Artist Archives - Page 2 of 2

Josh Valjan Extolling His Love for Art and Encouraging Other Artists to Keep Creating

Artist Weekly Staff on June 15, 2022

Art has been a store of value for centuries, and many artists use their art to communicate, express their feelings, and pass important messages across. Josh Valjan (Val-yawn) is not an exception, as he has made art an integral part of his life while focused on building a notable brand and valuable collection that people will be proud to own.

Josh Valjan started drawing and painting in high school. For the past fifteen years, he has honed his skills, learned new techniques, and created new projects. As an artist, Josh Valjan finds painting therapeutic and fun and makes sure he completes every project he starts satisfactorily. All his paintings and artworks are made with intention as his goal is to communicate a message and feeling to his audience. He creates art with the expectation that when people see his work, they fall in love and want to own the piece.

With his experience over the years, Josh Valjan’s goal is to build a reputable art brand and be an inspiring figure to other budding artists working hard to gain a firm footing in the art world. He believes that the world needs art and that artists should never stop creating. “If you want to be a successful artist, you must give it your all. In my opinion, the saying “starving artist” is no longer relevant. Most artists have other jobs. They don’t just create art for a living. If they do, they have many clients and are well known in the art community. It is smart not to rely on revenue solely from your artwork sales,” Josh said. “I know my worth and the value of my artwork. I want my buyers to see that value as well. The visual art world can be very competitive. You stand out if you just be yourself. Create the art you want to create. Be unique. Do something different. People don’t want to see something that’s already been done before,” he added.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community who takes immense pride in who he is, he believes everyone should focus on their goals and remain resilient no matter what they face from people. “I am a gay man, and I am proud of it. Being gay is the essence of who I am. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have it harder. In life, in achieving success, and in the number of opportunities presented to us. We just do. When most of us open up about our sexual orientation, we are shunned by people we thought were our friends and family. I have had a very challenging road to success. I just take one day at a time, always working towards my goals,” Josh Valjan said.

He has his own merchandise company and a private art collection for audiences globally. “My art is for everyone. I have created paintings and drawings for friends and mailed them to them. They would send me pictures of where they hung up the artwork in their home. That’s what I want. I want my clients to hang up my artwork in their homes,” he revealed.

Over the next few years, Josh Valjan’s goal is to continue drawing and painting pieces that will fill up his private art collection. Although he has an online art gallery at the moment, his ultimate goal is to open a brick-and-mortar art gallery that people can visit to view his art. He’s still focused on success and committed to going all out to achieve all his set goals.

Indie Band Letting Up Despite Great Faults Shares the Profound Messages behind Their Dreamy Music

Artist Weekly Staff on May 13, 2022

Whenever people talk about their frustrations with dating and the uncertainty of dating apps, in particular, there’s a lot of chorus on how toxic things can get when relationships go unchecked. Unrequited love, assumptions gone wrong, and a slew of other relationship problems can cause more harm than good.

“And I can’t disagree. Month-long flings and one-night stands are fun for a while but eventually, you just want to be madly and hopelessly in love,” says the founder of the band Letting Up Despite Great Faults.

According to Lee, he said that the idea of “forever” is one he still has trouble embracing his head around. Just recently, he watched as his cousin vowed eternity and forever to a very sweet, charming, and beautiful girl and asked himself: “How can someone be that blindingly optimistic? Because, the truth is, when it comes down to it, ‘for better or worst’ is not something that we should sign up for or a promise that I think the majority of those who pledge ‘I do’ really means. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful thing to be in the midst of—the kind of resplendent love that overtakes practicality and makes you do crazy things, like a vow to be with one person forever,” shared the soulful artist.

In their latest single from the shoegaze project, Letting Up Despite Great Faults captures this all-consuming, all-encompassing feeling and the complicated dance of finding someone who—in a hopefully slightly less toxic than Jerry Maguire way—would “complete us.” Letting Up Despite Great Faults is a band based in Austin, Texas, and has long been creating blissful fuzzed-out indie and dream pop music that gives rise to a unique feeling of longing.

“Gemini,” the lead single from their first full-length in seven years, preserves that one-of-a-kind tradition beautifully. Their songs, available on Spotify, are characterized by a backdrop of dreamy synths that perfectly encapsulates the moody haze of being in close devotion to another human being.

“I don’t mind if I bruise my knees to ask your hand / But you always lift me so I can see every part of me / Will you be my Gemini with me all the time?” says the lead singer Mike Lee in a whispered voice. “We are in constant movement, forever trying to find pieces that fit us. Ursula, one of our favorite directors here in Austin, tells that story through dancers Aiden Rogers and Charlie Blaine,” shares Lee about the music video.

“Gemini” comes from the band’s record titled IV. This self-produced album was mastered by Slowdive’s Simon Scott, an English musician and a renowned drummer who knows a thing or two about fuzzed-out shimmery music.In the video for the track, two people figure out their interlaced relationship by doing a gorgeously choreographed and intimate dance. Using a rope twisted around the bodies of the two lovers that symbolize their connection and a pair of earrings, one on each person’s ear, as a metaphor for completeness, the video depicts the song’s theme in a perhaps not-so-subtle but dazzling way. The album follows 2017’s Alexander Devotion EP and their most recent full-length, 2014’s Neon. Letting Up Despite Great Faults also posts updates on Instagram.

Emerging Artist Shawn2Hot on His Relentless Drive, Distinctive Artistry, and Upcoming Album

Artist Weekly Staff on April 25, 2022

Undeniably, skills and talents both play a significant role in catapulting artists to the summits of success. However, in a highly saturated industry such as the music scene, having these abilities and gifts is not enough to truly make a mark. At the end of the day, the only thing that can distinguish a musician from the others is their deep-rooted passion for their respective crafts. In the case of emerging artist Shawn2Hot, it is shown that anything is possible for those who choose to be relentless with their pursuits.

On a mission to share his music with the world, Shawn2Hot taps into his creative flair while demonstrating an incredible sense of authenticity and originality. As someone who has always been passionate about his craft, he made it his lifelong goal to elevate the hip-hop scene and show how much of an impact his distinctive artistry can make. Today, he proves to be one of the must-watch artists in the hip-hop arena.

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Shawn2Hot migrated to the United States when he was sixteen years old. Growing up, he listened to oldies, reggae, alternative, and rock music. However, no other genre made him feel the way hip-hop did. According to the artist, his introduction to hip-hop music was Snoop Dog’s Doggystyle album. Since then, his life has never been the same.

At the age of ten, Shawn2Hot started to write poems that eventually turned into songs. When he was seventeen, he began to make beats and dabbled in the world of audio production. This skill would help him kick off his music career, particularly in producing tracks, formulating melodies, and writing music without any professional training. The artist describes his style as thinking outside the box. His struggles of being in a poverty-ridden environment and exposure to violence as a child play a part in his gritty writing style and battle rap flow.

The first single that Shawn2Hot released was “Can’t Hold Me,” which was followed by his second single, “Lust.” The latter created a buzz in the underground hip-hop scene, currently reaching over a hundred thousand streams. The artist’s third single, “Into You,” was aired on Power105 together with his 6th single, “Right Now.”

Aside from creating significant waves with his music, Shawn2Hot is also known for being the brilliant mind behind Volcano Music Group, an up-and-coming record label that is set to revolutionize the industry. In an interview, the artist shared how he was able to come up with the idea of starting his very own company.

“Sitting around while waiting for a major label to pick my work up seemed like a pipe dream. I needed to take control of the situation,” Shawn2Hot revealed. “I then ran an online beat store which went under the name of Volcano Music. At that time, the motivation, vision, and resources were all accessible. I eventually decided to convert the beat store into a record label to be able to release my music.”

Shawn2Hot’s album, Volcano Music Vol. 1, is scheduled to be released on May 27th with features from StephG, Sabrina Foxx, Adrian Roxstar, Busta Rhymes, and many others. His versatility, creativity, and love for music will make this upcoming album a game-changer for his record label as well as the hip-hop culture in general. So much has gone into the making and publicity surrounding this release, and the artist could not be any prouder of launching the album independently.

Misty Bacon Out with a New Book, Hope Rising, to Give Hope to People Going through Difficulties

Artist Weekly Staff on April 25, 2022

Holding on to one’s faith in a challenging and complex world that has bent many out of shape can be daunting. Many people find it hard to do it, and many haven’t found the faith to hold on. However, inspiring people firmly rooted in the faith like Misty Bacon are leading people by the hand through paths that help them overcome their biggest life challenges gracefully.

Misty Bacon, a Christian author, speaker, artist and real-estate broker, has gone through some of life’s huge challenges, found success, grown as a person and impacted lives. She’s furthering her work with her soon-to-be-released book “Hope Rising,” which attempts to send signals of hope to people who need it. “Hope Rising” is scheduled for launch on April 26, 2022, and will be available globally on all book sales platforms.

“Hope Rising” is a real book that doves into Misty’s life and experience. She bares it all in the book, talking about the good, bad, pretty and not-so-pretty occurrences in her life. Her story also emphasizes the importance of faith and preaches that God has a perfect plan for everyone and will not forsake them no matter how difficult their situation may be.

Misty Bacon is an ambitious person who has established and run many successful businesses and ventures. She runs her own real estate brokerage, and earlier in her twenties, she was a stand-up comic in New York, Houston and Los Angeles. She also worked as a radio DJ and wanted to become a sports reporter before she delved into real estate. The graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University with dual bachelor’s degrees in communications and public relations enjoys ministering to people by preaching the word of God. She is also always ready to help the less fortunate so they can lead better lives. She spends her time serving her community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children involved in child protection services cases. She’s also a member of many real estate committees. The book “Hope Rising” was published under her publishing company to retain all her rights, royalties and master copy, and she plans to publish all her future books under the same company.

“Hope Rising” was initially planned to be about women suffering from relationship issues and heartbreaks, but upon completion, the book now looks like it’s suitable for anyone going through any kind of hardship. While Misty does not consider herself someone who has all the answers, she believes strongly that she can share her experience with others, inspire them to push for better things and learn through the experience. Her vulnerability and sharing her life as a single forty-something Christian in a social media world are key metrics in her upcoming book. She hopes to motivate people to live their best lives moving forward. “I feel it was something I was pulled to do. It wasn’t an easy process, and it stalled at times. However, God kept sending me messages through others who told me I needed to write a book about the stories I Would tell them,” she revealed.

Over the next few years, she sees herself building a successful life in a successful relationship and releasing a sequel for “Hope Rising” as well as her other book, which are currently ideas. She has a message inside her, and she’s committed to sharing that message with as many people as possible. Book signing for “Hope Rising” will be held on May 14th, 2021, at 11-1, Garden of Eden 10515 Spencer Hwy, La Porte, TX 77571.

Goddess Glo Propels Individuals and Brands Towards the Summits Through Glowing Star Media

Artist Weekly Staff on April 15, 2021

Countless reasons can serve as sources of motivation for people to thrive and succeed. Some may treat their business ventures as a way of achieving security and stability, while others take it upon themselves to consider their pursuits as catalysts of change. For Glo Anqunette, best known by her pen name, Goddess Glo, she uses her vast arsenal of talents to upscale artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and enterprises’ marketing campaigns and propel their names at the summits of their respective fields.

Goddess Glo is a multi-talented musician who is not afraid to dip her toes into a wide variety of fields in order to help people secure reputable positions in their chosen trades. Her diligent efforts of carving success-enabling paths have managed to capture the hearts of many aspirants, cementing her reputation across a cutthroat profession. This power player not only inspires others by spreading her message of hope through sound, beats, and lyrics, but she also serves as a catapulting device for those dreamers who are looking to get ahead.

Born and raised in the bright city lights of Las Vegas, Nevada, this emerging powerhouse has always been passionate about music. From writing meaningful lyrics to creating songs that speak volumes of her zealous spirit, Goddess Glo is a passion-driven musician who takes pride in her work. Having been in the industry since 2011, Glo has delved into a lot of genres, ranging from hip hop and RnB to pop and Country pop.

Although Goddess Glo already leads a promising career in the realms of music and entertainment, she goes the extra mile in order to become a vessel of transformation for aspiring hopefuls across a cutthroat industry. With a bachelor’s degree in urban affairs from the University of Nevada with a minor in history and an associate degree in public relations, Glo decided to kickstart her passion project, Glowing Star Media.

Glowing Star Media is a promotions agency dedicated to transforming clear-cut visions into full-throttled actions. It provides brilliant solutions tailor-fitted to every client, ranging from public relations building and coverage to crisis management, event coordination, and overall marketing. Born out of Goddess Glo’s desire to provide individuals and brands a platform to grow, this powerhouse emerges as one of the most rapidly rising public relations firms across several states.

Over the years, Glowing Star Media has managed to impress industry leaders and established authorities with its unique approach to marketing. With its founder’s incredible track record in music and public relations, this emerging entity provides its clients with well-founded solutions fit for their unique circumstances. More impressively, Glowing Star mashes the power of fashion in its techniques, distinguishing itself apart from its competitors across the industry. Indeed, this power player brings something new to the table, catapulting its clients towards the industry’s summits.

As can be gleaned from Goddess Glo’s journey, her passion for making a difference in people’s lives has motivated her to reach impressive heights. Through her story, she hopes to become an inspirational figure for others to find their sources of motivation and transform their dreams into reality.

To know more about Goddess Glo, you may visit her company’s website.

Messiah Brown: Art That Opens a World of Revelation

Artist Weekly Staff on April 13, 2021

1/10/2020 “Shattered Ploy” 16×20 by Messiah Brown

From time to time, the art world welcomes an artist who opens a whole new realm of revelatory truth. In recent times, a new artist has risen above the crowd and established a strong presence and identity in oil painting and other forms of media. His name is Messiah Brown, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, and offers a fresh take to modern art.

Messiah is an emerging artist whose passion for the arts is contagious and evident. What he loves most is the opportunity to express his feelings, thoughts, and musings through different forms and ways. Messiah began his creative journey as an actor but would eventually collide with a love for oil painting, which would become his primary medium of choice. As his art evolved, he would increase his collection of pieces that provided depth and realizations to viewers and collectors all over the nation.

While learning visual arts, primarily on his own accord, Messiah would realize that art would become a significant portion of his life. It would overtake his acting and bring his life into a new trajectory. Today, his art is featured in many parts of New York City and various digital platforms. His artwork entitled “Liberty in the Stars” recently appeared on the May 2021 issue of Beyond Words, a literary magazine with a significant following and a robust virtual presence among poetry and creative painting circles.

What sets Messiah Brown’s art apart is the raw authenticity it carries. As a person, the artist loves authenticity, especially when it isn’t forced or manipulated. He explains that it’s the only way to value truth in life. On many occasions, art would be more than a passion or hobby for Messiah as it provided a redemptive effect on his life. “Art has saved me from several downfalls and contradictions from outside influences,” shares Messiah. “I will continue to prosper in my journey as an artist.”

Most of Messiah Brown’s recent artworks have been focused on the sexual expression of a queer perspective. His art shows the feminine figure, and he paints them in a surreal nature to signify the out-of-body revelatory work that sexuality does to a person. He also incorporates a lot of fashion into his art as he draws inspiration from the varying styles from different eras. Messiah enjoys diving into history to draw out and revive the beauty of art from the past. “I like a novelty with a little tradition,” he explains. “I’m also into incorporating heightened awareness in some pieces with the third eye. My art is to relieve the world of negative energy and not bring pain. So my goal is only to create beauty even if you see a monster on the surface.”

Messiah Brown is also a firm believer in the law of attraction and lives by the creed. He seeks autonomy and destiny as he desires to gain more liberty through his creative journey. The artist doesn’t shy away from risk as he continues to step out of his creative boundaries to try new things. He allows his dreams to form his art as he constantly records, breaks down, and decodes them into creative expressions. While pursuing art isn’t always as easy as he wants it to be, Messiah continues to persevere and works hard to develop more transformative art for others to enjoy. Follow his work by checking out his Instagram account.

Kayana Herndon Finding Her Music Amid Job Loss and a Global Pandemic

Artist Weekly Staff on March 2, 2021

The grief and sense of loss as jobs dissolve during the global COVID-19 pandemic is a crushing blow that many people face today. While the tragedy might pull many down, music sensation Kayana Herndon has chosen to direct her own course. The artist has found her way down the river and turned her employment woes into a pursuit of her most authentic passion in life.

At only twenty-three years old, Kayana has a whole life ahead of her. However, it certainly didn’t feel that way after she found out she would be part of a reduction effort to cut expenses. In what seemed to be a blink of an eye, she went from stable to unemployed. But instead of drowning in her sorrows, Kayana found gold amid the muck as she redirected all her efforts into music.

Before jumping into her newfound journey to music renown, Kayana had always been an avid artist and performer. She started posting song covers and dance videos on YouTube long before the adverse events of coronavirus. But the recent turn of events has only given her more clarity as she has invested all that she is into music following her job loss.

The result was two anthems that have captured the hearts of thousands since their launch. The first of the pair is a song entitled “Fade Away,” a song that would instantly become a hit. It’s been five months since the track’s release, but fans have received it favorably. Her debut single’s success would inspire Kayana to record and release a follow-up, which she would entitle “6 Feet.” Despite most experiencing a sophomore crash following a viral hit on the first try, that would not be the case for Kayana. Her second release would only prove to be more successful, as “6 Feet” would become the official pandemic jingle for thousands of fans for its life-giving message and vibe.

What makes Kayana Herndon a stand-out artist is her undying dedication to self-development. On top of that, she has also moved into video production, directing, and post-production as she recently released her first music video for her song “6 Feet.”

Following her decision to take on an independent artist’s path post-COVID-19 lockdowns, Kayana has since grown her digital following to unprecedented heights. Her YouTube channel has now gathered over 300,000 views and 3,600 subscribers. She has also confidently put herself out there by publishing her music on music platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Tidal, Pandora, and other streaming services.

As the young and driven artist continues on her path to indie greatness, she is hopeful that she will catch a label’s attention and strike a deal soon, which doesn’t seem all too impossible given her exponential rise to digital fame. Kayana’s music continues to climb up the ranks as more people pour in to listen to her masterful musicianship, stellar singing prowess, and prolific songwriting.

Kayana hopes to continue on her trajectory and turn her passion for music into a long-term profession. To support and follow the up-and-coming artist, visit and follow Kayana Herndon on her Spotify profile and YouTube channel.

Clas A. Poet Repositioning Rap Music and Entertainment through the ‘RAP’ Society

Artist Weekly Staff on March 1, 2021

Crishawn Washington, known professionally as a Clas A. Poet or Clas A., is a music artist, rapper and creative whose romance with music and entertainment began from a very young age. As a child, Clas A. Poet moved a lot, and to an extent, these constant changes in environment played a huge role in his development and artistry. Originally born in Houston, Texas, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, at three and moved back to Houston when he was 10. Being the only child of his mother until he was 15, he was raised on many old school stuff and TV shows such as ‘In Living Color’ and ‘I Love Lucy.’ And as a child, he has always been musically inclined.

As far as music goes, Clas A. Poet and his mother would spend several hours listening to the Temptations; he was a big Michael Jackson fan growing up and had all his albums, including The Jackson 5 album. Clas A. Poet recalled himself dancing in his mother’s living room while she played Usher. Because he was brought up as a Jehovah’s Witness, meaning that rap music was considered “worldly music” for a long time. And after several years of being considered the class clown, he began to recoil from his shell, having realized that most of his beliefs have isolated him entirely from others.

Clas A. Poet represents versatility and quality education, and through his music, you could tell that he embodies those qualities. He tries to have as much fun as possible in his music, and despite the numerous times, he felt discouraged and the urge to give up because he doesn’t have what it takes or being hated on because he doesn’t conform to the norms. He continues to thrive regardless and uses these negatives as a propeller.

And while he admits that there seems to be a spiritual war going on in the black community (involving rap, hip hop as a weapon to combat oppression and injustice), he points out that the hip hop culture has evolved drastically over the years. Corporations have made it too materialistic. The youth have lost sight of its roots—the characteristics of the ones before them they don’t have. Clas A. Poet is the founder of RAP Society, which is an acronym for ‘Respected As Poets,’ a movement he started not just to show his imperfection but also to show the next generation of creatives that instead of dwelling on parties and notoriety, they can unite people who want to hear real music. “I’m not claiming to be woke, but I do seek insight. We’ve compromised our values, and I want them back. I’m tired of seeing young black men emasculate themselves on TV and social media for a “bag.” We can be “gangsta” but educated. We can hustle with integrity.” He summed up.

On where he sees himself in five years, he said, “I see myself successful and self-made. If not rich, well oﬀ. I see my two daughters who look up to me and see an example of how to never give up on what you believe in, regardless of what they say. Because I never gave up on them. I just cut my losses and counted my blessings. As a parent, I see myself being the greatest source of my children’s conﬁdence and self-esteem. As a rapper, I see record labels, I see revenue, and most importantly, I see revolution before revelation.”

Clas A. Poet continues to strive and create meaningful art and hopes to convince his audience that Hip-hop is far from dead, only that the radio refuses to give the genre the airplay it deserves. “I’m not here to portray a “Spin-Doctor” or conspiracy theorist. I’m here to demand a chance to be heard and be a voice for my community, family, and culture. It’s cool to be yourself. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you are, not just to get recognition. Love yourself, know your worth, and kill all distractions.” He concludes.

Follow Clas A. Poet on Instagram to learn more about his craft and movement.