Can you share a bit about your journey as a deaf recording artist? What inspired you to pursue music?
"I feel that those in the Hearing community have this misconception that we in the Deaf/HoH community are shy and quiet, and that is far from the truth. As a child, I was the loudest kid in the house. If you were to ask my mother, she will tell you that I was singing from the moment I entered this world. Growing up, we had a piano in the house, and I would push the piano keys, laying my head on them to feel the vibrations better. My sister introduced me to High School Musical, and I knew from then on I wanted to be a performer."
What challenges have you faced as a deaf artist in the music industry? How have you overcome them?
"Ironically, singing on key is not the hardest part for me—rather, it is my diction that I struggle with the most. I was bullied in school for my deaf accent and lack of diction, and when I was 14, I met my vocal and diction coach, Bill Gunn, who has been working with me for over 10 years. When collaborating with musicians, we establish extra cues for precise timing, and I use vibrations to feel different frequencies."
How do you experience and interpret music in a way that allows you to create and perform?
"Vibration is an integral component of how I create music and perform. I can feel a low note because the sound waves are bigger and the vibrations feel thicker, while a high note has little to no sound waves or vibrations. I have profound hearing loss, and the best way I can describe it is like being in a small room with earplugs, packed with Styrofoam—everything is muffled. I use ASL, can read lips, but often rely on context to understand conversations."
What messages do you hope to convey through your music?
"I don’t write to be understood—I write so that I can’t be misunderstood. Most of my work is about empowerment. "Dear Mr. Devil" is a song I wrote when I was coming out of a season of struggling with depression and anxiety. "Like the Boys" is about inequality and stereotypes, while "Control" is an empowering anthem about anti-bullying. I don’t like to be handcuffed to one genre—each song carries a different message."
How do you hope your story impacts the way people perceive music and the deaf community?
"I hope my story clears any misconceptions about the Deaf and HoH community not being capable of enjoying music. It’s not just about sound—it’s about rhythms, vibrations, and the feeling you get from the lyrics. I hope my story inspires people to learn sign language and Deaf Culture, and that my music encourages them to go for their dreams. Anything is possible with hard work and faith."
"I don’t write to be understood, I write so I can’t be misunderstood. I hope people know they can be whoever they want to be."