Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra (Xandra) Adkins.
Hi Xandra, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
At a very young age, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I stayed extremely motivated and got my first professional performing job at the age of five! I have performed in musical theater, radio Disney, on tour with Simon malls while also modeling and dancing across the country. Growing up in a small/big city there were not a lot of opportunities at the time that gave me a microphone and a stage, so my mom and dad found away for me to still perform while also getting the chance to perform in front of important people that could cast me in really good performing opportunities or represent me in the future. And this was through pageantry! Still to this day I am extremely thankful for pageantry because it made me the woman that I am today. I am able to communicate with a CEO of a company or even the governor of the state while in the same day be still just as comfortable communicating with a student a local college or my neighborhood brunch. This also opened my eyes to be becoming more philanthropic and lead me to start my own social initiative educating teens and young adults on how to have healthy relationships with the Love Is Respect Organization! Continuing my work in my community and on stage I kept going! Once I reached high school I changed from a public high school to a private religious school which shook my world but I’m able to make do. I tried out for cheer and of course choir to keep my skills up and from that moment on I had a huge target on my back for negativity and bullying. I’ve always been bullied and I was used to all the jokes or lack there of…but once they found that out, they changed their tune. They started bullying me for my race. Something that I cannot control. Being multiracial I grew up learning that I am the color of love, and I’m honored to represent my cultures and be who I am but these students saw it as a “sin”. Being told that my mother sinned for being with a black man broke my heart. Hateful words being thrown at me everyday and in places that we’re supposed to give me peace. Choir class wouldn’t let me sing any solos or dance in their showcase because “I drew the eye in a negative way” and same thing for cheer. This broke me and I gave up. Performing was not a dream anymore but a memory and I wanted nothing to do with it. Once my parents saw how this dimmed my light and how I changed in a bad way, they transferred me back to public and I finished my high school career at Wichita West High! The teachers knew that I was broken and needed extra love and they did just that. They built me back up and reminded me why I was put on this earth. I was singing again, dancing again and I was happy! I went back to musical theatre and even went back to pageantry and got other opportunities outside of the state! Teachers really do make a difference in kids lives so shout out to all the great teachers out there.
After graduating I received a vocal scholarship to Butler Community College in El Dorado Kansas and was in show choir!!! I was over the moon, this was the next step needed for my career. While at school other performers I knew were getting great performance opportunities while I was still in school. I was confused since I thought this was the way, education first and then life career. After one semester I learned that education is for everyone, but if you’re going to school for something you could do NOW then go do it, school will always be there. So I left knowing I would return in the future to pursue my dreams. Right then and there I got the best gig ever and performed at Walt Disney world in Orlando Florida! Continued to audition and started performing at other theme parks owned by Cedar Fair and even got signed by a talent agency! And then the pandemic happened. I saw it as a good opportunity to rest my body and my voice because I was going at 100% every single day. I stayed with Family and my dog knowing that being alone at that time would probably drive me insane. But after that, I was ready for the next best thing. I started sending as many online submissions as I could during the lockdown and finally heard back from a talent agency that would literally change my life forever. I signed to the Lime Entertainment agency, which gave me my first job on a cruise ship with Norwegian cruise lines. I was so excited! After that contract, I moved to Celebrity Cruises and after that contract, I moved and stayed with Carnival Cruise Lines! With Carnival, I have done the Pride, Spirit, Vista and I’m currently on the Jubilee! Working my way up to the flagship! I stayed with this company because their values also match my own. They don’t care about your body type or the color of your skin, they care about what you bring to the table and if you can work well with others. They see the value of someone and prefer quality over quantity, and all of their singers dance! Beyoncé doesn’t just stand center stage and do nothing, she dances with her dancers. So with that mentality, I should not stand on zero and do nothing, I should be dancing at the same time! I have learned so many lessons and have grown as a performer and looking back, I would not change a single thing I have been performing all over Europe because of the people that I have met and the networking that I have done here. But no matter where I go, I always come back to Kansas. Kansas is my home. The Midwest is my home. No matter how relaxing the waves may sound I prefer a strong wind sound against tall grass or even wheat. And a beautiful sunset looking over the Flinthills. I prefer how busy Wichita, Kansas can be over a big city any day, and the sense of community everyone has in the Midwest. As for my future, who’s to say! Because since I was a little girl, every opportunity has been the next step to the next best thing and I’m always surprised and thankful for it. So whatever comes next, I will be ready for it, but also extremely thankful.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. Being bullied shook my world, and almost took me away from the life that I have right now. I try my hardest to surround myself with people who truly support me and will lift me up and when I finally found the right people, everything started falling into place.
As a performer you hear many “no’s”. And a lot of of the times it can be a negative thing and you can almost lose motivation that way, but I didn’t. Because I knew that every few no’s there will be a yes. If a door closes another one will open. I use the word no as motivation and I just figured that if that’s not meant for me then something else better is! As you can see, I’m very motivated so even if the road is not smooth it’s still a really good ride!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a cruise ship performer and recording artist in the Midwest! I’ve been performing on cruise ships for seven years, and I just dropped my introductory album self titled “XANDRA”! I had dropped another album in 2018 titled “esoteric“ but that was more like an EP and definitely a younger version of me. So I had to drop something that’s new and fresh! I am extremely proud of this album because it showcases all the different types of music that I’m able to sing and also what I love to listen to. This album is a really good introduction to who I am as a person. I love singing jazz music but I also love EDM. I can be a pop diva, but also sing a rockabilly song! Through cruise ships I have learned how to be adoptable in any kind of genre of music. And I feel like that’s what I specialize in the most. I can sing any genre and be comfortable and confident with it. As a performer being adaptable is extremely important because of schedule changes, life changes, choreography, and the people that you perform in front of. But if you can also be a dynamic performer that can do more than one genre or have a different sound for a different type of music then in my opinion, you would go farther than someone who can’t do that. Because you can be booked in more opportunities or given more opportunities!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can support me by following me on Instagram, of course, but also playing my music from “esoteric“, my singles that I have dropped along the way “r u the one”, “tease” and “bad boy” and of course my latest album “XANDRA”. All my music are on all streaming platforms! To find all of my music there is a link on my Instagram that you can click on and you can find all of it! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel “It’sXANDRA” for videos of my life on cruise ships and other performing opportunities and another way to play my music!
If you want to work with me, I would be extremely honored! I love working with people in the Midwest and other creatives to make some magic. All it takes is a simple email or even a direct message on my Instagram. I’m not scary, I will always reply, especially if it’s a project that I can be a part of or a performance opportunity!
Pricing:
- Live bar performances/cooperate events/birthdays – 4 hours (3 30 minute breaks) $300
- Charity events – free
- Festivals (I.e. River Festival) $50-$300 (prices depending on location)
Contact Info:
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DoXlkhNOsRpUE3EWAwpTs
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official.xandra
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@itsxandra
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/xandra/1379954202
