New Orleans vocalist Quiana Lynell joins me to discuss her transformation from AT&T call center worker to competition winning, international touring Jazz artist. She shares about her journey of self acceptance, maintaining a career as a single mother, running, and being the first person in her family to graduate college. This woman is incredible!
“Every messenger doesn’t deliver the message how we want to hear it. But it’s still a message that we need to hear.”
Listen
Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Google Play • YouTube
Actionable Advice
- If I can run for 3 hours, and not stop, then I can sit in a meeting. I can be told no… Whatever you need to do to feel like you’re powerful DO THAT.
- Put those children to bed! You have to make time for yourself.
- Take advantage of student services! Do you know the requirements for maintaining your scholarship? Could you extend it or keep it if changing degrees? Degree requirements change all the time, so it’s totally worth having a meeting with your counselor once a semester. If only for the peace of mind that you know what’s up!
- School is about discovering your strengths. Your primary teacher should be a mentor that’s helping you dust off your gems.
- I tell my students it takes 10 years. Not “I’ve been playing the guitar for 10 years”. 10 years of diligently pursuing “the goal”. The good news is you don’t have to wait until you’ve achieved your goal to have fun and enjoy yourself. Focus on getting the most out of each stage, doing them with people you vibe with, and do each part to the best of your abilities. Keep in mind that it’s hard to get started on those 10 years if you don’t know what your goal is yet.
- When you go to sit in people just want to play their favorite song. But does your favorite song fit into their set? Have you ever heard them play that song? At the end of the day it’s THEIR SHOW. Totally wish I had heard this advice a few months ago. Don’t make the whole show about you! You’re way more likely to get future work from the band, and make friends with the members, if you show them the respect of knowing their rep and the sound they’re going for.
- At the end of the day success to me is – did the mortgage get paid before the 15th?
Coda Questions
- What is your go to feel good album? Young Quiana: The Miseducation of Lauren Hill Quiana now: Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley
- What’s some impactful advice about happiness you’ve received? Nona Hendricks: Don’t worry about it. Whatever you can do is all you can do.
- If you could share one bit of advice with a young student what would it be? Learn as much as you can from all genres.
- Who is someone you know living a healthy happy and fulfilling life as a musician? Marquis Hill, Jamison Ross, Camille Thurman, Terence Blanchard… lots more
- What is your purpose as a musician? To bring people closer to shining their light. I think my job is to help people realize or revisit a goal/dream they had, to really choose happiness, and run from anything that isn’t that.
Also Mentioned
- Quiana Lynell: Website, Facebook, Instagram
- Tina Turner Movie: What’s Love Got to Do With It
- Labelle: Wiki