When the beat takes over, I try and be conscious of what I am letting into my musical spirit. Indeed, I do the best that can, but I do think we still have so far to go. Sometimes, the respect factor and the complicated history women have in Hip Hop is our own fault, too. If we can create life and raise it, surely we can help to shape what is acceptable in music when it comes to more positive inclusion and respect. We have to demand a higher standard of behavior from ourselves in order to teach. If we only over sexualize our presentation in Hip Hop we are teaching and telling Hip Hop that this is ok and what we want to be treated like. Self respect is very important for the entire culture. We are all each other’s reflections!
BlackDoctor.org: What do you want your music to communicate about Black girls and women? About you as an artist?
Tarrey Torae: I want this music to become a power source that people can plug into. I write about a lot of different things because I am created with layers by the Almighty. When I speak to Black girls and women, I want them to feel powerful and covered. I want to give them a soundtrack and a sounding wall. I want them to feel well represented! I am trying to give them another voice so that they know that we are listening and connecting to their needs. They have so much that deserves a bright light and I hope to be a bulb for them. I want to communicate a sense of pride, beauty and growth to them and for them. I want them to dream bigger after they listen to my songs!
BlackDoctor.org: What does self care and self love look like for Tarrey Torae now?
Tarrey Torae: Self care and self love for Tarrey Torae is to keep moving toward my goals. It is to take the time to always try to become a better version of myself. It is to be more than I ever thought I could be and when I arrive to a certain place, to push the bar even higher.
Self care is when I take a yoga class or go to work out. It is when I take an inventory of my life and remove all of the things that aren’t good for me as much as possible. It is saying that I apologize when I am wrong and work to fix something that I may have broken. It is going to a workshop or listening to my favorite singer or motivational speaker. At times, it is volunteering with a local organization and speaking to the youth. I’ve learned that we can grow taller in a sense of the word after letting the youth teach us something, too. It is getting some sleep.
It is sometimes looking for the next waterfall in a forest or a beach with warm sand. Sometimes it is traveling to a new country to see something new or just going to a great comedy show and laughing until tears are coming down my face. It is spending great times with the family and with friends and just sitting to read a good book again. Sometimes it’s Netflix and Chill, gracefully speaking.
Self Love is all of the above and some things that are too much to name here. But overall my goal is to continue looking for the better parts of myself and challenging myself to more of that. Self care and self love is my singing and song writing because music is my therapy and, yes, we all need therapy! We all need music! I need it. It is seeking love in all situations in particular music, family and community. Simply put, give me a radio, a record, some great music period, some good speakers and time to absorb, and all I can do is smile!
Follow the life adventures of this soul singer on Instagram and download “Little Girl” on her album Sweetest Survivor here.
Sandria M. Washington is the Chief Experience Officer over at SheFieldTrips.com. She will travel for concerts and food, and her favorite dance is the body roll. Follow her on IG @SoDopeSandria.