Meet Taryn Anchrum: CEO/A&R/Playlist Curator/Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taryn Anchrum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taryn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risks and I have always battled each other. There was a part of myself that once thought risks were terrifying; Staying safe was the only way to stay afloat and free from issues or hardships. I didn’t learn that I needed risks for growth and transcendence until I got to college and I saw my peers doing what they loved broke, doing what loved while taking 18 credit hours, doing what they loved while working two jobs, etc. Hardships were always going to be lingering. Taking risks taught me how to prioritize my time, energy, and effort. I thought that going class was enough. Getting my degree was only one part of the college experience and it took me all of my freshman and part of my sophomore year to learn that. The career in entertainment that I wanted, the life that I saw for myself required more from me. I had to take risks such as getting out of my comfort zone, going to networking events, rubbing elbows with like minded individuals and people in power/mentors, using my voice etc. Once I did that, I met so many creatives, got in to rooms that I would have never thought I’d be in, developed relationships, achieved a level of success that I hadn’t ever fathomed. I am now in the process of launching my management company TOP X (ten) Management, which is my greatest risk yet. I’m ready for this new journey and what it will bring.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved music. Being raised in a household that always had something playing– whether it was Mary J. Blige’s What’s the 411 or Faith Evans “Keep the Faith”, Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, etc. My first love was Hip-Hop/R&B. As I got older, I had dreams of wanting to be in the music industry in some capacity. My father worked for ASCAP for a while, my Godfather worked for Warner, now Sony, I had been immersed in to the industry. Once I got into college, I began to put all of my focus on getting into the music industry as started to recognize what my true love is and step into my purpose. I joined a student organization at Georgia State called Panther Entertainment Group. Over the next few years I worked my way up from a member to head of PR/Marketing, head of Event Coordination, Treasurer, Vice President, and ultimately President. During my time in P.E.G., I met so many music industry professionals, built up my contacts, made relationships; we had sponsored stages at A3C, helped so many aspiring artists and industry professionals and ultimately, fell in love the business side of the industry. After I graduated with my B.A. in Philosophy/Pre-Law concentration with an entertainment media management minor, I had found my love for marketing, management, and artist development and decided that I needed to take steps to create my own lane to rise to the top. Right now, I work at an indie label called Prolific Records and we are working with rising R&B singer/songwriter and my good friend, Jai’len Josey, helping promote and market her latest EP Illustrations. Next quarter, I will be launching my management and artist development company, entitled Top X (ten) Management. It will be a management firm for creatives; artists, songwriters, photographers, videographers, producers, etc. It took me a while to get to this point. My dad always told me that I have GREATNESS within myself. It took a lot of doubting myself, missing out on opportunities, living in a box, being afraid of failure, to realize that this is my life. I have to be my biggest cheerleader and bigger critic. I was placed here for a reason and its my job to transcend and grow into all that I know I am destined to be.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Monday: Grab breakfast at OY! in Smyrna. That afternoon: drive downtown, go to the Botanical Gardens, Picnic in Piedmont Park for lunch; Grindhouse Killer Burgers. That night: Walk through the Battery, dinner at Yard House Tuesday: Breakfast at Waffle House because its a must. Afternoon: Bike ride on the belt line. Lunch at EAV Sushi Evening: Drinks, Food, Hookah at Barber Bistro in Smyrna Wednesday: Hike Stone Mountain because health is wealth. Lunch: Hit up True Urban Cafe for the best Zucchini Fries on the East Side! Dinner: Grab some Slutty Vegan and catch a movie at Starlight on Moreland Ave. Thursday: Breakfast at Atlanta Breakfast Club Afternoon: Lunch at Soul vegetarian Stroll on little 5 points Dinner: Food, drinks, and good vibes at Apt. 4B Friday (ATL Brunch eve): Brunch at BQE downtown Drinks and tapas at Boogalou on Ponce Dinner and more drinks at Fin and Feathers Night cap at Marcel on Howell Mill Saturday (BRUNCH DAY Part 1!!) Tribeca Restaurant and Lounge for Brunch and bottomless mimosas! Recover until 7pm Dinner at Suit Food Lounge Bar hopping on Edgewood because Saturday on Edgewood is where its at. last destination: Soundtable Sunday (BRUNCH DAY PART 2!!): Escobar for brunch! Spend all day recovering from one hell of a week!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a lot of creative and entrepreneur friends and family that motivate me to be a better person, businesswoman, friend and to keep fulfilling my purpose. My dad and mom of course, my amazing cousin, Courtney Brooks of CBROOKSART, Kai Robinson and Nick Selders, Chioma Okezie, ARZLEE, Jazzy Tha Rapper, Derek Jackson and Hvbris of Wise Nation Media, so many to name that I couldn’t possibly do. But the one person that sticks out in my head, every time I get discouraged or talk myself into a hole, the person that I know will get me back on track is my virgo sis, my birthday twin, my renaissance woman, THE Mayathewriter. Maya has been my sounding board, voice of reason, the person who consistently makes me realize that I need to step into my greatness and use the gifts that I was blessed with. She’s an inspiration. A phenomenal artist, producer, writer, visionary-all around an amazing individual. She deserves so much more than I could give her.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_tarynjanae/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taryn-anchrum-4468a638/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TarynJanae_X
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taryn.janae
Other: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/t-o-p-1-0-t-a-r-y-n-hip-hop-rap/pl.u-qxylK2au3oz8L5 https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/t-o-p-1-0-t-a-r-y-n-r-b-neo-soul/pl.u-zPyLmVPTeVzEAg https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6tYWdUrBIPv908LjRGzaeU?si=I9M5t3ztSgCTq7tj63pkJA https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19VfXqxmW9q7nyqDjYeKKJ?si=AKuHWgA7RxWdFc5EW0iwBw

Image Credits
Dr. Arshley Emile Jarel Walker Derek Jackson