When Anja met Aly
I was going to a music event that night to feel the good vibes and talk to a very interesting artist who would possibly feature on my blog. I entered the wrong venue though and, what’s even more funny, they let me in based on the tickets to another event. But there I was, sipping my drink and waiting for the show to begin. When Alyson Cadena came up on stage, I knew something was off. Did they change the lineup? Did they add a support artist?
When she started singing, tough, I immediately got goosebumps and completely forgot the confusion I had. As I soon realized, I was finding myself at an event with all-female lineup, which celebrated women empowerment and touched on the topics like Me Too movement. Was there any better place for me to be in in my search for inspiring women to photograph?
I contacted Aly the next day and we made a plan to meet in a few weeks. As I already knew from my New York experience, it did not mean we would actually meet. However, with Alyson, it was different, she turned out to be a woman of her word and a very positive person. She chose Lower East Side as our location to shoot and talk. She used to take art and writing classes there and really appreciated the artistic vibes of the neighborhood. I couldn’t agree more.
The weather was not cooperative that day, but most importantly, our energy was there. We found a kind of nostalgia in the rainy LES scenery and decided to take it into our advantage. We started off from a hot tea and a chat. Alyson and I very quickly discovered that we had similar views of female image in media, gender roles in society, and great outcomes of women’s collaboration. We also discussed dyeing hair, Americans pronouncing French words, and cute arm pits. It was so much fun. I had a strange feeling like I knew her b4, but I guess that happens whenever you have a good reason to talk and connect.
I learned that Alyson took part in the TV reality competition Ecuador’s Got Talent where she earned a gold buzzer from judges which sent her straight to the semifinals. It was not a surprise for me as I had the pleasure to see her perform. We discussed some less glorious aspects of being on TV like people making you say things you don’t want to say or questioning your body shape. Luckily, Aly is a strong woman who owns her shit and takes pride in her thoughts and looks. I actually saw that when she was on stage and, along with her great talent, that was the reason I wanted to take photos and talk. Please enjoy the fruits of our conversation.
AsW: When did you make yourself most proud?
AC:It was last year, I did the reality competition. It's like America's Got Talent, but Ecuadorian version. So.. I was a nervous wrack and I made it to the semifinals. You would think someone was torturing me, the way I was freaking out about the whole experience. There was a week preparing with the actual TV team to the big show. I wasn't sleeping well and I was so tired because of so many rehearsals. They also changed my song the last minute. So, I was waiting to get on stage for the live show and I was about to cry from all of the nerves. The TV crew was like “good! we need you to cry afterwards when you get off the stage and the interviewer asks you questions.” So I sing my song and my voice cracks awful.. just awful..
No one has seen that video unless they saw it live on TV.. It was so bad. And then the interviewer comes out and I get off that little pedestal they had me on and I was supposed to be crying, but instead I stared smiling. I was so filled with gratitude and it hit me in that moment like.. holly crap, I was on TV! This is so cool! A few years ago I didn't even think I was going to be a singer and now, here I am on TV at the semifinals, I'm bedazzled. This is crazy! I feel like for me it was a very proud moment cuz there's a lot of times in my life that I get held back by the fear and doubt.. And everything leading to that point was all fear and doubt and even though in that moment I didn't feel I did my best, I got to the other side and it wasn’t so bad. In the end of the day, it was just a great experience. I didn't make it to the next round cuz it was bad. (laughs) To me it was the proudest moment, I was like you did it! You didn't let all that crap get to you plowed through!
AsW: What do you most appreciate other women for?
AC:I appreciate confident women. I feel like, unfortunately, we are not set up to be the most confident people. I think it's very easy for men to be confident and to feel entitled to the world, but when you meet a woman who is assertive, who's uniquely her and she's not trying to conform to anyone's expectations of her, she's just free to be a bitch or free to be an angel.. or whatever she wants to be, it’s so refreshing. I think when a woman succeeds in a men's world, she need to have balls to believe she can reach the top. It's like she didn't let anyone stop her along the way. Not only is she good enough, but also she won't listen to any kind of restraints. It’s this kind of freedom like: this is what I want and I'm going to get it and I'm not gonna listen to those stories people have about why I can't. That's something I've been working on, to be more confident to be more free. Whenever I meet a woman like that, I'm like: Queen! Goals!
AsW: What do we have in common as women across different backgrounds and cultures?
AC:We can see beyond ourselves and we have a certain level of empathy and altruism. I think it’s something that we all uniquely have and it makes us more powerful because we can do so much more. We can really make a difference for other people. That doesn't mean we have to act like mother Teresa, but we can contribute in some way. Like, you're empowering people with your blog, you make the world, literally, more beautiful with your architecture. Versus me, I'm singing and maybe it's gonna reach somebody and help them with their emotions or with something they are going through. I think it's just one of the strongest things we have, the sixth sense for other people. We know it's not just about ourselves, it's about the world or even just the community around us, family, things like that. I would say, that is what we have in common.
Since her performance on Ecuador’s Got talent, Alyson have been performing around NYC and made her Broadway debut as a choir member on Rocktopia. Moreover, on January 28, she’s releasing her new single Stand (Who I am). If you want to hear it performed live, you can’t miss her first headlining show and single release party at The Delancey on February 1. For more info visit her IG account @alychainz
PS.
Aly,
I’m so glad I stepped into that bar the other night. So many coincidences had to happen for us to meet, but I’m happy we did. It was a pleasure to get together and do something cool. I love your approach to body image, fighting for yourself in the media and your confidence which is contagious. I wish you all the best in your music endeavors and personal life. I will be proudly witnessing your live performance of your new single on February 1. You go, girl!
With love,
Anja
Unexpected, my favorite..
