Today we’re diving into all the feelings with our guest—the artist, writer, and singer known as Trace. Based in LA, Trace has been releasing songs since 2016 when she brought her first project, the Low EP, to life through a Kickstarter campaign. Low garnered over 20 million streams and opened the door to her first record deal with Ultra Records. Now shifting into releasing music independently, Trace continues to evolve with each new release, lending her voice to raise awareness for anxiety in the music industry and to stop Asian hate. She’s been featured in Refinery 29, Teen Vogue, NYLON, Forbes, and has over 55 million streams across her catalog. She has a brand new song out called “Sucker Punch” that we’ve linked in the show notes— so go listen as soon as you finish this episode.

Throughout this conversation we discuss Asian-American identity, the relationship between anxiety and control, staying soft alongside ambition, and creating art from a place of love and calm. We really loved getting to learn from Trace’s insights and wisdom—both just as beautiful and resonant as the music she creates.

Full show notes, downloadables, and links are also available at empoweredhumanacademy.com/31

Keep the conversation going...

Table Question: Inspired by Trace’s reflection that tension can be a sign that you’re doing it right, what’s a current tension that you’re holding space for in your life?

Journal Prompt: What does “flow” feel like to you?

Action Step: Record a voice note for your future self and title it “Listen To On A Shitty Day”. What would you want to tell yourself on a day when the truth of who you are feels harder to access?

View the printable worksheet on Google Docs

Further exploration:

Follow TRACE on Instagram: @trace

Listen to Sucker Punch on Spotify

Learn more about Trace’s work: listentotrace.com

Dope AF Spotify playlist

@asianmentalhealthcollective

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

This is a production of Lightward, Inc.