12 minute read
WOMEN ON THE RISE
ALYSSA TRAHAN
So tell us about country singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and audio engineer, Alyssa Trahan.
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I grew up in East Rochester, NY, and have always loved music. I have been writing songs in my head for a long as I can remember, and I thought everyone did that sometimes! But when I got older, I realized that not everyone did that and I was actually writing songs!
My dad played guitar around the house when I was growing up and one day I asked him to teach me to play so I could add music to my songs. That really put things in motion and soon I was recording my original music at local recording studios, playing gis at coffee shops and bars around town, and uploading covers on YouTube from my bedroom. I didn’t really know where my music fit in until I heard artists like Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift on the radio. Then it all clicked for me. I remember seeing programs on TV of artists and songwriters in Nashville and they all said if you wanted to make it in country music, you had to be in Nashville. So, one summer I asked my parents if we could go to Nashville on summer vacation.
They said yes, and I remember the second I stepped foot in Nashville I had this feeling that I was supposed to be there. Fast forward a few years later, my music was getting more serious, and I asked my dad to take me back to Nashville on “business trips” as we called them. We took
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probably dozens of trips to Nashville over the course of a few years, while I was attending college at Finger Lakes Community College for audio recording, and in 2016 I finally made the move. It’s been a whirlwind ever since, but I think that feeling I had the first time I visited Nashville with my family was spot on.
What made you decide to become a musician/singer?
I always say that you don’t choose music, music chooses you, and I really believe thats’ what happened to me. It’s in my blood, literally, my whole family is pretty musical. So I was surrounded by it growing up. When I was old enough to know what songwriting and performing were, I knew I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. I’ve never had a backup plan.
Tell us one story about someone who has inspired you whether it be personally or professionally.
One person who has continued to inspire me throughout my career is Dolly Parton. Not only is she so talented and massively successful, but she does everything with such intention and grace. I haven’t had the chance to meet her myself, but I know countless people who have met her and they have all said how kind and down to earth she is. She’s a true artist and has stayed true to herself even with massive fame. I love everything she does and often find myself saying “what would Dolly do?” regularly.
Your career has really taken off over the past few years, what would you say attributes to your becoming so successful?
I work hard and don’t really take vacations. Even on my days “off”, I’ll be writing, booking shows, working on a new track, planning things, etc. Music is my passion and it’s all I ever want to do, so even though I’m constantly working, it doesn’t always feel like work.
What are some of the things you find that help you to stay grounded in such a high-paced environment?
I think it’s really important to surround yourself with like-minded people and the connections I’ve made in Nashville have definitely helped make things feel more “normal”.
If you had to pick just one thing that you would consider your “specialty” what would it be and why?
I would say my specialty is melodies. I love catchy, hooky melodies that get stuck in your head for days and I’m known for that in writing sessions in Nashville.
What sets you apart from your competition?
I think the biggest thing that sets me apart is that I do it all myself. I write, perform, play the instruments, produce, and handle most of my website/social media/booking/etc. I don’t need to rely on anyone else when it comes to my music.
Have you found social media to help or hinder you in promoting
your business, especially during the pandemic?
I think it’s a little of both. It’s a great tool to reach new people and expand your audience, but social media can be so incredibly toxic and damaging. It’s both a blessing a curse for creatives! During the pandemic, it definitely helped me continue to get my music to people with livestreams and online streaming.
What would be one piece of advice that you have learned that you would give to an aspiring singer?
I would say to stay authentic to you. Don’t try to be what you hear on the radio and don’t try to follow in someone else’s footsteps. Be original and be you!
What challenges have you faced this year and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge for me this year has been trying to get back to “normal”. I’ve gotten pretty used to staying home, working remotely, and just locking myself in my studio. Getting back to writing in person, playing shows, traveling, it’s been exhausting and I feel like I need to work my endurance back up. I’m just trying to remind myself that it’s OK to be tired and overwhelmed. We all just went through, and are still going through, an incredibly tough time. I’m doing my best and that’s all that matters.
How do you balance your music career with friends/family that don’t understand the challenges you experience?
If someone doesn’t understand or support my music career, I tend to distance myself from them. Being in music is so different from everything else and you really need a strong support system to make it work. I understand if someone doesn’t understand what I do, and that’s fine, but I’m in this for the long haul and have never been more sure of anything,
Where is your most favorite place you have performed and why?
My favorite place I have performed would be opening for Charlie Daniels at the Steuben County Fair. It was just such an incredible experience to open for someone that was an icon and the crowd was just unbelievable. Charlie and his whole team were also incredibly kind to us. I’ll never forget that day!
What is one word that perfectly describes you?
Hardworking!
Where do you see yourself in 3 years? Five years?
I honestly have no idea where I’ll be in 3 or 5 years, but I try not to think about that too much. I do know I’ll be in music, but I’ll let it take me where I’m meant to be!
What makes you hustle?
Music is my passion and the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life. I don’t have a plan B and I don’t have a safety net. It’s this or nothing.
What made you decide to be a country artist rather than, lets’ say a pop star?
To me, country music isn’t about the boots, the hats, the banjos, or the fiddles. It’s not about the beer, trucks, or daisy dukes. It’s about the songs and the stories. It’s about the truth. My music has also been focused on songwriting and the story in a song, rather than samples and loops. When I heard Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, etc I felt seen and understood. And even though some of my music may sound modern, it still comes down to the songwriting. All my songs start with just me and my acoustic guitar.
“What are people saying” about you...
I hope good things haha! A lot of people have been asking me about my new record, “Baby Blues & Stilettos”. I am a writer on every song, produced the album myself, and played around 95% of the instruments on it. It also charted in the top ten on iTunes. That’s not very common for female artists in Nashville, so it got some conversations started. People also call me a crazy cat lady all the time because I have two cats!
Where will we see you next?
I’ll be hitting the road on my Baby Blues & Stilettos Tour starting July 1st and will be touring all around NY and TN including opening for Maddie & Tae, Tracy Lawrence, and more. I’m so excited to finally get back to playing music for people and hope everyone is ready to sing and dance and have a great time!
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RIMA EL MASRI
PHOTOS BY LAURA MARINO, CHRISTOPHER CARDWELL, ALAA BAKO & OMAR MERAABY
Recently Rochester Woman Online had the opportunity to sit down with the current reigning Mrs. Pittsford America, Rima el Masri. We talked about being from Lebanon, a new american citizen, her new life here in Rochester, NY, what is important to her and more. She is strong, inspiring and very confident in her own skin, and is truly a woman on the rise!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? What was your family like? When did you come to the United States?
I grew up in Lebanon in a family of 6 children, 4 girls and 2 boys.
I came to the United States on March 17, 2017 after getting married.
What made you decide to come to Rochester, NY?
I came here after getting married to my wonderful husband Sam. He is a dentist and owns his own business here in Rochester called Liberty Dental Arts. So I left Lebanon and I came and made my home here with him four years ago. My mom is my greatest inspiration. My mother is a wife and a mother of 6 children in Lebanon. She did all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, and care taking while she worked as a tailor to provide for and support our family while we were growing up. She is a very strong woman and
a true inspiration.
Tell us about one moment in your life that has changed everything for you.
but with minimal use. I immediately had a physical handicap that changed my life, but never let it stop me.
What made you decide to join the MRS New York pageant?
First and foremost, I wanted to show other women that they can do anything they put their mind to. I want to empower and inspire others with disabilities big or small that they to can do this too. I am proud to be a US citizen and proud to be a strong, confident woman. I would like to also bring awareness to the subject of organ donation, and through my platform the Northeast Kidney Foundation, I am able to get the word out to a big audience at the pageant.
I also would like to bring more awareness to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation.
I would be honored to hold such a position where I can impact and influence people in a positive way, especially other young girls and women.
Tell us one story about someone who has inspired you whether it be personally or professionally and why.
I was in a motor vehicle accident in 2001 that almost cost me my left hand. After fifteen surgeries over a period of 10 years, I kept my hand,
What do you think sets you apart from your competition?
I do not let life’s obstacles stop me from achieving my goals. I have had
to go through a lot, and have had many people telling me I couldn’t do it. I did it all! My strength sets me a part from others because once I set my mind to something, there is nothing that can stop me. very hard trying to learn everything, having to do so much remotely and not in person, and trying to understand everything when I wasn’t face to face with the teachers. But, I came in first in my class because I studied many
responsibilities as a wife?
What has been your biggest challenge being in the US versus your home country of Lebanon?
Overcoming the language barrier and adjusting to the different cultures traditions has definitely been my biggest obstacle so far. But, I am learning quickly.
What would be one piece of advice that you have learned from being from a different country that has helped you here?
Being able to be diverse and adjust to change quickly.
What are some of the challenges you have faced this year and how have you overcome them?
Getting my degree in cosmetology during the pandemic has definitely been my biggest challenge to oversome especially over the past year. It was long hours and was determined to get through it no matter how hard it was. I follow a strict schedule and regimen as to balance all of my responsibilities equallty. It is important to be able to be a good wife, but also to pursue my own goals. My husband has been very encouraging and understanding through all of this which makes balancing everything easier.
Where is your most favorite place in your home country and why?
Lebanon’s beaches are by far my favorite because they are so beautiful and clean.
What is one word that perfectly describes you?
Fighter.
Where do you see yourself in 3 years? Five years?
In 3 years I plan on having my own SPA and in 5 years a franchise with many more!
What makes you hustle?
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