We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Taylor Hughes

I’ve known that I wanted to be a country artist since I was a little girl. I’ve always been drawn to big voices, beautiful melodies, and the art of storytelling through song. I have always loved singing whether it was in school performances, church choir, little shows my friends and I would put on at home for our parents, or in the car singing at the top of my lungs. Read More>>

Dave Goldberg

As far back as I can remember, the television – or rather multiple televisions – were on in my house, in nearly every room, virtually every moment of every day. From Sesame Street to Davey and Goliath to Looney Tunes to 60 Minutes to The Love Boat (keep in mind I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s), there was hardly a moment where I was not inundated with the wisdom of Bugs Bunny, Mike Wallace or Captain Stubing. Read More>>

Esmee Kyles

I’ve been creative since childhood. I think I was born with an overactive mind and my imagination ran wild. If I wasn’t being an “actress” in my parent’s livingroom for their friends, I was drawing pictures or writing stories. It didn’t matter if it was poetry, singing, painting, writing or acting… I was the “artsy” one in the family. Read More>>

Matthew Sir Robertson

I’ve always been a creative individual. From a young age, my favorite classes were those that involved the arts—whether that was music, theater, drawing, painting, or performance arts. Read More>>

Hazely Merkle-sanderson

As a little girl I grew up sparsely attending summer camp at The Nashville Children’s Theatre, and I remember writing and performing a short play about moth people one of the weeks I got to spend there. If you asked seven-year-old Hazely how her week at camp was that summer, you probably wouldn’t get a very confident answer seeing as she was definitely one of the shyest kids you’d ever meet. Read More>>

Joey Falcone

I’ve always known that music was my calling. From a young age, it felt like a natural part of who I am. While I didn’t initially think it would be possible to turn my passion into a career, I was pleasantly surprised to discover there are countless ways to make a living from music. Read More>>