ASEDA SAFOA BEKOE-SAKYI

Brand Ambassador for thevividvida // The Arts

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TVV: So excited to have you featured on thevividvida! Tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Aseda Safoa Bekoe-Sakyi (artist name Aseda Safoa), and I am 18 (19 on Halloween this year!). I attend Seattle Pacific University, but I am from a small agricultural city in California called Turlock. I am majoring in Music Composition and Music Technology in college and I am going into my second year! I am a musician, but I love to spend time with friends and family (especially going on fun road trips!), eat good food, journal, plan and do chores (it's so therapeutic!) and I am constantly dancing! I also love volunteering at my church and getting to fellowship with my church family each week! - Aseda

TVV: Wow! She's also a dancer - hah! What kind of dancing do you like to do?

I have been formally trained in ballet, hip hop, tap, jazz and contemporary dance! I have loved to dance since age four, and even did a year of competition dance in high school! One of my favorite things about being a musician is that it gives me a heightened sense of rhythm, so staying on beat in a routine becomes easier! If I was not a musician, I would want to dance for the rest of my life and would probably pursue it as a career! - Aseda

TVV: That's amazing!! We got to get a story about that in another feature! But today, we'd love to learn more about your music career. We don't have any musicians on our team - so learning more about music is something we def love to hear about. How long have you been into music?

I have always known I wanted to be a musician! I grew up singing and learning to play just about any instrument I could get my hands on (or that it, any instrument I could get my parents to buy for me!) I developed a real love of movies, but not for the acting or for the cinematography. I went to the movies for the music! I loved to listen to the soundtracks prior to the film’s release so that I could try to predict what would happen at that moment in time during the film. I would get emotional at the funny parts of films simply because I loved the rhythm of the bass guitar in the score, or because of a perfectly-timed triangle strike. I was one weird kid! I remember walking out of Despicable Me in 2008 saying to myself, “I’m going to do it. I’m going to write music for movies!” Time passed, and I realized that it was going to be a lot harder to actually make that dream come true. I worked hard at every instrument I played, took vocal training, concert and show choir, and advanced music theory classes in throughout elementary and junior high school. I took a break in the beginning of high school to focus on my academics, then picked back up with music in junior year of high school, participating in marching, jazz and concert competition bands. It was not until I reached college that I realized just how hard it was going to be to become successful. Discouragement comes from every corner, and there is a constant sense of competition and comparison that can weigh down on one’s spirit… and it almost got to me! There was a point in time where I wanted to give up and try to reevaluate my life. But then it dawned on me: music is the only thing in which my soul truly finds a connection. I will never be happy with myself if I did not at least try. I picked myself up and decided to officially begin to market myself and put my music out into the world! I revamped my music account on IG, started a website to tell my musical journey, and started a YouTube channel! Although it really takes a lot of time to put out excellent content (and I always aim for excellence- it’s just the way I am!), I do my best to be consistent so that I never find myself in a funk ever again. I love music so much, and I want to be able to share that love with the world one day! - Aseda

TVV: Thank you for sharing that with us. It really shows that music isn't just a hobby or your college major - it's an essential part of your life. Might be silly to ask, but how to do hope to continue to pursue this in the upcoming years? Whether that's using music for your health mentally or vice versa?

I plan to continue to be consistent and stay in a positive and healthy mental state. I do this by taking care of myself- exercise, self-care, and doing things other than music that help me to relax or to ease the pressure I might be feeling in that particular moment in time. I also pray a lot! My relationship with Jesus is a big part of my life and who I am, and I find praying and listening to worship music relaxes me and encourages me to be able to continue pushing forward. But in general, my plan is to keep a positive healthy mental state and a consistency with my musical production. - Aseda

TVV: You mentioned that you took lessons growing up for different instruments - including voice and also music composition. For anybody reading, how would you suggest they get started in music?

I actually learned a great deal of what I know about music composition, music production, and music in general on my own. I had several teachers who taught me how to play multiple instruments, however on the songwriting/producing side of things, I just figured it out as I went! Google was my best friend in all of this. I simply looked up whatever it was I wanted to do, like “How to create cool rap beats on a budget” or “The best free music composition computer programs” and I gained my information that way. Then I let YouTube videos teach me the rest! I also learned a bunch about how to create good music from listening to other artists that I admire. For example, I would watch or read interviews from Hans Zimmer or Michael Giachinno, hear their creative process and little things they add into their music to make it unique (like the highlighted use of French Horns) and then I listen to their work to try and identify these things. From there, I am then able to develop my own style and process! So, my advice would be to do the same: determine an artist or musician you look up to or respect and learn from the best! - Aseda

Aseda Safoa Lyrics

TVV: Instruments? Plural? What instruments do you play?!

I play many instruments! I have had formal training in classical and contemporary piano, violin, alto and tenor saxophone, various auxiliary percussion and flute as well as vocal training. However, I am also self-taught on the drums, acoustic and bass guitars, and the trumpet! - Aseda

TVV: Is music something other members of your family also do?

Everyone in my family has dabbled in music! My mother was in choir when she was younger and used to sing in our church as well. My dad actually taught himself to play the piano on a kitchen table (he is from Ghana and growing up did not have a piano at his house)! He also sang in our church’s old choir with my mom. My older brother learned to play the piano when he was younger, then shifted to the alto saxophone and eventually, the trumpet. He settled in on guitar as he reached high school and still plays! My younger brother plays the trumpet and is just starting to pick up the drum set. He is actually very good for a self-taught beginner! - Aseda

TVV: So, which artists do you look up to for inspiration?

There are many artists that inspire me, however when I am asked this question, I always name a specific few. I have always loved the work of film scorers Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Inception, Dunkirk) and Michael Giachinno (Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Spiderman: Homecoming). Their creative processes are so simple, yet they are able to take a thought and blow it up in such a way that it becomes a beautiful masterpiece! As far as singers and songwriters, I majorly look up to Charlie Puth and Tori Kelly. Puth creates all of his music from scratch! He writes his own lyrics, creates his own music (on his own laptop no less!), edits his own vocals, and even writes songs for other artists like Jason Derulo! He also has perfect pitch, which I have as well, so I am able to relate to him in that way. It is so fun to listen to how he blends all of the layers and puts out hit after hit! Tori Kelly’s songwriting has been a huge inspiration to me throughout my years. She always bears her soul in her lyrics and is not afraid to sing about what is touching her heart! She bears it all, and that is what I aim to do in the future as well! - Aseda

TVV: OKAY WAIT SAME - so many great movies and artists named up there. Ahhhhh! Ok back to it ... What kind of direct advice would you give to somebody who is trying to kick start their music career?

My advice for others wanting to start a career in music creation/production is to never give up! As cliché and redundant as it sounds, it is important to always remember why you chose music, and why you do what you do. If you allow comparison, criticism or discouragement to rule your thought life, you will be stunted creatively and unable to progress in your field of expertise. Take each lesson as such and continue to move forward! Your goals are attainable, despite words or circumstances! - Aseda

Follow @asedamakesmusic on Instagram!

TVV: Music is a very personal thing whether you're playing or writing it. When you get criticism from it, how do you put up with it and move forward?

Harsh criticism is a huge part of what I do! As an artist, people can be completely cruel when it comes to letting you know their opinion of your hard work. Although I have not experienced anything extremely harsh, I have been spoken to in very discouraging manners. I’ve been told “I have no chance of getting better at ‘____’”, and “I shouldn’t even bother trying to do anything in the songwriting arena”. Normally these comments hit me hard, but I’ve learned over time how to let these things slide off of my shoulders. I’ve come too far to allow a thoughtless comment to stop me! - Aseda

TVV: Going hand-in-hand with that, what do you tell yourself to combat those negative thoughts?

Every day, I try to live out a quote I heard from famous author/speaker Bob Goff: “Live in grace; Walk in love.” Nobody is perfect in this life. If we try to live in grace, and not allow the little things to get to us, we will live a healthier, more positive life. It’s about giving yourself room to grow and room to make mistakes! Walking in love is all about keeping your mind open and letting yourself be available to all of the emotions that come with love, good and bad. Not saying that we should let ourselves be walked on, but we should not close ourselves to an opportunity because we risk being disappointment. Life is full of disappointment, but it is oh, so wonderful as well! So. Each and every day, “Live in grace; Walk in love!” - Aseda

TVV: You mentioned earlier that you're a Music Composition and Music Technology major. What kind of opportunities do you have on campus to share your love for music?

At my college, I am involved in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble (I play the Tenor Saxophone!), and I am part of a small student-run group called Ultraviolet Jazz! It was organized and put together and is run by my dear friend Lindy Tongol who I met last year in my Music Theory course. I help her with logistics such as getting gigs for the group, sending out information to the group, and other things to make the load a little lighter on her shoulders! - Aseda

TVV: So now that you're in college for music, and becoming more trained in the technical and classical techniques of it, how would you say that has changed your view on music?

My major has helped me immensely with my music! It has helped me to be able to take all of the scattered knowledge I had about music and turn it into something concise and solidified in my head. While much of my musical expertise came from inspiration, being in college has taught me practical ways to create, strategies to get around mental blocks, and has surrounded me in a community of people who can relate to the journey I am on and help make the difficult times a little better! - Aseda

TVV: Thank you so much for sharing with us today. Before you go, what's your big statement? What would you - if you could - tell the whole world?

If I could send a message to the world, it would be to love one another, and to put aside our apathy. I think that a lot of the problems we have in the world are centered around people refusing to truly care about something. Everyone’s opinions are plastered on the internet, as if they will make a true impact. The truth (at least to me) is that internet advocacy does nothing for the actual problem. Instead of sharing a Facebook video, we should be seeking out ways in which we can have real-life, open-minded conversations with others. We should be seeing how we can volunteer our time and energy rather than our instantaneous opinions. If we are able to allow others to express themselves freely, while also being passionate about a cause, I believe (at least in general) that peace and love will return to our country and our world. - Aseda