Rooted in the Making: Creative Women of San Diego pt.V

Part five: Sasha

Grounding the Work

Sasha uses (She/Her) pronouns and is a creator, DJ, graphic designer, and event curator. If you haven’t already, you can witness her incredible talent of bringing together a beautiful dance floor at IF YOU SEE ME YOU SEE ME.  You can follow her on IG at sashamvrie.

Sasha describes her creative practice as “I’m an audio and visual storyteller, using sound and imagery to create emotional, connective experiences and works of art.” In reflecting on her best work she identifies presence, feeling grounded, clear minded and in tune with both the moment and her emotions as crucial components. 

When asked about resistance, she mentions “It comes from within – I’m my biggest enemy and my number one cheerleader. I tend to strive for perfection, which I know is unattainable. I have to remind myself to choose intention over perfectionism and to keep moving forward.” Wellness for her can be summarized as the practice of care for the mind, body and soul.

The Path Inward

Sasha speaks to her interest in wanting to create from a very young age. “I spent a lot of time alone growing up, which gave me a lot of space to daydream. The idea of being an artist or creator always drew me in because it felt like the sweetest escape. Art and music have the power to transport you from wherever you are. All it takes is a song, a beautiful film, or a painting.” She goes on to share of the heaviness she felt following the loss of both parents at the young age of 20, and how she was able to channel her feelings into action through creating as a form of needing to rather than choosing. “I wanted to make sense of how I was feeling. I needed an outlet and a safe space that made me feel connected to something bigger than me. And that was music. Through music, I was given a chance to express myself without words. Music helped me move through emotions in a way nothing and no one else could. Through that, I’ve been able to connect with thousands of people who understand me through my creations.” 

In talking about wellness growing up she mentions that working out, praying and maintaining a good diet were the main topics of wellness in her home. She goes on to share that stigma has been a barrier for her as a result of growing up in a strict Mexican and religious household. “The mindset was to just suck it up and power through.” She wraps up this answer by highlighting that therapy, gym memberships, and eating clean can all add up quite quickly. Something that I’m sure many of us can relate to. 

Signals that tell her she may be getting off track from her process are when she finds it difficult to let go of outside noise and distractions. “When the thing I love most, creating, starts to feel stifled by external issues, I feel it immediately. I’m very sensitive to the energy around me, and when it’s off, my work feels blocked.” She speaks of having to outgrow many versions of herself to be where she is today, the main one being having felt that she had to get through everything alone. 

Restoration

Sasha identifies her close friends as her main source of support. “They’re incredibly encouraging when it comes to expressing myself through my creations, DJ sets, and creative endeavors.” She finds a restorative feeling through connecting with others who share her musical taste and overall vision. When she’s not creating anything she connects with being that of a couch potato and ends by saying “I need to touch grass a bit more.”