Today we’d like to introduce you to Riah Packer
Hi Riah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
A lot of substantial changes occurred after moving to Utah in 2018. I immersed myself in the local music scene, which led to the start of my band, The Penny Candies. In 2020, I divorced and was navigating being a single parent, a full-time student at UVU and working to make ends meet. I got some killer opportunities, like doing pre-production design work for Imagine Dragons, building sets as an independent contractor, and being under the direction of incredible mentors. Life threw me what felt like some crazy curve balls, but everything has aligned in such a way that I know I’m exactly where I need to be. Since my last interview with Voyage, I’ve earned my Associates Degree in Art & Design, I met my match and got remarried (our family doubled from 3 kids to 6 overnight), our band celebrated the release of our debut album, Lemon (which I designed and sewed all of my bandmate’s costumes for, as well as the set-pieces), I’m currently employed by UVU as a props sculptor for an upcoming production, and *thankfully* am only one year away from finally getting my bachelor’s degree in Theatre! It’s been quite the ride.
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?
It’s been anything but smooth. I survived the 3 years of single-adulting, full-time schooling and taking less-than desirable jobs (as in, not the creative jobs I love) through a combination of things… having the absolute best support group, feeling endlessly motivated by my kids, and consuming copious amounts of caffeine and corndogs. I didn’t get much sleep those 3 years, I felt like if I slowed down, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with it all. I would put the kids to bed and then do hours and hours of homework. I made sure my classes lined up with when my kids were at school, and when they were at their dads, I worked as many hours as I was allowed. I was still trying to balance band rehearsals and gigs, church responsibilities and kids’ sports, and all the things. Finances were tight. Like, physically and emotionally, I’d say it wasn’t pretty. Most days I felt like I was barely surviving. But, there was also a lot of joy and adventure and feelings of accomplishment mingled in there, too. It was just… a lot. And I was definitely getting worn down.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The reason I switched my major from Graphic Design to Theater Studies was because I was so drawn to the fact that theatre is a one-stop-shop for all the creative facets I love. It combines elements of design like sets and costuming, stage construction, music, and storytelling. Aside from my mandatory acting classes, there hasn’t been a class I haven’t loved since changing trajectories. I’ve always been known as a writer, since I was 8 or 9 years old and had my first poems published in an anthology. Eventually my love of poetry turned to songwriting, a passion that runs deep. Like, songwriting is really how I navigate my experiences and express myself. Most recently, though, I’ve been exploring the world of scriptwriting and screenwriting, which has been so exciting! I’m currently in a film class that’s led by the CEO of FanX Studios, and I am SO excited to be making steps toward doing what I’ve known forever I’ve wanted to do: work in children’s entertainment. Writing music and/or episodes for kids shows is my ultimate end goal. As a kind of side note… I will always be doing music, probably till the day I die, and our band is always looking for cool events to play at! To me, all of these things are connected and relevant, and it’s a blessing to be exploring them professionally.
What matters most to you? Why?
Freedom. It’s the reason I do everything I do. I’ve always known I want to work for myself or from home so that I can dictate my own schedule and keep myself available for my family. More financial freedom leads to more freedom of time, which means more family adventures and opportunities to bond. And of course, more time to create!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thepennycandies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepennycandies/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Eby8aPpYlzvQdK6BPgAs5?si=IX30DYJNTt6y-t21PdpEkQ
