Art That Breathes Back Into You: What a Concert Reminded Me About Creating Beyond the Surface

Disclaimers: This post is a personal moment of inspiration that reminded me why I create in the first place. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and maybe let it spark something on your own journey too. Please note that there are videos, images, and spoilers in this post. Read at your own discretion!!!!!! 💭✨

Tyler’s CHROMAKOPIA tour felt like stepping into someone’s inner world—loud, layered, and meticulously intentional. It was a multi-sensory, emotional, visual diary in motion. From the stage design to the musical transitions, to how he performed with both chaos and clarity, it was more than a show—it was storytelling through color, sound, and raw emotion. It didn’t feel like he was performing at us; it felt like he was inviting us into the process. Like he took every moment he lived, dissected it, and rebuilt it into something sonically brilliant and visually captivating. For me, as a creative, it wasn’t just entertainment—it was a masterclass in owning your vision and showing your work your way.

The Ril Talk

In Ril Time: March 22nd, 2025 — 6:25pm
"The vibration in my body hasn't stopped. Not even a full day later. My ears are still ringing. My legs feel phantom aches from standing for hours. And I swear, if I close my eyes, I'm instantly transported back to section 223, row C, seat 18—the nosebleeds where I experienced what I can only describe as a revelation. Oh what I'd give to see Tyler jig across that stage one more time."

The State Farm arena is massive, but it felt like it was just us and him—and in certain moments, when he performed my favorite songs, just him and me. There were no elaborate theatrics in showcasing a live band, no army of backup dancers or singers. Just him and his mic, deliberate intention, great detail, and pure intimacy. It felt like like watching a local artist pour his soul out at the small neighborhood bar, but amplified across thousands of witnessing souls—and somehow, that made it all the more powerful.

You know that feeling when you first listen to a song? That raw, unfiltered emotion that washes over you? The one you chase with every subsequent listen, but can never quite recapture? When I tell you I left that concert feeling exactly how I felt hearing CHROMAKOPIA for the first time...That feeling is almost indescribable!!!!!!!

The album dropped last October, and by December, it had already claimed the third 'Top Album' spot on my Apple Music Replay '24. That’s how obsessively I consumed it. What struck me most about the live performance was the clarity. Tyler performed his a** off—and I walked away with no questions. You know how some artists leave you wondering, “did I hear that right?” or feeling a little underwhelmed like something was missing? Not Tyler. Everything was executed so well. His purpose. His vision. Every. Single. Bar. Bravo to a sold out show Mr. Tyler Okonma!

The Medium Is the Message

Makeup is my medium, just as music is Tyler's. Through cosmetics and color, I've spent years mastering certain techniques—and did! But watching him transform that arena made me realize something profound: it's time for me to move on (up) in a way I never anticipated.

Spoiler alert, by the way...
After performing the core songs from CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler takes the entire energy of the show and flips it. Suddenly, it feels like we’ve all stepped into his living room—like he just got in from a long day at the studio and decided to vibe out with us. He runs through some of his best hits from across his career, gliding through each track with the kind of ease and ownership that only comes from years of fearless evolution. That moment hit me hard—it reminded me how powerful it is to let your art evolve, to not be afraid of the shift.

In one of my recent blog posts, I wrote about hitting rock bottom and essentially starting over. But in reality, I didn't start over—I leveled up and simply found myself at the bottom of a new level. That's the thing about life's journey: it's hard, but only those with true passion and purpose continue moving upward. We all experience peaks and valleys, highs and lows, and emerge from each new level stronger than before.

In Ril Time: March 22nd, 2025 – 7:55 PM
"I've been contemplating writing about my hiatus, feeling like I owed an explanation, but I've realized that contemplation was really about accepting myself—accepting that I had to start over whether I wanted to or not. Yesterday, my thoughts began flowing more freely, as if someone was whispering: "This is your time to tell your story because now, moving forward, everything you do is showing that you're operating from this new perspective, this new version of yourself."

April 2.0

I can finally let go of who I was before the accident. It is what it is. Why chase a past version of myself, trying to force it into becoming my new normal when it simply isn't?

This chapter won't mirror the last one—AND IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO.

Some days I still wake up reaching for the person I used to be, muscle memory searching for familiar patterns that no longer fit. The mirror shows someone I'm still getting to know—scars that tell stories I'm learning to embrace, movements that follow new rhythms. But there's a strange freedom in this forced rebirth.

Before, I measured progress in opportunities gained and clients booked. Now, I celebrate the small victories—a steady hand on a difficult makeup application, or just standing through an entire session without pain. The metrics have changed, but the passion hasn't.

People ask if I miss my old life. Of course I do—nostalgia is a powerful drug. But I've stopped romanticizing what was and started romanticizing the actual present and imagining more of what could be. The accident didn't just damage my body; it shattered my perspective, allowing light to enter places that were once closed off.

The beauty industry teaches us to transform others, but rarely prepares us for our own metamorphosis. In doctor's offices and physical therapy sessions, I learned more about authentic beauty than in all my years behind a makeup chair. When you're stripped down to absolute bare essentials—when walking across a room becomes your greatest achievement—you understand what truly matters.

This version of April moves differently, speaks differently, and creates differently, and at first, this terrified me! Change is scary, but absolutely necessary. How could I return to an industry built on 'perfection' (a nasty concept) when I felt so fundamentally imperfect? But that's exactly why I needed to return—to challenge those narratives, to show that broken things can still create beautiful art.

Sometimes I still feel like an imposter in my own life, going through motions that once felt natural, but now require conscious effort. But then I remember: everyone is always becoming someone new. I'm just doing it more visibly than most.

Living Outside Your Craft

Here's a truth I've discovered: to inspire and grow your creativity, you have to live life outside of your craft!

I've fallen in love with experiencing creative endeavors beyond beauty because they open my eyes to different perspectives and nuances. Concerts, especially, have become one of my favorite sources of inspiration. There's something magical about witnessing another human being transform an idea from conception to reality—from invisible to visible.

What resonates most about concerts is how they remind me of my days producing fashion shows. The process was always the same—everything began with a song that eventually evolved into a playlist. That playlist would birth a theme, and that theme would manifest into something tangible, something real.

Yes, artists like Tyler have extraordinary teams supporting them, but the vision—that spark—starts with one singular person. That's freaking incredible when you really think about it!

This blending of creative realms isn't just enriching—it's essential. When I first started in makeup, I thought mastery meant endless hours perfecting (that nasty concept again) my technique and color matching skills. No one told me how watching a thunderstorm, getting lost in a museum, or feeling the crescendo of a live performance would inform my artistry more profoundly than any beauty masterclass or workshop ever could. Our minds need diverse nutrients to thrive. They crave the unexpected connections that only come from stepping outside our specialized bubbles.

After the accident, this became even clearer to me. Confined to recovery, I devoured films (I stayed in the movie theater in 2023 & 2024), music, and binged tv shows that had nothing to directly do with beauty. Simple media forms, but ones I genuinely love that exist outside my professional world. I watched how characters on old sitcoms taught the meaning behind connecting and friendship, showing me how to better relate to my clients and students. I noticed how architects on home building shows use negative space the way I contour and add dimension to a face. I felt how musicians build tension and release in ways that mirror the visual rhythm of a perfectly executed makeup look.

These weren't just distractions—they were masterclasses from unexpected teachers. Now more than ever, I deliberately seek these experiences not as escapes from my work, but as essential ingredients for it. Because when all you consume is what you create, you're not feeding your creativity—you're just recycling it.

Worth Every Penny

Not that I'm particularly bougie or anything, but I do value quality....I typically aim for seats at concerts that will leave me feeling satisfied with my investment—even if it means paying a premium dollar, lol.

But truthfully? I didn’t grab a ticket when they first dropped. It wasn’t until about two months before the show that I said, “Yeah… I need to be there.” At that point, I ended up going the nosebleed route—and honestly, I was okay with it. I jus wanted to be there, you know?!

For this concert, it wasn’t about the perfect seat—it was about being in the room for something I already knew would move me. CHROMAKOPIA is, without question, my favorite Tyler album to date. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect—I had just returned to my business the month before the album dropped last year, and St. Chroma being my favorite song off the album was so fitting for the season. The rawness, the realness, the vulnerability, the entire production...ugh, chef's kiss.

I wish I could shake this man's hand and thank him for his courage in sharing his talents with the world. Among thousands in that audience, I want him to know that even from the nosebleeds, I left profoundly inspired.

The Process Is the Art

There's something special about artists who reveal their process. In today's world of polished final products, it's rare to see the messy, beautiful work that leads to creation. I admire creators who invite us into their journey, showing the hard work and dedication required to make something impactful happen with such intention and attention to detail.

Like Beyoncé with her project documentaries, Doechii with her insider interviews and personal recordings, or throwbacks to Pharrell, Kanye West, or Michael Jackson in the studio—those glimpses into creation itself are precious.

I've learned that not every new level begins with struggle, but the ones that do often become our most treasured chapters because they represent true character development. Those challenging moments reveal our strength in ways we never imagined.

The sooner we embrace change, the quicker we move forward. Some transformations require more time, but we can't linger too long—opportunity doesn't wait.

I’ve always held a deep respect for Tyler and his artistry, but getting to experience his creative vision live took that admiration to another level. If you have a moment, I highly recommend watching these two videos—one that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the production and execution of CHROMAKOPIA, and another from his Billboard interview that reveals the genuine purity behind his career and this project. He wasn’t creating with the expectation of it being his biggest body of work—he was simply making music that spoke to him. And somehow, that honesty ended up resonating with millions, including me. Back to creating beauty and art through my artistry that truly speaks to me.

Thank you so much for reading! ♥️

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Until next time,

Your Beauty Experience Coach,

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