Today we’d like to introduce you to Catterina.
Catterina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn and Queens, New York up until 2007. Throughout my adolescence; I never seemed to fit in with the masses. I wasn’t athletic, insanely smart, or to my standards, all that beautiful. I lacked confidence but made up for it by being overly nice so that other people would like me. I lived my life in constant fear of breaking the rules and going my own way up until I picked up my first instrument: the violin. It was at that time that I realized, expressing yourself through music is such a liberating experience.
As the years went by, I learned how to play the violin, piano, guitar, and took voice lessons. I even went so far as to acquiring my first college degree in music. Through many years of questioning and ups and downs, there was really only one thing I was certain of. I knew in my core that I wanted to be a singer.
From my very first Facebook video upload of me singing at fourteen years old (which by the way was petrifying), it snowballed into this freeing experience with sharing a different side of me. This creative, daring, and unapologetic young woman showing the world that she is confident in what she does. Yes, the likes, comments, and shares were an added bonus, but the key thing in sharing my videos was that I can do this. I am capable of going my own way and am a force to be reckoned with.
I’ve been pursuing a career in music for as long as I can remember. I’ve been rejected more times than I can count. I’ve stopped and started up again. Through it all, I’ve remained true to myself.
Has it been a smooth road?
I wish I could tell whoever is reading this that the path of music is smooth sailing. I mean, I could say that, but it would be a gross understatement. Some of the struggles that I have personally faced have been things such as finding my niche, rejection, lapses in creativity and being taken seriously by others in the business. My advice for women? Be assertive. Don’t let anyone tell you how you should portray yourself, dress, or what kind of message you should deliver through your music or craft. It is yours and yours alone. At the end of the day, if you’re happy with what you are creating and how you’re going about it, that’s all that matters. Another huge piece of advice: know your worth, but stay humble. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to end a professional relationship with someone because of this. It doesn’t matter how many followers you have or who you know. If you aren’t humble, it will be difficult for others to want to work with you. Even if you have no interest in working with someone because you feel as if it won’t enhance your career, be humble and politely turn down whatever it is. Don’t burn any bridges. You never know when you’ll have to reach out to someone again.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a singer-songwriter and musician. I am known for my authenticity and my ability to express myself in an open and honest way through my lyrics. What sets me apart from others is that I try to incorporate styles from all different types of genres to influence my music. I am very proud of the fact that I have created my brand as a solo artist in spite of all of the challenges that I’ve faced up to this point. Like they say: “It’s not how many times you get knocked down that count, it’s how many times you get back up.”
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
First and foremost, my mom. She is honestly the strongest woman I know. She has shown me time and time again that if you want something, you go out there and stop at nothing to do get it. This woman went back to school in her 40s to pursue her college degree. She is now doing what she loves, working in the medical field. Although my brother and I were in High School, and constantly needed her attention; she didn’t take it as a sign to quit. She let it motivate her. She didn’t let anyone else’s ideas of success or practically cloud her judgment. My mom showed us that with perseverance and determination that anything is possible. She’s the one that you can call anytime anywhere. My mom is a fighter, an inspiration, and my best friend.
I have many other inspirational women in my life. All of the female friends in my circle are huge motivators for me. I could sit here and name them all but that would honestly take a very long time and I don’t want to leave anyone out. So I’ll just say this, all of the women in my life are inspirations to me. They are all hard-working individuals with strong heads on their shoulders and are all equally determined to live out their best lives as they see fit. They are always there for me to remind me how special we all are and how far we’ve come. They always push me to strive for success and focus on the big picture. They are the best friends a girl could ever ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iamcatterina.com/
- Email: iamcatterina@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamcatterina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamcatterina/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamcatterina
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXOJ6MHscGlkQcdQFl2j-5A
Image Credit:
Annie Turner
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