This month’s professional spotlight features Eritrean singer, songwriter and producer Lidiaana. Lidiaana has toured venues across the globe, including the acclaimed Royal Festival Hall, and has performed alongside the likes of Naturally 7, German Hip Hop set-up Les Sans Mono, and London’s Philharmonic Orchestra. Read this months professional spotlight to learn more about Lidiaana and her path to becoming a professional artist. Also, be sure to check out her weekly show Love & Music with Lidiaana.

How did you come to decide that this was the right career path for you?

I always knew that I wanted to be my own boss and a creative. I started off in musicals at a young age and then started focusing a lot more on dancing in my teenage years. In 2006 I decided to leave Germany to move to London in order to study music. For seven years I studied music business, singing, and music technology. After that, I was like what now? Music was going good but the music industry in London wasn’t too great – lots of gigs but almost no payment and way too much effort. In 2016 when I got made redundant from my part-time job, I saw this as an opportunity to spread my wings. It was scary at first but it turned out to be the best thing that had ever happened to me as I was able to create my dance business, which then led to confidence coaching and many other amazing opportunities. Sometimes when a door shuts, you have to take a step back and wait to see how many new doors will open.

What is a typical day of work for you? 

Since I decided to become a self-employed creative my daily routine fluctuates; somedays I have to wake up as early as 4 am to work on movie sets, on other days I stay at home all day to coach my clients on confidence and self-belief. I love the variety in my work life – I hardly ever get bored.  However, a typical Monday for me starts off with a Happy Monday routine. Happy Monday (#afroliciousmonday) is a short video of me singing and dancing with the mission to inspire and uplift peoples’ spirit on their dreaded Monday mornings. As a creative freelancer, I try to get involved in various projects, as I see them as opportunities to learn new things, meet new people and grow as an individual. As a confidence coach, it is important to practice what I preach. I’m currently focusing a lot more on my confidence coaching. I got into it through my dance business ‘Shégitu’ which is a sensual dance class for women of all shapes and sizes. I started teaching dance 2 years ago, it was the first business I created after being made redundant from a job that to be honest, I didn’t really enjoy anyway. It was a blessing in disguise as it gave me a chance to step out of my comfort zone and take a leap of faith. It’s a dance class that empowers women, makes them feel more confident and helps them embrace their femininity and love their bodies.  I host group classes, theme parties, birthdays, hen parties, courses, corporate workshops and lots more. Eventually, I started getting more clients being interested in just talking to me and asking how to be more confident etc., so I started my one on one confidence coaching. I have video appointments with my clients weekly, which allows clients to receive my help from anywhere in the world. I help with anything from expanding their knowledge of positive habits to making them feel confident enough to make major life changes and decisions. I have been studying music for over 7 years, and through my studies have decided to make a career out of it due to my passion and love for the arts. Currently, I am putting my focus on Eritrean music which makes my mom super happy and proud as I am embracing my culture. All these years when I was making Rnb, Hip Hop,…my mom was like “oh that’s nice”, now that I am making Eritrean music, she keeps dancing and doing the “ELELELLELEEL” lol. In my spare time I work on other creative bookings such as modelling, dancing, acting and doing session singing.

Working on movie/ tv show sets excites me as I never know who i’ll be working with and sometimes I have to try my best to not fan out, which can be really hard at times. I also have my own TV show ‘Love and Music’ on LYE TV.  I usually film a couple of episodes every 5 weeks in Germany and then release a new episode every Thursday on youtube. We work super hard and efficiently. I absolutely love the team and I am very grateful to be working with them.

What was your approach to following a non-traditional career path?

I have never had a traditional career path as in my opinion when I had a boss I had a job but now I am my boss I have a career.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

Well, this is difficult. I have won awards, a first class degree in music, performed on stage with my Idols, etc…. but to me, my greatest professional accomplishment and I am not sure if you consider it as ‘professional’ – is moving by myself to London to pursue my dream.

What’s one piece of advice you would give someone looking to transition out of the 9-5 work? Start working on your business during your lunch break, before going to work – on weekends. Do the work!!! You’ve got to live and breathe it and make sure it is something you are passionate about.

Is there a philosophy that drives your career?

Make use of all your talents, whilst you can. I know so many people that don’t live their dreams because they believe that someone out there is better than them in that field. I always say that someone else’s skills don’t take anything away from your skills – so do whatever you want now, as you might not be able to do what you want to do when you get older.

Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?

My work is my hobby and I am so glad to be able to say that.   But if I had to say something – I Love travelling, immersing myself in new cultures and learning new languages. I currently speak multiple languages fluently including German.

Where can people learn more about you, your show, or your studio?

You will find a glimpse of all the work that I do on my Instagram @lidiaanamusic / @shegitudance

The websites for my work are www.lidiaana.com www.shegitu-dance.com  (dance and confidence coaching) And my TV Show is posted on the LYE TV channel every Thursday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXM4I5eeyc8&list=PLelxbhjHulMSUDrjUyCaEVxfOkq4hLWVM