Meet Missy Alcazar | Professional Dueling Pianist, Singer-Songwriter, Twitch Music Streamer

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

Hi Missy, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
The most difficult decision I ever had to make was in 2013 deciding whether I should quit my newfound job training as a dueling pianist to move back home and help take care of my mom who was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. My dream of being a songwriter started back in 2009 however for years my crippling stage fright of singing and playing kept discouraging me. When I got the job offer to train to become a dueling pianist it was a dream come true because it was the stepping stone I knew I needed to overcome my stage fright. Even though I still have some lingering guilt about it to this day, ultimately I’m really proud that I decided to pursue my dreams of becoming a dueling pianist because I have developed the confidence and skills I needed in order to be an entertainer and share and perform my original music.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’ve always had a difficult time describing my original music because I grasp versatile genres of music. I even had to ask our Twitch community and close friends how they could describe me and even they had a hard time. It’s one of the things that sets me apart from the rest. Everything about me sets me apart, my story, my personality, heritage, my journey, my songs and what I write about all contribute to my unique sound.

Professionally I got to where I am today with hard work, patience, discipline and consistency. Before I was a professional dueling pianist I was a concert pianist. And one important skill I learned was understanding the importance of repetition, discipline and patience. The minutes, hours, weeks and years I have invested in learning/practicing/performing scales, chords, arpeggios, memorizing 30min Beethoven Sonatas, Liszt and Gershwin Piano Concertos have all contributed to the quality of sound I have today. To this day I still wish I learned more ha!

I overcame challenges by surrounding myself with supportive people. The ones that lift you up when you’re feeling low. The ones that make you feel like you’re good enough. I also made sure I would allow myself to do things that I love like going I the beach, reading a good book or getting some ice cream.

One lesson that I’ve learned along the way was being more aware of the people you surround yourself with and not ignoring red flags no matter how small they seem. After being more self aware as an adult I look back at the people I hung out with and I really wish I chose better and more uplifting, supportive people. I was very insecure and a major people pleaser so I had been taken advantage of and backstabbed by a a few liars and cheats in my lifetime. I wish I wasn’t so trusting and so generous with them. I realize now that it’s always better to assess a persons integrity through their actions over time. Someone who’s words don’t match their actions reveal themselves within the first year.

One thing I want the world to know about my story is how much I want both music and film industry to recognize and highlight the significance Filipino-Americans. Historically, we have been overshadowed my entire lifetime and only now have we been getting a tiny little spotlight. We were a huge influence in American history yet we don’t exist in the history books taught in school. I’d love for that spotlight to grow into a huge sun and showcase the incredible force that we are and be able to represent everything we stand for. I think it’s time for us Filipino Americans to finally speak up and share our stories.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
All my best friends live 30min away and are LA natives like me so I’m not sure if this question is relevant to me. Lul! BUT, if I were to show a Twitch music streamer friend who has never been to LA I would take them to the following:

Hikes:
Hollywood sign hike
Switzer Falls Trail hike
Eaton Canyon Falls Hike
Arroyo Park Trail

Beaches:
Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Zuma
Venice Beach & Canals
Seal Beach
Manhattan Beach

Places:
Griffith Observatory
Rose Bowl Flea Market
Old Town Pasadena & South Pasadena
Downtown La Canada, Alhambra, Montrose & Sierra Madre
Seafood City in Eagle Rock
Hotel Cafe
Walt Disney Concert Hall
LA Greek Theatre
United Citizens Brigade
Groundlings Theatre
Bar Lis, Hollywood
Tramp Stamp Grannys, Hollywood
MOMA
Little Tokyo & the Arts District
Disneyland

Food spots:
Jollibee & Chow King in Eagle Rock Plaza
Manila Sunset
Arko Foods International
Republik Coffee,Pasadena
Civil Coffee, Highland Park
Coffee & Plants, Pasadena
Roll Factory by Straycat Kitchen, Pasadena
Oji Sushi, Pasadena
My Taco, Highland Park
BadAss Burritos, Pasadena,

These are a small fraction of things I’d show them.
If I had another few weeks I’d show them Orange County, Big Bear Lake and San Diego.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost I’d like to give a huge Shoutout to our Twitch community. They call themselves SlowNation, Gasm Club, Bros, BroNation, Dorks. I call them Weirdos and Banana Lovers. If it wasn’t for them my current original music and live streaming profession wouldn’t be possible. They keep me encouraged and inspired to keep going and not give up.

Another Shoutout is to Twitch. After losing my dream job as a dueling pianist at Disneyland, Twitch was my saving grace. This live broadcasting platform offered me a free space where I could still perform and entertain live music. Back in June 2020 I had no idea I was about to embark in what felt life changing. I found a group of people who not only loved my covers and entertaining live show, they loved my original music. This group became such an integral part of my songwriting journey that on top of helping me build a professional live broadcasting music stream, they helped me develop the confidence I was lacking in my own original music.

Shoutout to Rick Rubin’s book “The Creative Act: A Way Of Being.” There is so much golden wisdom in this book I can’t even describe in words how enlightening and rewarding it felt to sit with this gem. It almost felt like I was a disciple basking in the sun and Rick Rubins words were healing me with his rays of sunshine.

Shoutout to the people in my life that inspire me to better myself. My snowboarding ladies, La Broche A Foin crew, Tom Bagley, my therapist Nina, Kendall Kids, my dad, my aunts. These are the ones who believe in me and have been there for me through adversity.

Website: https://missyalcazarmusic.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missyalcazarmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/missy_alcazar

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/missyalcazarmusic

Other: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/missyalcazarmusic/about TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missyalcazarmusic

Image Credits
Stephanie Girard Holly Rojo