Today we’d like to introduce you to Lawdia.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lawdia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am an artist, teacher, and businesswoman who has a passion for leading and empowering women. My journey to becoming an artist began when I won the Miss Liberia in the US pageant in 2011. I was minding my own business when I was encouraged to enter and it changed my life. I began to see myself as someone who could and can do it all. Why not? I set my mind to using my gift and talent in music to inspire women and released my first solo EP, Queen Material, in 2018, which features what I consider my hit singles, “Wildest Dreams,” and “Queen Material.” I’ve been singing publicly since the age of seven. The church has been the main stage that gave me a weekly opportunity to tirelessly work on my craft. Although I love music, I never truly considered being an artist. As I entered college, as the oldest daughter of West African parents from Liberia, my education was considered a type of holy grail. Being a teacher today, I do truly treasure not just being educated but the opportunity I was given to pursue an education. I recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education from Georgia State University, Spring 2019. But I have come to understand that there is no right or wrong way to go after your dreams. Some will leave their 9-5 and run in the direction their dream leads. I tried that and, I will not lie, my bills wanted to know if I forgot that they were coming along for the ride. Returning to the workforce and the classroom as both teacher and student, while trying to work on music and be creative was and still can be challenging. Resources, time, and such have to be considered carefully and taken seriously. But where there’s a will there’s a way. And when your love for what you do leads the way, the journey is worth it! The greatest blessing for me thus far, however, is the fact that I’ve come to understand that my education and my talent can be used together creatively and effectively to make a difference in this world. I am the founder of WOMBB, Women on the Move Breaking Boundaries, established to help women understand they were born to birth greatness. One of our goals is to provide academic opportunities and support to young women who have that dream of learning their favorite subject at the highest level. I am so excited about the opportunity to build a legacy that will impact the lives of many and it begins with my music. I am currently in the process of recording Queen Material, the album. I am so excited. I am so excited. I am so excited! This album is a labor of love and I cannot wait to release it later on this year. I will be performing the entire album live at An Evening with Lawdia Ch. 2 on November 9th at JC Event Hall and it will be a night to remember. Obviously, I have come this far with the love and support of my awesome family. My sister, Sadia-Laurene, is the woman that wrote my hit singles. She came alongside me creatively when I won the pageant and we have not looked back since. My producer is DJ TAG and he has brought a sound to the project that only he can create. My manager, Alieu Massaley, a project manager by profession among other things, has brought a lot of insight and value to the project. We still have so much work to do but it’s always an honor to honor your dreams.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If I was flying, there would be turbulence. If I was driving, there’d be potholes everywhere. On the sea, the storms would have the waves knocking my ship around. It definitely has not been a smooth road. And I’m glad because rough roads usually have really great hidden treasures. The truth of the matter is that fear and doubt were a great struggle for me. Fear because going after my dreams in this manner was so foreign to me. Let’s be honest, going to school is not necessarily easy, but it is a structured, predetermined path that is already laid out. An advisor can show you course selections required from the day you enter to the day you will take your final exam. For many creatives, there is no map, darling. I feel that no two creative journeys are the same. In my case, when my dream to create music rose within me, I had to figure out how to get the songs in my head to become a reality. Where would I record? How would I pay? What schedule would I structure? When you’re independent and on your own, it seems like you have to be your accountant, personal assistant, lawyer, stylist, makeup artist, and hype man. Thankfully, my team around me, especially my sister, Sadia-Laurene, wear multiple hats in this dream balancing act. Where doubt is concerned, there were days that I did not know how I would or could make a payment here or show up another night or day at the studio knowing I had work in the morning or a major assignment due. But it’s called sacrifice and I would do it all over again.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I specialize in making music that inspires, music that empowers, music that will change the world! I am currently known for my ep, Queen Material. Queen Material is a journey of grace and the strength of a woman presented with big majestic sounds and glorious beats birthed from African descent and mixed with sounds that flow with confidence and royal attitude.
I worked on this project with my sister, Sadia-Laurene, to inspire women and listeners all across the world. We began writing to use music as a vehicle for our platform to let women know that every woman is a queen. Our sound, which sets us apart from others, is a unique mix of our love for African beats, hip-hop, funk, and more! We allow our songs to take on their own sound and we always have something powerful to say.
I am most proud of the fact that we are doing what we’ve said we wanted to do! I cannot stress the fact that it is an honor to honor our dreams.
What was you like growing up?
Oh no! This interview just officially got deep. I really love this question. I love all the interview questions actually. It feels as if I am writing in a journal or in a special, safe, reflective place. I love the fact that I get to think about these things and write about them. I feel like my dream is being fueled by a new fire as I reflect and I am loving it.
Growing up I was not an introvert, but I was not quite an extrovert. I was born in Liberia and we moved to the United States when I was seven and in the second grade. Yes, my friends, it was like 1992, the height of the African Booty Scratcher crisis. If you hit the American shores from Africa during that time, there was a great chance that you were going to be called that for a few years. This was my life and truly, deep down, it made me despise or at least dislike being African. There was no glorious Wakanda, Black Panther Marvel movement to show actors that looked like me and made being an African look so cool. I wondered why my name couldn’t be Brittany or Jessica. Why couldn’t I just fit in? Why did they have to tell me I talked funny or dressed funny? Well, I think this is why I found refuge and strength in music and in the chorus classroom of any and every single public school I ever attended. From fourth grade to twelfth grade, I was in the chorus. I could get in that room and belt out whatever music was before me and do so without worrying about any outside noise. At church, my parents had me singing solos, and although I was scared, they made me keep singing and I have never stopped. It is so important to know and understand that God loves you for you. From there I began to take flight, I’ve learned to love my culture, our clothes, our food, and, most importantly, I have learned to love myself.
Personality wise, I am a big sister, a firstborn. I recently took a screenshot of an Instagram post sent to our sister chat (I have 3 sisters) that asked if we agreed with the descriptions of the oldest child, middle child, youngest child. and only child. I took a screenshot because I felt that the description was spot on. The first born is described as a leader, cautious, conscientious, reliable, serious, driven, and a perfectionist. I would probably replace perfectionist with over-thinker, but other than that, this really is how I am personality wise. But, I want you to know that I am consciously working every single day to add some laughter and joy to my life. I love working hard, but I want to play hard too.
My interests, besides music, lie in writing (I started working on a book and I better get back to it), I am a teacher and a talker (I love any motivational speaking opportunities. One day I would love to give a TED Talk or sit down for an Oprah Super Soul Sunday conversation. Oh my. I’m just putting it out there!!), I love reading ( a good book can change your life), I love sports (the only channel that I really watch is ESPN. Die hard Steelers fan here, people). The things that I’m learning to love or I would say that I am trying to be intentional about developing a love for are eating/drinking healthy (hello wheatgrass), running (on a treadmill for now), and journaling daily (cause I’m tired of buying journals and planners and not using them. Plus, journaling can be very therapeutic). I’m also being purposeful about building a skincare routine and doing a better job with my makeup. Finally, can I tell you a secret? When I was in college, I took a class that focused on the plays of August Wilson, he wrote Fences, which was on Broadway and hit theaters starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. Well, I’ve been thinking about what if, just what if I auditioned for something on Broadway. I went to see Hamilton at the Fox last June and it took me back to high school when I performed in our variety shows and let’s just say that I might have already done a google search about this.
Pricing:
- You can download my Queen Material EP for only $4.95 or purchase your favorite single at $0.99. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Contact Info:
- Email: aneveningwithlawdia@gmail.com; lawdiak@gmail.com
- Instagram: @lawdia
- Facebook: Lawdia Kennedy
- Twitter: @lawdiakennedy
Image Credit:
Herut; Zikomo Langston
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