Interview with Singer-Songwriter Aneesa Sheikh

When I first watched Aneesa’s “Bad Thing” music video earlier this week, it’s safe to say I was completely impressed. Miss Michigan Teen USA 2020 – Aneesa Sheikh is a multitalented girl; she is a singer-songwriter and skating champion. I am so glad that she took time out of her busy schedule to chat with us; here are the questions I asked:

PLEASE, BRIEFLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF. WHO IS ANEESA, IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
Hi, my name is Aneesa. Aneesa is a seventeen-year-old singer-songwriter and Miss Michigan Teen USA 2020. Growing up she sacrificed a lot to train under Olympic coaches in figure skating; traveling from Lexington, Kentucky to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan every week with her father to skate at Detroit Skating Club and eventually moving there. She thrives under pressure whether it is singing on a stage, walking on a runway, competing in Forensics, or even Gliding across the ice in front of a large crowd. She calls herself a “Chipoholic” as she could live off of chips.

The Real Brand - Aneesa Sheikh

WHAT FIRST GOT YOU INTO MUSIC?
Having three older sisters who skated for Team USA, I was always exposed to the different elements of ice skating. It is not just physical, it is a performance combined with musicality. My older sister skated to Santana’s “Black Magic Women” and I loved the song!!! I wanted to play this song on the guitar and begged my parents to get me one. That was the biggest influence; however, my grandparents bought my brother a piano when I was five and I would always accompany him to his piano lessons and began taking them myself. While I would wait for him to finish his lesson and mine to begin, I would teach my dad simple chords in a practice room. I have always been drawn to music.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE?
I feel as though every artist’s creative process is unique to them. For me, it changes. When I am writing a song sometimes I start with the melody, then the lyrics, and other times I have a couple of good lyrics and write them first. Typically, when I have an idea in my head or feeling that I want to put into a song, I’ll start playing different chords and melody’s on my guitar, and then after a couple of minutes, I have one chord progression that sticks out and connects with me. After I write a song, I rehearse it for a couple of days or weeks, depending on when I can get into the studio. Recently, I have been doing a lot of co-writing with artists and it has been so fun! Writing a song with someone is amazing!

WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH?
CARLOS SANTANA!!! He is the reason I began playing guitar and I even figure skated to a medley of his songs. While being at home, I’ve co-written several songs that have an edgy, fun vibe, and guitar solos that Santana would be perfect for.

HOW IMPORTANT IS PERSONAL BRANDING, AND WHAT DO YOU DO TO GROW YOUR BRAND?
Personal branding is everything. If you look at any big named artist you notice a “trademark” or something that is exclusively unique that everyone remembers them by. For example, the majority of people connect crazy costumes with Lady Gaga’s performance wardrobe. I work constantly to grow and develop my brand by being unapologetically myself.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR OUR READERS THAT ARE TRYING TO BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY?
The best tip anyone has given to me is from my sister Sameena, “Use every minute, because every second you waste you will never get that time back.” My mom has always said, “Time is a constraint in all aspects of life.” My tip to any artist trying to break into the industry would be to value time like it is money, not just your own time, but the time of others and have gratitude for anyone who gives you the gift of their time. Aside from time, I’d say to never stop learning and asking questions, become obsessed with your craft to the point you dream about it.

To know more about Aneesa, don’t forget to follow her on Instagram and YouTube