Meet Trayesse | Artist & Entertainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Trayesse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trayesse, why did you pursue a creative career?
I just sort of stumbled into it after becoming disabled and no longer able to practice as a psychologist. Like many people who suffer from debilitating conditions, art and other creative endeavors not only became a cathartic outlet for me but also the only way I could afford to decorate my apartment. After sharing projects on social media, I started networking and linking up with other creatives in the arts and entertainment industry and things just sort of started taking off from there.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As previously mentioned, I was no longer able to practice as a psychologist due to a degenerative disease. This, combined with negligent slumlords and a mold-covered home led to disability and homelessness, which is always a nightmare to try and get ahead of in capitalist America. I continue to struggle with these issues today so I definitely don’t want to use the term ‘overcome’ but I’ve gotten through it as much as I have because what community support is available, albeit limited. And my dogs, of course.

I aim to integrate the political and social issues surrounding the hardships I’ve experienced into my art and film work as much as possible. I’ve always had a strong sense of justice and empathy for the human condition, and I’d ideally like for my work to help contribute to a better world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Welp, that’s an ableist question. I’m overwhelmingly a stay-at-home person due to my health and not really able to leave the home much unless it’s for a project but even that is grossly limited. If my best friend came to visit, we’d mostly be at home creating together and watching film series.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, my dogs, past and present. Yaxa, the OG boys Max and Yoda, who were with me when my life fell apart and got me through it after becoming disabled and homeless due to a progressive genetic disease (EDS w/POTS). Yoda further supported me by eventually becoming a mobility service dog for me. Then there’s Apollo, my new service dog in training, who also gives me a reason to keep going every day. Without these boys by my side, I’d be a hot mess.

I suppose I should give a shoutout to the con artist, who was also a member of SAG-AFTRA, that first took me to the Netflix studio after I was no longer healthy enough to practice as a psychologist. This led me to realize I wanted to get back to my roots and inspired me to get into the entertainment industry. Also, my friend Jeff for exposing me to freelance modeling, Boris for bringing me into House of Pills Entertainment as an associate producer and screenwriter, his girlfriend DeeDee for always having my back and trying to find ways to help support me, Miguel for always encouraging and inspiring me to keep going with my art, all the people I’ve worked with that engage in inclusive practices and were willing to accommodate my disabilities, and of course, everyone on social media who shows love and supports my endeavors.

Website: https://www.houseofpills.biz/

Instagram: @trayesse

Image Credits
JC Alcala
Frank FMvisions