Meet Blythe Vermilion | Singer/Songwriter

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

Hi Blythe, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think risk taking is vital for the survival of one’s dream. We tend to be complacent where we are in life most of the time. And even if we aren’t complacent and we’re feeling restless about where we are, it’s very human to Protect ourselves from the pain of change and sacrifice by staying in what I like to call “ Analysis paralysis“. We are crippled by our fears and therefore we limit ourselves from being the best version we can be if we just take the leap. As for what role risk taking has played for me; I’ve had to let go of a lot of relationships and habits. I’ve had to quit 9-5 jobs that gave me a sense of security . Walking away from certain friendships and relationships have certainly been a really hard thing to do. Because I tend to love the “idea” or “potential” of someone because I have a big heart . But I began to realize it’s a waste of time and at some point you have to realize that you have undoubtedly outgrown this person’s mental capacity and you have to move on . The “big fish in the small pond syndrome” . It’s not because I don’t love these people, it’s because of two things, it’s either hindering my growth, or it’s toxic . Either way they have to go . Same goes for habits, you have to drop habits of procrastination and laziness. You have to get up every day thinking,eating and breathing your dream. That habit really wasn’t that hard for me to form personally. Because I just can’t imagine myself being 80 years old and wondering if I could have done it. And last but not least. Sacrifice sometimes comes with learning how to hustle on the side and work Many small jobs versus a 9 to 5 job.. unfortunately 9 to 5 jobs make it really difficult for us as artists to schedule studio time, photo shoot, music video shoots,. Plus all the creativity time needed in order to write a song etc. I’m sure this idea doesn’t just go for musicians. Artists in general, I believe, have to take a lot of risks and go without A lot of luxuries in order to create a masterpiece. I am not proud of it. But at one point I was homeless. I’ve been hungry. And I’ve had holes in my clothes for a really long time. I went without new Nikes for three years! Yet, I still went to the gym every day. So I believe that risk-taking and the sacrifice is imperative to the survival of your dreams.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a singer-songwriter. I always knew I loved to sing since I was a little girl . When I was a teenager, I’ll never forget what someone said to me . They said “if you really want to make it and be essential in the music world, you need to write your own songs”… It really did make a lot of sense to me. So I pulled out all my old poetry and learned to put it to music. I picked up the piano and I started to write small riffs and put my poetry to them. I think I’m most proud of the fact that I really didn’t have anyone to teach me how to do it. I just wanted to do it so badly that I did it until I got it down. Just because we don’t have a lot of money or someone to pay for music lessons etc. doesn’t mean we can’t do it if we don’t put our heart and soul into it. As for success, I still have a long way to go! I don’t really count myself as successful yet. But I think that mentality is actually what makes someone successful. It’s the feeling of never being satisfied. I’m not saying I’m not thankful or grateful for how far I’ve come in hindsight; because when I look at it that way, I’ve come really far. I started with just a tune in my head and nothing else, and now I have 14 music videos. But what I’m trying to say is, it all goes back to that complacent feeling. Just because I have achieved one small Goal doesn’t mean that I’ve reached my destination. I’m not in a rush to reach my destination. But it is nice to know that I have momentum and that I’m heading in the right direction. If I sit for too long I start to go crazy. None of this has been easy. I’ve cried many many tears. And I went without a lot. I have fought a lot of battles no one knows about. I’ve had many crying sessions alone. People only see the results of all the hard work. I don’t think most people can even grasp what someone has truly been through to get to a point where they are able to turn their pain into beauty and showcase it to the world. Art Is usually an expression of pain. That’s what makes it so beautiful. The stories I tell in my music are true stories of my life. My experiences, the people I’ve encountered. It’s my way of crediting the good and the bad in my life. It’s a way of leaving my mark in the world, and also showing others that have had similar experiences, that they can turn it into something positive. I don’t think that we will ever truly overcome pain and challenges in our lives. We just learn how to respond to them and how to use that for fuel. Some of the lessons that I’ve learned along the way are “no one is going to do this for you. It’s no one‘s job to believe in you but your own.“ If you want others to believe in you you have to believe in yourself first. That’s just the rule. And at the end of the day it’s not about what others believe. It’s truly about how you feel inside yourself. But it is nice to get acknowledgement for your work at the end of the day.The right people will see it, the right people will hear it, & the right people will be inspired by it. I guess if there’s one thing I’d like people to know about my story, is that all my life as a little girl and growing up, I lived in a household where I felt unheard, unappreciated and uncertain. As I grew up,I would tend to end up in friendships and relationships where I felt the same way because I didn’t know any better. I believe that singing and songwriting allows me to be heard in a way like no other. It allows me to be the voice for many that feel how I felt So many times in my life. I really wish that I can be a beacon of light and hope For others. I want to empower people to follow their dreams, never settle, and never believe the self-limiting lies that were told to them as a child.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
At first I would ask them if they were hungry. And I take them right over to my favorite Brazilian place in Point Loma called “Brazil by the bay” !! The food is phenomenal. It’s super healthy but super full of taste. I love Brazilian culture and I love that place I’ve been going there for years. If I was going to take my friend for a drink I’d probably take them over to North Park to a place called “polite provisions“. I’m not much of a drinker but if I do have something to drink it would definitely be there because they have a really old fashion style of making drinks with Elixir tinctures and bitters. To hang out I’d probably take them to Sunset Cliffs, because San Diego has one of the most beautiful sunset spots out there. Sunset Cliffs is a must see! And if you’re lucky you get that little green flash right when the sun hits the line of the ocean.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m super grateful for many! But in this interview I’d really like to thank a good friend of mine, Pro Skater “Brandon Turner” . He’s also a San Diego native . He has really encouraged me to love myself and set boundaries . He tells me I’m a Queen and to never forget who I am and what I deserve. He taught me to exercise the power of the word “No” since I tend to be a people pleaser . I think One of the coolest parts about Brandon is he started a recovery center for pro skaters and artists who are trying to battle addictions. Addiction runs heavy in the artistic and creative world. Unfortunately it is an epidemic, and Brandon has found a way to bring people back from a very dark place by providing a safe and comfortable recovery center for people with like-minded backgrounds. It’s called “Healthy life recovery “ . I think he definitely deserves a shout out for this. You can look more at it if you go to the website healthyliferecovery.com . I’d also Like to thank a partner of his named Ned Giddings. They both founded a really cool fashion clothing line which I was blessed enough to be able to model and rock some of their clothing. Some of the pictures in this article will be featuring those photographs. The brand is called “ Gotham silk”. The clothes are unique because they are hand made and usually only a few of each item exists ! Super exciting stuff!

Instagram: @blythevermilion

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCWsEkI05M6VkD9bKcaswIKw

Image Credits
Ned Giddings photography with Gotham silk