Client Spotlight

Sarian Sankoh

is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer.

 

Interview Date: April 6th, 2023

What are the mediums you create in?

I am a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and composer.


What are some words that come to mind when you think about your creative style? 

Eclectic

Dreamy

Vulnerable / Authentic

Messy (in a good way haha)


What are you currently working on? 

I’m currently working on an album of my songwriting work! It’s my first and I’m super excited about it.

What is a piece of advice around creative work (or work in general) that you call to mind often? (Or what advice would you share with others?)

“Chisel the marble and trust you can refine”. This came out of a coaching exercise that Melissa gave me where I had to create a list of things that I might need to hear during my creative process. I found that often when I made music, if something wasn’t perfect on the first try then I would just give up on it and label myself as not good enough. In reality, I needed to remind myself that nothing will be perfect on the first try but I need to trust that I have the skills and taste to make it into what I want. This phrase has helped me a lot so far.

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How long have you been working with Melissa? 

I’ve been working with Melissa for 9 months.


What did you come to coaching for? 

I came to coaching to get a clearer understanding of how I can merge my creative and professional lives and to help build my confidence in myself as an artist.


What are some ways that coaching has impacted you? 

Coaching has had a major impact on me! I feel like I have a much clearer understanding of who I am as a person, what I value, and have been able to develop a clearer vision for where I see myself in the future as an artist and a person.


What are some ‘wins’ that you would attribute to being supported by Melissa? 

Launching my first website!

  • Writing a strong and meaningful artist statement

  • Creating tools to support me in making my creative process fun and less stressful

  • Clarifying my values and figuring out what a satisfying life looks like to me

What advice would you give to others who are considering working with a creative coach? 

I would definitely say go for it! It’s so helpful to have someone with an outside perspective guide you in diving deeper into the questions you have about your creative direction. I found that for myself, before coaching, I wasn’t really able to articulate who I am or who I wanted to be as an artist. I wasn’t sure where to start when it came to embarking on a new journey towards being more fulfilled in my life. In working with Melissa, I was able to make sense of my values, direction, and dreams. Having someone who affirmed my goals, created space for me to dream as wildly as I want, and helped me chart the path to get there has been invaluable. I’m really really really glad I decided to work with Melissa!

Where can we find you online?:  

@/iamsarian on instagram and twitter

iamsarian.com