sing along to music on the radio while in traffic in the car, and she was the one that read to me since I was born, every night. So, I started writing poetry at something like 8 years old and haven’t stopped writing ever since, whether it is songs or poems.
Can you share a bit about your personal journey with music and poetry, from when you were young to now?
I’ve written poetry since I was 8 years old. I started writing prose poems in high school and began bilingual writing when I finished school. Music was always a thing I wanted to do but thought I couldn’t because I don’t play instruments. But singing became a way of expressing myself and when I felt ready, I started writing songs and after years of writing poetry it came naturally for me. I’ve been actively making music and songwriting for 7 years now and just restarted writing poetry last year after a couple of years only focusing on music.
Were there any particular challenges or struggles you faced while developing your bilingual music/poetry project?
The challenges I face are mostly the hardships faced by all immigrants: lack of budget to invest in my art, little access to connections in the industries where I want to thrive in and the ambiguity that comes with not being from the country you’re living in, meaning, I can’t participate in most contests, grant programs or scholarships because of my nationality, even though I am a legal immigrant.
How did you overcome these challenges, and what advice would you give to other women navigating similar obstacles in creative fields?
My advice to other women is always the same: try to learn on your own as much as you can about your craft. It’s not about stop working with other people, or accepting help. Those are always good. But there’s no better feeling than fully being able to express, explain and stress what you need when your working with other people.
What role does language play in your creative process, especially in combining two languages in your work?
It’s been crazy, because I started all my artistic endeavors in Spanish only to later start incorporating English in the mix. So it’s a very evolving thing for me. I am still learning to live and create in two languages at once.
Could you share a specific moment or experience that deeply influenced your artistic direction?
I always talk about an opera montage my uncle did of La Traviata by Verdi. It was the moment I realized I could be creating something related to stages, art, poetry, whatever it was. I’ve been chasing the feeling of seeing that show while I’m performing on a stage. I try to create that moment for myself, seeing me as the Soprano on my uncle’s montage of La Traviata.
What impact do you hope your music and poetry will have on your audience?
I hope more people who are sensitive and are navigating the speaking and communicating in two languages at the same time can find solace and joy in my music and in my poems.
How do you balance the different aspects of your creative work, such as composing music, writing poetry, and managing the project’s promotion?
I don’t. It’s been very hard to do everything on my own, so I’ve basically just been powering through and not stopped creating for a single day.
Have you faced any gender-specific challenges or biases in the music and poetry industries, and how have you addressed them?
It’s been very intense. I think I faced them the wrong way the first time around, when I spoke about inequality online and about my personal experience while being a musician and a woman. That backfired, because I think most people in Latin America are not ready to talk about all the types of discrimination that we as women are exposed to experience. Now, I’m facing it by learning. Learning everyday. Using my platform to encourage women to learn to do their crafts any way they can. I learn so I can use my skills to help myself and not depend on anything other than myself.
What advice would you give to aspiring female artists who are looking to establish themselves in the music and poetry scene?
I would say, write and submit and publish your music online and exist in social media in your own way. Try and see every silver lining possible. Keep going. And never, never stop writing.
How do you stay inspired and motivated during times of creative block or self-doubt?
I watch movies I loved when I was a teenager. Last time I hit a creative block I watched Scott Pilgrim vs The World and started writing again like crazy. I think it is taking myself back to when I started writing what helped.
Can you share a bit about your creative process, from initial idea to the final product?
I would love to say something sophisticated or organized, but mostly, I write all day long with poetry: Literally while in concerts, in the subway, before I shower. On the other hand, with music, for me it varies depending on if I came up with an a capella idea, which I normally record as a voice note on my phone and then show it to my partner and see if we produce it. And sometimes, I write a whole song on a random YouTube type beat I find, and then I try to produce it with my partner.
What projects or collaborations are you currently working on, and what can we expect from AB Lass in the future?
I am releasing my second EP on August 9th and I’m currently working on my first bilingual poetry book.
How do you see your art evolving or growing in the coming years?
Hopefully being able to travel the world performing my music and poetry all in the same show.
Lastly, what message or legacy do you hope to leave through your music and poetry?
There’s a funny quote I love, from I think the first episode of GIRLS, the Lena Dunham series for HBO. Her character, Hannah, says “I think I may be the voice of my generation, or at least, the voice of A generation” and that really stuck with me. I hope my legacy is someone reading a book I wrote.
