Coming so far to feel so good
After a tumultuous past in Washington, D.C., the Santa Fe spirit moves empowered singer
After growing up in a tempestuous home, navigating toxic relationships and struggling to be herself when convention tells her otherwise, Yasmin Radbod has finally found her mantra, which she sings to the world. I deserve to feel good, so good. On Tuesday, these words will broadcast across Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery as the local singer plays host to a music video release party for her debut single So Good, benefiting Girls Inc. of Santa Fe. The event will include three local disc jockeys providing the night’s soundtrack, plus a costume contest and a raffle. Radbod will start the night by performing an acoustic set with her producer and sound engineer, Bill Palmer, and may take the stage again if “the vibe is right.”
The music video will be available on public sites such as YouTube on Wednesday.
More than anything, she says the event reflects her determination to not only empower herself, but all women. “I’ve learned to not sacrifice anything of myself,” she said. “It’s so important, for me especially, for young women to really know what they’re capable of.”
Radbod, 26, moved to Santa Fe in April to redefine herself after growing up and living in Washington, D.C. As she sought to grow her music career, she said the spirituality of the Santa Fe area and connection to nature seemed the perfect place to find support.
“This has been a step into liberation,” she said.
When Radbod was a child, music was her solace. But said she she doubted her talent and shied away from taking the plunge to follow her passion. “Every day all of us at every age are confronted with the decision to truly be you or to hide or to not live fully,” she said. “And unfortunately, when we don’t feel loved enough and safe enough to love ourselves, it has consequences.”
Before journeying to Santa Fe for her singing career, Radbod worked at a refugee camp on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, then became a D.C.based rap artist and entrepreneur, establishing the womenfocused platform Femme Fatale DC. She started the platform in order to provide a space for popup art, business endeavors and events — all by and for women.
She said as she’s found her voice, she wants to keep empowering other women to find theirs.
“What a tragedy young girls grow up not knowing how special they are,” she said. “Every time one woman follows her bliss, that opens the door for someone else.”
Along the way, she said she’s found support in her fellow musicians, including Palmer, who observed, “There’s a confidence that Yasmin has that won’t let anything stop the positive momentum.”
Radbod said she approached Girls Inc. because she wanted to give back to the community and the cause to elevate girls. The local nonprofit, which offers programs and mentoring for girls 5 to 18 years old, accepted the partnership because Radbod represents a lot of what it tries to instill in girls.
“It sends a message to the girls you can go out and really do the things you believe in,” said Tara Melton, communications associate for Girls Inc. “She’s somebody who’s driven to support other women, and we need more of that in this world.”