By Viviane Faver
The current Mrs. Washington Globe 2021 and spokeswoman for W.I.N. Foundation – specializes in the personal empowerment of women and people affected by abuse – Alena L. Walker, who is also a Seattle recording artist, released an impactful, heartfelt single this year.
After 10 years as a recording artist in the Christian genre, Alena Larie felt like she had been put in a box and placed in a corner.
On the one hand, she was stereotyped as not being Christian enough in her look and sound and, on the other, she was considered too Christian for a mainstream audience.
“There was no reason for me to stay in the box,” Alena said. “I decided I wanted to be an example of the importance of people walking in their individuality. It’s not about what people think or their perceptions. You need to be who you are, because the people who are meant to hear it are going to be touched by it.”
Alena stepped away from the Christian genre and has been consistently unveiling music that feels true to herself, including the recently released track “No. 9,” which can be found on her website: alenalarie.com and is available on all major streaming platforms, like Spotify and Amazon Music.
“I have been releasing a plethora of singles back-to-back and it’s been great getting the feedback from everyone,” Alena said. “My faith hasn’t changed. That’s still a very big part of who I am, my music, but I realized my music is for everyone, for all people.”
Alena is also scheduled to release two other new tracks: “Rain on Me,” a self-empowerment track about surviving setbacks and rising above and “Time,” a love song about two people whose lives, dreams and careers prevent them from exploring their relationship.
For Alena, the past year was about self-development and discovery. She is now ready to share her journey with the world. “I feel like now I’m finally being myself,” she said. “I’ve never been closeted about myself, my beliefs, anything like that. I just feel like I’ve elevated to that next level where I’m finally being Alena. I want people to feel my music and relate to that.
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In an exclusive interview with the New York Beacon, Alena L. Walker tells a little bit about your life experience.
-Who is Alena Larie?
•I am a American – International Recording Artist, Singer-Songwriter from Seattle, WA.
When did you discover you could sing?
• I discovered my gift of singing by the age of 6 and by the age nine my parents started taking a closer listening to my voice and discussing me having serious potential to have a singing career. I first began singing at age three but I didn’t understand until the age six the love for music and passion to sing deep within me.
– How was the beginning of your career?
•It was exciting because I was finally taking my craft to that next level. I went from recording in a friend’s dorm room from 2009 – 2011 at Central Washington University, moved home and auditioned for X – Factor. I always carried in my heart, conduct and demeanor that singing was something I was very serious about…but it was time to make it official official and that began in fall of 2011 when I recorded my very first studio single called “Fallin Apart” AKA “Love & War” but sadly it was never completed or released with the producer I worked with at that time.
– In the beginning, did you sing specifically Christian music?
•No, I actually sang Pop R& B covers of some of the world’s most favorite artists like Adele, Rihanna, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Whitney and Alicia keys. And when I began writing seriously because of where I was in my life spiritually I gravitated towards singing and writing Christian music. I had written love songs but was afraid those particular songs wouldn’t be received and deemed as secular so that kept me in bondage for a long time not going fourth as I needed to and writing candidly as I do now but every area of my life.
– How and why did you leave?
I honestly removed the label of “Christian” from the description of my music because it was boxing me into certian narratives and stereotypes created by the church and by those outside of Christian church culture that weren’t me. I needed to kill it all by breaking out of the box …and it was limiting where I knew I needed to go lyrically and how I knew in my heart the path I was born to take as an artist. The support just wasn’t there from the Christian music community or the church really. I took it as a sign from God too that it was time to head out. I went hard for 8 years and I was never accepted and my music has always been for outside of the church honestly which is why it wasn’t going to work being confined in the Christian music genre.
– Was this change difficult?
Yes, because I spent 8 years of my career creating music for a certain demographic in a genre that never accepted me or supported me. People kept telling me to hang in there but it never happened for me nor were those people supporting me. I had thought that one day I would blow up doing Christian music because Christ is my first love and I learned it doesn’t matter how sincere you are for God or how much love you have for His people or to spread the good news to the masses… when there are cliques, favoritism, certain requirements, a certain sound, look and standards (not even standards God Himself created nor co-signed)… it doesn’t even matter if you’re anointed either if you don’t have favor you aren’t going to make it nor are you supposed to be there. I was always sincere but I didn’t belong. My father who is a Pastor in Seattle, WA has always spoken to me to follow favor and to go where you belong. I was also watering myself down to be accepted. And I stayed because I love God and meant every word and every lyric BUT it wasn’t where God wanted me my mother Ruth who is also my manager always knew I needed to let it go and be where I am now but I kept striving. I am now where I am meant to be still creating music from my soul but music that now extends far beyond the four walls of the church to reach everybody. If I’m invited to a Christian church or church event and or concert/conference to sing and I believe God does want me to attend that particular engagement I will prayerfully go because my values, my heart, my convictions, my love, and my personal relationship with Christ hasn’t changed but marketing myself as a Christian artist to the church, desiring to be recognized as a Christian artist and supported is not the direction for my music career anymore. I am not a Christian artist and I no longer desire acceptance. I’m free. Whatever I write and sing at this point… I’m not checking anymore for whether it’s accepted. I’m throwing out nets and whoever is meant to be caught and touched by my music will be regardless of their faith, religion, or background.
– How do you define your musical style now?
•Still transparent just on a different level. Style-wise I if I have to then pop r&B but do try to now leave it up to the listener to form their own opinions, make their own interpretation or judgment that way I don’t box myself in and I give them the freedom to feel authentically when they listen to my music without preconceived ideas.
– Your latest songs released are doing well. What was your inspiration to compose them?
• That it is my time. That it is time for me to not hold back and to finally make it. For my dreams to become a reality and to dig deep within myself and be as raw as I have never been. To take my sound, vocal abilities, and look to the next level as well as my artistry but also to show people that there are so many layers to me as an artist and as a woman. My flaws and everything.
– How did the pandemic affect you and your career?
It was good for me because it has allowed me time to shift genres, rebrand myself, promote, perfect my craft, and be ready for opportunities when they come my way.
– What are your plans for the future?
• To be an intricate part in music, media and entertainment history. I want to really make a mark and do things that have never done before. Now of course I want to be a grammy winner and win all the major awards but it’s also deeper for me. I also hope to be in films and to take my passion for media and videography to the next level.
– Could you leave a message for the readers?
• “Endeavor to leave a mark not a scar.”
– Alena Larie
-What do you want the world to know about Alena Larie?
That I’m coming =) and I can’t wait to meet you, sing to you and I hope to make an impact on as many lives as possible.
