In the weeks following the roll-out of shelter-in-place mandates toward flattening the curve against COVID-19, the practice of self-care has become an increasingly important tool for creatives in combating stress and strengthening immunity against the virus—as they continue to retool their platforms to virtually engage with audiences. The state-mandated social-distancing and self-isolation protective measures have also presented an unexpected opportunity for introspection and

Isolation is intrinsic to the creative process and journey, as experienced through the haphazardness of business and tour travel, market downturns or the voluntary solitude that allows for the requisite focus and study needed to strengthen performance and technique. Regardless of circumstance, isolation also provides an opportunity towards the strengthening of morale and quarantine of the mind against destructive environments, influences and distractions that hamper creative

There are certain words and catch-phrases that are unique to every country, region and culture, used to communicate universal values and experience. “Having heart”—a phrase indigenous to South Los Angeles, Hip-Hop culture—translates as the embodiment of significant tenacity and courage, and by extension, indicates an equal capacity towards self-sacrifice. For artists and creatives, that level of “heart” carries the same translation in the adoption of disciplines, work ethic a

The life of an artist is naturally shaped and defined by periods of transition, given the metamorphic nature of creativity. During those transitionary periods of change or upheaval, artists can find themselves frozen in the in-between, deferring to past successes or failures--while deliberating the necessity to walk forward into new creative and professional doors that lie ahead, in order to avoid the risk of the unknown. In the face of transition, how can an artist empower t

The life of an artist and creative can easily become overwrought and inhibited by worry and anxiety that if left unattended, can eventually block the flow of creative insight and inspiration. An unconditioned creativity—an automatic, natural state of creativity that thrives and perseveres through difficulty—can shield against the destructive effects of anxiety towards continued productivity. A life of unconditioned creativity can be cultivated through the following practices:

Best Wishes for a restful weekend ahead. In lieu of my regular blog post, I am writing to announce the launch of my new webisode series, Culture Therapy with Claudia Alexander. The show will be a continuation of the blog, exploring subjects related to Jazz, Faith, Spirituality, Artist Wellness and Artist Empowerment, in support of artists and creatives. Join me now on YouTube for the CTCA pilot episode and subscribe for future discussions on the topics above, as they relate t

Jazz master and saxophonist, Wayne Shorter once stated: “Your humanity is your instrument.” In parallel, an artist’s body could be considered the instrument case. Creatives spend hours towards the development of their instrument case and the expression of their craft, undergoing strength training in the form of physical and mental exercises and rehearsals, perfecting their posture under pressure. Inevitably, within the arc of artist development, life lands unexpected weights

Romantic love can become complex and weighted, when diluted with fear, dysfunction and self-serving motives--causing a considerable amount of pain for each party in the relationship. In consideration of the relationship with self and the practice of self-love, it becomes even more crucial to distill the relationship with self in transparency for the release of anger, depression or addictive behaviors that can hamper positive momentum towards the fulfillment of creative goals

Saxophonist Wayne Shorter once stated: “Your humanity is your instrument.” For artists, that metaphor can be extended to the care of the body, with regard to the practice of self-care, as the body is in essence the instrument case to our humanity and talents. With the arrival of the holidays there is generally an encouragement and expectation to throw caution to the wind and indulge the senses, followed by a January run of detox and dieting to regain balance. There are those

Prayer and meditation are both an effective means of navigating worry and negativity in the face of personal challenges and trials on a spiritual level, however we may afterwards still find our minds immersed in problem-solving, in a constant fight against our fears, and an imagined, inevitable doom. As a result, as artists, we can become creatively lost and stagnant, and new ideas and inspiration are blocked. When combined with the act of creativity, prayer and meditation ca

In a Cyber-Monday world where almost anything can be ordered and delivered according to expectation via express shipping, it is a wonder that so many people remain unfulfilled—and yet, the question answers itself, given that the finer things of life such as faith, hope, love, and wellness are not accessible via app or download. When we make it a priority to reconnect our lives with the author of our life’s purpose through prayer, we also establish our access to the spiritual

I have always loved the concept of the Festivus holiday for its candid catharsis and bizarrely comedic properties. The holiday, as featured on the sitcom Seinfeld, is a fictionalized account of an annual holiday celebrated by the family of one of the show’s writers, which has now evolved into an alternate answer to the commercialism of the holiday season. During the holiday, as depicted on the episode “The Strike”, George Costanza is forced to relive the torture of previous F

The last months of the year are typically accompanied by a time of self-reflection, where the facts of our lives serve as headline copy towards a final assessment and punctuation of the year. Some years end with a simple, tidy period. Some end with a semicolon, colon or other connector in the continuation of a new chapter or circumstances. Others end with a loud exclamation point of change. With holiday celebrations and networking events on the horizon, our final judgments ar

Hip-hop artist and recent Pulitzer Prize honoree, Kendrick Lamar posted a series of vintage, on-the-road video vignettes on Instagram this week—one of which featured his point-of-view perspective from a mountaintop. He quipped: “…Made it all the way to the top. I backflipped all the way up here.” It was a loaded statement, on reflection, given what the ability to backflip represents. It is an enviable, and necessary skill in sports such as gymnastics, as well as hand-to-hand

Courage is a trait that is mostly associated with the confrontation of fear, injustice and immediate physical danger. But there is a different kind of courage required in closing the door and walking away from your expectations and the comfort of what you know to be true. There are consequences to that type of courage, in the act of moving forward, that force an acceptance of change—ushering your development into a person you’ve never seen or no longer recognize. While studyi

A couple of weeks ago, while visiting family in New Orleans, I had an opportunity to visit The Presbytère, a former monastery residence, which is now a museum, located adjacent to the Louis XIV Cathedral facing Jackson Square in the French Quarter. The museum houses two large exhibits dedicated to the events and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and an extensive exploration of every cultural facet surrounding Mardi Gras. Within the Katrina exhibit there is a display midway befor

Environment is generally defined as the elements and surrounding space in which one lives. Your principle power as an artist lies in the ability to create and alter environments for the betterment of others through your talent and gifts. At the same time, regardless of the level of your career, you will likely be battling the toxicity of the very environment you’re serving. There are everyday challenges that can range from the misalignment of work-life balance and the inconve

Most artists self-identify by what they do well. For most of my life—if not my entire life, my identity was cemented in my talent as a vocalist. I self-identified solely as a jazz artist. Everything in my life revolved around my ability: My hopes. My decisions. My thoughts. My plans. My language. My passion. My self-worth. But what happens when life happens, and you’re no longer able to do that one thing you’ve built your life around due to a major life event, physical disabi

I have so many thoughts about the Whitney Houston documentary and so much anger about the circumstances of her life. The film revealed major details to the backstory of her life and gave light to the drug addiction that she has been so mercilessly judged for. Midway through the film, there is a scene where she is backstage mid-concert, rushing through hair and makeup between performances, as Bobbi Kristina looks on from the corner, lost and anxious for recognition. You can fe

I was thinking this morning about what to blog about and the topic of depression came to mind. It is something I've struggled with and looking back it reminded me of some of the decisions I've made that in hindsight I can see were heavily influenced by my perspective on life at the time. When you first trip into that mudhole, it can easily turn to quicksand when compounded by the effects of a bad decision made under an altered state of mind. Dealing with depression is similar