PiPEllA shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi PiPEllA, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have gotten really into TTRPGs (table top role playing games)! I am currently playing a level 5 Trickster Cleric in a D&D campaign and I’m a game master in a Dropout.tv themed one shot series. It’s very nerdy and I absolutely love it!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Yeah! Hi everyone (and a special hello travelers to my fans)! I’m PiPEllA, your new favorite Cinematic Rock Storyteller. I am an independent artist who makes immersive, anthemic rock music. I’ve also been called Pirate Barbie, the Gen Z Wood Elf and the “Slightly Burnt-out Tavern Bard NPC”, if that gives you a little more context.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That I was broken. I wasn’t diagnosed with Autism until I was 23 years old, but growing up I always felt off. People kept telling me that I was mean or I was over dramatic or I talked too much and it sucked. I did everything to try and change, or at least to be slightly more tolerable. I went on meds for anxiety, OCD and depression. When I was finally given the term autistic, everything clicked. I learned how to forgive myself and change my perspective on the memories I had that felt shameful in the past. I even realized that I love being autistic; that we have a whole community and I’m not alone. I’m not saying it’s a superpower, cause it’s not. It is a disability and the world does not accommodate for it. However, it is a part of me and I wouldn’t change that for the world.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of failure, the fear of rejection. I thought if I wasn’t totally on top of things and fully prepared, with my music, with my branding, with my message, that I shouldn’t be able to put it out into the world. I held off for so long and didn’t take advantage of moments when I had momentum and opportunities available because I didn’t want to get rejected. Then I went in the total opposite direction and put things out without any planning or prep work because I thought that would help me, like exposure therapy. But it wasn’t until I started being okay with just showing up – not without a plan, but without worrying about anyone’s opinion but mine – that I began to feel confident.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. Some people thing “PiPEllA” is a character because there are elements of fantasy and fairytale, but really I think PiPEllA is my most authentic self. I’ve always had a big imagination and brought that into my daily life. I am very vocal about my beliefs and ideologies, both in private and in public. My style, wardrobe, music, message, social content and personality are all very much me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Both. I grew up pretty poor so my parents always pushed me and my siblings to pursue financially stable jobs. While I knew I was born to make art, I ended up going to college for Political Science and then getting my Masters in Global Entertainment and Music Business. Now I fund my passion for music and world building with a job in marketing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pipellamusic/
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pipella.music
Image Credits
Lillian Grace
Emily April Allen
