Conversations with Saya Meads

Today we’d like to introduce you to Saya Meads.

Hi Saya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up this highly-sociable, misunderstood AuDHD creature in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans and my makeup were like two puzzles that shared the same cut and I was a piece that technically fit, but was out of place. So when people ask me how I got my start to Comedy, it’s always hard because there was no beginning, middle or end. So when I signed up for my schools, talent show at 15 and wrote stand-up comedy – something I only vaguely understood in concept – then went on stage a week later, it felt less like a beginning and more like a return.

My teacher at the time was a professional, stand-up comedian, and still is today, he saw me and told me he really wanted to help me develop, a debt I will never be able to repay. When I graduated, he showed me the New Orleans comedy scene and it was there that I met Geneva who took me under her wing and showed me all of the ropes to being a successful Comedian.

Later it would be her that introduced me to Bob Sumner, The producer of deaf comedy jam in the 90s and he would give me one of my first real credits the Apollo in New York, and my debut special that I’m so excited to release.

Shortly after my trajectory would change completely when I decided to focus all of my efforts on the ever-changing Comedy world by exploring short form content, utilizing dynamic, storytelling, and linguistic creativity to showcase my peculiar point of view in a minute and a half or less. It was surreal growing my audience to almost 1,000,000 in less than three months.

Notoriety with something I know I’ve always been destined for, but it’s so surreal when you hold it in your hands. Comedy continues to open new doors for me every day and hopefully it continues long after I’m gone.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Comedy has always been smooth and static whether that be the stage, social media, or even the industry – as far as my experience goes. With always complicated things was growing around it.

Having this almost divine calling while growing into yourself is no easy feat. With my rise in success on social media, and on stage, my biggest hurdle has been myself. My impostor syndrome, the sloth to delay my potential, me fist-fighting my dreams, have always been the most unnecessary mental strife I’ve put myself through.

Though rewarding it’s ever present.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
It’s always been hard to pin down my particular style because my Art follows my whims. Not wholly sustainable artistically, but self-serving and exhilarating.

Storytelling and peculiar observations are my primary mediums in poetry is my vehicle. It’s mainly fueled by my neurodivergence and my annoyance of verbally being misunderstood. Communication is a puzzle and efficiency is my goal. I don’t wanna just talk about a concept. I want to use the tools available to me —usually metaphors and euphemisms— so you can feel it, resonate with it.

I’m super proud of my ability to speed run accomplishments by the age of 25, I was able to do things others with decades of more experience than me have been dreaming about. And regardless to all that, some of my proudest work are those stupid one minute and 30 second long poetic rants I post a TikTok.

Nothing succinctly expresses who I am as a person and an artist more.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk and embarrassment are the currencies to success and self fulfillment. The absolute bravery it takes to come fully into being is nothing to take lightly.

With that being said, I’m constantly under construction because I don’t call myself much of a risk taker. Others might, but I think that boils down to the term being subjective. I wouldn’t consider myself a risk taker, but I do recognize that I’m somebody with the gall to keep going. .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.gram.of.saya/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SayaMeads/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sayameads