We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

 

Meet Maria Malafronte | Music Therapist & Songwriter

Being a Music Therapist has allowed me to be creative and collaborate daily but I am also lucky enough to be in a band with my dearest friends. My best friend and I have been playing music together for about ten years. We started playing folk music in New York in a band called Cobblestone and after moving to Nashville reworked the project and started a band called Hennessy Margaret. Hennessy Margaret has been the gift that keeps on giving. It allows me to flex the songwriting muscle I am constantly looking to exercise. We play locally in town with other bands we LOVE and are heading to the studio soon to record some new tune! Out main influences are Lake Street Dive and Tedeschi Trucks Band but I like to think we have created a unique sound blending elements of blues, rock and Americana. Read More >>

Sacred Circles | Sacred Mantra Group

When we first started Sacred Circles we had not thought about how far our music would reach. We simply recorded and created. Within a few weeks of our first release, “In the Company of Monks”, listeners from around the world began contacting us and sharing notable things they were experiencing from the music. People expressed things from sleeping better, help with feeling calmer, and there were other positive improvements others mentioned as well. Read More >> 

Kelly & Alex

Everything about our business has been a risk. Quitting our previous jobs to be full-time for a new business was extremely risky. We had to trust that this was where we should be and what we should be doing. Putting ourselves out there to network for business is a huge risk, but we’ve met some of the most wonderful people in the process and have gathered a group of amazing clients. Read more>>

Mark Mulch | Music Professional

Helping new artists be aware of the business side of the Music Business and providing services for no cost or low cost to independent artists. Read more>>

It’s Called Whatever

The end goal is to be able to make a wide variety of people happy through the music we’re making. Also to inspire and build bridges between different genres, people and places. To also grow and have a lot of fun along the way. Read more>>

Prana Kishore Bommireddipalli | Grammy Artist, Singer, Music Composer, Music Producer

The Recording Academy Grammys invited Prana Kishore to become their Voting Member because of the difficult decisions made by him in his life and for his distinguished contribution to music. Life and Time are like twins, but one needs to make the right decision at the right time, keeping away the distractions that life throws at you, to make your life beautiful. Read more>>

Misha Fair | Alt-Country Artist

As an emerging country artist, taking risks has been a crucial part of my journey, After years of traveling from Atlanta to Nashville, I took a leap, moving from my hometown to further my music career. In many ways it feels as though I left behind the familiar and stepped into the unknown, which was both thrilling and daunting. Taking big risks for what I love has meant facing the challenges of building new connections, navigating the competitive music industry, and establishing a unique presence in a larger market that breathes country music. It’s both scary and exhilirating at the same time to I know that embracing these risks can lead to new opportunities and growth as an artist. Because of my willingness to take risks, I am gaining exposure, learning from diverse experiences, and pushing my creative boundaries. The path is definitely full of uncertainty, but I cling to my motto, “do it scared!”, and trust the process to propel my dreams forward. Read more>>

Bonnie Casamassima | Founder, Researcher & Mentor

Founding Intuitive By Nature was a result of following a series of nudges. As my own intuitive abilities started deepening and expanding, I began talking with others about their journey connecting with their intuition. The more conversations I had I realized how much people craved deeper connections and a supportive community around understanding and fostering their intuitive abilities and experiences. That led me to create and lead a review-board approved (ie. follows academic research protocol) research project interviewing 50 highly intuitive people from around the world on their journey connecting with their intuition. The findings from that project were pretty life-changing for me and greatly influenced the creation and direction of the Intuitive By Nature of today. Read more>>

Nikki Sanz | Founder & CEO of Giggs

My thought process behind starting Giggs stemmed from the inefficiencies I observed in the live event and touring industry. I never wanted a typical 9 to 5 job and thrived in the dynamic, demanding environment of live events. I worked on the road, with artists like Eric Church, and various gigs across TV and film, corporate events, sporting events, trade shows, and theater. As a tour manager and production coordinator, my main job was to solve problems. I constantly sought ways to make processes more efficient, which became a significant part of my work ethic. Read more>>

Katherine Parmalee | Painter and Graphic Designer

One thing I realized once I really started doing projects for people outside my immediate circle was incorporating the business aspect into it. There is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than just making the art. You have to think about fitting the work around a day job— which includes invoicing, developing your pricing, and creating a brand for yourself, whether that be on social media or by word of mouth. It takes a lot of time management! Read more>>

Rachel Wiggins | Filmmaker

Many things in life are risky. I consider what I want to do and make sure I pray over the situation before I take that leap of faith. From the first time, I was an intern for the Walt Disney Company in Orlando for the Disney College Program to going back to school to complete my Bachelor’s at Arizona State University. I have known what I wanted to do since I was 15, and know there have been risks and detours along the way but I know what I want to do and haven’t given up yet. Read more>>

Kelly Curtis | Silversmith / Jewelry Designer

Honesty and Integrity are core values of my work. As a silversmith creating one-of-a-kind hand-forged jewelry, I take immense pride in ensuring that every piece is built to last. Read more>>

Sara Stokes | Owner & Head Baker

One of the things that’s really important to me in starting a business is being a positive addition to the community. The businesses that inspire me the most have a creative vision that makes a neighborhood more friendly and unique and brings people together. We need more businesses that are making people’s lives better. Read more>>

Dujuan Thomas | Paducah City Commission Candidate

The most important factor behind my success has undeniably been my faith in God. Throughout my journey, I have always been guided by His divine hand. It’s not uncommon for people to ask me how I manage to navigate the diverse and demanding arenas of politics, acting, and television. My honest answer is always the same: it’s all because of God. Read more>>

Magical Girl Cosmic

Work life balance in the pro wrestling world is tricky. The truth is a lot of Indy wrestlers don’t have a traditional 9-5 job. Different promotions have different run days and most on the weekends but some bigger promotions run week days. Read more>>

Ben Seevers | Woodworker & Philosopher

My first memory of wood grain is being very young and making imaginary friends out of the drawer faces on our bathroom vanity. The only one I still remember is the praying mantis with the light bulb head. Read more>>