While most of the world hunkers back down for extended COVID-19 shutdown sanctions, people continue to work from home (some indefinitely!) and live their life within the confines of the same four walls of their living spaces. Once again, a grocery store trip is the most exciting part of one’s week while gyms, movie theaters, and personal services remain effectively closed. Regardless of whether one is working or studying from home, many feel the full effects of the shutdown scaries as is evident from a collective lack of motivation and drive to move forward with work, school, or other studies, appropriately called ‘pandemic fatigue.’
This pandemic fatigue weighs heavily on the conscience of not only those who have a purpose but on both those who have yet to find their own and those with plans cut short, no thanks to COVID-19. Even many 2020 graduating students who received bachelor’s degrees have yet to find a job in their wheelhouse six months after virtual graduation ceremonies.
Songwriter and international rap artist Audie B and the entire entertainment industry went dark due to all non-essential businesses’ shutdowns. Although these circumstances infringed upon Audie B’s plan to travel the world on tour, she doesn’t back down easily. Armed with fiery red hair and a personality to match, Audie B directs her life in a way that eliminates wasting time looking back in hindsight, asking, “what if?” Instead, Audie B’s life revolves around her passion for hustling, to never stop going, moving, doing.
The “Oye Profesor” singer shares that “a good start to the week is a lit session in the music studio, dance training, and songwriting insp[iration].”
By focusing her attention on improving her artistry – whether it be songwriting, dancing, or performing – Audie B finds herself in a unique position to view the pandemic as an opportunity to keep pushing further. Audie B inarguably garners her inspiration from her online audiences from Instagram and Youtube who participate in giveaways and freestyle contests.
Audie B considers herself lucky that her passion is her hustle and her hustle is her passion. For those wondering how to translate their passions to a hustle, Audie B advises, “set your goals, objectives, make them happen, and step-by-step, believe in yourself … and you won’t believe how far it’ll take you.”
Now more than ever, human connection is so important. Audie B utilizes various features of her social media accounts, which allows her to fend off feelings of loneliness and isolation. Cultivating an online community has allowed Audie B to bring people together to be better together.
By no means has Audie B’s shutdown been smooth sailing. But the rough waters presented themselves as opportunities to be humble and courageous. From the first day of dance class to signing with JS MUSIK in 2018. The music industry is fraught with rejection and criticism (to say the very least). Audie B time and again chooses to rise above it all, work harder, refine her artistry, and stubbornly persist without room for fatigue. For Audie B, there was never a choice to give up on her passions or hustle, only to make sure that every time she fell, she stood right back up again.
Most of all, as Audie B looks back at 2020, she remembers not the sour and dark lows but rather the things that inspired her to persist.
“I’ve had laughs, tears, music, calls, Zoom [meetings], dance, shows, TikToks, friendships, and obstacles and challenges to overcome [along the way].
Most folks could stand to take a page out of Audie B’s book. The combination of passion, courage, drive, ambition, and work ethic as utilized by Audie B will have her standing in good stead for when we all arrive at the other side of this thing.
In the meantime, connect with others, listen to your body, take care of yourself, nurture your energy, and practice that thing that inspires passion.
Goodbye pandemic fatigue.
Connect with Audie on Instagram here.
