Meet Nyah Marasigan | Musician Manager and Photographer

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

Hi Nyah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
One of the biggest challenges I encounter daily is dealing with uncertainty, but sometimes you have to take a risk to learn something. Working as a manager for Raden Paris–a rap/hip-hop/punk artist based in Louisville, Kentucky–has taught me the value of risk-taking. Especially when first figuring out the media/entertainment industry, you take a lot of shots in the dark.

While we are grateful for the community we’ve built in Lexington, the rap scene was not as prominent, so we decided to shift our focus to Louisville, Kentucky. It felt scary to start over, but it was necessary. We had to make new connections in the city and build a following. Managing an artist from Knoxville, Tennessee created a lot of limitations for us as well. But I think that a huge part of creativity is learning how to navigate your limitations.

For our first rap show in Louisville, we spent a lot of money on marketing. Like… a lot. We collaborated with videographers, photographers, and models, and did a lot of graphic design. We boosted posts across socials. We plastered the city with flyers. We made “Lookbooks” so that people could dress to the theme of the show, which was called “Local Lavish Lover”. We had no clue if all of this time and money would create a large turnout, but what it did do was gain the attention of, and then the respect of, fellow artists in the community who we looked up to. It tanked our bank account, but it was a huge leap forward in making ourselves recognizable in a city we had to start over in.

In the end, the turnout was not as big as we wanted, but it taught us what the cost of a marketing run like that would be. It taught us that maybe we should redirect our attention to the punk scene, where generally more support is garnered from the locals. It taught us that people truly are paying attention, even if it doesn’t feel like it sometimes.

The sad truth is that you don’t know who’s going to buy your idea or personally resonate with it. You kind of just have to put yourself out there and hope that something resonates. My artist and I have failed many, many times. At some point, you get desensitized to the failure and start taking even more risks. You become less afraid. But we’ve also succeeded a handful of times. Those successes are what keep us going, for sure. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we have today without failing a hundred times before.

When I’m not managing Raden Paris, I’m photographing shows. Photography is an area of my career where I’ve also taken risks. In an ironic way, I tend to embrace the uncertainty that comes with shooting concerts, conceptual shoots, and even when designing flyers for musicians. The location, client interactions, lighting conditions, and circumstances are always changing. The only thing I have control over is my camera settings, the lens I use, framing, and how I choose to tackle a photo in.post-production. I don’t have very expensive camera equipment or editing software, but I feel confident in my ability to create interesting compositions and play with color. My editing style for shows/concerts gears more toward film-like qualities. I like how my edits can make a photo feel gritty yet nostalgic, something that I think is fitting for a punk band or something of the sorts. Had I not been limited by my equipment and forced to take risks in post-production, I would not have found an editing style that resonates with me currently.

Looking back, my favorite and most memorable projects have always been the ones where I go out of my comfort zone. Raden Paris pushes me a lot when it comes to creating graphics for his shows. He tends to have a very specific idea of what he wants the flyer to look like, and I am forced to create something that I’m not used to. Even for shows he has a clear-cut vision of what he wants, and oftentimes, the means to get there are risky, if not tricky. I’m still learning how to trust the process, even though it feels scary at the moment.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I first met Raden Paris, something in my gut told me: This guy’s gonna make it. He’s just that good. Seriously. And I wanted to help him get there, help him navigate this seemingly gatekeep-y industry every step of the way. The best part about managing an artist is that it’s such a creative endeavor. Something I struggled with a lot was capitalizing off of my own art, but I found that through managing, I can experience the art world by helping someone else cultivate their career. So in a way, I am still being creative by being a manager. Whenever I’m feeling existential dread regarding my career choices, I remind myself that pain and hardship are unavoidable––It’s just a matter of what hardships are worth it. The hardships of managing an artist are something I’d much rather go through, than let’s say, the hardships of being an accountant or doctor. A lesson I’ve learned along the way is that to keep my art “pure”, I have to protect what makes my art meaningful for myself when I’m in a period where I’m churning out projects. However, what I’m most proud of and excited about is connecting with more musicians and getting to create something memorable together. Truly nothing feels more rewarding than that.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Knoxville has so many lovely gems. Wild Love Bakehouse has the best pastries and fantastic coffee. Fable Hollow Bookstore has a great selection of fantasy literature and a cute cafe right in the middle. A Dopo Pizza has incredible pizzas with the most unique toppings and sourdough crust. And of course, I have to mention KOKO Sips + Bites––the restaurant I’ve co-owned and operated since late 2023. I think we’ve got the best ramen in town, and a unique selection of kimbaps.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shoutout no one other than Raden Paris. He constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, and inspires me to be a better creative every day. He is the embodiment of peak dedication, patience, and creativity.

Website: https://nyahmarasigan.myportfolio.com/home

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyquillfilms/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyah-marasigan/

Image Credits
Nyah Marasigan