Today we’d like to introduce you to Niya Cotton.
Niya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from the Washington D.C. area. I’ve singing since the age of two and I’ve always had a love for the arts. I was a dance major at Duke Ellington School of the Arts (D.C.) and a vocal performance major at Hampton University in Hampton, VA. My family has moved around quite a bit because of work which has allowed me an opportunity to explore artistic expressions around the country and the world. I worked in TV music at Warner Brothers in Burbank, CA, I’ve taught gospel music in Japan for six months, I’ve released my own music and now I serve as a worship leader and creative director at my church, Trinity Church, in Cedar Hill, TX. I’ve been in Dallas for 12 years, I’m married to my college sweetheart, Roy Cotton II and we have three beautiful children (Rocco, Eric & Nyla).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey has had smooth moments and moments where I’ve felt like I was coming in for a crash landing into a burning building on top of a crumbling mountain. 😊 A lot of my story has to do with my fight against fear and inadequacy. I was paralyzed by fear. I always felt like I was second best and that my lot in life was to be ok with only having “just enough.” I’ve struggled with abandonment, my family moved to Michigan before my senior year of high school while I stayed in D.C. to finish the year without them. I’ve struggled with body image – as a dancer, we were required to maintain a specific physique which caused an obsession with my weight. I’ve struggled with the loss of family members- my grandmother and grandfather’s deaths impacted me greatly. And, I’ve struggled with pleasing people. It was always my concern what people thought of me and I wanted to make sure that I was always walking a line that everyone could affirm and applaud. I know now that that is a limited, unfulfilling and dangerous way to live.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a worship leader and creative director at my church (Trinity Church- Cedar Hill). I’ve been given the task of spearheading many of our major holidays and events that take place and providing creative and exciting ways to present the gospel. As an artist in the Dallas area, I’ve had the honor of singing at, what feels like, hundreds of churches in the metroplex in the past 12 years. I’m a vocal coach and clinician for individuals and groups that seek to enhance their singing and worship leading abilities and I’m a wife and a mommy. I’m also a new author! I just released my first children’s book, What Princesses Like” to encourage education and representation for kids. My greatest gift is seeing and affirming the beauty and gifting in other people and providing a platform for them to shine. I’m most proud of the fact that I’m not afraid to look fear in the face anymore. I still get afraid all the time, but now I know that fear is a clue that greatness is on the other side. I’m not sure what “sets me apart” from others but I do know that I’m not afraid to fail and that love fuels my life.
Can you talk about how you think about risk?
“If it doesn’t cost anything, it’s not worth it.” One of my deepest desires in life is to shift the world, even in the slightest bit, knock the axis so that it knows that I existed. Playing safe and small does a disservice to the purpose of our being. I feel like every single person on Earth is purposed to change in world, and that requires risk. It doesn’t matter how big or small but something beyond us calls us to jump off the ledge sometimes, just to prove that it’s possible. I took a risk traveling to Italy for the summer when I was 14. I took a risk staying in DC my senior year while my entire family moved to Michigan. I took a risk going to a college that I had no money for, every single year, no money. I took a risk moving to LA after college and getting involved in an industry I knew nothing about. I took a risk deciding to teach in a country (Japan) where I didn’t know the language. I took a risk getting married and moving away from all of my family. I took a risk deciding to do a 30 day fast where I only drank water, no food, just water for 30 days. It was a risk writing and self-publishing my first children’s book, “What Princesses Like” in a pandemic. In my opinion, risk is a requirement for reward.
Contact Info:
- Email: thewholetone@gmail.com
- Website: www.niyacotton.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niyacotton/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/niyaglobalgirl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/NiyaGlobalGirlTV
