Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalonda Underwood.
Hi Shalonda, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Hello guys! My name is Poca Nova, and I am formally known as Pocahontas. I recently changed my name due to some legal reasons, so this article was perfect timing for me to reintroduce myself to the world. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. I moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, at the age of 15 when my father passed away. I started making music in April of 2021 after recently getting fired from my 9-5. Which is a day I’ll never forget, March 26 because it’s also my younger brother’s birthday. I never had a passion or desire to do music. It just found me. Four days after losing my job, I didn’t want to be at home sad or depressed, so I decided to go sit at the studio. My boyfriend at the time was a musician, so I was there supporting him. I decided to make a track that day called BIG BAG. Big Bag was the first song I ever recorded, and it is my #1 song today. The music video has over 60k views on YouTube and over 100k streams on music platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal. I have been super consistent and releasing music ever since. My most recent single is called WINNING SEASON, released in May of 2022, where I discuss the fruits and benefits of all my hard work since becoming an artist. I have a lot of new music, videos, and shows coming for the rest of the year. I’ll be performing at SXSW this year for the first time, so I’m extremely excited. I recently received a radio play in London as well. This is what being consistent and having faith in god that he will guide your steps and lead you to the right direction looks like!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, omg. It has been a lot of sacrifices and crying nights. I’m a mother, so not being able to see my kids because I took a leap of faith to break the generational curse. The attacks over my life have been painful. Most men couldn’t walk in my shoes. Moving from a small town with a population of 20k to a million here in Texas was scary. My car was repo my very first day moving here. Lol 😂 yes, the very first 4 hours I was taking a nap. I woke up, went outside, and my truck was gone with all my belongings and clothes that I just brought from Alabama. I had the same clothes on for 3 days because it was New Year’s Eve when I came, and they were closed for the holidays. I have so many testimonies for days.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a mother, music artist, medical coder, and a woman of god. I specialize in writing and recording great music. I’m known for all of the above lol, but most people know me for making music. The artist Poca Nova. I’m most proud of getting my song played overseas, and I’ve never been there before. Well, not yet, at least! What sets me apart from others is I’m authentic. I am my goofy, beautiful, imperfect self. Flaws and all…
What does success mean to you?
I would define success by beating the odds and breaking generational curses while creating generational wealth. We don’t have any millionaires in my family. I will be the first. We don’t have a female SUPERSTAR from where I’m from. I will be the first.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pocanova1?igsh=eXRhN2JnZGdheWdj&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@PocaNova1?si=AvOWQ7kbfp5JPnnr
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/pocahontas/1568321093
