Today we’d like to introduce you to Fefe Mae.
Hi Fefe, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story starts when I was about seven years old. I started singing in my home church. I’m originally from brainerd, Minnesota. From there, I never stopped. I dreamed one day I would live in San Diego, CA and perform my music here somehow some way. It took a while of course. When I turned 19, I wanted to try out for American Idol in San Francisco so my mom drove my brother and I from Minnesota to San Francisco to try out. I made it through and was supposed to come back to meet the famous judges. That’s when a lot more of my struggles started. I was in a severe school bus accident and could continue. I had to go through a lot of therapy physically and mentally. I then went into job corps thinking you know maybe I need something to fall back on just in case. So I did job corps and started looking in other directions like military. But I still wasn’t ready so I went in americorps wanting to travel and give back and became a firefighter, yet during those times my father was killed. That’s kinda when a lot changed for me.
I didn’t really know what I was dealing with at the time but it was a lot. I was going in all these directions and couldn’t figure out what I really wanted. I stopped writing and kinda lost sight of myself for a while. It was one day where I was just like I’m going to California. There’s of course so much more to the story but I made my way to oceanside ca. I ended up being homeless, severely depressed and just broken. I had help here and there. I ended up in the hospital a few times from suicide attempts. I had been sexually assaulted a few times but never told anyone. That’s when I started to write again. I was starting to learn what I was dealing with. I had PTSD diagnosed with a few other things, but I still wasn’t understanding my purpose, why I was meant to be here. After being homeless for so long, I was offered a housing voucher which helped me get into my own place. That’s when I decided to try to go back to school. Yet I still wasn’t there yet. I dropped out of school due to certain struggles but after six months, I went back and graduated with my certificate.
Now by then, I was back into writing music but wasn’t doing much about it still. I didn’t really know what to do exactly. I was still dealing with my mental health challenges and also my medical challenges as well. It wasn’t until 2019 I had an advocate help me get back into it. That’s when I started finally taking my music serious again. I would search for producers that could put music to my lyrics cause at that time, I didn’t know how to write to beats. It wasn’t until 2021 that I found my producer now that actually knows what he’s doing and I trust him. The journey hasn’t been easy at all but I’m a big believer in my God, all mighty who’s been with me all along. These last few years I’ve realized a lot and I actually come closer to my dream then ever before. I started performing in Hollywood, Long Beach, Anaheim, and San Diego. I have a few songs on all streaming platforms now and I’m working on my newest album called ” Beautiful Disaster about my life’s journey. I believe we all have a story to tell, it may not be told all at once but it can be told. I’m currently still struggling with my health and still doing my best to focus on my faith. Yet I’m so grateful of how far I’ve come and what I have now. That’s what matters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road for me. I struggled a lot with my medical issues and mental health challenges along the way. Growing up, I was diagnosed with epileptic seizures, I also had a lot of stomach problems as a kid. I was homeschooled a lot because of my health. I always wanted to be around people though. I was a social butterfly so it was hard. I didn’t understand why I was so sick. I wanted to do so many things but most of the time I couldn’t. Getting older, I tried to overcome it which I did at times, but something would come and get in my way again. My depression, my dad’s murder, my assaults, my accidents, I was like I can’t catch a break. Yet I still tried. Some days I would turn to things that weren’t so good for me like alcohol, even started doing weed to calm my anxiety cause I thought it would help but it actually was making things worse.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So I’ve been doing music my whole life, but I had to also get other jobs as well. I’m a singer-songwriter. But I also worked as a caregiver, peer support specialist, and a few other things. I now currently have my own LLC called Fefe Mae LLC. It’s focused on my music but I’m wanting to expand it into something more. I want to be able to help others become the best version of themselves. However, that may look like for them. All my life I’ve always dreamed of becoming a famous singer. Yet I believe God had me wait until I was fully ready so I could understand why I truly wanted to be a singer. Now I believe I know why. It’s not for the fame and fortune, that’s just a bonus of course. I believe it’s to be able to send a message to people who need it. A message that can inspire them to keep going. Your time is coming. I have so many inspiring artists I listen to when I feel like I just want to end it and yet their lyrics tell me to keep going. We never really know what people are going through. I’m not really known for anything, I’m just proud that I’m still here and still fighting to put out new music that hopefully will inspire someone else to keep going. I try to understand from others people perception. I’ve had a lot of people say hurtful things to me, and it sad yet I try to think about what they might have been through. Instead of judging them and hurting them back, I just now pray for them. It wasn’t always that way. But if I want to help others become a better version of themselves I need to start doing that with myself. I stopped drinking smoking, I’m careful with who I allow myself around. I’m working on better myself daily. To help better others one day.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was actually very shy, I had my mom go up with me for the first time when I sang my first song. I had stage fright and still do. I am very outgoing of course but I hid behind my mom and was very quiet. I never raised my hand in class. I remember I always wore hats. It wasn’t until like senior year I started stepping out of my comfort zone. I wanted to be more like Kesha I guess. Her style anyway. When I was around friends though I was very weird and funny. I loved my friends so much and just once I was comfortable with you that’s when you seen that real me.
Contact Info:
- Email: felissiamae@live.com
- Instagram: @fefemaeofficial
- Facebook: Fefe Mae
- Youtube: Fefe Mae
- SoundCloud: Fefe Mae
Image Credits:
Kara lewis You belong here
