Happy 2024!! I absolutely ADORE celebrating the New Year! I think this time of year invites us to reflect on growth, and set intentions for the future! 

Let’s do a quick music recap of 2023…

• Release of ‘Tonight’
• Release of ‘The Heart of Us’
• Release of ‘Film of Us’
• Release of ‘Our Sunset’ 
• Performed in the CC&CO Prepro show ‘Feel It All’
• Performed in the CC&CO Winter Show ‘Snow Day’
• Performed at a neighborhood concert ‘Live at the Lake’ 

And, began many projects that will launch in 2024! It’s going to be a year full of everything! Make sure you stay tuned for all to come! :)

I would also like to say thank you for your never ending support throughout this year. Your love is felt more than you know, and keeps me inspired to create! I am so excited for all I have to give to you this year! 

Here were my stats from my Spotify Wrapped!
• 1K Streams
• 246 Listeners
• 18 Countries 

Thank you for making all of that possible! It’s only up from here!! 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and once again, happy new year!!

Tags: general

It’s crazy to think about this chapter of life coming to an end. High school has taught me so much, and I’ve grown immensely in the past 4 years.

High school looked different for me, as I was homeschooled by my mom from 3rd grade to around Sophomore year, and I completed my education on online school. With that, my graduation will look a little different too. It was set in my backyard, with beautifully set tables for all the guests who came to my ceremony. My Mom and my Aunt Lisa did a beautiful job in planning, and creating such a beautiful setting - there were color palettes, accent textures, flowers, lights, etc. I am so thankful for their love and passion in creating such a special day for me. (I helped too of course, but just in setting up the vision instead of creating it.) The ceremony consisted of me walking with my parents from my house to my backyard where the guests were seated, commencing the graduation process, moving my tassel, and the celebration began. After the ceremony, my friends began to arrive and there were laughs, dance battles, snacks, smiles, and photos late into the night. It meant so much to me to see everyone I loved in the same space, and by the end of the night my heart felt so full.

Graduating high school is such a privilege, and I feel so blessed to do so with a supportive family and many supportive friends. Looking back, there were moments where I thought going to a public high school would have made my experience ‘better’, as on social media I saw all I was ‘missing out’ on; parties, friend study groups, football games, assemblies, etc., but knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t have done high school any other way. I was allowed time with my family, time to dive into and learn about what I love, I learned how to manage and build my own schedule, I learned how much I love my own company, I learned how I learn. There were so many things I’ve come to understand that I wouldn’t have if I attended public high school. I am so thankful for my education, and the way my high school journey played out.

Graduation feels so, so bittersweet. It feels like it all went so fast, but I also feel like I am SO ready for what this upcoming year has to offer. I trust I am on the journey right for me, and I continue to explore it every day. I am so thankful for all the people who made my high school experience - I am forever in debt.

Thank you so much for reading this blog post! I am continuously grateful for all your love and support! Keep your eye out… exciting things are coming soon! I’m sending love to you all!

Tags: general

As we close on another month, I want to share some of my April ‘favorites’!

Favorite album: ‘Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd?’ by Lana Del Rey - as a big Lana Del Rey fan, I think this is one of my favorite Lana albums! I feel it’s the most raw, authentic, and real she’s gotten… Most times she writes in terms of a story or character, but songs from this album seem to be based on things that have happened in her personal life. The emotion is so powerful. I am so thankful for songwriters like her.

Favorite Lyric(s): (From ‘Fingertips’ by Lana del Rey)

To get to you, save you, if I take my life
Find your astral body, put it into my arms
Give you two seconds to cry
Take you home, I, I'll give you a blanket
Your spirit can sit and watch TV by my side

'Cause, baby, I
Ran through a time when I felt you were doing it

I couldn't handle it, I was in Monaco
I couldn't hear what they said on the telephone
I had to sing for the prince in two hours
Sat in the shower
Gave myself two seconds to cry

It's a shame that we die

These words feel like shimmering light through a window - so effortless and beautiful. Her words are so real and heavy. The theme of the cycle of life has been very prevalent in 2022/23 for me, and finding songs that communicate the words that I can’t feels like a relief. I highly suggest checking out her newest album - it’s a hard listen, but so powerful.

Jewelry: There’s something about finding pieces that feel like you. I recently bought 5 new rings, and I feel so lifted and ‘complete’ when I wear them. They feel almost like makeup - extending your natural traits and beauty. I bought my rings (and some other pieces) from a website called ‘Evry Jewels’ - they have great customer service, quality of items, and always run different discounts! I highly suggest checking them out! https://evryjewels.com/

New additions to bedtime ritual: After washing my face, brushing my teeth, and changing into PJs, I use an Essential Oil Mist from Bath & Body Works called ‘Lavender & Iris’ and spray it on my pillow and sheets before crawling in. After I’m in my bed, I turn on my heating blanket that lays on top of my regular blanket and enjoy the calming smells and warm bed. My bedtime routine is my favorite time of the day - I love winding down, and being able to have some time by yourself in a calm environment. Developing a ritual has helped my body know it’s time to go to sleep, and helps me feel more well rested. Sleep is so important!

Favorite song to sing: Whether i’m in my car, the shower, my room, or cooking, there’s a few songs I keep on rotation that I like to learn how to sing. My recent favorites I’ve been working on are ‘Cherry Blossom’ by Lana Del Rey, ‘Big Eyes’ by Matt Corby, ‘TV’ by Billie Eilish, and ‘Normal F*cking Rockwell’ by Lana Del Rey. Finding time to do what you love just for fun is so important in keeping an open relationship to it - it’s so fun singing just to sing. It feels freeing, and puts so much less stress on it being ‘successful’ or sounding ‘good’.


Those are a few of my ‘favorites’ from April! Be sure to stay tuned, exciting things are coming soon! Thank you all for your love and support always. I’m sending love and good energy!!!

Tags: favorite things

Hello everyone!

Today’s blog post will be centered around juggling high school, dance, music, and mental health.

There’s no doubt that teenagers have a lot going on, especially in recent years - it’s hard to find time to turn off while you’re surrounded by school, friends, family, relationships, jobs, social media and extracurriculars all the time. And while I don’t attend traditional school, I am definitely still a teenager.

I feel like the end of last year was when I finally understood how I can best balance everything going on in my life. I found that being organized, and letting go of things that no longer served or supported me helped me feel more prepared and present in my many roles. I’ve continued to practice gratitude and appreciation as well - for example, if I had a bad day then I come into the dance studio, I try to remember how thankful I am to be here, and how lucky I am to have such amazing teachers. Practicing gratitude has really helped me feel less overwhelmed, irritated, and frustrated in relation to my schedule. I’ve let go of a lot of social media (I only have Instagram now), and the whole mentality that comes with it - Snapchat and Tiktok culture I realized were very toxic for me, and even now at times I need to delete Instagram until I can check in with myself again. Social media took up a lot of my mental space that is now clear and open to work on other things that hold more value to me.

A couple morals of mine are everyone deserves to know they’re loved, and showing up 110%. I love being the person to help others feel heard, loved, and seen - I’ve found so much joy and beauty in being an unconditional friend. It’s hard at times, and it has taken practice not to take non-reciprocated conversations/moments/relationships to heart, but by practicing gratitude it helps me remember the importance in holding that space for others. By showing up 110%, It makes me feel more involved and committed to what I’m doing, and helps me learn even more about it. By really diving into whatever it may be; a favor, the dishes, a conversation, a dance piece, a lyric, I learn so much more about what it can offer me and teach me. I also believe that creating a strong work ethic will ultimately serve you more than relying on natural talent. That can be applied in friendships, relationships, jobs, or extracurriculars. Even if the hard work goes unseen by peers or mentors, I know it doesn’t matter because I see it, and it’s a standard I hold myself to. Being committed, kind, hard working, and present takes some work, but will never do you harm.

Because of all the opportunities in my life, and really working on who I am in relationship to them, it can get pretty tiring and draining. Finding things I like to do that open up conversation to myself have helped significantly in keeping my mental space clear - things like painting, cleaning, running, stretching, and watching movies. The relationship you have with yourself is the most important relationship you’ll ever have. Finding ways to work on that relationship and conversate with yourself will help you discover more about who you are.

Those are a few things I’ve practiced and am working on in order to live a balanced life. :) Like I said, being in high school / a young adult is hard by default, but I feel through these things I’ve been able to be more open for all life has to offer me. I hope you all are safe and healthy! I’m always sending love!!

Tags: general

Hey everyone! In today’s post, I will be walking you through what a day in my life looks like! Of course, my schedule will vary based on the day, but here is a typical Monday, and I will explain some of the things I will prepare for the upcoming week!

When I wake up (around 7), the first thing I do is water my plants and give them a light mist. Then, after I get my coffee and light my candle, I'll sit down at my desk and start on some work. ‘Work’ means schoolwork first (I do online school), then I work through any music/dance work. Music work can range from writing a new blog post, figuring out a song artwork cover, writing up new concepts, listening to mixes, or figuring out scheduling. Dance work can mean scheduling, going over rehearsal schedules for the week, going over choreography for competitions or shows, choreographing combos, or sometimes choreographing pieces. As I come off of being creative with dance, I'll take a minute to let everything sit as I clean my room, wash my face, and make my bed. Once my favorite space to write is clean and clear (my room), I'll sit down on my bed and start working on the creative side of music. I’ll begin my creative process (which has its own blog post, if you want to check that out) and work through any other final touches to my music. Then I eat lunch and if i’m lucky watch an episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race with my little sister while we eat. After lunch, I’ll do activities based on the day such as cleaning my car, deep cleaning my room, laundry, reading, journaling, any extra work, or helping around the house before I get ready for dance. I dance Mon-Wed, then Fri-Sun. Mon-Wed are company classes, typically from about 6-9pm, then every other Friday I assist/sometimes teach combos and phrases for PrePro Apprentice (a program at CC&CO Dance Complex). On Fridays I also go to the music studio, from about 11am-1pm, where my producer (Kevin McNoldy) and I track vocals, work on mixes, and work on anything we need to while together. Saturday and Sunday are blocked off for almost full day dance rehearsals, with PrePro (a program at CC&CO Dance Complex) every Saturday from 11am-3pm(ish). After coming home from dance, I'll take a shower, wash my face, eat some dinner, and head to bed.

And that’s a day in my life, with a little bit of what my week looks like!... I hope it made sense! Being a graduating senior, my schoolwork load is much lighter this year which allows for more time to be creative and work on what I love to do. I’m so excited for next year when all I do is be creative! I’ll be sure to write an updated day in my life so you can see what my gap year looks like!

Thank you for reading!

Tags: general

As February comes to an end, I wanted to share some of my ‘favorites’ from this month! Ranging everywhere from choreographers to scents, here are some things I’ve been finding inspiration and joy from!

TV Show - Steven Universe: focused on a young boy living in ‘Beach City’ who is half human half ‘gem’, you follow his journey as he fights alongside the ‘Crystal Gems’ to protect the Earth from harm. This show does an amazing job in world building, and has such deep and personal characters each with their own complex history. While it is a children’s show, there are many lessons that can be learned from the themes throughout the program. My favorite character is a gem named ‘Peridot’, as she undergoes deep character development and questions everything she knows and everything she ‘should’ be. I’m re-watching this show now for about the 3rd time, and each time I understand it more and more.

Scent - Coffee: my mom recently gifted me a coffee-scented candle, and I must say It has helped me greatly in staying focused. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of a coffee shop where I study and get work done, or maybe because it encourages me to finish so I can get another cup of coffee. Coffee has been my favorite scent this month, but nothing will top my all-time favorite: lavender.

Book - ‘The Second Nature of Indigo’ by Aubin Elise: I have a degree of dyslexia, so reading can sometimes become very frustrating and take long periods of time, pushing me away from reading books. However, when my wonderful, talented, and kind friend I met years ago in Driver’s Ed published a mystery novel, I knew I had to read it. I find her process fascinating, and I can see all the years of work that have gone into creating her book - I LOVE learning, seeing, and experiencing ‘the process’. I am so happy (and proud) to say although it’s taken me a couple months, I am now on Chapter 6 of this wonderful book, and cannot wait to see where it takes me! I am already so hooked, and I am excited to see how the story evolves. Thank you Aubin for sharing your beautiful work to the world. Here is a link to her website with more information on her book, as well as the author herself! https://aubinelise.com/

Choreographer - Emiliano Jimenez: CLI Conservatory alumni, Emiliano is pushing the boundary between modern art and dance. His pieces of work are so unique to his mind, and it is captivating to think of his process. His vocabulary for dance is so vast, and it is pure magic to see it being used so precisely. Here are a couple Instagram links to different pieces:

‘Base.’ - https://www.instagram.com/p/CbVj_CHjJD4/
‘abcdEfg’ - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn8BzwLj3oO/

Mind = Blown

All Time Favorite thing this month: I have been so, so, so obsessed with the Ocean. Most of my artistic inspiration from this month has been drawn from the Ocean, and I have learned many lessons in letting go but not forgetting. From the tides to the deep sea creatures, my heart has resonated with the water. I recently made a day trip to an Aquarium and beach with my boyfriend, and as we walked on the sand and heard the subtle waves crash, my heart felt so full. There’s a healing property to the Ocean, and all it has to offer. I’m beyond thankful to live on this planet with our waters, and the life it inhabits. Here are some ‘sub’ favorites relating to our Oceans:

Movie - Children Of The Sea: girl this movie will mess you up… in the best way. Not only is it visually stunning, but the story of purpose is one I’m still processing. There are many words spoken in that film that I am still dissecting, but I know resonate. I highly suggest watching this movie at some point - I also suggest watching with an open mind, with no expectations. It is stunning, existential, beautiful, and crazy.

Animal - Female Fanfin Sea Devil: I was watching a deep-sea documentary with my Mom one day, and this strange, powerful, and intricate animal was highlighted. How is it that these rare animals exist on this Earth? The Biology and Anatomy of this Fish astounds me. And, her movements inspire me. Here are a couple links to Youtube videos exploring the Female Fanfin Sea Devil!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zBHMRl0Xjd4

https://youtu.be/QqAPGWLvpmY

The Facts - Check out this video to fully understand how deep and vast our oceans are… INCREDIBLE!!

https://youtu.be/GE-lAftuQgc


These are my favorites from this month! Thank you for reading, and thank you for your ongoing love and support! I cannot wait to share my favorites from the upcoming months! :)

Tags: favorite things

Hello everyone! Thank you for your ongoing love and support, and all of the kind words in response to my latest song, ‘The Heart of Us’!

For this blog post, I wanted to share a story from my 18th birthday….

Ever since I was 12, I knew when I turned 18 I wanted to get a tattoo of my last name, ‘Takei’ written in Japanese. It is a tattoo my father, as well as his two siblings all have, and it’s known in my family as the ‘Takei symbol’; a recognition of our heritage, and a connection to each other through respect and honor. Over the course of my life, I’ve had a very conflicting relationship with my heritage, and what I chose to identify as. Growing up, recognition of my Japanese roots were always discussed and cherished - family is a very prevalent theme in my life, and with that, my family’s history. From watching Studio Ghibli movies with my Grandparents when we were little, to hearing my Grandfather’s stories about experiencing Pearl Harbor, being Asian is something I have been taught to learn about, and take pride in. However, as I have grown up, the question of “am I Asian enough?” has clouded my mind. “Am I Asian enough to identify with the Asian race?”, “because I’m definitely white passing, is it offensive to non-white passing individuals to identify as Asian?” - these trails of thoughts lead me to a confusing space with my identity. Of course, I am mainly white and I would never claim to only be Japanese, but am I allowed to cherish this side of me? Am I Asian enough to recognize it as a part of me, even though it has always been recognized and celebrated throughout my life?

While I still don’t know the answer to some of these questions, I do know that being a quarter Japanese is a part of me I can never change, and is a part of me I would never want to change. My tattoo will live on my body forever, and serves as a reminder that regardless of societal judgment, I am a Takei, and I am a part of my beautiful Asian-American family.

And that’s the story behind my tattoo. (No, it didn’t hurt, no, I don’t regret it, and yes, I love love love it.)

Thank you all for reading this blog post, and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for more content, website updates, and more! I appreciate each and every one of you!

Tags: body art