We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lara Mamoun. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Lara, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Thanks again for the opportunity to share my story. I believe that all successes can be traced back to a healthy combination of intelligence, energy and integrity. And I personally feel as though knowledge is power, and so, the more we learn and experience, the more we evolve and the better we become over time. Intellectual pursuits enrich our minds, while life experiences enrich our hearts by teaching us wisdom, compassion and patience. This is why intelligence can be such a significant weapon to wield, as it can help us navigate and make sense of Life’s uncertainties.
Intelligence is such a wonderful thing to be blessed with and to strive for; however, if one lacks the ability to concretize one’s dreams, then one will struggle to lead a rich and fulfilling life. And so, just as it’s important to have great ideas, it’s also important to be able to bring those ideas to life – and that requires time, effort and energy. Energy is hard to describe, as it can be felt and measured, even when it’s invisible. It is never created nor destroyed, it simply transforms. With that being said, we all store energy in our bodies, mind and spirit. And every day, we exert some of that energy. Where we choose to direct it can either make or break us, because our time can either be wasted or invested in enriching ourselves and others. This is why it’s very important to know how to best utilize our time and energy, so as to redirect it towards accomplishing our goals, as well as towards bettering ourselves and everyone else around us.
Now that we’ve looked over the significance of having intelligence and energy, it’s time to consider the benefit of having a strong, defined and refined character. As I get older, I realize that people might not always remember what we tell them, but they will remember how we treat them and how we make them feel. So being mindful of our words and our actions can help us leave a positive impact on our environment. Words and ideas can harm or heal, and so, this is why I find it important to be honest, kind and to develop a strong moral character, so as to ensure that our actions and our words are aligned with our principles. Living in communities means caring about others and taking care of one another. So having integrity only strengthens our social bonds and improves our communities’ quality of Life.
All in all, I believe that we can all make the world a much better place if we remain mindful of how we treat each other, and if we continue to maintain a healthy balance between intelligence, energy and integrity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Well, hello beautiful readers of the world. For those of you who have yet to know me, allow me a moment to reintroduce myself. The name is YAAA. I mean, Lara Mamoun. Or was it Elle Moon? I’m sorry, I tend to lose myself in the various personas I adopt, but alas, that is the plight of an artist seeking to immerse herself in her Art.
As a multi-disciplinary creative, I love exploring different artistic mediums when expressing myself and for the past 4 years, my music has been my main focus. I’m an independent Singer and I’ve been composing, writing and singing all of my songs under my main alter-ego, Elle Moon. I make Pop, Rap, EDM, Hip Hop and acoustic music in English, French and Arabic. I released my debut album ‘Purple Skies’ in 2021 and I’m about to release my sophomore album ‘Bonnie & Hyde’ which will introduce my second alter-ego, YAAA. I spent the past few years working on this album and I’m very excited to finally share it with the world, as it will showcase more of my range, as well as some of my comedy.
Prior to making music, I studied civil engineering and economics and I then worked extensively in web development, entrepreneurship and Film – both in front of and behind the lens. I produced, script supervised, directed and acted for small and major networks, and I was a cast member on the Atlanta-based live sketch comedy show, ‘The Going Live Show’. I used to also direct, write and act in comedic sketches, as well as perform stand-up comedy in and around Atlanta.
I’m very thankful for the experience I garnered over the years as it gave me the ability to self finance, produce, direct, edit, style and choreograph all of my music videos. These skills that I’ve acquired allow me the privilege to continue to make and release my music under my independent record label, Moon Scope Records.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I would say that my relationship with God is the one that most shaped how I view myself and those around. I feel very blessed to be here on this plane and to experience this incredible life, with all of its highs and its lows. For you see, when things in my life go well and I feel bliss, I turn to God to give my thanks for this beautiful Life I’m blessed with. And when things in my life go awry and I feel down on my luck, I seek refuge in God until I’m ready to get back up and muster the courage to keep moving forward. Every day, I experience and learn new things that help me evolve, but no matter what, I always look for God in everything and in everyone, as that is when I truly know serenity, love and abundance.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
This is a tough question to ponder, but one that I find quite inciteful. My life was marked by numerous tragedies, traumas and even a war that I survived. As a result, I struggled with depression from a very early age and found it difficult to relate to others or communicate my feelings to those around. So I escaped. And I did so through my art, my music and my comedy. Although I didn’t realize how important it was to have an outlet to express my deepest, darkest thoughts; I truly believe that all of my suffering has blessed me with a stronger sense of Self and a firm determination to keep going – even when no one is cheering me on or lending a helping hand.
Since the release of my debut album in 2021, I’ve had many ups and downs, and I have yet to taste the success I strive to achieve, but I can safely say that even without it, I continue to push myself to move past the suffering in order to continue to do what I love. For you see, as an independent artist, I’ve encountered many obstacles throughout my career that were demoralizing at first, but later, served to strengthen my conviction. Whether it pertain to speaking up on issues that matter or finding ways to produce my work, I was met with opposition at times, which made things difficult. It’s not easy self financing all of my creative endeavors, without a stable source of income or a dedicated team overseeing every little detail. As a result, there were many times where I couldn’t afford to release my work the way that I wanted to, because I simply didn’t have the means to do so. And when that would happen, it was hard not to feel depressed, embarrassed or small.
I’ve suffered a lot in the process of making and releasing my work, as I’m very affected by both my external and internal worlds. And when something is off in either, it would deeply hurt me and delay my progress. But no matter what, I will keep doing what I love and sharing it with the world, whether it’s successful or not, as it is my life’s purpose.
With all of that being said, I can firmly say that suffering helps build character, it can also strengthen one’s resolve and give meaning to things we would otherwise take for granted. So I’m very grateful for the suffering I endured, and I look forward to the many lessons and successes I shall experience.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire Jesus Christ for his compassion, his love for us all and his lack of judgment. I remember reading about his life when I did my first communion and excitedly telling my mom how much I loved and admired him for his kindness and his forgiving nature. It always warmed heart to see good triumph over evil, and as someone that was raised in both a Christian and Muslim household, what I loved most about my upbringing was the fact that I got to learn about Jesus in both of my religions. And this only strengthened my love and respect for his beautiful spirit.
For you see, I firmly believe that having a strong moral compass is so vital in this world and that we are all part of one family, one human race; which is why I always try to treat others with love, kindness and understanding. As I always ask myself, what would Jesus do?
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If immortality were real, what would you build?
Well, given the exponential rate at which technology is improving, I believe that immortality might be a lot closer than we think. And once it becomes a part of our shared reality, then I would seek to build a more united, loving and compassionate world that would enrich all of our lives. I would build bridges that unite every living being and would care for their needs – especially once I have the means to. For you see, I adore humanity and all of the beautiful creatures residing upon this magical world, and what I want most is to look after everyone and everything around. And if I could spend eternity surrounded by the ones that I love, then I would nurture them, provide for them and celebrate every moment together as one. That will be my legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laramamoun.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laramaamoun
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-maamoun/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lara.p.mamoun
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ellemoonmusic
- Other: www.instagram.com/itsellemoon
www.ellemoonmusic.com
www.instagram.com/itsyaaamusic
Image Credits
Lara Mamoun
Juan Londono
David Haynes II
