MEET TRISHA ALICIA
My name is Trisha Alicia, and I’m a Nashville-based music professional with a background that combines Chemical Engineering precision with lifelong musical passion.
Music started early for me – playing tambourine at age 3 in a Pentecostal church, saxophone by age 7, and selective university choirs by 5th grade. Music runs deep in my family, with relatives who were part of the Motown scene and parents involved in studio work and performance, including my father’s work as a studio singer and performances with Kool & The Gang.
What happens when a chemical engineer discovers that music can solve the most complex equation of all – human connection?
My name is Trisha Alicia, and I’ve spent my career learning that the same precision used in molecular structures can create music that meets people exactly where they are. From worship leadership to contemporary R&B, from studio production to spoken word – same heart, different sound, all with purpose.
This intentional approach to music started early. At age 3, I was playing tambourine in a Pentecostal church – rhythm was my first language. By 7, I picked up saxophone, and by 5th grade, I was singing in selective university-affiliated choirs. Music was always there, but it was my engineering education that taught me how to build something meaningful from scattered elements. That’s when I realized: both disciplines require understanding what people need and designing solutions that work.
A Deeper Look
After earning my Chemical Engineering degree while playing university volleyball, I moved to Nashville for an engineering career. However, music’s pull remained strong, and I found myself drawn into Nashville’s vibrant music community, connecting with incredible musicians and artists.
This vibrant Nashville scene has been instrumental in my musical journey. I’ve had the privilege of working with Grammy-nominated producers like Tristian Keith Rogers and Sci-Fy, as well as Grammy winners such as William Cersle Kenan and Q (Marqo Patton), alongside award-winning producers like James Hodges and Antonio Neal. As a vocal producer, I focus on bringing out the best in my own vocal performances and collaborate with other artists to help them achieve their creative vision in the studio.
Music has deep roots in my family – I have aunts and uncles who were part of the vibrant Motown scene, performing in groups and contributing to recordings for various artists. My parents were also involved in music, with my father working as a studio singer and performing with Kool & The Gang.
While music was a significant part of my life, I pursued a scholarship in Chemical Engineering, where I also played volleyball for the university. The discipline of engineering (and being a student athlete) actually provided an unexpected space to further develop my writing skills, as the demanding schedule required focus. After graduation, I moved to Nashville for a career in the engineering industry. However, the strong pull of music remained. After a few years in Nashville, I found myself drawn into the local music community, connecting with incredible musicians and artists.
My grandmother, a published poet, taught me early that words could be crafted for impact. This influence shaped my approach to both songwriting and spoken word artistry. Whether writing song lyrics or performing spoken word, I work across multiple genres, collaborating with diverse artists and bringing authentic expression to every project.
Here’s something I believe deeply: naming people often reinforces the rat-race to collect awards and chase things (which leads some to use people). Naming people also has the unfortunate downside of making the unnamed seem less important. I have an unparalleled memory when it comes to people. Every one has been an answer to prayer in feeding the deep space within me that loves community and creativity. Unfortunately, the world we live in isn’t as gracious. I also don’t have enough space to tell every story of impact (but my journal and heart knows and remembers).
That said… This vibrant Nashville scene has been instrumental in my musical journey, allowing me to collaborate with so many talented individuals. I’ve had the privilege of working with Grammy-nominated producers like Tristian Keith Rogers and Sci-Fy, as well as Grammy winners such as William Cersle Kenan and Q (Marqo Patton), alongside award-winning producers like James Hodges and Antonio Neal. As a vocal producer, I focus on bringing out the best in my own vocal performances and also collaborate with other artists to help them achieve their creative vision in the studio.
My connection to Nashville has provided a supportive and inspiring environment for my growth as a music professional. Importantly, my faith has been a constant throughout my life, not a transition, but a foundational aspect that informs all that I do. I’ve been blessed to share my gifts and my message in a variety of settings and atmospheres, always staying true to my roots.
How do you use words to meet someone exactly where they are?
Trisha Alicia
Songwriting is where my engineering background and artistic soul truly merge.
What most people don’t realize is that great songwriting follows the same principles as solving complex equations. To nerd out for a second, let me show you how: In both, you identify the core need, understand all the variables, and design a solution that works perfectly for its intended purpose. When I approach a new song, beyond the melody or a great bit of music, I start with the emotional equation: What story needs to be told? What healing needs to happen? What does someone need to feel? Then I methodically build the musical foundation to support that emotional core. Every chord progression, every vocal choice, every production decision is intentional – just like balancing a formula.
Whether in the studio, on stage, or leading worship, I bring dedication to craft and authentic expression to every project. My connection to Nashville has provided a supportive and inspiring environment for my growth as a music professional, always staying true to my roots while embracing opportunities to serve through music.
Here’s what I’ve learned: every song has to earn its place in someone’s life. I don’t blend R&B, Gospel, Hip-Hop, and Soul just because it sounds cool – each genre serves a specific emotional function. When someone needs “You’re With Me” during a hard season, that song better meet them in their vulnerability with intimate, honest production. When “Promises Remix” comes on at a celebration, it better deliver the energy that matches their joy. This isn’t luck – it’s engineered empathy. Whether I’m writing for myself or collaborating with other artists, I approach each song as both a technical challenge and something sacred. The goal is always creating something that doesn’t just sound good, but actually serves whoever needs it most.
This approach to language started with my grandmother, a published poet who taught me that words could be crafted for impact. That influence shaped how I understand spoken word artistry – it’s the same engineering principle, but stripped down to pure language and delivery. No melody to carry the emotion, no harmony to soften the edges. Every word, every pause, every breath has to work perfectly on its own. Whether I’m writing song lyrics or performing spoken word, I’m solving the same puzzle: How do you use words to meet someone exactly where they are? The tools change, but the heart behind it stays the same.
Faith has been constant throughout my life – a foundational aspect that informs all my work. Growing up as a preacher’s kid with ministry spanning five generations in my family, I understand both the sacred and artistic sides of music. My 5x great-grandfather served as a minister in the AME church, and my 5x great-grandmother taught Sunday School. I’ve been blessed to lead worship across denominations including Presbyterian, Baptist, Nondenominational, and Seventh Day Adventist congregations.
Faith has been the constant thread through everything – not a transition I made, but the foundation that’s always been there. Leading worship is where I get to use music for its highest purpose: creating space for people to authentically connect with God. So, how do you design a worship experience that honors tradition while embracing contemporary expression? How do you blend hymns with modern sounds so that both the 85-year-old who grew up in church and the 25-year-old first-time visitor feels welcomed? Here’s what I’ve learned: you can’t engineer a spiritual encounter. You can only create the conditions where it’s possible.
Growing up as a preacher’s kid with ministry spanning five generations in my family, I understand that worship leadership is service, not performance. Every denomination I’ve worked with – Presbyterian, Baptist, Nondenominational, Seventh Day Adventist – has taught me something different about how people connect with the sacred. Whether it’s a traditional hymn or a contemporary arrangement, the heart remains the same: meet people where they are, honor where they’ve come from, and create space for them to encounter something bigger than themselves.
