@_priyaiam is a New York based violinist who moves fluidly between classical discipline and the pulse of modern urban sound. Rooted in Brooklyn, she grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant where music wasn’t just performance, but atmosphere church harmonies, family ensembles, and the constant cross pollination of genres that defines the city.
Classically trained on violin from a young age, Priya’s playing carries that technical precision, but what sets her apart is how she bends it into something more contemporary. Her work drifts between R&B textures, gospel intensity, hip hop rhythm, and cinematic jazz phrasing. It’s not violin as ornament it’s violin as lead voice, often carrying the emotional weight of a track rather than sitting behind it.
At her core, Priya DeBerry represents a modern kind of musician not locked into genre, but shaped by environment, discipline, and culture. Her violin doesn’t sit in the past; it cuts through it, reframes it, and drops it into the present tense.
🎥 @thesoapboxpresents
Two decisions changed everything for me as a musician:
1. I paid off $26,000 in student loans in 7 months. �Not glamorous. But it meant more of my money stayed mine instead of going to debt.
2. I raised my violin rates.�I had to face reality—$100 gigs weren’t going to build the life I wanted. Charging more wasn’t about ego, it was about sustainability.
Now?�I can take a lower-paying gig every now and then…�But it’s never because I have to.
There’s a big difference between survival and choice.
Which one are you operating from right now?
Soft Life Series
Soft launch, same violin 🎻✨
I’m still your violinist—always have been, always will be. But behind the music, there’s been a lot of learning, especially around money, stability, and building a life that feels as good as it sounds.
So I’m opening up a little more.
I get so many questions from fellow creatives about finances—how to manage inconsistent income, plan ahead, and actually enjoy the life we’re working so hard to create. I’m not claiming to have it all figured out, but I’ve learned a lot, and I want to share what’s helped me.
This is me adding another layer, not changing the song.
Soft life, real conversations, and still… violin at the center. 🎶
