HerStory as told by Denise

Hey 👋🏾 hope all is well in your world. Today I get to shine a light on an amazing musical artist that goes by Denise or ThatBeast. Balancing music and work is a feat for most creatives, but she does it so eloquently. Throw in the fight against social injustices and all the pro-melanin events and you have an actual Beast of a person. You can catch her doing all of the previously mentioned. I’m grateful she was able to send in a few answers to my question for a little more insight into the artist she is and how we can support.

How long have you shared your art with the world and how did you start?

I’ve been writing music since I was about 8 years old! My older sister asked for a piano for Christmas one year and I basically took it over, lol. I had my first piece of music published in 2004 while I was in High School, and studied Music Composition and Theory in college. I’ve collaborated a good bit over the years with various artists in writing music and performing (Smoov Ras and the Reflection, Dwight James and the Royals, Soulful Persuasion, UG Havok etc)

What or who is your biggest inspiration?

Experiencing life is a major part of what inspires me in music and the other arts. Of course, so many other artists inspire me with their brilliant ideas and execution, from well known to underground creators! Humans can be pretty amazing sometimes.

What do you want to leave behind?

In terms of my latest project (PTSD), I want to share my experiences with others that I know so many people relate to—the challenges we face and do our best to overcome—and provide a blueprint for healing and growth. As far as my general musical career, I’d like to leave fun, thought provoking, emotionally stirring music for folks to enjoy...Songs, compositions, and film scores that encapsulate the human experience and help people FEEL and think deeply.

What is it that the general public can do to support you? (Include your social media handles and any other way to keep up with your work)

People can financially support my art and musical creations via Patreon (at http://www.patreon.com/ThatBeast) which has lots of behind-the-scenes and exclusive content that no other platform gets!

Follow my Social Media+Like, Comment, Share my posts!

IG: @Denise.ThatBeast

Twitter: @DeniseThatBeast

Facebook: That Beast

YouTube: That Beast

What, if any, advice would you give to someone that is looking to grow within your field?

There are no shortcuts to developing your craft—you must be willing to discipline yourself to study (I always say start with YouTube university and using the public library) and intentionally execute the ideas you have. Be open to trying different things, learn from and collaborate with others, and let the love of the arts push you to create—not just lofty ideas of success and acceptance from the public.