Conversations with Ahleya Alexis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ahleya Alexis.

Hi Ahleya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in a large multicultural household-my grandma is from Jamaica and my grandpa is from Alabama – and being raised by a single mom, I was immersed in creative expression. My family fostered a love for creativity through cooking, music, art and fashion.

I was introduced to performing when I was three years old at the Christian performing arts preschool I attended. Learning how to dance and sing were ways we were taught how to read, write, and retain information to get ready for grade school and to further our faith. In the early 90s, hiphop and rnb were popular genres that I gravitated towards and fell in love with. Because my parents were divorced, on the days my sister and I were with our dad, I remember being enchanted by the subs and 808s playing from the trunk of his car. I remember sneaking out of bed in the night to watch my aunts and uncles producing beats and writings songs, and I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Throughout the years, I continued to surround myself with music-I was a first-stand cellist through high school, worked the soundboard and danced in church, and continued to make beats and compose music at home. After being discouraged to pursue a full-time career in music, I put that dream aside and decided to major in psychology. By my third year of college at Depaul University, my decisions weighed on me and I knew I needed to find my love of music again and lose my fear of singing to others, so I decided to end my college career. With the support of my mom I packed up everything I had to move to Los Angeles to get my feet wet in the industry. In the four years I spent in LA, I learned how to engineer, vocal produce, and collaborate with other artists. By then, I got the opportunity to move to Atlanta in 2020 to collaborate on an album with a songwriter but because I wanted to perfect my craft in performance, I decided to enroll at AIMM.

I am now in my last quarter at The Atlanta Institute of Music and Media as a vocal performance major and have realized that the stage and the studio are my happy places. Being in Atlanta has opened up opportunities to perform and record with artists I’ve looked up to in the industry. Learning my voice and how to expand my range, make great music, perform for an audience, and be an example of the fear I constantly overcome with being vulnerable and using the gifts I have will forever be my passion. I look forward to the rest of my journey and all that comes with it!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have always been in love with the idea of performing to an audience and using the gifts I possess, but being shy was something that crippled me and backed me into a corner of what-ifs. Knowing that no one in my immediate family pursued performance as a professional career, I didn’t really have a model to look at. Deciding to play cello, dance, and work the soundboard at church were ways I could still express that urge to create but essentially didn’t fulfill my dream of performance.

When I made the decision to leave my hometown at 20 years old to move to Los Angeles, I didn’t know anyone and felt like I had the world at my fingertips with the confidence of a mouse. Shadowing others and learning the ropes of being a recording artist or simply a singer-songwriter gave way to many people in my circle the space to suggest choosing a plan b. They knew how hard it was to be successful in this industry so that advice was all they could give at the time. Aside from my immediate family, I had to learn to be the support and drive that I desired.

Picking up multiple jobs, getting my first car and apartment, and financially supporting the lifestyle of an artist quickly became my reality. From sleeping on couches, in cars and years without seeing my immediate family were all a part of the journey. There were many days where I felt as if a plan b was my fate because of my financial situation and lack of true support and genuine camaraderie during my first few years in LA. Luckily I did find a few mentors and friendships that I will always consider lifelong family.

Driving across the country to Atlanta was a start to a new level I wanted and needed. It hasn’t been all easy learning a completely new town and people. From being kicked out and almost facing homeless, picking up multiple jobs, putting myself through school, and simply making ends meet have been another page to my story. But the help of my family, team, new mentors and newfound friends have been a blessing in it itself!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an RnB Recording/Performing Artist and Songwriter. I am currently in school at AIMM as a Vocal Performance major and am working on my music catalog here in Atlanta. Since leaving my hometown in 2016 at 20 years old, I would have never thought I would be where I am today. Leaving my immediate family and the ups and downs I have faced have not been easy but are showing me just the person I have dreamed to be. I am proud to say that stepping out on faith and fighting my fears have opened doors to working alongside industry professionals and being mentored by many artists I’ve looked up to-including Mixing Engineer Scott Kieklak, Vice President Josh Grau, and RnB Artist AllBlackDre to name a few. My tenacity, my drive, and my passion to being an example for those like me keep me going every day. I will forever be a student in this industry and my love for music and self-growth make me who I am.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Creating, facing my fears, seeing the results of my hard work in action, and being a positive example to my family members and people/aspiring artists like me.

Knowing that I was too scared to sing in front of others for most of my life and hiding behind the crowd were my only ways of feeling okay growing up. Knowing inside that I would never be able to feel alive that way made me feel incomplete as an individual. Striving toward the betterment of myself in my most vulnerable state-in front of others-makes me feel like I am doing something right. I’ve learned that authenticity and failure are the best teachers this world can give. Constantly taking those steps to be my best self is the only way I can feel like I am making a positive influence and impact with those that I love and those who are essentially watching and helping me grow in this industry. I love seeing people strive to be their best self so what better way to throw myself in the fire to show that it can be done.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ahleyaalexis
• Other: TikTok.com/@itsahleyaalexis

Image Credits
https://creativevisualdimensions.com @creativevisualdimensions_foto @aimmedu @lillala3000