We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyasa GK and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alyasa, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Having a work/life balance is something I aspire to. It is right up there with travelling the world. Unfortunately, I still struggle with attaining balance as I am intent on mastering my crafts. There is conventional advice that I hear frequently, “Do what you love so you won’t work a day in your life.” I agree and disagree with that advice. There might be a cadre of people surveyed that would wholeheartedly agree. Perhaps they have found the magic formula for fitting in the necessities of life, with the freedom to explore humanity while creating to their hearts content. I have not. Not yet anyway. Maybe one day, I might join their number. I’m actually really looking forward to that day. I am, at this juncture anyway, tired. As an artist and musician I love what I do. I’m passionate about my work and enjoy every second of it. However, even though it’s something I love doing, I still treat it as work. I have a strict work ethic and high standards for myself. The work I create must represent me. To date I have a full shelf of video games I haven’t had a chance to play. There is also a long list of movies I intend to view without any real time scheduled to do either. The impact on my social group is noticeably telling. I can’t remember the last time I just hung out with my friends or spent a day relaxing at home. I spend most of my time, including my free time creating art and music, At times I find it difficult to do anything else thats not related to my craft. Creating art and music is all I think about…all day everyday. Even though I aspire to have a better work/life balance I love what I do, and hopefully that counts for something.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Professionally I am known as an artist and a musician. For the past few years I have been a tattoo artist, which is a great way to create and share my artwork with people. In that case it is a living, breathing expression of creativity. My favorite composition of visual styling is cartoon and animated illustrations and design because it allows me to convey my creations both colorfully, and expressively. This is the format for which I have been mostly commissioned. I have an affinity and love for it. So far, I’ve been commissioned to create illustrative posters for retail stores, and cover artwork for singles and music releases for a few different musical artists. As for my music, I specialize in creating a fusion of rock/hip hop. My musical style is a combination of rock and rap that includes harmonic guitar melodies, with dynamic upbeat hip-hop vocals. I am also an audio engineer. I have had the privilege of mixing and producing music for a few independent artists.
To date, I’m most proud of releasing my EP “Sleep When I’m Rich” as well as two solo albums “Perfectly Flawed” and “Perfectly Flawed Vol.2”. I’m currently working on Volume 3. For all 3 project I write, compose, produce, record, and mix, while also collaborating with other artists and producers. Because I tend to have a complete vision for my works, I create artwork for each song, as well as film and edit the music and lyric videos myself.
Something that separates me from other artists is my versatility in various fields. I work with various mediums for my art and music projects. I’m a multifaceted artist who has always loved the creative process of bringing my projects from ideation to completion. As an added expression of my artistry, I design and sell merchandise for my brand.
All that I have managed to accomplish has not been easy. It has been a long and winding road of starts, stops and pivots. It has never been smooth or linear. Through the twists and turns it has taken all my resolve to stay on my path. I have dedicated years to honing my practice for the sake of improving my artistry. Focus is a key component in my arsenal of
tricks and tools of the trade. Other tools I use are curiosity and experimentation with various mediums. But there have still been many pivots for me. I started in writing and performing my music, then studied graphic arts, then learned to engineer my music, then learned digital arts and now I’m tattooing. Each art form feeds my creative soul on some level.
The process has been long but it has been one that has made me grow in ways I never planned. It is a struggle and a grind but the struggle makes success sweeter when there is a breakthrough. And there have been a few breakthroughs. The older I get and the more challenges I go through I realize that life isn’t easy. There are good and bad, ups and downs, successes and lessons to learn. And on this chosen path, I am certainly experiencing all of it. I get discouraged sometimes and question my path, but it is as I said in my song “Bet On Yourself”: “I’m here hoping and dreaming, that the meaning
of life is to give your life meaning. So I’m creating not competing. I do what I love. I already made it. I love the life I live, I already made it.” When the work is good and I have met my goal there is joy and a deep sense of accomplishment. I can only do my best and try not to get in my own way. The first part of that statement is something I have made headway on, but the second part is one that I have to actively work on. I’m still getting in my own way by not having work/life balance. I think about or work on some art form 95% of my waking hours. My mental health, which I reference many times in my lyrics, has been part of my on-going struggle. Sometimes it has impacted my work. Sometimes it informs my creation. As an artist I feel that it is my duty to represent myself and what I am experiencing, in my work. I am in my work and my work is in me. I am
taking great care to prioritize my mental and physical health. Luckily, the creation of my music and art are both therapeutic for me. I plan on living a healthier lifestyle because I have so many ideas that I want to get down on paper, tracks or skin. And of course, I want to share my creations with the world. Plus, I plan to be around long enough to take advantage of
opportunities that present themselves to me… “So I’m creating not competing. I do what I love. I already made it. I love the life I live, I already made it.” © Alyasa GK
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate a shout out to my parents, I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for their love, support, mentorship and encouragement to chase my dreams and do what I love. They are a big part of my story. From an early age they supported my love for art and music and did everything they could to nurture my passions. Their work ethic and dedication has been instilled in me.
Another shout out goes to my friend Jordon Woolley. He is an amazing musician, and producer. We have worked together numerous times to create music in the past. He has played the guitar on many of my songs which gave my music another dimension. It is always fun creating music with such a talented and dedicated musician.
Website: alyasagk.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyasagk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alyasa_gk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyasaGK/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NqKx0c8FwELbfZ2XeghYA
Other: https://alyasagk.bandcamp.com/ Email: alyasagkmusic@gmail.com
Image Credits
All images by Alyasa-GK