An Interview With URIAS All About ‘Visions’ and More!

As an openly gender-fluid artist, URIAS takes an introspective look within today’s society as she sees it. Inspired by their childhood trip-hop icons like Portishead, “Visions” takes notes the duality of lightness and darkness within everything and everyone. Even though people around her tend to put a mask up and hide their true feelings and thoughts, URIAS usually sees right through those masks.

Being that there isn’t many gender-fluid artists in the public eye, it was hesitant at first for URIAS to even release any music to begin with. That is, until she released her debut track “Head High” earlier this year. With that release, it gave her a sense of liberation which eventually led to her standing up for what she believes in the most, traversing the journey of becoming everything that she wasn’t and was expected to be in society and becoming who she is meant to be in the first place.

“I want women to know no matter what people say, you can do anything you want – ultimately you have the power. Nobody owns you so don’t let people tell you how to love.”

Connect With Urias Here:

Website: https://musicbyurias.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3lvcOqH6QYNsyXBfHDlMg3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uriasmusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uriasmusic

Instagram: https://instagram.com/uriasmusic

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/uriasmusic/

Learn more about Urias in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you now? What’s on tap for the rest of your day?

Currently in my car. Writing and more writing. Right now most of my focus is working on my third single release coming out closer to October.

Overall, how do you think 2018 has been treating you and your music career. What has one goal that you have had this year and how close are you to reaching it?

So far 2018 is filled with a lot of lessons and blessings. I wanted 100k listens and I passed that which is great. Definitely been working with top notch producers and I feel like I’m getting closer to producing some crazy stuff. I don’t want to limit myself and I want to make something that’s never been heard.

Growing up, was music always a big part of your life? Can you recall your first musical experience?

Music has always been there for me. My dad would play beats during long car rides and we would rap battle each other when I was 6. My first experience happened when I was 3 years old and I freestyled on a beat. My dad recorded it on a cassette, which reminds me, I need to find it.

What was the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? Has there been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

How important it is to have people surrounding you that you can trust and really genuinely want you to succeed. I think isolating myself has been the best decision I have made. Yeah, there’s always a new lesson but I love the process.

How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live today? What is the music scene like there these days? If you don’t think that it has affected you at all, why is that?

 I live in Los Angeles and it’s way more alive than anywhere I’ve lived before. Find what inspires you and keep it. Los Angeles is that for me. When I was a kid I moved around a lot so I think that also played into my music as well. Being open to different types of music and welcoming change.

I find it interesting that sometimes musicians choose to go by something other than their own name. So how did you come up with your name? What does it mean to you?

 My artist name is my last name. I’m proud of my name and I want to show appreciation. So I decided to make it my official artist name. When I was a kid people used to make fun of my last name so I guess I wanted to use my last name also as a fuck you to everyone that bullied me.

Let’s talk about the singles that you have released so far, “Visions” and “Head High”? What was the inspiration for these tracks? Do you have plans to make music videos for them?

The inspiration from these really come from me coming out and finally being comfortable to be myself with my art. Head High is about being on cloud 9 with this girl. Visions is about me seeing through the judgements of people and not caring about what people think. Head High we did a music video that’s on YouTube right now. Visions we want to release a music video in like two months. I’m really excited for that.

When do you hope to release more music and a full-length album of new tracks?

Releasing slowly and really working hard on my EP. My third single will be released by October or sooner.  I want it to sound like nothing that’s been made before. All these sounds in my head I’m slowly able to create into tracks. My EP will definitely be released early 2018.

How do you think that you continued to grow and develop as an artist over the years and since you began writing music?

In life, we grow naturally. So I feel like as an artist there’s additional learning always to be done. I make sure I’m always humble and pretend that I don’t know much because it allows me to drop my ego and really develop as an artist. Which is very important to me I never take the process for granted.

If you had all the time and money in the world, which one of your songs would you make a music video for and what would your dream video look like?

 My dream video would be in a castle with a black 1964 Falcon. I would probably make the music video for my third single coming out this year.

What do you think makes for an ideal show for you? What has been a favorite performance of your so far? Do you have any upcoming shows this summer?

 I like lighting to be on point. Always with my drummer Sandra. Still practicing to perfect the set but shows hopefully in October 2018.

We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time right now so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period? If you don’t think it is, why is that? Would you say that other musicians are making music that has been influenced by this climate?

I think because of the times I’m definitely pushed to be my authentic self. I want kids to grow up and listen to my music and know that’s it’s okay to be who you are. If you think you don’t fit anywhere then you’re with me. There’s somewhere for everyone. I think there’s been a lot of good music that’s coming out inspired by what’s going on with the world. I feel like a lot of people are fearful but that makes music more powerful and brings us together.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all?

 Not really, As an artist music and anything involved is like second nature. I care about it a lot and so does my team.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?

I love The Weeknd because he comes from the same genres I grew up listening to. I would love to collaborate with The Weeknd to be honest. He’s really my main one that I can think of off the top of my head.

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island forever, what musical item would you take with you?

I’d make sure to have a black baby grand piano. If I couldn’t get one on an island then I would for sure bring a guitar.

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in?

I want my tracks to be in a new 50 Shades movie for sure. Mostly because the vibe is there.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

To give them a sense of confidence and to feel sexy being themselves. Everyone should feel like they belong. I’m just making that.

Where can our readers connect with you?

Instagram always at https://instagram.com/uriasmusic