
3 minute read
ALYSSA IBARRA .
There’s something about a single guitar and one voice that can shift the mood in a room. I remember hearing Alyssa share her story several years ago at church, but when she grabbed her guitar and started singing, I‘m pretty sure I cried. Her voice is melodic and the soul that’s poured into her songs is what stands out. Alyssa, or ALI, was raised in Southern Cali. She has a strong sense of family and the foundation they laid for her. Her earlier years are full of memories with her sister, their two cousins and the bond that has carried into her adult years.
Alyssa was also born deaf in both ears and this has given her a unique ability in her singing. Her father is a musician and this allowed her to cultivate a love for music and harmony. Life came with challenges that seemed impossible to escape and as she got older, this affected how she chased her dreams. Being a singer in a highly competitive field, she would question herself. “Is this what I want to do?” But at the age of 16, her father gave her a valuable piece of info. When asked “Why do you do it?” He simply replied, “I do it because I love it!” PERIOD!
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This taught ALI that if it’s good for your heart, you should do what you love. Do what makes you happy So many people spend their days doing what makes others happy before they tend to the desires and needs of their hearts first And this has been ALI’s constant reminder when it comes to her passions She does it for herself first and it translates into her music and melodies for everyone else.
It's common to prioritize other people's needs over our own, but it's important to remember that taking care of ourselves is crucial for our overall well-being We speak about self-love and self-care a lot here at She Stories and it’s important to never neglect ourselves Girl, do what you love!
As a child, ALI was a skeptic, only believing in what was visible to her But as she grew older, her perspective shifted, and she realized that believing in something could bring it into view Now, as an adult, she understands that perception is subjective, and what one believes to be true can impact what one sees. By embracing this idea, she has opened herself up to new possibilities and experiences, recognizing that a closed mind can limit one's ability to truly see the world around them “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing” We have to believe our dreams so that they come into view for us to see! So it was awesome that her father and the village that raised her instilled these beliefs within her
And just like that, one of her biggest dreams came into full view You can catch ALI on this season of The Voice on NBC. Her blind audition was enough to make Kelly Clarkson and Chance the Rapper turn their seats around. They were in awe when she revealed that she was deaf But more importantly, this is such a great message for younger women who don’t see the value in themselves just yet.
ALI can identify with the young girl that hasn’t always seen her value, but she shares her story to show others that believing in yourself brings healing and restoration of how we see and feel about ourselves It’s valuable to own your shine!

Despite facing the challenge of being deaf, she embraced her uniqueness and transformed it into her greatest strength. Her deafness did not hold her back, but rather fueled her creativity and determination She learned to navigate the world in her own way and found innovative ways to communicate with others
As she pursued her passions and dreams, ALI proved that being different does not make one less capable or valuable Being different makes her dope She is a symbol of her resilience and courage She inspired others to embrace their differences and to never let any obstacle stand in the way of their success
We want to show ALI our love and support for her future endeavors, so be sure to catch her on The Voice I promise, you won’t want to miss out on her
You can check out ALI on IG: @alicanyouhearme
And don’t miss her on this season of The Voice on NBC! Watch her perform HERE!
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