Amazing Asians in the Arts: Haven Everly

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Haven Everly is a performer based in Los Angeles. Raised by professional singers, she formed a girl-group at the age of 5 with her sisters, and went on to perform as the lead The Girl Who Left Home, “a Fil-Am musical feature film… [highlighting] singing, family, culture, and acceptance.” and at The Sugar Bar in NYC (with Dr. Maya Angelou in attendance!) Everly finds that having a good understanding of the inner workings of the industry and to find a balance between work and personal life helped her really understand her craft. Her advice to young artists? “Be patient. You’re enough.” Read on to learn more about Haven Everly  and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts! 

Name:   Haven Everly

Heritage:   Filipina

Hometown:   Sacramento, CA

Current City:   Los Angeles, CA

Current project:   Acting, singing, content creating

 

What are some of your favorite credits/projects: 

The Girl Who Left Home. I played the lead, Christine. It is a Fil-Am musical feature film that highlights singing, family, culture, and acceptance.

 

Any advice for young people getting into the arts? 

Be patient. You’re enough.

 

How did you get your start? 

My parents were professional singers in the Philippines. They taught my sisters and I how to sing. We formed a girl-group when I was five. I fell in love with singing, acting, and entertaining from a very young age.

 

Do you have any favorite moments in your career that you'd like to share?

My sisters and I performed at The Sugar Bar in NYC. When we finished our last song, Dr. Maya Angelou asked to speak to us personally. She told us, “Ladies, stand tall, never give up, lean on no one, and bow only to God and you’ll go far.”

 

What have you found is the biggest challenge in your career? 

Learning to be patient and trusting the process. There’s really no blueprint to make a successful living as an artist. It takes patience, perseverance, and faith.

 

Is where you are now where you thought you’d be? 

Definitely, not! Hehe but I think that where I am now is exactly where I should be and I trust that the universe has a plan grander than my own. One of my best friends always says, “Rejection is God’s protection.”  I believe that all the things that didn’t pan out were probably not what was best for me in the long run.

 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self? 

I would tell my younger self to trust the process. Things will happen at the perfect time and when you’re ready.

 

What skills did you find to be the most helpful in your career? 

Understanding how the business works is important. Also, learning how to separate your personal life with your career in the arts. Sometimes, it’s much harder to balance life when your job is also your passion. When others say, “Find a job that you love and that doesn’t feel like work,” there are things to this statement that others have to be aware of. One important thing is that you can still burn yourself out doing what you love. Having your basic needs met, (mentally, emotionally, and physically) is the top priority in order to be the best possible artist you can be.

 

What helped you most to rebound from what you considered your biggest failure or mistake in your career? 

Simply not giving up. Learning how to pivot your direction to see your trajectory from a different angle.

 

How do you deal with performance anxiety? 

I acknowledge when it’s happening and then, I go with the flow. I allow my mind to be anxious, but I don’t let the anxiety overcome my whole being. I simply let it pass, visualize victory, and tell myself positive affirmations.

 

Do you have any self care practices you do to stay focused and sane? What was your self care routine before the pandemic and how has that (as well as your views of self care) changed throughout the pandemic?

I’ve learned to prioritize my mental health. I stay active and value my basic needs first.

 

How do you prepare for a role you consider difficult personally, whether it hits too close to home or goes greatly against your personal beliefs? 

First, I learn about the character. As an actress, you can never judge who you’re playing because your job is to portray stories for others to feel seen or heard. Sometimes, playing the abuser in a film/show allows the abused in real life to see themselves outside of their own reality. It may help them realize that their situation isn’t ideal. So whether you play the good character of the story or not, you play an intricate part of the whole message that is being conveyed.

 

To find out more about Haven Everly, please visit her at: 

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/haven_everly/ 

TikTok:   https://www.tiktok.com/@haven_everly 

YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/haveneverly