Can you take us back to the beginning? What are your earliest memories, and how do you think they’ve shaped who you are today?
Hello, my name is Destiny Malibu! I am a singer/songwriter, musician, and mental health advocate from Malibu, California. I developed a deep love for music at a very young age. Some of my earliest memories include being in the recording studio with my mom, a professional Latin pop star. Watching her write and record music was incredibly inspiring. This early exposure to the music industry ignited my passion for music. I recorded my first song, « A Million Kisses, » at the age of five and started learning guitar at nine. When I performed « A Million Kisses » at my middle school talent show in Malibu, the positive response from my community was affirming and encouraged me to pursue music professionally. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to perform across the United States and internationally, appearing on American Idol, and you might have even seen my name on billboards in Las Vegas. I adopted the stage name Destiny Malibu to honor my roots and carry a piece of Malibu with me wherever I go. Music allows me to connect emotionally with people around the world, and I’m incredibly grateful to live my dream.
As you reflect on your life, are there any key moments or turning points that stand out to you? What made them significant?
In 2018, my family’s Malibu home, where I spent pretty much my whole life, burned to the ground in a wildfire. The day before, my sister was in a shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks that took the lives of 12 innocent people. Thank God my sister is okay, but those 48 hours were some of the craziest of my life. It really gave me a new perspective on life, and I thank God my sister’s okay and that my whole family made it out of our house. It reminds you that the most important thing in life is each other and the moments we spend together. I wrote a song dedicated to both situations, called « We Will Rise (Tribute Anthem),” and it’s from my album « Sweet Persuasion. »
Who were the most influential people in your life, and how have they impacted your journey and development?
I would say my family is the most influential group of people in my life, and my mom, in particular, as my manager. It’s been such an honor throughout my career to be learning from her. She taught me how to write a song, how to be on stage, how to be on Television, and how to react in different situations professionally. It’s really just been an honor to learn from her, and I’m very thankful that she’s my manager.
What challenges have you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
I think growing up in the industry can be challenging. I didn’t start professionally performing as a solo artist and establishing my Destiny Malibu brand until I was 17, but many aspects of this industry do require a really big learning curve especially when it comes to social media. People say so many different things to you online, some with the intention to be very hurtful. Being that young and impressionable, learning how to process the opinions of others and learning how to be strong in your understanding of yourself can be challenging. It requires having thick skin and a deep internal confidence that takes time to cultivate. Being on camera all the time, can take some getting used to, but thankfully I went on a long journey of self-love and really worked on building my confidence for many years. Finally, I can confidently say that I really love myself, and I’m proud of that because there was a time in my life when I didn’t. So I encourage everyone to really work on that relationship within.
If you were to pick a theme or a lesson that runs through your life story, what would it be?
A lesson that I continually learn is never give up hope. I think hope is so fundamental to us getting through this life. I have found in moments when I’ve been in really dark places, the reason it got so dark is that there were moments where I basically felt like giving up and giving up hope. But hope can get you through into the next moment, and then it can get you to the next hour, and then it can get you to the next day. The beautiful thing is, life happens in waves, and while there are undeniably dark moments, there are also moments of immense beauty. Holding onto hope and looking forward to those beautiful moments saves lives.
Are there specific accomplishments or milestones that you’re particularly proud of, and why do they hold such significance for you?
I am really eternally grateful and feel very accomplished about having performed internationally and at so many iconic venues in Las Vegas. It is pretty surreal to know that I have been on billboards all over Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, and that I’ve performed at so many venues that people I look up to have also performed at. It’s a huge honor. When I think of “making it”, there are so many different definitions of that as an artist, but for me, performing at iconic casinos like Resorts World, Palms Casino, and the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and being on over 30 billboards in Las Vegas, really had me in awe thinking « Wow, we really did it. We really accomplished something many told us we never could.” I’m so beyond grateful to see everything come to fruition and I can’t wait to hit new milestones.
Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the next chapter of your life story? What legacy do you want to leave behind?
I am really looking forward to just putting out many more records and albums and continuing to write music and stories that hopefully resonate with people. I want people to be able to listen to my music and think, « Oh my gosh, that’s exactly how I feel. Wow, this really makes me feel less alone. » And I really hope that my legacy involves being remembered as a genuine kind heart and hopefully known for putting a smile on people’s faces.