QUESTIONS WITH ONJALEE LASHAY
The eclectic, soulful OnJaLee Lashay emerged upon Chicago’s underground music scene in the Fall of 2006. She quickly became well known in the music community as a phenomenal singer, heart-stirring songwriter, and an assiduous promoter of some of Chicago’s hottest events. OnJaLee has been seen in various venues across the city, including Channel 19’s famed “The Ninja Show” and Chicago’s largest summer attraction, The Taste of Chicago. In 2006 she teamed with Steven Johnson, president and founder of Artesian Productions, to roll out some of Chicago’s hottest haps, including Soul Café, Eclectic Rhythms, Say It Loud, and Insomniac Theaters. In 2008 she launched “OnJaLee The Connector” her own promotional company specializing in connecting and promoting small business owners and entrepreneurs in Chicago. Some of these events include: The Authenticity Dating Game, PULSE 312, Sexy Scented Singles Valentine’s Day Event, and Artistically Linked.
Could you briefly describe yourself and what you are working on?
I like to think outside of the box and challenge the people I come across to do the same. I just launched a new company called OLashay Strategic Marketing Solutions. We are a boutique marketing firm that offers the following services: event planning, web design, graphic design, creative writing, social media management, and marketing consulting. I am also in the process of starting a not for profit called the Educated Entrepreneur which is a mobile entrepreneurial education program for start up business professionals in Chicago.
An early memory of you and art?
All my life I remember music and singing. I was so inspired by hearing Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton, Roberta Flack; loving the choir singing at church. Music always moved and inspired me. I was amazed how people could express there emotions so passionately through song and how I easily felt that when hearing it. I am an emotional person that feels everything so I think that’s what makes me good at what I do, my compassion and strong sense of understanding for my clients and the people I come across.
What does networking mean to you?
Wow, networking is key for anybody that needs to grow and evolve in their profession. You can’t function just knowing the same 5 people. In hosting Artistically Linked a monthly free networking event for artists I help people in every art form connect with potential clients, people that appreciate art as well as people that may inspire them to be there best as an artist. Artistically Link’s goal is to give artists the resources they need to be and stay inspired. They get that from networking and meeting new people that share that same synergy.
One of your biggest challenges?
Money. Most artists are very frugal people. The masses can’t completely live off of there art form alone especially here in Chicago. There are just not enough paid opportunities for them or outlets that are completely open to what they want to do. Also, Chicago has the Midwest reputation for not supporting there own until they see them on TV or doing big things in another state or country. Then we want to say “oh wow that’s so and so from Chicago!” yet when they were here and accessible we ignored the invites to art openings, concerts, launch parties, etc. We didn’t support physically or financially so that artist either gave up and left Chicago or got a 9-5 job in a world they are not passionate about and eventually forget being an artist all together. I wish there were more opportunities to finacially support artist. With my not for profit I want to teach them the business side of being an artist so they can manage themselves better and have a support system designed to help them grow financially.
What do you enjoy about art in Chicago?
I love how accepting Chicago is of artists and their creativity. I love seeing artwork everywhere I go in Chicago, weather its a mural below a via doc, a mosaic at a train station, an new statue downtown or the sultry sounds of a vocalist singing in the subway. I think Chicago is a beautiful open minded city and I am grateful that it has been maintained so well over the years. I am simply in love with Chicago. I just want to see the amazing artists that I come across from all different facets grow and find opportunities to stay creative and make a living off of what they do best.
If you were a James Bond villain on the verge of killing 007, how would you describe your plans to take over the world?
lol, I would start a movement like that in the movie Pay It Forward. I would use social media and other outlets to create a sense of “I will help you with something you cannot do yourself and all I ask is that you do the same for someone else”. I think we could achieve so much that way and change lives in the artist world. Its somewhat happening with Artistically Linked. We have artistic venues donate theres space to us for the night, we bring in positive energy, new customers/clients and that almost leads to new relationships. Everyone is happy and has that warm tingly feeling inside leaving the event feeling inspired and wanting to continue to pay it forward. I would let this grow and expand till other artists in other cities across the world were copying the same format for Artistically Linked. Actually if the funding was there I would like to expand it to other cities myself and create a national artist community.
Advice for “creative folks?”
Know your worth. See what you do as valuable and if you are not getting money from it you are at least getting something of value for your work.
If you could meet one artist dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I would like to meet Michael Jackson. I hate that I never saw him in concert while he was alive. There is just no one like him nor will there ever be. I think he was a generous and amazing beautiful to sustain as an artist his whole entire life. I think there’s a lot I could learn from that. He never lost his passion for what he did.
More information about OnJaLee Lashay and her work, please visit OnJaLee’s and Artistically Linked‘s website. She also has a facebook page for event planning.