Meet Aisha Singleton | Artist, Filmmaker & Humanitarian

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aisha Singleton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aisha, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

Curiosity and a love of magic surrealism has led me to pursue an artistic career.

I’m a Boston native, LA based, BIPOC Visual Storyteller & Soho House Fellow. I specialize in conceptual fine art, documentary photography & filmmaking.

Growing up I wanted to be an Archaeologist or a Pediatrician and initially during my undergraduate studies I was Pre-Med with a minor in Anthropology.  I’ve always been fascinated with other cultures and have had a deep desire to connect with and help people.

At some point my focus shifted to Communications because I wanted to emulate Oprah and perhaps have my own talk show, production company and nonprofit one day. My curiosity for other cultures was satisfied with a Latin American Studies minor, where I had a home stay in the Yucatán city of Merida, Mexico. I absolutely loved it and felt like I was at home there and my archeological dreams came true when we explored the Mayan ruins of Uxmal and Chichen Itza.

My high school photography class lit a fuse in me stimulating my love of portraiture. However, I didn’t pursue photography professionally until I was working on an Indie Film set, Drive-Inn Horrorshow, and was asked to take Production Stills. Cinematography has always captivated my imagination and must’ve planted the seeds for my foray into filmmaking.

I’ve always been drawn to the arts.

I remember seeing my first Shakespeare in the park performance and falling in love with live theater. I was even accused of plagiarizing Shakespeare in high school when I decided to go off script from the assignment and wrote what essentially would’ve been Ophelia’s suicide note in perfect iambic pentameter. Sadly, my British Lit teacher never apologized when she realized my essay was authentic. Which is too bad considering had she recognized my fervor for creative writing she could’ve steered me towards pursuing it professionally. Alas, here I am an emerging Screenwriter and my over active imagination is now a total asset. I genuinely process information through a Romantic Comedy filter which can be outrageous in real life but phenomenal in storytelling. I’ve learned to laugh at myself a lot!

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. 

Many of the common themes and threads of my artwork encompass the African Diaspora, family, femininity and humanity as human and spiritual beings. I fundamentally believe that we are all more alike than we are different and I like to showcase that in subtle yet obvious ways. For instance the TV pilot I’m developing features a Blasian teen who becomes an amputee. She is Caribbean American and although ethnically her parents appear different they’re actually from the same culture.

Inspired by a spiritual connection to the natural world, and interdependence on technology one of my most recent projects, Earth, Wind & Fire offers a critical lens of natural disasters as embodied in the divine feminine.

I’m incredibly excited about a juried exhibition I was recently apart of called Illuminate LA’s Collective Memory Installation. The aim of the show is to disrupt public spaces to promote more inclusion. I showcased a series of photographs entitled Duplicity in Roots, double exposures of my cousins who are Afro-Argentine.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Through my years of working with The Gotham (formerly IFP, Independent Filmmaker Project) I gained an intimate worm’s eye perspective of the challenges, joys and complexities of independent filmmaking. That love and reverence for the process of independent filmmaking has sparked my latest endeavors into screenwriting!

I just wrote and produced my first short film, called Ghost Bae, about a down on her luck actor who falls for a ghost from the 1950’s living in her friends house, for the Disability Film Challenge, founded by Nic Novicki.

I have a deep love of music so it’s central to my work primarily with screenwriting, I have a dream soundtrack that I’ve developed even before I’ve finished writing. During the pandemic I literally dreamed up a screenplay for a feature film based in LA and Ireland.

My goal is to feature music from Black and Brown Irish musicians. In addition to having an outreach component to help engage low income and children of color in obtaining instruments and learning to play and compose music.

One of my passions is producing and capturing music videos. Which is essentially what prompted my move from NYC to LA.

I was invited to capture behind the scenes images of Anthony Resta, a Music Producer and genius while he was creating an album from concept to completion. Once the album was finished there was a release party at Paramount Recording Studios. I was fortunate because my book of photographs we created together was gifted along with a CD. So, quite serendipitously I was introduced to an array of incredibly talented musicians and music professionals in LA.

How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? 

This has not been an easy journey I had to fully embrace the notion of “burning your ships” as to not pack it in when things were falling apart. And things fell apart many, many times.

As a person with limb difference people often see my prosthetic as a disability but my greatest adversity growing up has been being low income. Even now camera gear is very expensive, I love music but I’ve only recently been able to afford music lessons. I’ve begun learning acoustic guitar at The Silver Lake Conservatory of Music, with a beautiful gently used classical guitar, an old neighbor gifted to me.

I’ve embraced the importance of volunteering and mentoring from my years of teaching photography at Venice Arts in Venice, CA. Their mission is to “ignite, expand, and transform the lives of Los Angeles’ low-income youth through photography and film education, and use our participatory storytelling practices to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities around the world.” That is a mission I can get behind and help foster!

I feel incredibly lucky to be apart of these amazing kids artistic journeys.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

A big lesson I’ve learned is to ask for help when you need it, you’re not an anomaly, others were in your exact position once upon a time so cast aside your pride. Another lesson I’ve learned is to believe in yourself and to not compare yourself to others.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

As a UNICEF NextGen artist I am dedicated to uplift, inspire and amplify diverse voices across cultures and abilities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, funny enough one of my sisters gave me a surprise visit a few ago and I played impromptu tour guide. Let’s see I live in Silver Lake so beginning there in the morning grab coffees at Dayglow on Sunset Blvd. then get a little nibble of tacos from Playa Mariscos, head off to the Griffith Observatory, you really can’t beat the views, descend back down and brace yourself for the Hollywood walk of fame because where else can you see that! Once you’ve found your favorite star quickly head over to the Roosevelt Hotel for a drink in their lobby or restaurant to soak up some old Hollywood glamour, depending on the time stay for more drinks and bowling! If you’ve worked up an appetite and you’re lucky enough to score a reservation pop over to Mr. T’s for a culinary delight and fun vibes! If it’s a Saturday my friend Free DJ’s at Gold-Digger’s in East Hollywood, go there to dance off all the food. Next day head to the westside because they’ll want to see the beach. Grab a coffee from Menotti’s on Windward, my favorite is the OG Spanish latte, get a bite from the Rose Cafe then walk the Venice Canals and head over to the boardwalk for eclectic people watching and trinkets and of course crystals my favorite is Miracle Vibrations. Cruise down the PCH to Neptune’s Net in Malibu for yummy fried seafood and if you’re a member head over to Malibu Soho House for a glass of wine, DJ set and watch the sunset (if not head to the beach) where you’ll have a better view of surfers. Once the sun goes down dust off that sand and head to Townhouse in Venice and dance your face off. If you’re needing a snack afterwards and you will be head to Abbot’s Pizza Co on Abbot Kinney. If you can catch a show at the Hollywood Bowl or Greek Theater it’s a super fun open air environment. For more high brow entertainment the Disney Music Hall’s acoustics are incredible. The Huntington Gardens are breathtaking and one of my favorite spots in the city is Little Tokyo. There’s a few around town now, Silver Lake, Venice, West Hollywood but Night + Market Thai food good will delight you. For the art lovers LACMA, the Broad & the Arts District are must see destinations.

So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc that you want to dedicate your shoutout to? 

There’s so many people I’d have to give a shoutout to, the wrap music would definitely come on if this were an Oscar’s acceptance speech. First and foremost my family for their unwavering support throughout my journey as an artist. My friends who I have the privilege and pleasure to work and create with.

Special shoutout to the amazing team at Soho House, where I am currently a fellow and to Tino DeMartino in particular, who’s also my yoga teacher now, gotta love LA! Speaking of I’d like to send immense gratitude to my yoga teachers throughout the years, especially to Jasmine Lieb and Paul Cabanis. A huge thank you to my life coach Jamie Star Crawford, who if it not for her I’d still be chasing my tail.

Some books that have been influential are

Like Water for Chocolate, The Alchemist & Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.

Films that have sparked my imagination are Amélie, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,

Pans Labyrinth, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Princess Bride, 10 Things I Hate About You, A Wrinkle in Time and Notting Hill.

Some inspirational artists and creatives are Frida Kahlo, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, U2, Japanese Breakfast, Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Rosalía, Caitlin Cronenberg, Shonda Rhimes, Jean-Luc Godard and Wes Anderson.

Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?

My grandmother who absolutely spoiled me even though she had very little means to spare. She infused the love of cooking, inviting in community and nurturing others, thanks Nana.

Website: www.aishasingleton.com

Instagram: @aishasingletonphotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-singleton-28894b12

Youtube: https://youtu.be/qfSeBvj_-0o

Other: https://www.lacountyarts.org/experiences/collective-memory-installation/aisha-singleton

Image Credits
Aisha Singleton