MY AKAI LIFE: SAVANNAH PHILYAW

Inspiring stories from inspired people

Savannah Philyaw is an acoustic-pop songwriter, singer and visual artist from San Diego. Savannah recently released her debut full-length album, A Whisper in the Wind. Each song is accompanied by a lyric video made by Savannah.

 

 "I want to inspire good feelings through my music." 

 

WHAT’S INSPIRING YOU RIGHT NOW?

Togetherness is something that's really inspiring me at this time. 

I've been drawing a lot of inspiration from my community. Just seeing how everyone is kind of banding together, even though we're all so separate right now, just to support each other emotionally and find ways to keep each other company in such a limited environment. I've been inspired by all the passionate people out in the world who are making huge changes, fighting for what they believe in. 

 

HOW DID YOU FIND AKAI?

I've always been very interested in natural remedies. I had just been hearing a lot of great things about CBD and all the benefits of it and the lasting effects of it. And a lot of friends had been talking about it. And then I had heard about a AKAI and I was like, Oh, I should try that. It was my dad who suggested that CBD might help with my performance because he's seen me on show days and he was like “you need to calm down.”

  

 

WHAT AKAI PRODUCTS DO YOU USE?

On days of performance, I used to get anxious, stressed out and nervous. Since using AKAI OIL DROPS it's been life changing for me. I feel excited, I don't feel stressed and it's helped me to feel more inspired about my music than ever before. I strive to feel blissful and this has helped me accomplish that. Thank you AKAI. 

Nourishing Oil Drops are my favorite. I always use them before I have a performance or before I'm doing a video, an interview, or even during the writing process. It has strong calming effects. I feel like it allows me to connect with who I am without trying to think about what are other people going to think. It also helps me get rid of that inner critic. It really grounds me, and keeps those distractions, fears, anxiety and worry away from the process of what I'm doing. 

I also use the Body Balance Capsules a lot when I travel. They are just awesome. They keep me regulated and balanced and have a similar effect—  just the calming nature of it and that inner peace, which I crave so much. 

I've also used Zena Glow Facial Serum. It is feels really good on my skin, giving it a tingling effect. That's how I know it works. 

 

 

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU LIKE TO INSPIRE OTHERS?

Right now I am so inspired by Jason Mraz. He released a brand new album on June 19th and announced that all of the money earned from that album will be donated to social justice organizations, which I just think is such an amazing thing to be doing. It’s such an amazing example for people who want to make a change, showing that there are ways you use your gifts to make a change and an impact on people's lives. 

I'm very passionate about social justice causes and about being a role model for children. I believe they are going to be the world changers. 

I'd love to create a program for peace in schools and anti-bullying. Before COVID, I was teaching music and movement classes for kids— from babies to age four, which was really fun. 

 

 

HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED? 

Every morning do I start with the Five-minute Journal 

It's where you list three things that would make today great and a positive affirmation. That has been a really great way before I even get out of bed to set the idea of how I want to approach the day. I also meditate every day. I drink lots of water. I try and eat as healthy as I can. Exercise all those kinds of things. 

Today's three things — good relationships with my family, feeling creative, and a healthy body.  

 

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT CHALLENGE YOU?

With current events you have to sequester yourself or keep a bubble around your mind and psyche so that you can stay in this place of being inspired because we all have those days where we're feeling blue.

Being a sensitive person, being a creative person leaves you susceptible to being a little more vulnerable to the impacts of the world events that are happening around us. 

I try and be as nurturing to myself as I can be. It's okay to be feeling these heavy emotions. I have a song on my album called "Temporary". It's about the fact that everything we feel is temporary, even as heavy as it is in the moment, it does dissipate at some point, even though it might feel like it won't. I’ve really worked on being okay with feeling down and not getting even more upset with myself for that. And knowing that tomorrow I might feel inspired, but right now I have to get this out of my system. 

 

 

WHAT WORD WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

I would say a word would be balanced because it's definitely something I strive to always be. I feel best is when I'm feeling balanced— with life, with career, with relationships, and in my body. 

When I do feel balanced, I really notice and I really cherish that part of myself. Whenever I'm not balanced I try and pull myself back into the middle of the scale. I would say I'm able balance like my creative side and my rational side, my spiritual side and my physical side. 

 
DO YOU HAVE AN INSPIRING QUOTE OR STATEMENT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?  

It's in my song go alone, which is the first song on my new album. And it's a line that says “trust the compass in my bones”.  

I didn't know exactly what I meant when I wrote it. But then I was like, I get it. It's about my intuition, following that inner world and that gut feeling. It spoke to me after I wrote it, and I think it translates. A lot of people have told me that it translates for them. And it's a very potent image of viewing your intuition— whether you're going in the right direction or not based on your own internal compass. 

 
 Stream Savannah's latest release - A Whisper in the Wind below.