Space Coast Podcast Network

A Family's Composition of Creativity with Nilah Lois & Tracey Hnat

February 27, 2024 Multiple Season 2 Episode 14
Space Coast Podcast Network
A Family's Composition of Creativity with Nilah Lois & Tracey Hnat
Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

When Tracey Hnat decided to homeschool her daughter Nilah Lois, little did she know it would become a harmonious journey of creativity and learning. Their story isn't just about textbooks and grades; it's a melody of educational freedom and artistic expression that we unwrap in our latest episode. Tracey and Nilah share their experiences with non-traditional schooling methods, the nuances of online education, and the vibrant fusion of music and language learning that has become a hallmark of their lives. We delve into Tracey's own musical past and how it has influenced Nilah's diverse creative endeavors, all while exploring the local music scene and their teaching gigs at the Groove Shack.

Have you ever wondered what alchemy occurs when life's experiences are transmuted into soul-stirring music? Our guest artist, part of the mother-daughter duo Violent Chimes, joins us to reveal her multifaceted life, balancing pottery, yoga, and music. Their partnership isn't just about hitting the right notes; it's a testament to the profound connection they share, fueling their creative outputs. Our conversation traverses the intricacies of songwriting, the exhilarating yet serene experience of live performance, and the significant impact of timing in their art. This episode is a heartfelt narrative for anyone striving to navigate the intertwined paths of creativity and daily life.

Transitioning from strings to ink, we discuss the enthralling world of bug pinning and the deeply personal stories behind tattoos. These narratives of intricate hobbies and expressive body art open a window into our guests' passions and how they tie into community and identity. We tackle the heavy chords of teenage relationships and the haunting beauty of gothic aesthetics in music, before shifting to the lighter notes of yoga's role in managing the omnipresent stress in today's youth, particularly amid the pressures of social media. Tune in for an episode that, like a well-composed symphony, strikes a chord with the powerful bonds of family and the timeless dance of creativity.

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Speaker 1:

This podcast is brought to you by Place Pros Commercial and Investment Real Estate and NikoTour Boutique, your one stop shop for everything cool. So we have Tracy Mat and Nyla Lois in the studio today. Welcome, ladies, thanks for having us. Yes, absolutely, you guys are kind of. I mean, nyla, you have your music career on your own, but you guys also do it together at times. And then, tracy, you are a yoga instructor and an artist as well, what a wonderful dynamic and Tracy you've been homeschooling Nyla for all her life, since third grade.

Speaker 1:

Oh, okay.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, she went to the Montessori school, okay, from pre-K to first or second, and then I homeschooled her.

Speaker 1:

What made you decide to go that route?

Speaker 3:

She's super creative and I felt like it wasn't really being I don't know. I just felt like she needed to have some more creativity time, and so I took her out and it was really the best thing I ever did.

Speaker 1:

I have to agree, I'm. Yeah, I also think about homeschooling. I did it for my daughter during the pandemic. But I'd like to hear from you like, how is it going?

Speaker 2:

Well, I mean it's going good. Currently I do a lot of online schooling and. I've gone to some like homeschool groups, like pods, I guess, kind of like that. I've gone to like the Eco Verity, other homeschool groups, but recently I've been doing more online stuff. But I just do on my own and I like that better.

Speaker 1:

What grade are you actually in right? Now Currently in 11th 11th grade and you just turned 17. Very nice. And so these pods like allow you to have like a social life too. Oh yeah, that's like the number one thing, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Right Number one misconception.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and do you have any friends that go to public school?

Speaker 2:

All my friends go to public school. All of them, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And like, what do you guys like decipher about it? Like are they jealous that you had to do it on your own?

Speaker 2:

Not really. They all get a taste of it during the pandemic.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's right yeah.

Speaker 2:

It really depends on if you're self-motivated to.

Speaker 1:

Right, which you totally are For the most part yeah.

Speaker 3:

For the most part, that's a big thing. Yeah, definitely it is.

Speaker 1:

And, are you like, ahead of schedule, because you're able to do homeschooling.

Speaker 2:

It depends on what I have planned for the week. Sometimes I because I do have obviously due dates to get stuff- done. And I'll either like if I have a really busy week with other activities like music, then I might have my schooling linger a little bit Okay.

Speaker 1:

But you're kind of on track. Yeah, because I'm not really doing it whenever she's actually here you are ahead.

Speaker 3:

I'm definitely ahead she does a dual enrollment, so she actually takes college courses. So she's in her second semester, third semester of dual enrollment, I believe. So she's a little ahead and through homeschooling she speaks fluent French. What? Because it was able to really do all of her music and writing and putting everything out on Spotify and all the platforms and everything.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, which I think. Well, that's like entrepreneurship, right? Yeah, totally. But the French thing like yeah, we've been taking.

Speaker 2:

French for like five, six years. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Just five and six years, and now you're fluent. Yeah, I tried to get my daughter to do that as soon as she was born, and it kind of fell off. How did you guys manage to?

Speaker 3:

We have an amazing French teacher.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah.

Speaker 3:

It's Laurent's and she's from Paris and so we just do conversational friends with her. We used to be twice a week, now it's once a week, but we've been to Paris and we've traveled a lot. That's amazing. So we get around and it is hard.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

And when you're over there. It's slang and it's a little different, Right and is that lady here in town?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, cool, is she taking on other?

Speaker 3:

I'll ask her, but she probably would.

Speaker 1:

Awesome yeah.

Speaker 3:

She's awesome, she's incredible.

Speaker 1:

Cool. So the whole music thing, Tracy, is it a family tradition to be a musician or did it start with you?

Speaker 3:

Well, so in my I started playing the violin when I was three, and so my parents got me into the violin and all that stuff. But I just kind of did it for fun and I got into piano and then guitar singing, all that stuff. And then I had some friends ask, after I had Nyla, if I could help them learn violin and stuff. And so that's kind of where the whole teaching started. And then I had students at the house.

Speaker 3:

I had a lot of students and we did recitals and Nyla accompanied all of my students, which was really cool, and then it just kind of started there Like it was just an environment of music.

Speaker 1:

That's really cool. That's really cool Surrounding and both of you have taught at the groove shout. Are you guys still there?

Speaker 3:

Are you still there? I am still there. She's subbed sometimes. Okay, I love the groove shack. They're great, I know, I know.

Speaker 1:

And now they have sort of spin-dots into the Casa Bonita.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yeah.

Speaker 1:

The Dolly's Wine Bar, which is really, really amazing. It's amazing.

Speaker 3:

You guys have been there. I have been there, yeah, nyla. I have not been there yet, Erica the owner, brock's wife, asked us to sing there at some point, so we'll probably be doing some live music there.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's a very nice venue.

Speaker 3:

It's got a good vibe.

Speaker 1:

It has a great vibe. It's yeah. Okay, let's go back to you playing violin at three. How did you get a violin at three? Oh gosh.

Speaker 3:

So it's called, it's a Suzuki method and it's Dr Suzuki and basically it's. You know, you start you like with a little box, like box violin you know, so you learn how to hold it and just kind of start you really young. So it's just second nature. So like playing the violin is just second nature, really that's crazy Because I started so young, but it's a hard instrument.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it is. How did your parents sort of know to do that? Like, are they creative too?

Speaker 3:

They are in their own way. They're not musical. Okay, so what my mom had, Nila gives my her grandmother ukulele lessons. And so she she loves music, they love music. And I feel like my dad can sing. I actually heard him sing a few times. It's got a pretty good voice yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

But yeah, it just kind of Devolved itself, yeah, and so being so young was just, I think, really important with you know starting, yeah, and absolutely.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Nila. What is it like to be a 17 year old musician? I mean, not a lot of kids get that opportunity, have the talent for it. How do you?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, since I would go. I used to go to the group shack a lot. I was mostly surrounded by kids that play music.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so it's not.

Speaker 2:

I've never really thought about that before when it's like to be a musician. But I mean, I couldn't imagine not doing it, not doing it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how do you get inspiration for your lyrics? Do you write your own?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, all the lyrics I write on my own and the inspiration definitely varies Sometimes. It's always inspired from things that happen in my life, but it comes in waves. I'll just like randomly get an idea for a line, write it down and then keep going, and then sometimes I have a whole song planned out.

Speaker 1:

Do you ever get jitters to go on stage, or does it just feel so natural to you?

Speaker 2:

Really that's amazing.

Speaker 3:

I've never seen her nervous get up on stage. Really no.

Speaker 2:

You remember when I had my math test?

Speaker 3:

She gets nervous for math tests, but not performing. I feel her live performances are just even better than her recorded performances. I mean, she's just incredible.

Speaker 1:

How many albums have you recorded? Or is it just songs that you record?

Speaker 2:

I don't know, how many things I've released.

Speaker 3:

Like over oh my gosh, how many. So you have like four albums, five albums EP, yeah, so five songs on each EP, and then she's got a bunch of singles.

Speaker 2:

But I've written like many more.

Speaker 1:

Many more I have not sat down and recorded them. Oh, okay. So how do you choose what to record and what not to record?

Speaker 2:

Well, whenever I write a song, I'm usually like obsessed with it for a time period and then if I don't record it when I'm in that obsession period then I kind of just like falls back and gets lost and then I'll write another one, and then if I actually record that one in the obsession period.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so it has to be the right time. And then, when you two guys perform together, is there a name you guys go by? Violent Chimes.

Speaker 2:

That's right.

Speaker 3:

Violent Chimes.

Speaker 1:

And then have you guys recorded together?

Speaker 3:

Not yet we want to Because.

Speaker 1:

Violent Chimes is kind of new right.

Speaker 3:

It is new.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, okay, so in the works.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so we've, you know, we've written a bunch of songs together and we just need to, kind of, you know, find the time. So I feel like putting the time into record is a lot, it's a lot.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, where do you?

Speaker 3:

guys do that In her room. Oh, now it's in the music room we have a little room, oh nice. We just record at home and she's like I mean, she does incredible sound and everything for her own music, right, which is wild.

Speaker 1:

Are you going to keep doing that Like what are you studying? Are you going to? Are you?

Speaker 2:

going to be a lifelong musician.

Speaker 1:

Are you going to get into like actually like a recording studio? Do you have any ambition to go outside of Brevard?

Speaker 2:

Oh, definitely.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

I'm going to get out of here. For Ronto. But, like as far as career wise and what I want to really do with my life, it seems to change every month.

Speaker 1:

Really yeah. Tell me some of the things that you like considered.

Speaker 2:

One idea was like dermatology, okay. And then I realized maybe not. And then I was thinking art animation, yep, because I draw a lot.

Speaker 3:

She's an incredible artist, like drawing and I mean Like realism and hard to use.

Speaker 2:

But then obviously I've been so wrapped around music Right Like my whole life.

Speaker 1:

Why aren't you showing some of your art?

Speaker 2:

I actually do have a very small art page.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

It's called Funky Rat Art Okay.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how did that name come about?

Speaker 2:

I don't really know. I just had an account and then I was thinking, hmm, that would be kind of weird.

Speaker 1:

And then I just Funky Rat Art popped up, okay, okay, so it's out there. What about, like putting it in galleries and stuff?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I've never done that, but I think that would be a very good idea.

Speaker 3:

She has a whole collection of these incredible pottery pieces that she's made. Oh yeah, you guys do pottery, yeah, which I love.

Speaker 2:

You guys have a film in the studio in your house.

Speaker 1:

Yes, Because I bought some over the holidays. That's right, yes, and you mentioned that you do have classes or like private sessions. Yeah, tell us about that.

Speaker 3:

And so just depending on if I'll get like a group. You know, right now I have teens, a little group of teens that come in and work and it's what I'm finding. It's very therapeutic for them. They're not on their phones, yeah, they're working. They work the whole time. They don't even talk, hardly how long are the? Sessions Two hours Okay, sometimes they go a little over.

Speaker 1:

And they meet weekly. Yes, and if somebody wanted to do that with you, you can contact me. Yeah.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, through Instagram, okay, or you know, facebook or something, okay, so I, I, because I work at the group shack too, so my time is like Split it's split.

Speaker 1:

Right, and then yoga too right, and yoga, yeah, the yoga garden, which is amazing place.

Speaker 3:

How often are you there? Tuesday nights and Friday nights, okay.

Speaker 1:

I've seen you do some incredible poses, Nila. Are you into that too? She?

Speaker 3:

is yeah, and she's amazing at that also.

Speaker 1:

You guys have such like a a great sort of bond. We do. Can you speak to that? How did you cultivate that? Because a lot of times that I'm my best friend.

Speaker 2:

I know.

Speaker 1:

We were just. I mean, how many teenagers say that about their mothers? I think you know a lot. Um, you know, start to rebel or shy away, stay in their room. How do you keep it together?

Speaker 3:

I mean, it's just always been so close and, um, it's just funny because I feel like, you know, I basically gave birth to like myself, except 10.0. Upgrade 10.0. Um, she, she likes everything that I like. We like the same things. You know, we're and we're. We just get along really well. We're always laughing, like that's that's the best.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's kind of funny that I'll talk about the stages in life that I'm going through. My mom was like, oh yeah, when I was your age, I did the same thing.

Speaker 3:

It's like we have a lot of very similar moments and experiences.

Speaker 2:

Oh, my God.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, we just um, and we're both only children too, so I don't have any brothers or sisters. Do you think that has to do with it? Because you're not spreading yourself thin among other siblings and stuff.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and then you? You, you have friends. Do they also carry the same relationship, or do you see that you and your mother have something special?

Speaker 2:

Oh, yeah, yeah, you could tell the difference, yeah.

Speaker 1:

That's really nice.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's really cool. Like I, my favorite time is with her, and especially when we're creating.

Speaker 1:

you know, so would you say it's never been difficult, or do you?

Speaker 3:

guys have times. We've had difficult moments.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, oh yeah, it's I mean sure so, nila, I just saw the sound of music and you know the, the 16 year old, going on 17. She just gets her first kiss and everything. Are you experiencing that Like?

Speaker 3:

falling in love. Yes, have you done that?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, have you fallen in love before Once, twice, many times Um?

Speaker 2:

well, I mean, I feel like relationships and determining like real love can be very difficult to determine, especially at such a young age yeah. Um, so I'd say currently I'm in love you are, and yeah, and mother approved, yeah, okay.

Speaker 3:

Her boyfriend is very sweet. He treats her nicely, is it a new relationship?

Speaker 2:

Well, seven months.

Speaker 1:

Oh no, not new at all. Okay, that's good. Have you ever come across a a you know guy that you didn't approve of that she brought home? Yes.

Speaker 3:

And we've, and we've actually gone through. You know there's there's a lot there, um, but you know you have to work through these things and have trust and um just hope that you know your child makes the right decision.

Speaker 1:

So like as a mother going through that, how did you? It's very hard.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's like give us some pointers because, oh boy, um, I mean I okay, so I do feel like they shouldn't be so young to have a boyfriend, right, you know, like I feel like they should wait, maybe have friends. But sometimes it just happens, sometimes there's this connection and they just, you know, really like each other and, um, I think you just have to kind of give them the best advice you can and and hopes that they will make.

Speaker 1:

So you're straight forward with her Very straightforward we're very honest with each other.

Speaker 3:

Okay, we went through a period of time that was a little bit rough. Um, we are currently out of that and moving forward and, um, I think that's normal.

Speaker 1:

I think every it's totally normal I mean I went through.

Speaker 3:

Every teenager goes through it.

Speaker 1:

I went through it too, and it does count how your mom or dad deal with it because it could push you to make more wrong decisions if so honesty is the best policy.

Speaker 3:

Yes, okay, and I just safety. I just want her to be safe.

Speaker 1:

So, just letting me know, Nila, did you sort of. How did you process that? Like bringing someone home, your mom says I don't like him so much for you. How was that for?

Speaker 2:

you. It's very difficult. I think it's more difficult in my situation because of how close me and my mom are. So it's like it's hard to pick and choose, because you don't want to hurt someone and then you also don't want to hurt the other person. So if you like love two people who don't really connect, you got to, like find ways around it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how long did it take you to sort of know that? Okay, well, I have to move on.

Speaker 2:

So I mean, it's hard to say like how long it really took, but we kind of, instead of moving on, we kind of all just understood each other's like stance and where we're coming from.

Speaker 3:

Okay, and then it just fizzled yeah okay, I think, with young minds too, understanding what love is. You know like when you love somebody you let them be who they are. You know you grow with them. You know jealousy is like a big thing, right. And like you can't, you know, get over, like just the jealousy, has got to be very careful with that. And so they have to, because they're young, they don't understand Right, and like you handle things, and so you know, explaining that right, you know what I mean.

Speaker 1:

I know because when you, I remember being young and in love and now, looking back as an adult, you realize like maybe it was more of an infatuation or a rebelling. You know. Yeah so that's, very interesting.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and you know, ultimately like the two people should really enjoy each other's company. You know when you start fighting and it's not. You know like you feel bad and he feels bad, right.

Speaker 1:

And it's like not healthy. Well, also being like a front woman of a. Do you have a band or is it? Do you just? Are you a solo artist?

Speaker 2:

So I used to be in a band.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

But currently I just do solo stuff.

Speaker 1:

But that must be intimidating for you to be in front of like a whole stage of people and you know jealousy, ken and Sue. It takes quite the man to be able to handle that right.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, me personally. I have never really dealt with jealousy issues, but I do know people who have dealt with it and it's very hard for them.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it is hard because you know you love, but then you don't understand why you're getting all this Right, Right, yeah, Okay, moving on, you have like a look. Where do you get your inspiration for your look?

Speaker 2:

Well, I mean ever since I was like 12, I want to say I was really into the gothic, more darker look.

Speaker 1:

Right, which is kind of like opposite of what Tracy exudes.

Speaker 2:

Well, the funny thing is, when she was that age, she was just like oh, really, yeah.

Speaker 3:

So my hair was just like this Dark oh, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

So you're into the gothic? What sort of brings you to that? Why do you gravitate towards that?

Speaker 2:

I really don't know oh really. I've just always liked darker things and it's like a look, but I feel like it might also be a little mental. We've always just like been more interested in like darker creepy, our Tim.

Speaker 3:

Burton film. Yeah, I was just gonna say maybe because you were brought up watching Tim Burton film.

Speaker 2:

We listened to more like moody music. I don't know it's the overall aura, it's just darker.

Speaker 1:

And did that come off in your lyrics too?

Speaker 2:

For sure.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah. What is like one of your favorite songs that you've written yeah, that you've written that you think our audience should go listen to.

Speaker 2:

I really like my song. I don't know, okay, and what's that about? Well, it's kind of about not knowing, and it's just like confused when you're around someone and you don't really know, like what you're trying to do or like what they're trying to tell you.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's just overall.

Speaker 1:

Like misreading people or trying to read. Emotions are all messed up and then when you guys write music together, what is that like? Like, what kind of themes are you guys exploring there?

Speaker 3:

They're always very emotional. Like we always like I think that's kind of brings out the lyrics is the emotion you know when we're going through things in our lives. Yeah, and it just. I think we wrote like two happy songs, one of them like once yeah, and we resonate more with the sad stuff. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

It's kind of like for me whenever I write a sad song, because I remember my grandma was like why are your songs so sad? And I was like, well, I'm not really. I don't come off as a very sad person and I feel like if I didn't write these songs, maybe I would.

Speaker 1:

Yeah it's kind of like a therapy. It's almost like my therapy. Oh, that is interesting.

Speaker 2:

Getting it out instead of.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you don't come off as sad and like. This is my first time actually like having a conversation with you and you know, when you look at you you're obviously in Gothic mode and that's sad. But you're not a sad child at all. You're a happy child and not a child. I'm sorry.

Speaker 2:

Young lady, she's still a child. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Okay, cool. So you guys have been to Paris. Where else have you traveled?

Speaker 2:

Switzerland.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, switzerland we go to. So she was born out in Portland Oregon.

Speaker 1:

Oh really.

Speaker 3:

So we go out to Oregon Often. We go to New York City often. We like snowboarding, although we haven't gone in a while. We need to. I was thinking about going this year. I don't know, maybe over spring break we might. I don't know, we'll see. Okay, but yeah, we love to go places and I'm hoping to continue that trend.

Speaker 1:

Does that bring inspiration or is it just like a getaway? It brings inspiration For me yeah.

Speaker 2:

Not so much for me.

Speaker 1:

No, not even like New York or Paris.

Speaker 2:

Not really. It like inspires me to move there, but it doesn't really inspire my music or art.

Speaker 1:

Okay, it's just a getaway for you. So you wanna move where?

Speaker 2:

I don't really know. For a while I wanted to move to New York City, but then I was witnessing everything online that's been happening there. I was like, maybe not, but I love Oregon, I was born there. I just I wanna go somewhere where there's more greenery.

Speaker 1:

Okay, real greenery. I didn't know you guys lived in Oregon. I thought you guys were born, raised here. No, I was born and raised in New York.

Speaker 3:

Okay, upstate New.

Speaker 1:

York and then you moved to Oregon. For what reason?

Speaker 3:

So at the time her father got a job transfer to. Portland and so we moved out there. And then, right after we moved, I got pregnant and had her. And then, how long?

Speaker 1:

were you there?

Speaker 3:

About like a little over two years two and a half years.

Speaker 1:

And then, what exactly brought you to Brevard?

Speaker 3:

And then, so actually after so I moved to Brevard because my dad's family was here after high school, or my last year of high school, so I was here. Then I went to UCF college in Orlando and then met her father, or yes, and then we moved out to Portland. Okay, and what did you?

Speaker 1:

study at UCF Art Art. Yeah, you got an art degree.

Speaker 3:

Yes, yeah, Okay, like an art education degree, but I loved, like you know, so I loved the studio art part. And I wanted to just do like a fine arts degree.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 3:

And I, kind of you know, just mostly took those classes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

And then out in Oregon I went to Pacific Northwest College of Art so that was really fun in the Pearl District so I did a lot of art classes there. So that was kind of my specialty you know like. And then I found music but I always did music, so I don't know?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it was always on the end, and so how did yoga come about Like I got?

Speaker 3:

certified through the studio.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 3:

Not because I wanted to teach, just because I loved it Right, and then it just kind of like came from there. Just yoga changed my life, like it really helped me through a lot of stuff.

Speaker 1:

So when you do, when you get certified for yoga, I've heard that yoga, the physical practice, is just one of seven. Yeah, there's, yeah, things that encompass yoga.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, can you tell us about that. Yeah, there's many different limbs of yoga, so asana is your physical practice. That's your third limb, okay, and yeah, it's just a small part. So when you go to a studio, you know, it's just you're not really sure why you're there. You're just kind of working out, you know. But then once you dive deeper into the meditation, the breath work, the pranayama, all of that, then it just starts to like click, so it's breath work it's meditation.

Speaker 1:

Did they teach you like the? What are these things? Like the yoni or the mudras? Yeah, the mudras.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, there's different hand mudras and you know, like with how you, you know, press your hands, like works with the hemispheres of the brain.

Speaker 1:

Is that what it is? Yeah, it's very, and there's like different ones.

Speaker 3:

They have like the lotus ones and you know like a Gaian Moudreau and all these different. You know like ways you can kind of press and you know activate brain activity. Do you use that? Sometimes I use like Gaian Moudreaus and we do a lot of these. You know so, and then and then that's so when you're teaching the Asana it's hard to incorporate all of that stuff. You know what I mean. So I try to introduce pranayama, which is your breathwork, in conjunction with movement and in hopes that people can feel like what I felt through it and have it help them. And it's helped me tremendously. Has it helped you, nila?

Speaker 1:

Yes, yeah, tell us how.

Speaker 2:

I mean so a while ago, when I was doing more I think it was just my high school courses I would have DBAs, which is a discussion-based assessment. And so my teacher would call me and ask me or any questions from the module, and that just terrified me. Yeah, I don't like not being prepared, and so I would write like pages and pages of notes, and then she'd ask me like two questions and.

Speaker 2:

I'd be like, oh my gosh, but I would just work myself up for that and we would do yoga before that and remember-.

Speaker 1:

And that would calm you, yeah.

Speaker 2:

I would make sure that I would wake up extra early so we could do some type of meditation and just calms me down. And even now I'm going through things and I experience more stress than I experienced when I was little, yeah, and so when I go to my mom's class, you can just totally forget all that stuff that's bothering you and just breathe and I do. It's funny. You'll catch yourself and my mom will say something like when you start thinking, breathe louder, and you just hear everybody's breath increase, Wow, and then you just forget about your stress. It's really nice.

Speaker 3:

So when you really practice it, you're not just focusing on your breath, you're not thinking, there's no thoughts, and you give yourself that time for you and it's really amazing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, because the breath work goes into a meditation or a meditative state. What are some of the stressors that a 17-year-old these days face? Because it was different for us growing up.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah. Well, one of the most common ones, I think, would be school. That's stressful, family relations, relationships in general, and just a lot of the times you'll think that somebody wants you to meet certain standards. So reaching standards can be difficult and expectations is also difficult.

Speaker 1:

From outside people not necessarily like yourself.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, not necessarily yourself. Also, yourself when you set goals for yourself and don't reach them, that's kind of sad.

Speaker 1:

What about social? Media, stressors, social media is a very big one. Can you talk about that? How does it impact you? How are you dealing with it?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I've been on and off social media for a while. It can be great if you use it as a tool, but it can also be extremely ugly and very scary. It just can really destroy someone, basically.

Speaker 1:

Have you felt like that about it? Yeah?

Speaker 2:

I've been in very rough patches of life due to social media. Really, yeah, can you?

Speaker 1:

tell us a circumstance. Is it like not getting enough likes, or is it just seeing the beauty standards out there?

Speaker 2:

Just, you don't even realize how easy it is to start comparing yourself. And maybe you see something and you're like, oh wow, that's really cool. I wish I was like that. But then, if you really pick it apart, it's just filters upon filters fake but editing.

Speaker 1:

It's not real. I know, Isn't it so refreshing to see the unfiltered celebrities even Like we need more of that. It's even funny.

Speaker 2:

When we were talking about this not the long ago. You see a photo online. It's like this person is just absolutely beautiful, perfect, perfect, yeah. And then I'm sitting in a room for yoga and I'm looking at all these people and I'm like, wow, we're not meant to be that perfect fake thing.

Speaker 3:

Well, it's not real. It's not real. It's just so bizarre. It is bizarre.

Speaker 1:

Do you find that your friends fall for it too? I mean us as adults fall for it. Yeah.

Speaker 3:

Everyone falls for it. It's terrifying, right? I mean I can't imagine with their young minds how that's affecting them. I mean I've seen her change and it's scary and it's been, yeah, like as a parent to a parent. It's like keep them off.

Speaker 1:

Keep them off. Oh yeah, when did you start? I mean because it's been there all your life, right? Yeah, like since you knew.

Speaker 2:

Facebook was around At 12 was when I got.

Speaker 3:

That's when she got her first phone and that's when everything went.

Speaker 1:

The phone was terrible. Oh gosh, I know the kids around my neighborhood, even at this age, are. I mean, they have the watch and I'm I'm like I don't want you to carry around that, even though, like, I see the value in tracking your child. Yeah, I mean, she doesn't really leave a parameter Right.

Speaker 3:

We think about like when we were young, like we weren't tracked.

Speaker 1:

You know what I mean we were fine, I know we had quarters in our pocket.

Speaker 3:

I mean, we're running around you know, just in the woods having a blast, right, you know? Um I Mean. I think we all, as parents, are very nervous when I want anything to happen to our children, and I definitely went through that, while I need to know where you are, and I still do yeah, I'm like where are you, yeah, but so having the phone at 12 gave her access to the internet, and it wasn't just the tracking, it was that right.

Speaker 1:

Is that what you're saying?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it it was it just that all of a sudden she went from reading tons of books and like just being out in the garden and you know, being outside and doing stuff till like constantly on her phone, and I was like, oh my god, like, and, and then it just like it was very hard to change that. I mean, you know we try to limit it, but then you know that Didn't work. And then there was a new like level. It's just in like levels of things like they're finding, and In part of this, you know too, I allowed her to go on these things because she was promoting herself.

Speaker 3:

Right she's been writing. You know her first album was out when you were 12, right, 12 years old, you know so. You know she was promoting. And then what happens is it's no longer a tool. Now you're sucked in, you know and it may you're obsessed right and they make it so that you get sucked in.

Speaker 1:

I mean you're just yeah, and you're like, two hours are gone.

Speaker 3:

You're like what?

Speaker 1:

did you see that movie? Yes, explained it all. Yeah, I know, I thought, yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, are you on tiktok?

Speaker 2:

I do tiktok.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

I don't really Post much on tiktok. Yeah, I don't either, but I find it like I don't know.

Speaker 1:

Obviously, it'll go to whatever you're interested in, and I find it to be like an educational resource of it. Okay, yeah, more so than Instagram, which is like this is my perfect life and I'm here to share it with you. Yeah, which I mean I tell people like you know they're like, it looks like you're thriving and I'm like it's just a picture and I don't I don't really like to post my kid too much or or any of that but it is like.

Speaker 1:

I'm not gonna post when I'm sad or the times that which I mean when done Well, it's refreshing, right, because you're fed all this perfection. It's cool to see someone just Be like I'm having a bad day today. Yeah, exactly who do you look up to?

Speaker 2:

That's hard. I really I've been. I thought about that question a lot and I've always thought, like, who do I look up to? But I, honest to God, have no idea. Okay, there's no one really that I've ever wanted to like. Oh, I want to be like them, or they're really cool.

Speaker 1:

Well, that's, that's, probably good right. I think so, you like yourself you like okay, what are what other things outside of music and art and yoga are you into that we might not know about?

Speaker 2:

for a while I was into bug pinning.

Speaker 1:

Entomology bug pinning. Yeah so you take a dead bug and dead bug yeah, and, and you pin it onto something.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I just like would make them really for a display.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I tried that once For an art project and it was hard to get that little butterfly to stay and it ended up cracking in half and what are some bug pinning tips that you have.

Speaker 2:

Well, my friend she actually was the one who helped me start pinning bugs and she would have like a hot bowl of water. And so you take your dried bug, put it in there and it kind of loosens it up, and then you just would take it out onto like Styrofoam or anything like they could stick a needle in right, and then you just slowly like pull the wings apart. Oh it's a while. It was really fun though.

Speaker 1:

They're really pretty. Where do you get your bugs? Anywhere, I.

Speaker 2:

Was so obsessed with it that I'd go on walks and then, like try to find I bring like a glass bottle with me and I'd be like squatting everywhere.

Speaker 3:

Where's the?

Speaker 2:

bugs Um and then also in, like beach, public beach restrooms.

Speaker 1:

Pretty bugs, yeah, worth pity.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, I feel like any bug can be really pretty if you look at close enough, with all the detail.

Speaker 1:

And then, how long did you do that for and why did you stop?

Speaker 2:

Gosh, I did that for like Like three to four months maybe no, it was like a year.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, okay, wow over a year, then. And where are all these bugs now? Okay, they're gonna display, and they are still have like a box of unfinished.

Speaker 2:

But I don't really know why I stopped.

Speaker 1:

I just there's a lot of bugs. Now, I had a lot of bugs, well, the time I came to pick up the pottery that you sold me you had created little origami.

Speaker 2:

Oh yeah origami.

Speaker 1:

Is that your current obsession? Are you passed?

Speaker 2:

I mean, that's been going on for years.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's here. That's the longest.

Speaker 1:

I think I was like, yeah, 11, is it origami or is it jewelry making? That?

Speaker 2:

so it's both, both. It's origami earrings or gonna make different types of origami.

Speaker 1:

Are those available anywhere in town or just yeah?

Speaker 2:

I also have an account for that All right.

Speaker 1:

Are you an Etsy or is it just an Instagram?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so that was crane earrings. I don't go on it much.

Speaker 1:

Okay, no, if you guys, but I also pottery.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, but I saw my earrings that I'm standard collective. Oh, okay, good, I'll put them at a few other places, but that's always been my go to.

Speaker 1:

They're really great. Yeah, how did you cultivate that relationship?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, through the community and they've always just been. I just think they're great. You know they're. Yeah, it's a go.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, they're just around. Yeah, such a legend.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, really yeah, with the groove to where you here.

Speaker 1:

when group yes, I was, I loved God it was like the one and only store you would have. My god so great, yeah, I mean, it's not what standard collective is now. It was, it was you yeah, it was really retro stuff. He would go to New York and collect these little velvet slippers that we all died over and needed, all the colors and who is? Gonna get the red ones first made vinyl.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, which is really cool. Yeah, I got my belly button pierced there. They're six there.

Speaker 1:

Oh my gosh, you guys have a lot of piercings. Where do you go so?

Speaker 3:

Oh, his name is Mac piercings. He was ink tattoo, but he's not there anymore. No, okay, there's also another.

Speaker 2:

I forget the name of the tattoo place, but it's in downtown Melbourne, right across from Island root Kava bar, right over.

Speaker 3:

It's a yeah. Yeah, he was there too, but then now he's not there. I think he works out of his house and you have tattoos.

Speaker 1:

I just saw some blue dots. Boy yes so they don't approve.

Speaker 2:

I mean they're? They're gonna fade, since they're stick of pokes.

Speaker 1:

Well, if you notice, yes, we have imagine you guys hold them up.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I don't know if you're gonna be able to see it, yeah, they're a little, just have a very white arm.

Speaker 3:

Well, design, nila designed yeah and did she?

Speaker 1:

did these. What do you mean so?

Speaker 2:

Just a very small needle, some like actual tattoo ink, not pen ink.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

I'm clear about okay tattoo ink, and then you just go you guys just did it at home, yeah.

Speaker 3:

So I was like really against this from.

Speaker 1:

When I found out that she did this, I was like so she got?

Speaker 3:

hers first, that's, and yeah, I just didn't. I mean, I love tattoos, they're beautiful.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 3:

I feel like she's too young.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, but she did it in a room anyway, yeah.

Speaker 2:

How did?

Speaker 1:

you know how to even do that. I mean, I, I, we pierced each other as kids, but never did we dad to ourselves.

Speaker 2:

I mean, it's just like drawing on yourself.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I draw a lot and you say they'll fade because of the method that you did it. Yeah, okay, it's really not like deep into your channel. They're not fading.

Speaker 2:

I Mean I have one of my foot that's fading.

Speaker 1:

Okay, how many have you done on yourself?

Speaker 3:

She's not allowed anymore. I told you no more. Yes, I know.

Speaker 2:

I think real quick, okay 12. But they're like tiny, they're just like little tiny things.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

And then I have violent chimes and Sanskrit written on my wrist which I'm going to now get.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you could do it, so I have this is my first tattoo ever I've never. Yeah, it's my first tattoo.

Speaker 3:

And so then I'm gonna get the violent chimes here.

Speaker 1:

And you're gonna have her do it. Yeah, so I'll have her do it, so it means something Like that picture's really special.

Speaker 3:

So I mean I know all tattoos mean something and they're all really special, but I got over it, but I still don't want you to get a lot out, okay so Stop now. Stop now. Stop now, stop by your head. Yeah, why your head?

Speaker 1:

Cause you don't know you know, I know I have a tattoo that I wish I would have not gotten, really yeah. It's a ladybug and it looks just like it looks like a beetle now. Like it's an ugly bug that you might not want to pin, but you can maybe get it like yeah, it's in a spot that like doesn't matter. I do have one tattoo that I like. It's white ink and it's an infinity sign.

Speaker 1:

My lucky number is eight, so it makes sense, and then I put a period on it, just to be like I'll put some more on about it, but you can't see it, you can't really see it. So I think it's like a that's cool.

Speaker 3:

I don't know, I do see it though.

Speaker 1:

I see it, it's subtle, it's neat, it is neat.

Speaker 3:

It's very neat. Maybe next time. Yes, white ink, neither it's good yeah.

Speaker 1:

Okay, ladies, where can we see you next? Do you guys have any shows in line?

Speaker 3:

Well, we're going to be playing at the Yogi Parogi for all the Yogi's.

Speaker 1:

Oh nice.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so that is April 6th, I think.

Speaker 1:

I remember going and you saying it was like a wine and you taught us how to like plant a tree or something. So that was at the yoga garden, okay.

Speaker 3:

And we did, we sang, and then.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it was such a beautiful night.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so we'll probably do another one of those, because I love that environment, like the weather's nice. Yeah, so maybe we'll have something offered there. We'll definitely keep you posted. We usually post everything on our social media.

Speaker 1:

Okay. And tell us what those are, so that our audience can find you.

Speaker 3:

So my Instagram is trhnat and Nila's is Nila Lois. Okay, n-i-l-a-h-l-o-i-s.

Speaker 1:

And once you're next performance.

Speaker 2:

I don't have any lined up right now you don't. So if you want me to play a show, let me know. Yeah, we haven't, really haven't had many lined up recently.

Speaker 1:

How does that work, though, for you, because, I mean, people want to hear you.

Speaker 2:

It kind of comes in like waves. I guess, yeah, I noticed for a while. It's like all or nothing, it's like show, show, show, no show.

Speaker 1:

Okay, well, you know, you got nominated by Sombra Mercy. Yeah, that was so awesome.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I thought that was really good. She really admires you yeah.

Speaker 1:

I think a lot of people do. I know you guys have to leave for whatever you guys have going on today. Do you have any parting words for young people? Because you're so put together and your head's on right, what would you advise the youth out there?

Speaker 2:

Whatever you do, don't succumb to being quote unquote normal.

Speaker 1:

Okay, embrace anything. Anything that's special about you, is it? Special, yeah, yeah yeah, I think when we were growing up, the opposite message was sent to us. Absolutely Conformer.

Speaker 2:

You have to look this certain way, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And I really appreciate that and you and you guys being here today because I think it's important for people to hear a young lady like yourself. Yeah, just be so with it. And I don't know if it's because of the homeschooling and the music and everything, but you guys are doing something incredibly right.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you guys are both like super inspiring.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 1:

Tracy with all your yoga and art. I love that Thanks. So thank you for being here today, yeah thanks so much for having us. Yeah, if you guys ever need to promote anything. Let us know Okay, and you guys are always welcome back.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, thank you so much. This was really wonderful, super awesome.

Speaker 1:

It was a wonderful meeting you. Oh yeah, do you guys want to nominate somebody? Yes, Okay. Psych. Who's that?

Speaker 2:

Psych, the local metal band. Okay, oh my gosh, that would be so cool.

Speaker 1:

She loves Psych. Okay, is it a group?

Speaker 2:

Two A duo A duo.

Speaker 3:

Male duo.

Speaker 1:

All right, Psych, come on down.

Speaker 3:

Yes, yes.

Speaker 1:

You're the next contestant? Okay cool, We'll let them know and we'll reach out. We'll reach out to them too.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much. You're looking for that video, Okay.

Speaker 1:

I'll do it for you.

Speaker 2:

Lila, yay Awesome.

Speaker 1:

Cool, thank you, ladies. Well, thanks so much for having us have a good one. Yeah, to be a sponsor or nominate a guest, hit us up on Instagram at local underscore celebrity underscore bravard. Until next time, goodbye.

Homeschooling, Music, and Creativity
Creativity, Music, Art, and Motherhood
Talking About Teenage Relationships and Inspiration
Youth, Stress, and Social Media
Bug Pinning and Tattoo Stories