Meet Avilena | Singer/Songwriter

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

Hi Avilena, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued an artistic career because I knew it was something always within me and something I was always capable of doing. For so long I held back the things I wanted to express, feeling like what I had to say wasn’t important, feeling like I would never be good enough, and just being so afraid that people would make fun of me. But one day it just clicked for me. Making music and writing songs isn’t about being good enough or perfect. It’s about being free to sing and feel whatever you want. It’s about highlighting all the moments in your life, the good and bad.

Whether it’s anger, happiness, falling in or out of love, heartbreak, or just wanting to break out into dance, music is about letting go and embracing every emotion. And for that reason, I decided to pursue and perfect my artistry. Singing has always been my passion above all else, and I’m so grateful that I’ve been given the privilege of being able to share it with the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The songs I’ve written don’t fit into one category, as a singer I truly just sing whatever I’m feeling, and that includes singing whatever genre I’m drawn to. I’ve dipped my toe into many different areas, including bossanova, disco, indie pop, neo-soul, R&B, and even punk rock and metal! I’m always open to reach out of my comfort zone, as long as I’m singing free that’s all that matters.

Getting to where I am now certainly wasn’t easy. Even though yes I can be a bubbly and expressive person, I’m not always that way unless it’s with someone I’m comfortable with. So it forced me to step out of whatever insecurities I had(and sometimes still have) and just made me be 100% who I am, no holding back. I networked my way to all the people in the business I know now, and found a lot of smaller artists like me who always help me out when I need. And now because of that I’ve been able to write and create a whole album, be a featured artist on other tracks, become a ranked artist on streaming platforms, get interviewed, and even get on the radio! It’s all truly a blessing and I’m so thankful for it all. I think the main lesson I’ve learned is to just unapologetically be me, and to never be afraid to reach out to people. I want the world to know that everything I make is full of passion and love. And to everyone who listens to my music, it truly makes my heart soar, so thank you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow where to begin? Well since I am based in Brooklyn I would definitely say go to L&Bs for some top notch classic New York pizza. It’s the best! In terms of the city I would definitely visit the museums, my personal favorites are the Museum of Sex, The Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Natural History. Trust me you’ll never be bored over there. I would also go to Chinatown, Nolita for the food, and check out the Oculus by the World Trade Center. It’s a beautiful shopping center with a gorgeous interior, and the food court they have is amazing! And for shopping, SoHo is the way to go. They have everything, and the clothes you can’t find anywhere else.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would most definitely credit my fellow peer Jblxss, he was the person who introduced me to the whole industry and how everything works behind the scenes. He helped me feel comfortable doing what I do and always encouraged me to sing my heart out.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Avilena

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avilenamusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvilenaMusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avilenamusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnSyhVNYvxY

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25mHJB2OOsYtGmjPR6LSI6?si=bLmmiYw4QtiHio2c5Dex9w

Image Credits
@spookyrock @waveyypost @stoopsny