I was talking with my mommy the other day while we were potting some cuttings she gave me from her garden. We call it “playing in the dirt” and it’s one of my favorite activities to do with her. We were listening to one of my favorite violin concertos and I asked her how she felt when I was in my competition era in middle and high school soloing with orchestras. She said she was thinking “I can’t believe that was my kid!” watching me up there and I just giggled because truly I am who am because of her. I’m confident because everyday my mommy told me I was intelligent, beautiful and could do anything I set my mind to. I love a good French manicure because of her and I’m particular about my house like she is. I think she’s the most beautiful woman in the world and having Deborah Ross as my mommy is one of my biggest flexes. The past year has been full of so many unseen struggles and I could not have made it through without the support of my mommy. I like to remind her that I’m grown when she’s trying to (s)mother me sometimes 😂and I may be me without her a lot as I’m always on the road and working but I know full well that the best parts of me come from her. So happy Mother’s Day to the one who gave me life 💕💓
4 weeks in and first retwist locked and loaded!!! They’re swelling a lil bit and have simultaneously gotten a bit shorter so I’m rocking a cute bob 💕💓 Loving this loc journey!!!
Happy Birthday to my first niece and one of my best friends in the world 💕 It almost feels like she was never a baby and always my best bud. We used to fight like sisters although we’re 12 yeaes apart. The sass on that one is unmatched 😂I used to look at her when she was a baby and wonder who she would turn out to be and I just adore the young lady she is. Happy twenty-third birthday from Aunnie Chaunnie 💕
Live performance will always be my number one but I do love the patience and practice of getting exactly what the music calls for in the studio. And of course coming in for any @larissamaestro session means juicy sexy string lines 🙌🏾Can’t wait for yall to see what this genius is cooking up for all of our ears and hearts!
I’ve always known I would wind up getting my hair loc’d and I finally am at a place where I’m ready to start that journey. My hair has always been a huge part of my identity as a Black woman and then I went and added it to my stage identity. I started adding color to my kinky twists after I graduated and even around my family I got all these critiques for my piercings and having pink twists. I don’t say this to point any fingers but it was part of my journey. And the same folks who made fun of me for doing such things totally got used to it and embraced it eventually. But there was a time when I had to fight for my physical expression of who I was. Like most things, I had @moniqueladora in tandem with me and our colorful hair became a calling card for @sistastrings and part of our artistic expression. Big hair!!! Spending all this time in “protective” styles became almost a crutch for me and I stopped caring for my hair in between the styles like I should. Being on the road a lot, I need a low maintenance style while still maintaining health so I cut my hair but kept it wrapped in braids and twists while still noticing breakage. My hair is my crown and I’m finally in a place where I’m secure in who I am and what I want that I’m ready to start a new hair journey. It’s not what I’m used to (BIG hair) but it’s what I need- health, ease, and my natural state. Sometimes we have to strip down to the basics to build the next phase and that’s where I am. I’m loud but I’m sensitive. I’m in a building phase in so many areas of my life and my beautiful hair is reflecting that. I see so many people all of the time so I thought I’d make this very public post to share where I am with this journey but I don’t care to have this very personal conversation time and time again as I’m on this path. Thank you for all the kind words in my instastory where I shared this first. But I have to say in the most respectful way, i appreciate it (I do!) but I don’t need it because it’s what I needed to do. I share so we can normalize folks changing their appearance without the need to explain to everyone. It gets exhausting. With all things new, give it time and grace! I love it and YOU!!!!
In honor of tickets being on sale today for the second leg of The Human Tour- enjoy some footage of all the fun I get to have with my best buds 🤘🏾 Also, look at how stacked the support for this tour is! Each night is gonna be different and so incredible. The ticket link is in my bio 🤘🏾Can’t wait to see yall out there! 🎥: @yvnnmrry 📸: @skylerbarberio
One of my favorite things about tour is getting to see old friends from everywhere. It’s usually the night before a show I realize what city I’m in and try to find ways to squeeze in a quick catch up. I don’t always get it right but I’m so thankful for my friends that I tour with and the ones who made time to either come to a show or grab a meal and a quick catch up. I love you my babies!!!! I can’t tag everyone but yall know who you are! And to my loves I had to miss- next time we’re gonna send it!!!
Who’s ready for some more of this (swipe to see some fun) And no, my granny followers this is not a go pro on my head or on my boobiez. Simply some meta glasses 😂💕 Can’t wait to get back out on the road with my besties!!!
