Artists and creatives face innumerable challenges given that their career path often doesn’t come with a playbook, a steady paycheck or any form of safety net. It’s definitely not easy and so we asked a few of the artists and creatives we admire to talk to us about why they chose to pursue an artistic or creative career.

Marq Mervin

As cliché as it sounds, it’s all I ever wanted. As a kid, I wanted to make video games. But I also wanted to be a meteorologist, an astronomer, a chef,…you get the idea. I’ve always wanted to do many things, but I always found my way back to some form of creating. Whether it was drawing, music, dance, or poetry, I felt most at home when I was making.  Read More>>

Jonny Coppiano

Good art requires good business. All creators are initially required to be entrepreneurs by trade. I resonate because I started out as a producer and writer. Ultimately I sought to create a company that protects this duality. We need artist-centric business models in order to truly foster original music. We never take masters. We never take publishing. Read More>>

Shantice Smith

The feeling of making others feel good and beautiful made me feel good. It made me feel inspired. Just being able to add to someone else’s confidence I feel is a beautiful thing in itself. Read More>>

Emani Watson

Most people don’t realize that, even as a military kid, mostly growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, I always dreamed of living a creative life. I like to say that in another lifetime, that might have been my path. Read More>>

K.D.H. {Keith Diamante Hence}

It wasn’t really much of a ‘choice’. Being a Creative was something I felt like I was destined to do. I’ve always been passionate about the arts/being in a creative space. I feel most Alive when in that zone. Writing was my first love. I loved writing short stories as a child. I originally wanted to be an Author. Read More>>

Elicoinne Washington

I’ve had a love for music and creativity for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my parents were the first people to show me what it felt like to be surrounded by art they took me to concerts, album signings, and anything that allowed me to experience music up close. Read More>>