Intro 0:14
Welcome to "Scene Change", a podcast by the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts division. All about equality, opportunity, accessibility, and the arts. Here, you'll learn about the techniques from performers in the know. We are changing what it means to be blind at one stage at a time. Thank you for joining us today.

Lizzy 0:42
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Scene Change. My name is Lizzie Muhammad Park. I'm the Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts division and the host of Scene Change. Now, if you know anything about the performing arts division, you know that we accept all blind performers. Whether you're a hobbyist shower singer, if this is your side gig, or if you're a professional, we would love to have you. Well, today, we don't have a shower singer. We don't have a hobbyist. We don't have someone who's doing a side gig. We have a professional she is professionally managed. She has tons of songs out look her up on YouTube. She is an advocate and novelist. She is Award Nominated for songwriting. She is a New York based music artist. And let me see I don't believe I'm missing one very important piece. She is a diversity and inclusion advocate. Welcome to our show, Lachi.

Lachi
Hi, Lizzy, how are you? Thank you so much for having me. Very excited to be here.

Lizzy 1:52
Awesome. So let's kick this off. Who is Lachi the artist?

Lachi
Okay, well, the first thing I'm going to do is I am going to describe how I look. Because I thought that this was going to be visual, and I got so dressed up. And I think everyone should know how dressed up I got so I'm wearing a pink shirt. I'm wearing a golden necklace with a music note on it. And another one with a butterfly. I have golden...what do you call these things, golden bracelets, which you can hear right here. And then I have pink eyeshadow and eyeliner, and long black hair and red lipstick. I am a black woman, and I am sitting in my chair in my living room. So who is Lachi? I am. I'm a loud and proud, blind woman. I write songs about my experience. I write songs about empowerment. And I write songs about knowing who you are, and being as strong as you can be as the boss that you were put on this earth to be. And if I know we're going to get into my journey, but I will just say that a lot of these songs started out with me attempting to empower myself, because I started out as a pretty shy kid, not really knowing how and where to fit in because of my blindness. And because of my vision loss. And in that solitude, I guess you'd call it, I harnessed my music, I harnessed my writing, I harnessed my love for performance. And the only time anyone would ever see me shine and sparkle was whenever I performed. And so eventually, I tried to go the narrow road and get a day job and do that whole thing. But I was just I think my spirit was just too big for the desk. And so I here I am out in New York City really doing what I can to show people, not only in the disability community, but really in the entertainment industry, that folks can really lead with what they once assumed was adversity, they can lead with it. And it can just be their whole thing. It can be their platform, it can be their life, it can be what makes people listen to them influenced by them, it can be what makes them sell whatever they need to sell. Because it happened for me. And I really, personally am amazed at just how my acceptance of my blindness has really brought me out. And so that's really Lachi in a nutshell. I don't know if that answers your question, but that is the answer you're getting.

Lizzy
That was amazing. Okay, you said like 10 things in there that I have questions about now. And this is gonna throw me off track. Okay, so good..good.  let me let me take a pause. First of all, I love your outfit. This is not at all visual. It's just a podcast, but we'll have to have you. You definitely have to come to a convention at some point and perform for us.

Lachi
For sure, I’m all vaccinated up. So I’m good to go.

Lizzy 5:20
So okay, um, you said that you really sparkled that was your time to shine was when you were performing? Do you remember your first performance?

Lachi
My first ever performance, I believe, what was in the third grade? Wow, no one's ever asked me this. So my first ever ever performance was in the third grade, I had never really played an actual piano before. And I was just hit with the random spirit, because I had known of chords. And I went in front of the class, and I just kind of doodled around on the piano, and just played what I thought felt nice, just as a seven, eight year old girl, and I was playing chords, because I had just recently learned that. And I played for about maybe 25 seconds to 30 seconds. And I had never said a word for that in school or in class, and I played the piano. And when I was done, I remember the teacher saying something along the lines of wow, you know, that was really good. Have you ever played an instrument before? Have you ever played a piano before? I was like, not really. And she immediately told my mom that I had to get into music. She called my mother and told my mother that I had to get into music. And she told her where the nearest Yamaha store was. And that was the next place my mom and I went. And so ever since then, I mean, that was the first time I got like, feedback that was like, Wow, you are amazing. You know, up to that point, you're dealing with social workers dealing with this dealing with that, which school? Will she need to go to? Which bus will she need to get on? Because no one knew what to do with me. But in that moment, someone knew exactly what to do with me. And I mean, here, I am now still doing music. So it was very impactful.

Lizzy 7:15
Wow. So would you say that that's where your path began? Was that day when you played those chords in front of your classroom? Or would you say that it sort of began earlier than that kind of in your own mind? Or would you say that it became like, you know that it began later? Where would you say that like? Okay, so that was your first performance. But then what was your first step on this path? Then, is my next question.

Lachi
Well, I mean, ever since I was about like, age four, I always knew that I liked music. And I always knew that I liked creating. But this particular path, like the path to professional music, started, when I, I met a guitar player that was also visually impaired, actually, he was fully blind, totally blind. And he played the guitar and I sing, and the two of us got together, right after I graduated from NYU. And we just started, in fact, I don't even know if I graduated yet. But we had started playing around town. And we eventually went down to South by Southwest to play. And before we went to South by Southwest, I was thinking to myself, What if I wrote to a bunch of record labels and told them we're going down to South by Southwest to play? So I did, I wrote to a bunch of record labels. And I was like, Don't ask me how I got your email, just I'm going to be playing at South by Southwest. We'd love for you to come through. And funnily enough, someone came to one of our performances in just some Dungey, you know, bar it's not like we got any real performances, we were just kids playing. And they showed up and they said, "I love what you are doing. Take my card, Call me when you come back to New York." We went back to New York, I called him it turned out he was working at a sub-label under EMI, and we met, then we met again, and we met again and then eventually got signed. And so that began my path towards music as a profession, as opposed to music as a hobby.

Lizzy 9:14
So, because I know a little bit about your personal background. Let's fill that in for the listeners, because you did not start out at NYU, pursuing music, did you?

Lachi
So I actually started out at UNC my dad wanted me to be so my dad was an accountant. And he was like, you're not going to do music. You're good at math. Plus, I am African father. So you will do math, you will do doctor you will do. So I started out studying economics and business and management at University of North Carolina. And while I was there, I joined the Glee Club. I even started my own acapella groups, and that really opened me up that really allowed me To make friends and allowed me to feel confident, something I hadn't felt before. And while I was at UNC, I started playing the piano every Saturday night. And folks would eventually start conglomerating around my piano concerts every Saturday, to the point where they eventually grew into this thing called piano nights. And frat boys and like, party girls would come and yell out Freebird and it just became very loud, rowdy weekly thing. It's so funny. I was talking to one of my old friends from college. And we were reminiscing about it. And she was just going like, "Yeah, man, like, I can't believe how insane those parties got." And it was just crazy. And then finally, people were like, what are you even doing here? Why aren't you pursuing music? Like, why are you in my economics class? So I went to my guidance counselor, and I was like, you know, I want to pursue music. What do I do? And he was just, and I was like, I know New York is a place to go or whatever. I want to move to New York. But you know, I want to be smart. And he was just like, no move to New York. And so he was he actually, his name was Paul Cole, I need to name drop him because I talk about him. And every time a podcast or whatever asks the question, his name is Paul Cole. He, he's in this Beatles cover band. He was like, my favorite human being because I was, you know, I was like, 17, or whatever. And there's just this guidance counselor, who you think is just this pencil pusher? It turns out, he's in a Beatles cover band at night. He said, Go for your dreams. And I went, I moved to New York. And that was all she wrote.

Lizzy
So right after graduation, you moved to New York.

Lachi
Yes

Lizzy
So you didn't work for other jobs in between, but you didn't like where you were skirt suits. And people have the exact same reaction to you that you had to your guidance counselor. I know that's true because I started an interview.

Lachi
I worked at the the Where did I work? I, I worked for the city of New York. And I worked for because after so the thing was after NYU. And here's here's the missing link that people don't don't understand, because I don't I'm a little hazy about it. While I was signed to EMI, I was working like..

Lizzy
Ohhh, I see

Lachi
So I was trying to juggle working for the city of New York and then eventually working for the US Army Corps of Engineers, while I was trying to tour was trying to do shows was doing all this stuff. And I was just having a real tough time juggling all that. And then folks at the corps were like, what do you like, they would come to some of my shows, and then they'd see me at the desk. Like, wait, wait. Now cuz I'm not, you know, I'm not doing like open mics. You know what I'm saying? I'm doing like real shows at venues. And so people were very confused. And I and it was interesting, because I got to a point well, while I was at the corps, where it was like, I sat down with my supervisor, supervisors, and they were like, so here's the trajectory. Next year, you'll get this raise, and then two years, you'll have this raise and then by this, by this year, you'll be a level eight and then you'll be a level nine and a level 10. And that's how it works. And I was like, oh, wow, my whole life's mapped out. I have healthcare. I have PTO. I could take off enough PTO days to tour apparently. So like, why would I ever leave this job. But I didn't have the brain space. I didn't have the passion to be able to run both and my heart and and whatever runs me whether God, nature I'm not sure what I believe in yet, but whatever runs me was pointing me towards music. And I had to take that leap and just say like, I'll have to figure out health care. I'll have to figure out how to keep paying New York rent, how to do everything that I got to do because I have to leave this job and fully put myself into music where I belong.

Lizzy
Wow. I love that. That story and you're exactly right. You You filled in that missing link. So I'm like wait a minute, when did that happened? Like I know she worked for the you know, federal government and all that right? Um, okay, so let's get a little bit in and it's funny, we're gonna get back to New York but that comes like like a little bit later. But you mentioned acapella and I am a huge fan of acapella and…

Lachi
Oh really?

Lizzy
I was in acapella in college and it was the highlight. Yeah.

Lachi
It's such a lifestyle.

Lizzy
It really is. It really changes your college experience.

Lachi
To do better

Lizzy
Yeah, definitely. Definitely always. Um, and one thing that I noticed is you really have fun with your music. It's like I I just wanted what's a day in the studio, like with you? You know what I mean, walk me through it, when you show what  happens, right, you're doing your audio stuff. Tell me about it.

Lachi
It's so there are two, there are several scenarios, there's either me by myself in the studio, which is how it's been since COVID. And a lot of the time, because sometimes I'll work with remote producers, there's me and just doing vocals in someone else's studio. And then there is someone else doing vocals in my studio. And no matter what the situation is, I am a very light hearted goofball in the studio, like I don't care who I'm dealing with, I don't care if it's a Sony producer, I don't care if it's like some seven year old girl, that's going to be the next big star, I will be the exact same way because it's it's can be grueling, there can be egos. So I love to be that person that's just having fun and kind of kicking back and allowing a 12 hour session to feel like two hours. When I'm behind the knobs, especially, especially especially, especially my own studio, I don't even I don't look at the you know, I don't need to look at the keys and barely need to look at the screen, because it's not like I can really see it anyway. In fact, if I try to look at my keyboard to find a key, I would just never find it. And so I'm all about shortcuts. And it's interesting, because I think I mentioned this, I mentioned this all the time, people will come into my studio and go, "Wow, I can't believe you're able to just navigate with shortcuts and presets and all sorts of crazy little nips and tricks that you do. You are so talented. And we are so amazed." And I'm like I'm a I'm a producer that knows how to use Pro Tools. Like what a producer that knows how to use Pro Tools does. And so just because I'm not looking at the keys, and just because I'm barely looking at the screen, any good producer is doesn't look at the keys and just use the shortcuts. So, but it's a lot of fun. I try to keep things light, and then in my songwriting, and in my performing. Same thing. I like to be cheeky. It's all a joke. You know, mine is just one big joke that we're all in on where it's like, come on, we're all here to just have fun and enjoy and really just be amazed by the fantastic things we can do. And so that's why I tried to have that element in my music of you know, let's all talk about heartbreak. But I mean, you know, this is still just a song. So let's have fun as well.

Lizzy
Yeah, that definitely comes through acapella rendition of Old Town Road, and you know, for the dumb stuff. You're like Tweedledum. I was dead. So, it definitely comes through the joking vibes, all of it. And I was like, this is just, this is just really cool. Can you share some of your audio production technology software secrets?

Lachi
Well, I personally use Pro Tools. And I like Pro Tools because it has a much smaller learning curve than some of the other ones out there. And it is the universal software that most folks use. A lot of folks also use logic. But Pro Tools is a little more universal. Pro Tools works with a lot of a lot of software, like a lot of different accessible software. And for me, a lot of the tricks and tips that I do is I do all of the keyboard shortcuts. So any keyboard shortcut that I can either is pre made, or that I can make myself, I'm all about keyboard shortcuts. I'm also all about presets. So if there's a way you can preset the exact type of track you would like for a bass instrument with the specific kind of EQ you would like on it, any kind of compression that you'd already want to put, especially if you already want to put you know, any kind of effects that you want to put and any kind of automation that you want to have for the track, preset a lot of those so that you don't have to keep starting it up and trying to find everything. And it's a pain in the butt to make all of your presets, but it's the most worth it thing. Another thing that I really encourage folks to do is obviously to label all of your tracks, label the sections in the areas of your tracks, let's say for instance, the chorus, the pre chorus, the verse, things of that nature. I mean, these are all very simple sort of novice tips that I'm giving because I'm not here to really get into manual basics, but they're just a lot of really simple things that can make your life a lot easier. I think that automation is a blind person's friend, as much things as you can just push a button, and then everything just happens. And you know, it will, is really helpful. And so I suggest automate as much as you can create your own keyboard shortcuts as much as you can. And trust your creations, trust the keyboard shortcuts that you make trust all the little things that you make and use them in other and other applications as well. So just like everything is Ctrl C, Ctrl copy for everywhere you go. Do that with the other shortcuts that you create, so that you always know exactly what you're doing. And then always, if you can, when you go to a session, someone else's session, do what you can to bring your own. You're like your own version of the session so that you can navigate it and you know where everything is. That's what I try to do myself.

Lizzy
Now, you mentioned something in that segway you're, you're doing a great job, just segwaying into my next questions.

Lachi
I have all your notes

Lizzy 21:09
You segwayed perfectly into my next question, which is about low expectations and injustice, you kind of mentioned people just walk in, they're like, oh, you're doing all these things without looking? And you're like, Well, yeah, cuz I'm a boss. And like, I know what I'm doing. You know what I mean? But that's not that's not because I'm like, don't, don't be amazed, because I'm blind, be amazed. Because, you know, I'm doing like, you know, I'm me, you know. I want to know, like, what was your first feeling of injustice, I would imagine that as an advocate, you faced some sort of injustice that made you want to, you know, work towards equality, or, you know, raise awareness and different things like that. So, if if it's not your first one, just one that really stands out to you and your memory?

Lachi
You know, one that actually stands out to me, and I don't I'm not going to name any names--

Lizzy
Of course not

Lachi
You know, one that actually stands out to me, and I don't I'm not going to name any names, of course not. But while I was working at the federal government, there was a point in time, where so, so because my parents came as immigrants. And because I lived in neighborhoods with not a lot of people that look like me. I went to I went to schools without a lot of people who look like me, I was almost spoiled by a false sense of white privilege. And especially with the fact that I have low vision, you know, I'm not saying I was literally colorblind. If that makes sense. Like, you know, I, I could see enough to see what people look like. But at the same time, it's like, it's not like I'm thinking, Oh, this is a white person, I need to behave a certain way. Or this is a black person, I need to behave a certain way. I always I was, I didn't have that mechanism. And when I got to working for the federal government, there was just one incident that really made me think, Oh, I'm black. And I can't do certain things. Because of that. I just remember, the, my supervisor had asked me to do a certain task. And he asked me around 4:30. And, you know, I didn't like what he asked me to do. It was like, some kind of envelopes, envelope, envelope stuffing thing. And I thought I was too good for it. But I said, Okay, whatever. So I was doing it and did it and completed it. But I was kind of taking my sweet time. And I assumed he would leave at five. But he didn't. And he stuck around and stuck around and stuck around till I finished at about like 5:30. And I was like, Okay, well, I'm done now. So I turned it into him. And I said, signed, sealed delivered. smirk because that's how I mean, I'm just I'm always joking. Like, I just never end. But he was like, 'are you getting an attitude with me?' Oh, and I thought to myself, like I like stood there wide eyed for a second. And I was just like, no, huh. And then the next day, I went to deliver a different envelope to another woman on a different floor. And when I went back to my desk, I was called into the office. And they told me that that woman on that different floor, said that I walked in angrily and just dumped the folder on her desk and left, when to my view. I had walked in just like my regular self. And that's when I realized and I know that it's very sort of small, little instances. But those two instances maybe because they happen back to back reminded me like not only am I black, but I'm a black woman and black women are seen as aggressive, regardless as to their facial expression, regardless as to their bodily stances and their gestures. No matter what, because this is because society has these sort of glasses on that say when you see a black woman, no matter what she does, she's being aggressive. It could be taken positively of like, Oh, she's a boss. Oh, she's dope. She's awesome. But at the same time, it's also equally taken as, Wow, she's obviously coming at me when she most likely isn't. So that instance made me realize, like, wow, I need to really figure out what's going on. Because as a blind person, I get in trouble how this is going to be a little convoluted. But as someone who's low vision, I get in trouble a lot for doing things like not waving back. Right? For even too people who like know 100%. Yes. And then I get in trouble for things like giving a weird look or a side eye, when I'm like, (A) can't see you anyway. And (B). I personally ascribe a bit of that, to race into gender, like to the fact that I'm also a black female. Now, that could be my own personal thing, but that's my answer.

Lizzy
Are you a cane user?

Lachi
Only use it at night night night\

Lizzy
Yeah, that means no, you know i’m kidding, but um…

Lachi
But, no let me tell you something right now. I don't know if you're gonna like this or not. But one of my favorite things to do is to put in I'm still trying to get this right. But it's to put on my heels. Like my little sexy, ridiculous heels, put on my little tight, you know, whatever outfit walk around at night with my cane, because I can't see if people are staring at me. I can't see it. And I'm just like to hear what what guy's out the way guys out the way.

Lizzy
It does make life easier. Honestly, sometimes. What was I gonna say so. It's, it's fascinating because I always talk about this, but I haven't really had a conversation with anyone about it. I always talk about how, okay, so if you're a white woman, you're going to be stereotyped as a woman. If you are a black woman, you're going to be stereotyped as a black person. If you are a blind black woman, and it's obvious other people, you're gonna be stereotyped as a blind person. So it was like you always get stereotyped as the lesser known of your minority identities, which is totally not. Yeah, yeah. And it's and I was, as you were talking, I was thinking, they don't know she's blind, because they keep treating her like a black woman and not like a blind woman, not that either of them is very, or fair, or good. Because we should all be treated equally. But I could tell because I don't know, I just like the way that they were stereotyping you the way they were treating you. I was like, these microaggressions are coming from that place. And it was just, I was just so fascinated, like, as you you know, we're telling all these stories. Um--

Lachi
well, it's in response to that, too, like I had, during my time working there, I had difficulty figuring out how to advocate for myself, especially in terms of being blind just because it was invisible. Right? It was--

Lizzy
Yeah

Lachi
it was non visible. So instead of them see social model versus medical model, right. So instead of them sort of seeing that I needed help, or had issues because of my blindness. They took it as other things, that spiraled into me feeling some type of way, which then spiraled into them reacting to it, which then gave me even more positive advocating for myself. I mean, we all know the spiral.

Lizzy (28:46)
Yeah. No, that's so real. Because I always, I always wondered about so I always feel the same way because I am someone who has, you know, the same. I noticed that as the same minority status as you, okay, you know, black blind female, and I guess their terms a blind person, because I have a guide dog, you know, I use my cane, you know, all these different things. So because of that, I'm always viewed as a blind person first, which comes with certain perks as I don't sometimes I get that thing, comments, you know, but that's rare. I usually get the Oh wow, you're actually you know, like, intelligent or like, Oh, well, you know what I mean, I get more more of that, which is just as infuriating, but just in a different way, you know what I mean? So it's just, it was just as fascinating to hear that okay. So back to my original questions.

Lachi
That was a whole parentheses?

Lizzy
That was a whole parentheses. So are these instances that you mentioned sort of the things that made you want to become an advocate or was it something different?

Lachi
What made me want to be become an advocate is trifled. So firstly, when, while working at the core, actually, during one of my last years, I had been diagnosed with a very rapidly growing keratoconus, I'd had hydrops and a lot of other complications that came on to my eye stage. And I started to realize that like, I'm not going to get to a point where I can't play it off anymore. And I have to, to I have to not only advocate for myself, but I have to advocate for other folks who are in my position and are not able to. And another thing that kind of gave me a really big push to go into advocacy was, you know, my, I, when I was younger, there just wasn't folks out there like me, right? There was, there were black singers, there were female actresses. And there were Stevie, you know, there were Ray Charles's and Stevie Wonder's, but none of those relate to me, like I wasn't there, I didn't see myself. And so if I'm not going to see that person, I may as well be that woman. And that thought came into my head, after sitting down with my previous manager, Gary Salzman, he had told me, he's said, Why do you keep your condition from the public? Why don't you talk about it? Why don't you celebrate it, but he didn't really say it in an empowering way. I think he was more inquisitive. And my response was, when I had first been signed to one of the record labels of Yore, that was what all they wanted to do was sort of gimmick it and sort of stick it. So I didn't like that. And he said, You know what? I am, I'm motivated by you. I'm empowered by you. And you know, I am a well off, you know, older Jewish man said, you empower me, you inspire me. So why don't you go out and do that for others who really could use someone like you so that they can kind of go on their path the way you went on your path? And and that got me to thinking like, I didn't have someone out there to do this for me, and I want to be out there, doing this doing this work for someone to to turn on YouTube and go, Oh, wow. You know, we have little white kids going, I want to be what Neil Armstrong we have little black boys saying I want to be Michael Jordan, or whoever and LeBron James. But I don't want the little black girl with a disability to just say, I don't know. And so and so that's why I'm out here doing this.

Lizzy (32:50)
So you mentioned that you didn't have you know, the, you know, someone who looked just like you. So who did you look up to then?

Lachi
My biggest influences were Lauryn Hill, was a huge Fugees fan and learn everything about her just the music, the acting, it was I was all about Lauryn Hill. I was a big Alicia Keys fan. Because I played the keys myself. And I was just very excited that there was a black girl being successful playing the keys and really doing it. And I was also a huge Erykah Badu fan. But I also listened to Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, my mom wanted me to be a virtuoso pianist or something of that nature, when I was much younger, so she got me all have those. And I, I loved diving into that. But then also living in Ithaca, I listened to a lot of 90s, and, you know, late 90s, early aughts, or whatever, whenever I was in middle school, or whatever, just grunge, like rock, or whatever. So, you know,

Lizzy
So you kind of got your, your musical inspiration from all those areas, which really does kind of explain because like, you know, people listen to your music. You know, you can look it up on YouTube, you have a lot of differences. So your main thing is EDM right now, we're not gonna go into just yet, because I have a different question about it. But you also have these like, really slow, like ballad type songs, too. So it's really clear that you have like, a lot of different inspirations because you really can't like we were looking to box you in just one area. You know what I mean? I mean, I don't know, is that fair to say? That's what it felt like to me when I was listening

Lachi
It's kind of a progression. So if you kind of follow along, you'll find that I, not only in my tone of voice, but also in my lyrics and in the power that I sing my phrases and stuff like that, that I've kind of grown musically and in all sorts of other ways, but it kind of starts out a little more ballady and then transforms into eventual sort of, I guess, badass pop EDM or what to call it, but it's really just a reflection of my own growth.

Lizzy (35:06)
That's cool. So, tell us more specifically about your advocacy work. I know you've done some stuff with the UN, you know, I'm interested in that. My background, have you done some benefit concerts tell us like, what, what are you doing, as a performing advocate?

Lachi
you know, I, I really love incorporating music into my advocacy, because I'm what I'm really ultimately trying to do is focus my advocacy into representation in the media, specifically music, because we don't have any, I was about to say, we don't have enough, but we really don't have any. We don't have any folks going out there advocating for accessible venues for accessible, you know, Pro Tools, systems, digital audio workstations, and while they are working on a lot of things, and everyone is aware of it, there really isn't a body going hard to put the force of the fire in a major way. So that's definitely something I'm interested in focusing on, as I forged my path, but as I go along, I really love incorporating music into my advocacy, I love to speak, obviously, I love to talk I love to, I have so many ideas to share. But I think that it kind of really brings it home, like you get to know me Lachi as the person most through me performing for you. Like, I mean, I'm here talking to you. But how do I even this is about to be about to get real real. But like when I when I'm talking to people about my advocacy or about anything, there's still a level of separation. I think there's like a guarding, in a sense, and I don't wanna use the word guard, like a protection, that I can't help but put there when I speak when I interact. And that all comes tumbling down when I perform. And so you get exactly what I meant, you get the real me. And so I love to incorporate my music into all of my live performances into as many of my messages as possible, so that people can feel the genuineness that I am the authenticity that you just aren't going to get unless you have me at my most divine. And that's when I'm performing.

Lizzy

It's because you want people to feel what you're saying it feel what you mean, and not think about what you're saying, like you want it to be an energy, you want to be a feeling and not logic. Is that right? Okay. That's what I thought. Okay, that makes perfect sense. And you said that you are interested in, you know, advocating for more accessible spaces? Well, I think you would be a prime, you know, person to come and join the performing arts division, because that's what we do. I love what you said about authentic representation. That's what we're working on to you do specifically music, we do it for all the performing arts, just because we're, you know, it's just performing arts and you know what I mean.

Lachi
Yeah, yeah

Lizzy
it's like, but it's, it's, that's exactly what we need. And we need someone who is, you know, a professional who's doing this as a full time thing, you know, and who's who's really pushing for accessibility and in a really major way. So I mean, we do a lot of like congressional type advocacy type stuff in the NFB. Just because if it's a lot of people have to follow it.

Lachi
Exactly

Lizzy (37:29)
So. So that's definitely something that I know our listeners are going to be so glad to hear you say. But I want to get back into you were talking about feeling a little bit guarded. When you talk about disability. And I want to delve deeper into that. That's, that's fascinating. And the reason why I'm fascinated by it is because we were talking sorry, we weren't talking I wasn't actually in the room. I was watching it. You were talking about how you've struggled in the past with self acceptance and feeling confident. In blindness. This is in a different interview. And I was just wondering, you know, if that's changed how that's changed. Take us through that a little bit, if you don't mind sharing?

Lachi
Sure. Well, the firstly, I will say that, that just the comments of being a little self protecting is just I think a more natural sort of universal feel like there's you when you speak to others. There's the you when you speak to yourself, there's the you when you speak to your mother, there are all sorts of different slightly different yous. And then there is some sort of core you but there is sort of an extra layer of you when you're interacting with people and when I perform all of those extra layers come down and you're just getting the core me. So that's what I meant by that. But in terms of the fact that, like, I used to have issues with advocacy, self advocacy, self acceptance, disclosure, when it came to my blindness, because I could sort of get away with it. You know, in the music industry, in the music industry, it's rough, because it's not a really a place where there's public advocacy like that, like, let's say, for instance, in entertainment, we can see public advocacy, namely, because it is a very visual medium. So we'll see folks saying we need more people in wheelchairs on, on in movies and in films, or we need people to authentically play roles and things like that. But like, let's say, for instance, in the music industry, I would walk into a room with a big Sony exec, or with a big universal guy, and I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable. I didn't want them to feel sorry, I just wanted them to see me for the talented young woman I was, as opposed to either either feeling weirded out, or either feeling, you know, inspiration, corny, you know, so, so I, I would, I would keep it hidden. And the problem with that is that not only was were people just wondering what was wrong with me anyway, still, which then, as I mentioned earlier, spiraled into weird other things. But also, I really, I just couldn't do my work, I just couldn't do anything, I couldn't see anything I've tried pretend I could see. So, um, you know, it just it was it was tough, because I was always legally blind. And I was always having these weird issues of skirting the line of trying to advocate but hoping they believe me, or maybe they think I'm acting up, or should I just not say anything at all. And so that sort of turmoil from at a young age, just kind of grew with me as I grew, and I finally had to just put a stop to it and go, you know, what, this is going a little too far. And I know that sometimes when you when you finally kind of confront your your inner child and go, alright, we're gonna have to have you sit in a corner for a second, it's a rough change, because you have to figure out how to do that and remain self confident. And, and, and just not approach things insecurely while battling your insecurities. So it was it took me a while to sort of dive and delve into a much healthier self advocacy. And and though and the way I advocate is, I just stand in front of it. I walk into a room and I say, Hi, I'm blind. How are you? I'll say just things like that. Because let's keep it fun. Let's keep it light. I don't want to have to. I don't want it to be awkward when I say By the way, I need this and that. We're all on an adult positive fun joke that we're all in on and we all love it. So if I walk up to you and say, Hi, I'm blind, how are you? And then later on, I go, Hey, can you help me pick out? You know, something, you know, helped me pick out something from maybe a buffet. It's, it's like, oh, okay, I get it, as opposed to are you weak? Can you not do it yourself? Or, Oh, she you know, it's nothing like that. You're You're, we're all in on this together. We're intelligent adults. This is what I need. Will you be able to help me with it?

Lizzy
So has it worked in? I always say, combating that sounds like it's too strong of like, like your style is not to combat it. It's your style is to like, I don't know, does it work in getting rid of the weird vibes? You know what I mean? Like, not like, you know?

Lachi
it's scene setting, if that makes sense. It sort of sets the tone. So I'm here to sort of set the tone of, Hey, I am strong enough to put my adversity out there. If that makes sense. I'm looking at my adversity as strength. So do that with me. It's basically how it presents and folks do it. It very rarely misfires or missteps. There have been times where I'll like you know, I'll I'll meet someone like three different times at the same event (lachi and lizzy laughing) and little things like that

Lizzy
We’ve all been there

Lachi
Hi again, hello again. But it's it's it's rough, though, because I am also very stubborn and I'm hard on myself. So I'll go to events all by myself with no guide with no help and I'll just put myself through it. Because whatever, you know, let's let's do this. Let's just have fun and let's make it work and I do appreciate anyone who does. Make sure that they always have someone with them and make sure that because it is like overkill on my part. But I, you know, I sort of forced the extrovertedness because it just, I don't know

Lizzy
it works for you. So, yeah, I mean, I feel like it works for you. And also like, I mean, I don't personally like I don't see anything wrong with, you know, pushing yourself as long as you know, you're fine with it. And there's nothing wrong with stepping outside of your comfort zone, either. Yeah, you know, for people who do want to just go for it and just try it out. I'm, I'm glad that you're sharing that it's possible that it's doable to go to these different events and venues and meet with people independently, because there are times when maybe someone wants the guy to go with them, but no one wants to go with them or no one can. And they shouldn't, you know, let those times stop them either. So it's good practice for sure.

Lachi
Yes

Lizzy (45:10)
Um, so would you say that the field is, like, relative for for a blind person? Oh, and by the way, because we did not, I did not mention this. So you know, in the Federation, we pretty much consider if you have any sort of visual disability, we consider everyone blind, just because it's more inclusive that way. And it doesn't have to be it doesn't have to be weird. You know, it doesn't have to be Oh, this person has more vision, so they can babysit everyone, like no, we're all lions, and we're all positive about it. So it doesn't matter if you know, someone's whatever, high partial low vision blah, blah, blah, whatever we just say like we're all blind. So, um, so, you know, as I forgot, my original question was now, but as a, I remember, as a blind performer, in the music scene, do you find it pretty accessible? Or what are what are the accessibility is and how have you been able to work around them?

Lachi
Well, the music scene is is pretty inaccessible in the sense of if we're going to talk about brick and mortar. I don't have actual numbers for you. In fact, I know that my manager at Harbourside Ben Price is actually working on a full out sort of study with the Arts Council on on this very topic. But I, a lot of venues are not fully accessible in terms of their sort of brick and mortar facades. They don't have and we're not just talking ramps, we're talking railings, we're talking accessible bathrooms, we're talking elevators to get to a second floor mezzanine situation or whatever. And all sorts of other physical things that a lot of venues don't have. So that's number one, and just ways to get to the stage as well. And then we also find that while a lot of venues are well meaning they are they find themselves afraid to attempt to be accommodating when these requests are made. So say for instance, someone says okay, would love to perform at your venue, will you provide a ramp, and they'll either say yes, and then when the performer gets there, there's either no ramp or a ramp that won't work. And they go, Well, we provided a ramp, or, or they'll just say no in the first place, because they'll say it's too hard. Another thing about another inaccessible situation are software. So a lot of software is doing better with integrating with things like voiceover, etc, etc. But there's a lot of software out there that does not include these, these does not include accessibility natively, when universally designing their application or their platform. I do know that there's a lot of gripes about DJ software, about DJ phoneware, so a lot of DJs actually DJ from their phone. But a lot of the apps are inaccessible. And a lot of DJs that a lot of blind folks that want to get into DJing say how do I DJ as a blind person, when a lot of the way a lot of the racks are not accessible? And then people will say, Oh, you know, just just buy a bunch of just buy a bunch of vinyl, like somebody has $10,000 sitting around to buy a ton of vinyl. And no one makes vinyl anymore anyway, so I mean, a lot of people are making vinyl but like no one has the money for that. So. So there's a lot of places where music is inaccessible. And then of course of course I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention the fact that just the stigma is huge. People assume you're going to be some sort of struggling on the corner musician, sort of with a guitar with only four strings just trying to make ends meet if you're a musician with a disability. Meanwhile, some of the greatest musicians I've met have some form of disability whether they have and I'm not going to out anyone never but there are just some folks that I know that have confided that they have different situations different neurodiversities is different, you know, spectrum on different spots spots on the spectrum. And, and and they don't they they're not here to disclose it because the music industry has such a stigma. The music industry is old school. I mean, especially at sort of when you're at the smaller circles kind of level. It's old, old, old school. It's all who you know, it's all who you're who you were you signed with who produced your album, who do you know, who did you shake hands with? Were you at that party. And because it's old school like that, old school stigmas still survive. And those old school stigmas still branch out as much as people want to be, again, well intentioned, as much as people want to be hashtag woke. Those those those stigmas are still loud and true and proud. People are just being quieter about them. But in these rooms, back rooms where the hands are still being, you know, shaked and where the deals are still being made, those biases are still there. So I'm out here to try to bust some of those up, and to say, Hey, you know what, I'm not afraid, I'm going to be that one, you know, I'm going to be that one that's loud, says I'm blind, and, and still just kind of walks into the room and gets things done on behalf of other folks with disabilities.

Lizzy
I would imagine too that another stigma that especially female music artists with disabilities face is that it's all about like, sex appeal, right? And like, oh, like, you gotta, like,
you know, be especially if you're in like, a more like, pop type of situation. And people don't view like, the stereotype is that people, you know, with disabilities, or they're, you know, evangelists, so they're not viewed as sexual, because it's like, you can't think that way about a blind person. Like, you know what I mean? So, I would also, I also wonder, like, Is that part of it, too?

Lachi
That's a complicated, I have a complicated relationship with that with that question. Yeah. And because, you know, as someone who is blind, and as someone who was sort of a tomboy growing up, and as someone who had all sorts of identity situations going on, I looks were not my biggest thing that I was concerned about. And in fact, I was kind of anti, I guess, anti-beautification while I was kind of coming up, because I was like, Yeah, they're like, my music or you don't you gotta love me for me or Screw you. And I, you know, I eventually began to start working on my looks. Now, I, I started working on my looks, and really trying to shape my, the way I present myself, because I wasn't happy with the response I was getting from the industry. And so I didn't do much I you know, started doing my nails a bit doing my like eyebrows, lipstick, you know, just very nothing, no, nothing. I haven't used it tutorial yet. You don't, I mean, a little thing. And, um, and then when I would walk around, I would start getting more positive notice, I would start being listened to in the room. And so that's bad. That's not a good thing. Why does it just because I just spruce myself up just a little bit, I start getting positive recognition, I start getting things. But unfortunately, that was the case. And as a result, my confidence was boosted. And so as my confidence boosted, I began to more on my presentation. And as I focused more on it, I got more positive response. And then I grew even more confident. And now as you can see, I just put I spent two hours looking dope as hell and ain't nobody looking at me right now. And I do that I do I do Lachi days In fact, oh my God, let me tell you this. So like two weeks ago, or three weeks ago or something, some somebody went on my Instagram, and they were like, you're not real, because you all your pictures are of you in like, Don't make up and looking like that. Don't nobody do that every day. That's not real. I was like, I was like, You know what, I sat there. And I thought I was gonna do this for the rest of my life. But for the next 14 days, I dressed up head to toe in like evening wear regalia

Lizzy
Oh my goodness

Lachi
and did the whole thing and documented it on Tiktok, I just everything every day, and I was like, I'm gonna do this for the rest of my life for that troll who probably wasn't even real and is not following this. But it was so empowering. Just getting dressed up for myself is empowering. Now to your question, which I hadn't answered yet. Um, it's kind of like I recognize it. You know, while I be because of my idiosyncrasies, and my weirdnesses on top of the fact that I wasn't taking care of just my presentation in that way. Yeah, people were infantilizing my situation infantilizing me infantilizing this and that, and I have been criticized for like, Oh, you know, you kind of, you know, gave in to sexuality. And now you're doing all this beauty beautification, and you're having all these sort of hot photos, and then I'm like, thank you. But, but it's not, like I like I explain to you, I mean, it's, it's a lot more of a convoluted case. And it's, again, I recognize that it's, it's not the greatest thing that you know, it's just the shallowness of looks, showers you with positive reinforcement, which can then in turn up your confidence. But look, if the tools are given, I say, take them use them. And I did, and I'm here now because of it. And, and I think that I like using it to my advantage, because I am a, I just don't, I'm just gonna say it. I am a good looking woman, right? Like, I am hot and like, I walk into these places, and you can't that's not that factor is already gone. When I walk in, and I go, like, Oh, I'm blind, sit down and listen, then what do you you know, they the infantilization that comes with them going like, well, there's no way we can see here at sexy or, or anything like that. It's kind of gone. Um, one of the one of the biggest gripes, and I've been speaking to musicians all across the nation, and really internationally, just trying to get a feel for what their problems are, when it comes to the music industry. And when it comes to sort of the back side of the music industry, not just performing. And their biggest gripe is that whenever they actually finally land that, that that meeting with that agent, or that big meeting with that record label, the first thing they say is, we have no idea how we're going to market this. We don't know, we don't know who the market is, we also don't know how to market your image in a way that we think we can sell it. And so I've been telling people that And my response to that is I used my music, my cheekiness to to get myself feeling confident. And I think that all you need to do is figure out what makes you radiate that sort of infectious confidence. People want to feel confident people want to be around boldness and confidence. And people, they don't care what you look like, at that point, what you do what you are, you if somebody gave the perfect example, you could be like, I don't want to offend anybody, but you could just be just the squat, you know, just rowdy loud, like, you know, your beer drunk breath, and an elevator, and a beautiful woman walks in, and you you, you have the confidence to still go, you know, like ello love, you know, you just so confident it doesn't matter what you look like or anything. And so you know, radiating that confidence no matter what it is, whether it's just being really good at something being well spoken, you're, whether it's just wearing a jacket that makes you feel awesome. Just find it and use it. Because you can still walk into that same record label, and just being radiating that beaming energy, and they'll know where to put you. Because really, they want a big personality. So they'll know where to put you as long as you can find your confidence

Lizzy
Confidence be faked. Some people say fake it till you make it come off as be fake.

Lachi
Confidence can't be faked confidence is or isn't a real thing. What what you can do is you can there are there are other things like there's conceit, you know, there's, there's insecurity. There's there are things like that now you can you the reason why I say you can't really fake confidence is because you can't fake insecurity. That's one thing you cannot hide. And, you know, we all have these, you know, mirror neurons, or whatever they call them in our brains, where if someone's sad, you get a little sad or, and when someone's feeling insecure, you get a little insecure. And if they're sitting there showcasing confidence, but they're actually insecure, you will feel that insecurity, even if you don't see it, even if it's not being presented. You can just feel that energy seeping through the little nooks and crannies in their words or in their inflections or in their body movement or whatever, and there's just insecurity can't be hidden. And so and that's That's why I say you just you really can't fake it.

Lizzy
I believe the same thing. I was just curious what you thought. I think it's just, it's, it's secretly obvious, like, it's obvious that you're trying to cover something up that is very blatant. So, wow, you talk a lot about being bold, being confident and your music really speaks to that you have a lot of empower and bops. That's what I call them--

Lachi
Ha, power bops, okay.

Lizzy (1:00:30)
That’s right, that’s right.  Um, so what's your hope for the future? As far as you know, because you'll be talking about something like you said, that's relevant to you. But then you kind of put it to this, like, I don't know, think i'm gonna do a leap a beat, and then it just sounds way different than if somebody else had done it. You know what I mean? It was like, You're, you're pumping people up, you're, you're inspiring them, you're motivating them, you're getting going, but you're not doing it and like this, like, sad way, you're doing it in a way that like, like, something we hear on the radio, you know what I mean? So what do you see? As the future of of inclusion? Is that what you're what you're thinking? Are you, you know, just make? Well, I'm not going to put words in your mouth, I'll just ask you the question, and I'll let you take it away.

Lachi
Well, that was a very sort of peanut butter spread question where there was no like actual question mark. But what I'll say is, I mean, one of the things I really like to do is, first of all, when we sing empowering music, when we do empowering music, it doesn't have to be sappy. It doesn't have to be, you know, Man in the Mirror, you know, We Are the World. What's the point of making music, if no one is going to be able to really get their heart pumping to it? That's sort of my philosophy. And I am on a mission really to release songs that people who are do not have a disability, who don't work for organization or a foundation. I mean, just your average joe can listen to and go, Wow, that's me. Like, I felt empowered by that song. You know, not every song needs to have a UNICEF donation button tied to it, like, let's just have fun and party. Because when we when you allow people to relate to you, then people start to accept, right? So when we look at like the like the LGBT movement, everybody started saying, I got a gay cousin. You know what I'm saying? And so when we start getting people to see folks with disabilities as, Oh, well, I have this and that, so and he's fine. So obviously, everybody else is fine. Like, why am I acting like it's not fine. And things like that happen, when you start to see folks out here, doing the same things as non disabled folks. So I'm out here trying to put out bop music in a major way. And not looking at my non disabled other non disabled singer songwriters, and vocalists as competition. But colleagues, they're, they're no better, they're no worse. They're not bad people for not being empowering, or for the messages that they send, but they're not better people, because of their where they are in their careers. So I just think that if we're able to sort of lift up folks that are able to get to the same sort of levels, as non disabled counterparts, that will really start seeing some change and some turnaround. The problem, Lizzy, the problem is, I am tired of people thinking I am some kind of exception. And I'm done with that. It's like, Well, you know, well, you're the only you know, you're the only one that it's like that is the most untrue. There's a whole community. What What are you talking about, in fact, 25% of adults, every fourth frickin person you walk across or that you come to has some form of disability Are you kidding me? 61 million it just America alone. And and and everyone says they don't see one or they don't know anyone. And I just want less exceptions. And once we start getting less exceptions, then all of a sudden, it's just part of culture.

Lizzy (1:05:10)
I totally agree with that. And okay, so we've been going on this, empower, empower trip, and I love it. But I want you to tell us a little bit more about your journey and how you got here. So you went to NYU. I understand that there was a apply and reapply situation. I want to know about the apply and reapply and How did you keep going? Because I'm sure there are so many people who said, you know, you know,well, maybe this won't work out, maybe you should just keep working for the federal government, maybe, you know, maybe Yeah. So what, what in you? Or I don't know, around you or whatever, what pushed you what kept you going? What stopped you from giving up?

Lachi 
Um, I, I cannot answer that question with words. I believe that it is just an innate part of my being. And the only reason I say that is because as you were asking the question, I started going through my life and my history and trying to figure out When was the first time I tried to do something, and couldn't do it, and then got back up and did it again. And I kept going back, and back and back. And I think it just all boiled down to just generally not wanting to be underestimated because of my blindness, and just always wanting to sort of say, I can do it. So I used to always live in this place of I can do it, despite my blindness, you can say what you want to say, but I can do it, despite the fact that I'm blind. And then I, you know, like, let's say, for instance, getting into the school play, I didn't get in, but then I got into being one of the techs, but then I was such I was like, the best tech, and eventually got an award for being that you know, and so it's always like a, well, if you're not going to get me this way, you're going to get me that way, you're not going to end then it was always well, despite this, I am going to, you know, still achieve. And I remember when I got my rejection letter from NYU, and I was just like, Okay, well, despite that I'm going to get into NYU, and everything, like everything was always sort of against me, like moving to New York, my parents were super against it, it was a huge fight. I had no money, they weren't gonna back me up because they don't want me to go. I didn't have a place to stay. But despite that, I went. And it all just kind of work. The story I told you earlier, my friend and I went down to South by Southwest and we didn't have any connections. But despite that, we wrote to a ton of record labels and things of that nature. But I've actually my trip has changed my despite trip has changed in such a beautiful, perfect way. Because I did so many things. And I lived that life. I was living that despite despite life, that all started from well, despite my blindness, I can do it. But I'm now on this beautiful trip where everything I do is because of my blindness

Lizzy
Ooooh

Lachi
All of this success that I have is because of my blindness. My the rooms I've been in is because of my blindness. I'm speaking to you because of my blindness. I've met the most amazing people. I got to talk to situations like you know, the National Foundation of the Arts and all these things because of my blindness. Not despite. And it's such a beautiful, beautiful paradigm shift that I'm embracing every moment of.

Lizzy
Well, that's gonna be the last question because we were not going to get better than that.

Lachi
Yeah, gem droppers

Lizzy
This has to be one of the See, I feel like I said this recently. I feel like recently I've been we've been having some really good interviews. I do feel like each month is just getting better and better. But um, I'm just gonna say it on air and everything. This has been one of the most fun interviews that we've had. Well, we really enjoyed having you on the show. Thank you for coming

Lachi
Thank you

Lizzy 
Yes, of course, feel free. Come back anytime we consider you a friend of the show. So thank you Lachi, thank you Shane. Thank you precious Caitlin. To the whole team. everyone listening, subscribe, Lachi Do you have Do you want to give them your what is your Tiktok or YouTube?

Lachi
Yeah, sure. So you can find me on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, tik tok clubhouse. Everything is at Laci music that's L-A-C-H-I-M-U-S-I-C (@Lachimusic) or you can log on to my website for updates at Laci music dot com (Lachimusic.com). I am running a YouTube series called offbeat. Where I'm documenting my journey from low vision to no vision. We're having a whole lot of fun and a bunch of fun amazing guests have been coming through. So please check that out @youtube.com slash Lachi music (youtube.com/lachimusic). Otherwise just find me I'm everywhere. I'm in your comments. I'm in your dm like you don't even know like I'm all over your shit. Oops sorry (laughs)

Lizzy
We’re definitely keeping that. Enjoy Lachi for an empowerment trip. Some power bops. She is a good boss and a bad check. That's all we got to say. Scene Change episode done.

Katelyn
I'm Katelyn MacIntyre, president of the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts division. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of "Scene Change". If you like what you heard, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and visit our website at NFB dash pad DOT org (nfb-pad.org). There you'll find links to our social media, membership, and resources for blind performers. Thanks to everyone who makes this show happen. "Scene Change" is produced by Shane Lowe, Chris Nusbaum, Seyun Choi, and Precious Perez with music by Ryan Strunk and Tom Page. Remember, you can be the performer you want. Blindness is not what holds you back. We'll see you next time.