A ‘Meet Me’ Interview

The ‘quirkiness’ in me is often present in the interviews I write up as I try to come across as human as the individual I’m writing about. And trust me, they’re all human like you and I regardless of their chosen paths in life.

Alison is no different. She’s talented, gracious, soft spoken, and eloquent while admitting a bit of quirkiness as well. Plus, she is kindhearted once friended, while cautious of those who she lets in to her inner circle.

To the later I know because this piece has taken its time. We first crossed paths last September when I asked for an interview. Over the ensuing months we’ve exchanged pleasantries, and I had all but forgotten writing her story.

Although an explanation wasn’t needed to why, as I had already known, Alison explained via message this past week. But tucked away at the very end was this. “I’d like to let someone into my tight knit circle. Would you be open to a phone interview?”

‘Yes, i would. I’ve waited for NOT the interview but for you to believe in me. If nothing else, I’ll always be supportive and understanding for you. It’s not part of any healing journey it’s because I truly care,’ was a portion of my reply.

Meet: Alison O’Brien

Who is Alison

“Who is Alison,” I asked after our informal niceties and giggles had subsided enough for us to begin the interview. Taken off guard by its capriciousness, she ponders a moment before replying. “Alison is a mom, musician and friend.”

I sense now she’s at ease with our journey, as nothing is more difficult than describing oneself in a single sentence before telling your life story.

Youth

Alison, Korean born, was adopted by Arleen and Dennis O’Brien at age three and raised in Virginia. She recalls to me singing the moment she met her newly adopted parents. And has been ever since.

At age five she was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And says, life was more “challenging until it wasn’t.” and that, “she (her mother) had me in all different treatments. And that “school was easy.”

“I took to music right away at three,” she added. And has been around
“Musicians all my life,” while taking up “dance, gymnastics and acting” as well.

“I tried very hard to be well rounded,” Alison said. Then says, “I stopped dancing by high school as well when acting was clearly not a strong suit. I took hip hop up as an adult after school.”

While excelling in school, she tells me her favorite subject was “Music. Any chance i could do music I would. Also, I was very good at science and math.”

Did you win any awards, I quarried. “A lot. Piano and voice,” Alison mentions and “Scholarships. Plus, I won a lot of competitions. Both for trophies, certificates and some monetary awards.”

College

Attending both Marymount and George Mason Universities, the mother of one, has a BS in Psychology with an emphasis in early childhood development.

“Mom was adamant I not go to school for just music,” says the musician and furnishes, “Music has always been the fabric of my life.”

Music and Singing

‘Simple,’ was the song that drew me to Alison last September. The lyrics ‘maybe I’m the curse‘ hit home and I sensed a kindred spirit in Alison. Afterall, very few artists and writers vocalize or type about things that don’t affect them directly in one way or another. I discovered, later on from chats with Alison, this was indeed our connection.

Wanting to know her take on the song, I asked her take. “I’m the curse,” is “life is not perfect. (It has) ups and downs. Maybe it’s me. Times are tough. Collectively tough and it’s really important to hold space. Make it more normal to talk about it.”

I was surprised to hear Alison only begun playing the piano as a means for her voice lessons. As the ability to hold the song’s lyrics with the music’s timing is paramount to all musicians. Also having sung opera, the artist, reverting to our giggling introductions, laughs when she tells me, ” I accidently got good playing the piano.”

Alison, can play classical music, as well, and has written “thousands of songs,”

On ‘Bottled Up,’ the singer/songwriter/musician says she loves “giving a voice and platform for people that don’t have a voice or word” of their own. And that the “strongest people are those that self-reflect.”

It’s a “privilege writing music,” Alison continues. “I’ve been very lucky to play music. My whole life is music. I live and breathe music.”

Who is Alison II

Everyone has another side of them and Alison is no different. She enjoys mountain biking, surfing, snowboarding, golf and hiking.

Her favorite Star Wars character is Rey. While her favorite Star Trek actor is Zoe Saldana, who plays Uhura.

She also enjoys Marvel and DC movies with Hulk, Thor and Batman leading her list of faves but stopped and added, “don’t like favorites. It’s unfair to all the others.”

Michael Jackson led the way as one of her favorite musicians and adds she would have loved to experience Beethoven’s era to “watch the classical, neurotic, insane, creative and intelligent” composers at work. She, also, enjoys the ‘Phantom of the Opera’ for its “really strong music” along with ‘Les Miz’ music for its ‘struggle.’

Lady Gaga, Alison tells me, would be someone she’d like see play her if a movie were ever made of her life because of her complexity. Or perhaps, Jennifer Lawrence of Hunger Games fame.

Hell, and Everything Between

There’s more than ADHD on Alison’s plate but she wants others that suffer to know. “I’m sorry. I see them. I hear them. I’m on the same journey. Same hardships because social media stays one sided. It’s not the entire thing. Take one step don’t put it down, put it away,” she says.

About Me

I’ll leave you with her song “Hell and Everything Between.” The struggles are real and ‘everyone has started to move on.’

However, if you know me, I won’t leave a friend behind. I never have nor will start now.

In the “About Me.’ Alison leaves me with too many gratitude’s and platitudes for me to digest. I’m much too humble for the story to shift focus. I’ll just say, in her words I found an ace that I could keep, when she ended with this. “Life is like a treasure. Collect all these amazing experiences and peoples’ stories as each are special. Let us expand ourselves and others.”

Writers Note

I’d like to thank Alison for not only her time but her courage for agreeing to this interview. Coming to the forefront for some is difficult, as is this for her. But like she said of ADHD, ‘take one step don’t put it down, put it away,’ and that’s exactually what she’s done. She put away those fears and anxieties in a big way by allowing me into her life. And I am prouder than ever of her.

In Alison’s story, there’s only a mention of ADHD. The effects of the disease I’ve kept out. This story is her story. The musician, The singer. The songwriter. The woman of many talents, that is very good at them. And finally, the friend that’s overcame many obstacles that now makes others smile because of them.

Now that will give social media something good to talk about.

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