Did you always want to work in music?
I grew up in a musical family. But I wasn’t the best singer. When I was 18, I started learning sign language. I would practice by signing the lyrics of songs. This helped me remember the signs. I loved it!
What made you want to become a sign language interpreter?
When I was young, I never had role models who were deaf, or who were deaf and Black. That’s why I started my company, DEAFinitely Dope—to help others who are deaf or hard-of-hearing like me know they’re not alone. A lot of people think being deaf means you can’t do what everyone else can, like enjoy concerts. I wanted to show them that isn’t true.
What’s the most important part of your job?
I make sure I’m expressing the feelings a musician is trying to express. To do this, I study a song’s lyrics for weeks before working at a concert. Many people feel something when they hear music. I want a deaf audience to have those feelings when they see music through the way I sign.
What do you love most about what you do?
I’ve met so many cool people—famous and not famous! But mostly I love seeing people happy. It’s always worth it to know that everyone is able to enjoy an event.