Say “Yes, And.” Every “no” in the industry is simply shorthand for “not yet.” So say yes when you can. Take the meeting, book the gig, you never know what doors will open from there.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing LACHI Music.
Lachi is an award-winning blind performer, GRAMMYs Board Governor, Founder of RAMPD, and highly recognized Disability Culture icon who was recently named “USA Today’s 2024 Woman of the Year and one of “Afrotech’s Future 50 Changemakers.”
@LachiMusic
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
Music has been a passion of mine from a young age. As I began pursuing music full-time, I started to notice that the industry was not the most accessible place for a legally blind woman of color. There just weren’t many folks who looked liked me or had my story on TV or the radio growing up, so I couldn’t exactly blame the industry, but also couldn’t really level up in my career as an artist unless something was done. I googled “disability and music” and nothing substantive came up. So I decided to be the representation I was looking for. I traversed the industry looking for as many professionals as I could find who had a neurodivergence, disability or chronic or mental health condition. I brought them together and formed RAMPD — a professional affinity network amplifying Disability Culture, inclusion and safe accessible spaces in the music industry.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
My biggest mistake was hiding the deepest, most precious part of my authenticity, my disability, for fear of being seen as non-competitive. I did everything I could to hide my blindness, but I was shooting myself in the foot, as I wasn’t getting the accommodations I needed as I get into these bigger and better rooms. However, when I finally ‘came out’ about being blind, it opened up many doors and a deeply authentic side of me that I hadn’t tapped into before. I’ve learned to be unafraid as I ensure I am accommodated in all spaces whether I’m in the studio or traveling the world.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
Be unapologetic in carving out your space. Instead of working to fit a certain mold, I create my own lane and show up authentically, because pretending to be anyone other than myself is a waste of precious energy.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
My mother — a West African woman who came to America, raised seven children, got her PH.d, eventually became a church leader, then a college Dean, then one of the first women Chiefs of her home state back in Nigeria — is a huge inspiration to me for resilience, community and leadership. Another inspiration had been my late mentor and friend Judy Heuman — a disability rights icon who helped pave the way for laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act. I first learned about Judy in an episode of Drunk History that covered the history of the 504 Sit-In. Then, I met Judy when she asked for my song to be the intro for her podcast. She was a dear friend and mentor. After Judy unexpectedly passed away in March of 2023, I wrote a song called “Lift Me Up” that has become an award-winning disability pride anthem backed by MTV, Coldplay, and Google.
Great musical inspirations for me are folks like Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Missy Elliot and a host of very talented visionary black women. Having the opportunity to eventually work in a writing camp with Alicia Keys has been quite the dream come true!
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
I’m the founder and CEO of an organization called Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD) which connects the music and live entertainment industries to disability-inclusive tools, programming, and a fast-growing global directory of established music professionals with disabilities and neurodivergence. RAMPD has since worked with the GRAMMYs, Netflix, Born this Way Foundation, TIDAL and others to amplify Disability Culture and inclusion in the industry.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
As an artist with a disability navigating the music industry, I felt extremely alone. But when I became more open and celebrated my identities while navigating the industry, I began connecting with other artists with disabilities, neurodivergence and other conditions, and I found that we faced common stigmas and barriers within the industry. And when we googled “Music” and “Disability” nothing substantive came up. So I started RAMPD to be the thing that came up, to show the music industry not only that we are valuable, competitive and successful, but that everyone, potentially you reading this, intersect with disability in your life in some way.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
RAMPD has members across the country being connected with the music industry and given opportunities to position themselves as a competitive artist or industry professional.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
You can support RAMPD by collaborating, sponsoring or partnering with us on any event/project, spreading the word to disabled and neurodivergent music professionals, and donating to help cover dues for future members.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”
- Say “Yes, And.” Every “no” in the industry is simply shorthand for “not yet.” So say yes when you can. Take the meeting, book the gig, you never know what doors will open from there.
- Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate. Your contemporaries are not just your competitors but your colleagues. I continue to collaborate within all facets of the industry, with other artists/writer teams, brands, designers and production houses to expand my craft and footprint, build community and continue to learn.
- Hone Your Craft. Explore new genres, experiment, rehearse, and sharpen new skills. An expert is an ever-growing student.
- Be Authentic. What is unique about you? What are you passionate about? How would someone close to you describe you in three words? It’s so important to be YOU. Not just to stand out in a saturated crowd, but for your own mental health.
- Know Your Worth. You deserve to be paid equitably, so know your rights. You deserve to know what’s going on, so keep yourself industry informed. And you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, so advocate for yourself.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
We’re well overdue for a true Identity Pride movement that encourages all marginalized groups to be proud about who they are, of the culture and contributions their identities bring, and to not exist in silos.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
A quote of mine that I repeat often is “When you advocate for yourself, you advocate for everyone like you.” I’ve really embodied this throughout my career by constantly pushing pop culture narratives to be more inclusive to myself and people like me.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
I’ll toss Stevie Wonder out there. As the most prominent black blind musician throughout the recent decades, it feels long overdue that we meet and I introduce him to the work we’re doing at RAMPD and thank him for his work bringing light to the music industry.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How Lachi Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.