Meet Symphony The System | Singer/Songwriter, Model & Actress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Symphony The System and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Symphony, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Success is waking up every morning and genuinely being excited about every part of my day. I want to live a life full of my passions, where the only time spent not doing one is doing another. I’ve gotten to the point in my career where while I’m not performing as often as I’d like to, my days are still full of things necessary to fuel my career. And because of that, I am successful. Though I can always be more successful–that’s what I like about my definition–there’s still room for growth. But I feel like you can’t manifest more success if you don’t already consider yourself a successful individual.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is very personal to me because it is the way that I communicate. I’ve always used music and poetry to express myself but there was always a piece missing. I couldn’t always feel my feelings or even remember what I felt so passionately in the first place. When I got diagnosed with PTSD and DID in 2019, a whole new world of creative expression opened up to me. If you don’t know what that is, DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) used to be called Multiple Personality Disorder until the mid-to-late 80s. It means that when my personality was forming as a child, trauma kept all the different sides of me from forming cohesively. As a result I live with near constant identity confusion, dissociation, feeling as if neither I nor the rest of the world is real, and alternate identity states. The part of me that’s speaking to you is called Anastasia, and my system (or group of alters) is called Symphony. If you want to learn more about DID and Symphony The System, you can read more about it on our website: symphonythesystem.com. Knowing that I was multiple people in one body, or a splintered mind with memory blocks made understanding who I was much easier. I dropped my first EP spanning different genres a few months later. I called it OTHERWORLD, after the space that I call my brain. In this OtherWorld, I have access to memories and feelings I don’t always have and it makes writing songs feel more like copying dictation. The words and melodies flow through me before I understand what they are or what they mean. The first song that happened this way–Pieces– is actually the first song of the EP. It subtly speaks to how confusing it can be to live life as multiple people. The hook goes, “I’m in pieces, I’m falling apart. Who knew living could be this hard?” Those words came out of me before I realized that different parts of me were using my hands as a conduit for their voices to be heard. And a new way to communicate was born. It isn’t always easy. There are times when I can’t access the writing or singing abilities of different parts and I feel inadequate and discouraged. I’ve learned to give my selves grace when it comes to how they want to express themselves because the result is unadulterated creativity. Shame is not a motivator. It’s actually a clever and hurtful way to keep you still. Only through gracious thought patterns and kind self talk can beauty be born. I still struggle with depression and anxiety that make working on my craft difficult, but I treat my selves with kindness and an open mind so we can move forward. I also currently have a therapist that shows incredible empathy and understanding with our healing process. If you’re reading this and you feel as if you may struggle with mental health issues that are going unnoticed, I want you to know that there’s nothing wrong with you. There are people who are experiencing the same things that you are, and reaching out for help within a likeminded community can do wonders for your healing process. I make music because it saved me. Singing heals the parts of my soul that are crying for healing and attention, and I use my voice to share that same healing with anyone who listens. My next project–Soliloquy–is going to be a raw and authentic 25 song album about Symphony’s healing process. I pray everyone that encounters it finds peace within its’ melodies.

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.
The first place I’d take a friend is Little Five Points! It’s a shopping plaza with the opportunity to experience the people of Atlanta. You’re likely to see people dressed up in costume, or people selling homemade food, or people selling handmade crystal jewelry. There’s a bar there I like to go called the Corner Tavern that has AMAZING vegan brussel sprouts. I’m not even vegan but they’re so good! And in Roswell there’s a metaphysical store called Phoenix and Dragon. It’s the biggest metaphysical store in the South and it’s where I go to buy all my crystals, tarot cards, incense and spiritual literature. Plus they have resident cats all throughout the store and a garden in the back. I’ve spent hours (and hundreds of dollars) in that place. Lastly, I’d have to invite a friend back to my place in Decatur. My boyfriend and I take pride in cultivating a safe and comforting space so our apartment is full of his original art and good vibes. We’re always down to watch a Disney movie or an anime.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wanna give a special thanks to my partner and best friend, Robert Jones AKA Bob the Artist, for being a consistent rock in my life and providing a source of inspiration. Your art is the physical reflection of my music and for that I am grateful. I also want to give a special shout-out to my sister for being my #1 fan since day one. You’ve always been someone who makes me feel like a celebrity. To Kyara, my best friend of over 10 years, I want to thank you for keeping me alive. The two of us have been through hell and worse, but our life pact has kept me living on this Earth. I wouldn’t be able to achieve success without you. And lastly, to my best friend and favorite filmmaker, Frenchie you showed me how to be my selves to the fullest. Thank you for always being silly and stupid with me.

Website: symphonythesystem.com

Instagram: instagram.com/symphonythesystem

Twitter: twitter.com/symphonythesystem

Youtube: Symphony The System

Other: You can also find me as Symphony The System on every streaming platform.

Image Credits
Malachi Byrd Erica Vanfossen Cedric