Meet Broadway Muse | Artist & Song Writer

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

Hi Broadway, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My balance is constantly altering. Every time I get into a good flow of progress, there’s always something that takes me back to the drawing board. Whether that be an unexpected event, things not going according to plan, or simply the imbalance of one area taking up a greater amount of my time and energy than the others. Balance has always consumed me unevenly. Nonetheless, I balance my time a bit more strategically and realistically now. For instance, near the first of every month, I organize my month with goals and charts of how my month will flow. That keeps me on top of my work, finances, quality time or any personal goals for that matter. The major difference in how I view my work life balance today is forgiveness when goals aren’t met due to something else requiring my attention, whether that be my daughter, healing or simply listening to what my body needs. I’m much better at acknowledging where I am, especially, in these unpredictable times of COVID.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have many sounds..I love music. The process of creating and performing is unmatched. What sets me apart is I think what sets many creatives apart, their unique touch or angle to a blank canvas. More specifically what sets me apart is my voice; its the number one most commentated on feature about me. Literally, I was performing at a night club/bar one day in Madison, WI and a friend just so happen to be walking by and came in just because they heard my voice! Or my shows have always been one that people truly enjoyed. Those things are unique to me where I’ve moved crowds towards me; an MC by nature. I create music for the love of it and it really resonates with many people. I’m fortunate to have that reaction. There have been moments people come up to me after my show crying and it’s not because I’d perform sad music, its something welcoming in me that invites people to be present and that amazes me when people are genuinely that moved. I appreciate those who feel inspired by me, look up to me, want to work with me or simply want to listen over and over again. That’s a blessing and immortal like. How I can become timeless and be heard without anyone haven gotten a chance to meet or know me in person.

I’m so proud and excited to have my own recording set up at home. Watching YouTube videos on how to use my system or just playing around with it until something works. It takes time but it was necessary for me to know a bit of the engineering side and even know how I like to be recorded or what I want something to sound like. So if I’m in a room with other creatives or even at the studio I have much more to contribute to the process. It was crucial actually for me to have my process. I didn’t want to be famous and have to backtrack on what I like or didn’t know because there would be so many influencers by then steering my judgement. I’ve never been the artist saying oh I need to make a hit for the sole purpose of it being a hit. I just do my thang and it hits, ha. I can say I want to be in more collaborative and networking spaces. I can be a bit to myself and it has nothing to do with being socially awkward, I’m someone who has their foot in many things: Law studies, I’m a mother, hairstylist, home decor enthusiast, financial literacy, work at a Law firm, learning how to live a more healthy lifestyle, cooking etc…. so much I want to do, I’m always working on or towards something.

I’ve learned many lessons I think mainly in being a solo artist. I knew nothing of what I wanted to sound like in the studio recording, I just knew what felt right. I knew nothing of what I wanted my shows to look like. I just needed a mic (sometimes not even that) and needed my music to boom when I needed it to. I knew nothing of creating vision boards for my music videos. I just had ideas and inspirations. I’m proud of where I am now because when my music does pick up to a larger audience, I’ve done my work and can effectively articulate who I am, what I know, and what I’ve been through. It takes time and the business of it all can surely remove you from the pleasure of creating, I know how to relieve that pressure. Typically its just on a boombap beat that I don’t have to make the hottest verse or song but simply say what’s on my mind and hear where I’m at in my thoughts. Where my hooks and setups come effortlessly.

What I would want people to know about my story and who I am, Is I’m on an authentic pathway. For the love of what I do, no gimmicks to get to where I’m going. Pure alignment and fulfillment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For Food, I would take them to Soule, a female-Black owned restaurant on the near West Side of Chicago for evening dinner, Chicken and Waffles in Oak Park for breakfast, Honey Berry Pancakes and Cafe, Tony’s chicken and fish near my home and Harold’s Chicken.

Regarding hanging out, I’d gather up some friends and we go to a bar hall downtown, recording studio near westside or in Logan square. Depending on what they feel up to doing, we can go somewhere like IFly Chicago, bowling at Lucky Strikes, Dave and Buster’s. There’s a really cool sip and paint spot I know or we can go sip and make candles at Westfield Mall. Depending on what they’re into is how I’d go about planning our week. I think I have a vast friendliest list that it absolutely depends on who I’m hanging out with.

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?
My Engineer, Cole Kruggel at Classick Studios. Cole can mix in 30 minutes to an hour and the song sound ready to put out that day. Working with Cole I think made my studio experience that much greater. At a time where I couldn’t always describe many of the technical terms in mixing and recording, he’s always had a fair, if not exceeded, understanding of my vision. So much so, I always leave with far better or more content than I’d arrive with. He’s been my go to person when there’s a term or action I don’t really understand with recording. With better understanding, it really broadened my range of sound. My process of creating went from solely pen and page to now creating in the studio, sometimes without ever writing since writing slows me down a bit when i’m in my groove. He’s also always looked out for me regarding opportunities, advice, networking, support, and even now a friend I’d hang with outside of the studio.

Website: https://broadwaythemuse.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/broadway_muse/

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

Other: https://soundcloud.com/taniesha-broadway

Image Credits
Duke Virginia