We recently connected with A Girl Name K. and have shared our conversation below.

A Girl, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

From day one my business was running with just one employee: MYSELF! I decided in the 2nd grade that singing was going to be MY LIFE! I cultivated it right then and there with singing in the lunch line. No fans, no cheerleaders just myself. I started with the kids that DIDN’T like me in class lol. I was a loud burst of energy! My first employee was my big brother. Writing lyrics and putting together my own harmonies on my karaoke machine. I ruined tons of my parents tapes sticking wet tissue in the top, to record on one side. I’d take that tape out the deck, place it in my boom box to play. While it was playing I wet MORE tissue lol and stuck it in the top of another cassett. I inserted that in my karaoke machine and recorded my vocals. That made a stack lol and I knew then I was on to something. Knowing I needed that extra ear, I seriously buckled down and began my development under my favorite aunt Sheri Hauck. She was in the industry herself. (I come from a line of women in the entertainment industry.) Taking her direction, I soared passed auditions nationwide. My most memorable amd successful audition was American Idol. I made it on 3 separate occasions, in 3 different regions. Knowing business, the contract just wasn’t something fitting of my dreams or standards so I leff. Shortly after, the big move to Atlanta came, I was green and eager. My team then only consisted of: two super producers: Travis Cherry & Mike Snoddy out of “The Purple Room” & management. My aunt was a overseer but eventually stepped down because the direction I decided to take. That crumbled after 7 years of no traction. Frustrated and feeling defeated, I moved on. Understanding you CAN’T operate in this business alone i started researching the differetn roles and key individuals of a upcoming artists team. So, I hired a marketing guru. This happened to be the WORST experience I ever experienced in my entire career. SCAMMED! No ROI, bots, just the whole scenario was a nightmare I couldnt escape. I lost thousands of dollars which happened to be ALL i had saved. Most of all I lost my sanity and my mental health spiraled out of control. I was in a really dark place and I had to be the one to pull myself out of it. Even after being published in Voyage Atl & other publications, streaming over 500,000 views on my first music video, and being booked over seas in Rotterdam; that just wasn’t enough to make up for the losses I endured. Eventually, I got therapy and decided to make this another testimony ofnmy journeysnd life. It didnt kill me, it made me stronger and smarter! I’ve over come alot and i know theres more ill overcome! Being a gunshot victim and nursing myself back to health allowed me to remember I GOT THIS! I went back to the drawing board. With the years I developed RELATIONSHIPS worth more than money! Best advice I ever received! I then set out to reconnect and hire my favorite artist developer and choreographer Dyneesha Moore. She’s earned that title! The trust was there and she was very patient with me and executed every dream or vision i had for myself. Even if they were LARGE and wild; she helped me obtain those goals i set out for. Dyneesha has worked with the best and she actually cared about ME as a person. Most ofnall she wanted me to have the success as a superstar that i always dreamed of! We rekindled like things never took a turn for the worst, because after being scammed i checked out mentallyand physicallyfrom everyone. I even considered quitting music in all. I was introduced to Dyneesha in 2019, through a mutal business partner from Cafe 290. Ever since day 1, she’s been fully dedicated to my growth and walking WITH me through this exciting journey. Overall, she saved my life and gave me a better understanding of myself and the career I wanted. If I started all over again today, I’d honestly pray to God for her. I so wish I could’ve bypassed all the turmoil I endured. However, I’m grateful because it taught me valuable lesson before the rise! I had a chance to truly see the lessons atbhand and hkw to grow from them. Im more spiritual and aligned with my purpose now. The love of gratitude i strive to obtsin on a daily is rewarding in itself. I have an abundance of love and gratitude for every thing I’ve experienced thus far! Now my team consists of a plethora a individuals whom all want to see A Girl Name K. music and brand soar and rise to being a house hold name worldwide!

A Girl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m “@ Girl Name K.” A Rapper that sangs with 1 lung! A surviving gunshot victim with a dream of being the best at what I do. I started singing while in the womb and attending my mothers rehearsals while being in a girl group. I was the ONLY kid there and i knew every word. My grandmother, the late “Jessie Hauck” was an amazing Jazz Vocal Teacher at Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee, WI (where I was born and raised.) I started my professional music career at the age of 13, recording original material with my aunt. It was then i knew my pen would be iconic and i took u dwr hwr wing to perfect it. I then moved south to Tn, where I took more action of my career. I took drama class, chorus and enrolled myself in every talent show possible in the middle TN area. Gaining great notoriety and a mass amount of fans I’ve ever had, during my high school years I knew music was it for me. I moved to Atlanta after my first American Idol experience in 2015. It was perfect for someone whom wanted to achieve those levels of success, however, I knew I wanted more! I’ve been residing in Atlanta since 2019 for a second time after the first time was a failure. I am currently a resident of Atlanta. 2022 ended up being the BEST year of my career. With special thanks going out to THE Ian Burke & Fort Knox, I was determined and set up a meeting to meet with Ian as I wanted to be great. I inquired about artsit development through him, whixh he took me under his wing- i was a artist in heaven and knew success was not far behind me. It ws at that meeting, i met Fort Know and he invited me to audition for Henca who was from The Netherlands. I was told about the lrgest urban music festival internationally that’s been a success for over 20 years! I auditioned for her that next day. I waited months to get the best news of my life. I was selected and got a all expense paid trip to The Netherlands with New Skool Rules. Being a success internationally was a milestone I actually had on my vision board. Now we’re here, with a upcoming project being marketed by the best CL with Digiwaxx. I also added him to my team after experiencing Rotterdam. Working with some of Atlanta’s heavy hitters (Needlz, Domo an amazing enginee and writer, and Michael White) I have gained nothing but great experiences that’s gotten me prepared for my long journey ahead of me.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What built my reputation in the industry was my story and the determinationi have to make it. Being relentless no matter what, even through life changing experiences. Never giving up and using any thing that brought me down as a stepping stool to thrive and rise above. I still love what I do even with the adversaries. I’m just now adding it but it’s pivotal no matter how dope your story is or talented you are to be CONSISTENT!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had the glory of experiencing and getting the solitude to identify the lesson in the moment at hand. I had to unlearn that no matter how talented you are NO ONE OWES YOU ANYTHING! You’re going to have to put in the hard work that beats takent. Then, after applying all of that, you still have to put in some more work! You have to work doubles until you have a break through. I had to unlearn entitlement and learned to replace it with gratitude. Having humility by keeping a heart for yourself and others that put their time into anything you do. Whether they’re pushing the maching behind you, or a fan dedicated to listening to your music on a daily basis. Be grateful and appreciate everything and everyone. Always know what’s for you is for you- you’re right where you need to be and on time!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.agirlnamek.com
• Instagram: @imagirlnamek
• Facebook: A Girl Name K.
• Twitter: Imagirlnamek
• Youtube: A Girl Name K.

Image Credits
Bob Celestine Hitman Dent Chris Henderson Photographer Shan