Meet Laryssa Birdseye | Singer/songwriter/creative director

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

Hi Laryssa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I know it’s pretty cliche to say it, but I think it chose me. I started my music career a little later than I wanted. After dropping out of college, working in a myriad of fields ranging from burrito wrapping to street canvassing to being a financial recruiter and interviewing former CEO’s (hungover af might I add), I could never shake the quiet voice in the back of my head that asked “is this all there is?”

When the voice became a roar, at 25, I quit my big kid job, and sort of floundered my way into forming a band. The following 9 years have been alchemizing. The road may not have been paved with gold and fame (yet), but I’ve found a wealth of connection, community, artistry, and true meaning in the way that I have chosen to live as a musician. I wouldn’t change any of it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write songs about transformation and healing, but not in a hippie dippie way. Not knocking the hippies in the slightest, but I dont pull punches. I channel anger and rage and grief in a way that I think a lot of people shy away from, but I also find a lot of humor in it. Life is absurd, and if you can’t find a way to laugh at it, you simply won’t survive.

Getting to where I am now hasn’t been easy. Being an independent artist in her *gasp* 30’s has included hearing a lot of “nos”. But I think every rejection is a redirection and an opportunity to become even more sure of yourself. I want the world to know that it’s ok not to be where you thought you’d be at a certain age, and that there is STILL TIME.

A man once told me that women expired once they turned 30, and that man was balding, singularly obsessed with his Ferrari, and I think his brain must have expired far earlier in his development. Ageism in this world against women must be fought at every turn, and it’s so important to me to be vocal and combative when it comes up.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live In Oregon, so honestly it’s a pick a place on the map and wander. We have so many beautiful places here to explore. If I had free reign and an unlimited budget, if just take everyone to Japan.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people to shoutout, but I really have to shout myself out. Not in some megalomaniacal way, but in an appreciation that I never gave up on myself. I’ve gone through severe mental health crises, addiction, abuse, ptsd and a lot of things that have really threatened to wipe me off the earth at one point.

In this, I have endless gratitude for the people who never gave up on me. My family, my friends, my band mates, and the people who loved me when I couldnt love myself. I have so much love for my listeners and fans as well, because I am so endlessly happy ti be able to share my story and have it resonate with them. It’s a transference and what I hope to be a gift. If I can get through it, so can you.

Website: https://www.laryssabirdseye.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laryssabirdseye/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/labirdseye?lang=en

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/laryssabirdseyemusic/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@laryssabirdseye9535?si=DQDVp7NzKos5CyAt

Image Credits
Cruz Media