Mesmi teaches voice, songwriting, and music production/mixing (Logic Pro X), and offers guidance on music business, branding, and marketing. With a background in classical piano, violin, and indie entrepreneurship, she runs VATOCA Studios and an AAPI music online space called SOUND OFFF. Mesmi's teaching style emphasizes listening and tailoring lessons to individual musical tastes and goals, creating a nurturing yet challenging environment. Inspired by life, nature, and diverse cultural experiences, she continues to evolve creatively through community engagement, production skills development, and exploring new artistic expressions.
I teach voice, songwriting and music production/mixing (Logic Pro X). I also consult and am able to advise on music business, branding and marketing.
Music and self-expression are gifts of freedom and healing. I love empowering others and helping them cultivate their own instruments of joy and release in a safe, enriching space.
Also, as an AAPI WOC, I value being able to share what I can from my perspective, especially for anyone else who may have found it difficult to learn from or connect to someone with similar experiences as a minority.
I grew up learning classical piano and violin, with a sprinkle of clarinet. Later on, I took the leap into creating my own songs and picked up guitar, production and all the hats of indie entrepreneurship. Throughout my life as a singer, I have taken various styles of training, learning my own voice as an instrument and my own style as an artist through the interchange of learning and performing.
With all I’ve learned, I offer various services through my company VATOCA Studios and also run an AAPI music online space called SOUND OFFF. I’ve been lucky to celebrate recent exciting events this past year, including my first music TV placement, teaching a music business workshop at UC Riverside and a mentorship with producer 9th Wonder.
I am ever a student, but through the years, my skills and ear have grown and changed so much. I was able to release a self-produced album in 2020, and I continue to evolve by expanding in community, developing my production skills and exploring new sounds and writing styles as an artist.
I start from a place of listening. I like to center learning around an individual’s musical taste, learning style and goals while creating an environment that both nurtures and stretches. As we work together, I can help tailor structures and practices that help encourage and equip them with the tools for what they are seeking, often keeping in mind what excites and inspires them most.
Whether it’s an artist preparing for a big performance or a first-time student in their beginning steps of musical exploration, my guidance is attuned to supporting each particular student along their journey of growth and expression.
So much in life, history, nature, people. All there is to learn in music and art and how it connects to the world, and what it reflects in myself. Powerful, raw performances. The singular beauty that is every individual living thing; the mysterious gift of being here together.
