We asked some of the most talented folks in the community to talk to us about projects they’ve worked on that they still think about, projects that really meant something. Have you had such an experience? Are you looking for inspiration for your next project? Check out the stories below, they are exciting, entertaining, and most importantly – inspiring.

Ruby Rendrag

A current project we’re working on that is very meaningful to us is an upcoming show spotlighting some of our local singer/songwriter friends. We (Sunflurry) will be the backing band on multiple originals and cover songs chosen by our friends, who will rock on lead vocals. Read more>>

Kortland Whalum

The most meaningful project I worked on is my EP “A Love Letter”. I wrote it during the pandemic when there was nothing else to do but sit still and think. During that time, I was able to focus my thoughts on past experiences as it relates to love and love lost. Creating melodies and finding material that suits who I am as a human being was both exhilarating and therapeutic. The five-song project tells the story of a journey through love. The good times and the trying times. “The Limit” is probably my favorite on the record because I think we have all reached a point in a situation where “enough is enough”, Read more>>

WRGO TEAM

To gear up for a historic election In Georgia, the podcast released #justvote Merch to highlight change agents such as Stacey Abrams, Raphael Warnock, and the beloved John Lewis. We were able to meet our goal of selling 50 shirts while partnering with esteemed journalists, elected officials, and nonprofit organizations in order to highlight the importance of local elections + the continued fight for equality by minorities and woman. Read more>>

Benjamin Fuentes

I grew up in a small, rural Kansas town; with a population of 1000. That community, like many others in Kansas, thrives off of agriculture. My dad immigrated to Kansas from Mexico in the 80s and began working as a cattle producer. From the beginning of Kansas City Foodie Finds, I loved showcasing meat. Kansas City lent itself well to this theme, being the city with the best barbecue around. Read more>>

Montana Doran

BY FAR the most meaningful project I have been able to work on so far is The First Live Tana Talks Podcast in Production with Backhand Comedy Festival. I first started my podcast off my phone in my moms basement around the same time I started doing comedy. I had no idea where this creative journey would take me, I was just open to the process. Through starting comedy I was able to begin working with Hand Up Stand Up, a comedy production company that produces shows in the community. We also partner with local non-profits to give back so it is a win for all. Read more>>

Mihajlo Peric

The most meaningful project that I released thus far was my 2019 album “Mihajlo”. It was self-titled after my real first name because I knew that I wanted to make it the most personal and transparent work of mine up to that point in my musical endeavors. MCs and rappers are often out to impress listeners with dope lyrics, flows, beats, and a whole-lotta braggadocious sh** talkin’. There is nothing wrong with that. I personally love it! But this time around I knew I needed it to be more than just bars and beats. Read more>>

Ben Chaverin

Having spent most of my life in Kansas City, when I flew out to LA to work on new music with basically strangers on the internet, I wasn’t ready for the culture shock. I had mainly written my songs in a warehouse or out in nature or watching a sunset, so stepping into a real music studio for the first time shook me. For ten years I had written songs in my basement and taken experiences from my school and family life, so sharing those moments with people I really only knew as musicians clicked perfectly for me. Read more>>

Margherita Tibaldo

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on is the Women Collection. In 2020, I decided to start a new series inspired by the women around me, in real life and on social media. At the time, I was also going to art school, and I was exposed to the classical female nudes made in the 1800s. These paintings represented submissive, powerless and objectified women, that were subject to the male gaze. This concept did not resonate with me, and I decided to change the narrative into something more aligned with today’s values and ideas.  Read more>>

GB Gadd

I think my most meaningful project would have to be what I’m working on now. I know that sounds hokey in the way where a pretentious, Matty Healy type would say that their most recent work is always their most important because it’s happening in the present but that’s not how I mean it. For decades, I’ve known that I’m supposed to write. It’s been a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach that would sneak up whenever I would try to just do a job and forget about it. I’d respond to that feeling with “but what am I supposed to write about? I’ll write when I have a story worth writing.” Read more>>

Sudie Rakusin

Last year, within a single month, I experienced the loss of two of my most beloved dogs, Marmalade Moon and Fiona Fig, and went through open-heart surgery. As my physical heart healed, my emotional heart continued to ache and I felt ungrounded. Someone once told me, “grief is love with nowhere to go,” and once again, I found art to be the best conduit for transforming my grief. Read more>>

Jennifer Eichelberger

This is a hard one, because I have worked on quite a few meaningful projects, however I will narrow it down to the publication of my first book “Answering the Call, Discovering Your Purpose.” When I was in college my roommate and I would joke about writing a book…but twenty years later that joke became a reality. In that book I shared steps on how one can discover their purpose, which is something that many people long to do…discover their purpose. Read more>>

FNM $hoota

Recently I just dropped my latest Independent project #WhyStopNow. As many don’t know I was in major car accident leaving a show, where we were hit by an eighteen wheeler and flipped over totaling the vehicle. Through the grace of God I survived with few bruises. 2022 being a tough year for me losing almost everything even several deaths in the family. I persevered. My vehicle was vandalized the week I was supposed to drop the project originally. Resulting in my whole laptop and phone being stolen along with other possessions. Losing all my music, all my content, and designs I been working on for past years. Read more>>

Sade Shine

I would say appearing on American Idol has to be one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever been a part of. Because the year I made it to television was actually my 4th auditon.I actually auditioned,got cut,then auditioned again and made the top 45 out 12,000 people. Although it was over far to soon Being on television amongst so many competitors taught me so much about myself as an artist. I was also able to to really learn about Production and how it really works. For example Being asked to say “I picked Cotton” as part of my back story. Yes! You read that right!Don’t worry I refused. Ultimately I did enjoy Harry Connick Jr. Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban who tried to save me! Read more>>

Lord Vizion

My most meaningful project would be the album that I’m currently working on as we sit here and answer these questions. I’m not sure when this interview will air but the album comes out in January. The title of the album is “Just Like Water”. There are multiple meanings behind the title. One of the meanings behind it is that I am currently in a season of growth and letting things flow the way that they are purposely designed to. Read more>>

Brittany Hicken

The project that has been the most meaningful to me is my current project Panoramic United States Abstracted. I started it back in the spring of 2020 and have been working on it since. I solo travel the country creating panoramic landscape photographs with arrangements of mirrors across the landscapes. The idea started out as two different ideas; I had experimented with single mirrors in photographs for both digital and film photographs for projects in college, just seeing what I could accomplish and what the mirrors can do. Read more>>

KAYWON

My latest and most meaningful project I’ve created so far is my EP B.R.A.T (Black Rich and Talented) It was my journey in to coming in to me; Figuring out who I am in this lonely and unpredictable place we call home. Battling my own vices and obstacles at the time I put every thing I had in to crafting the songs. Each piece was inspired by true events and my feelings. I took time to make the production reflect that. Read more>>

Caio Jiacomini

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far was a video game called A Taste of the Past developed by Sondering Studio, in which I worked on as a sound designer and composer. The game is a narrative sidescroller that follows the journey of Mei, a Chinese-American high schooler, after she wakes up in a train to the afterlife where she gets to reconnect with her late mother through cooking. Read more>>

REBECCA SKELTON

Schrödinger’s Diamonds is my current project and it is meaningful to me because of its layers. I knew I wanted to do this project because it was the “3 Fs” — futile, frustrating and philosophical. Futile, because if anyone ever buys one, they will probably break it; frustrating, because it was so time consuming and costly; philosophical, because it asks viewers to question their values even if they don’t buy/break one. Schrödinger’s Diamond is a numbered edition of 50 diamond shaped ceramic capsules which may or may not have a diamond inside. Read more>>

Soad Kader

I grew up a child of a mixed race, cross cultural marriage when that kind of union was still taboo, first in megapolis Cairo, Egypt then in college town Davis, California. Even though I cringed every time, I got used to hearing “What are you?”, and not knowing how to answer that and wondering what do they mean? The feelings of not belonging anywhere, living in-between and not being enough of anything or perhaps too much of something never went away. Read more>>

Will Gurley

The You Matter Festival is definitely one of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked (and continue to work) on. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for years, and music has been one of the best outlets for me. In 2018, I started the You Matter Festival to help spread a message of hope using music which helped me so much. Since 2018, we have been able to reach thousands of people and change lives in many ways. You can learn more at youmatterfestival.net. Read more>>

Lightskin Asian

The Most meaningful project I have worked on would be my album I just drop Called One Mans World its basic explains times in my life where I have gave my all and have got anything in return Its took my almost a year to complete this album body of art No one will understand what’s it’ took for me to complete it was hard because I didn’t have anyone to believe in me but only thing that did was make me work harder and harder Read more>>

Sarah Hooda-Virani

I met a local Indo-Pak Couture designer, Zain Lalani a few years ago and I decided to get some traditional Pakistani pieces designed from her. I’ve always had a crazy passion for styling, designing and putting fashion pieces together, ESPECIALLY Pakistani/Indian fashion. I take so much pride in my culture and background and I may be biased but I truly feel that our clothes are so beautiful and colorful and I love how I can really express myself through different patterns, fabrics and colors. Read more>>

Cameron Williams

What is meaningful to me? All my trips, travels and hikes have had a meaningful impact on the evolution of my work in one way or another. But right now I would have to say that my abstract body of work titled ‘Natural Abstractions’ is having the greatest impact on me artistically. Natural Abstractions in its simplest summary are abstract photographs of different landscapes out in nature. I create these by using intentional camera moment by taking seconds long photographs and physically move my camera in different ways. Read more>>

Sukanya Mani

I am a St. Louis-based, Indian- born interdisciplinary artist. My artistic process is a practice of sustained curiosity and constant learning through asking questions. The artworks result from pursuing inquiry borne out of a community-based, research-driven process. My current project is about building awareness for the prevalence of domestic violence, with a focus on immigrant and refugee communities through artistic installation and education. Based on knowledge from research, oral traditions, data and interviews, I am creating an awareness campaign through art installations called Beside Between Beyond. Read more>>

Madeline Brice

When I first took on the Directorship at Weinberger Fine Art, I wanted to curate what felt like a monumental show to me, so I developed a curatorial project titled The Life You’ve Seen. It was an exhibition housing over 35 women and non-binary artists from the Kansas City metro area and tackled the non-male experience. The works ranged from installation and textiles to prints and photography. I wanted to provide a space for artists who might have felt that their work didn’t fit within the context of a fine art gallery and to create a dialogue around the varying life experiences of these midwestern artists. Read more>>

Veesugee

Every song that I write is meaningful in some way. The most recent album I released, Anti the Learned Machine, speaks to the heart of believing in one’s self and pushing through the darkness and negativity we are penetrated with each day. I dove deep into understanding the power we have as individuals to make a positive impact in society creatively. We have the answers and ability to make a better today. One that is stripped of ego and approached with love and compassion. Read more>>

Virghost

I think the most meaningful project I ever worked on was my album “GHOSTS.” It was very therapeutic for me in so many ways. Out of all my albums that is the one I was the most detailed and obsessed with from the songwriting down to the intricate parts of the skits. I was basically reliving my college days through the music and telling the story of events that lead me into becoming an artist. Read more>>

Khalid Johnson

The most meaningful project I’ve worked so far on has been Stay Woke. I love all of my projects and they all are close to me but Stay Woke feels the most comprehensive of my passion for comics and Black liberation. It brings those two things together in a way that is both very personal and reflective. My experience in undergrad at a PWI helped shape my ideologies and sharpened the lens through which I saw racism and inequality. I created a series of artworks for my undergraduate thesis that explored Blackness and policing. Read more>>

Christina Kent

This year I did 50 paintings in 50 days for a special exhibition, and my theme for the series was “Simply Loving What is Here.” My idea was to capture small but beautiful moments from my daily life. At first I was worried about my choice – would I be able to find enough beautiful moments, enough moments worthy of painting, in such a short amount of time? I began paying close attention to everything I saw each day, searching for inspiration. Read more>>

Joel Harris

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far is an album called Extinction Letters that will likely be out in early 2023. I began writing the songs in 2019, not originally intending to get to album length. But over the past three years, I kept working on them, and writing more songs that seemed to fit thematically. The songs a double-sided response to my experience of life. On one hand, tracking the deep anxiety I’ve watched in the world around me, as seismic shifts are happening in society, politics and climate. Read more>>

Taneaka

The most meaningful project for me is any opportunity I get to share Skeletons In My Closet with people whether it be via social media or in person events. When someone recognizes me by my brand it really is an indescribable feeling because I know we’ve connected in some way and the encounter left a lasting impression. Those types of experiences are the most meaningful to me. Read more>>

Delores Eddington

I would have to say that the most meaningful project that I’ve worked on would be one of the current times. It’s a webtoon, in the form of short stories, that illustrate meaningful moments in my life that have shaped me. The storytelling is told through the perspective of the three main characters and holds value as I use my illustrations to illustrate my experience as a Black-Queer, non-binary person. Read more>>

Kathy Beiting

While putting on musicals each season is rewarding and fun, possibly the most meaningful project our group has undertaken is to provide scholarships for high school seniors entering a theater/music program in a college. We started the scholarship program several years ago and have been thrilled to provide financial support to two or three students each year. We know that what we are able to give to deserving students helps them in some way to work toward their dreams and goals of studying theater and/or music. Read more>>

Cat Shteynberg

I work at the McClung Museum at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, but have worked in multiple museums across the US. The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far in my career is a current exhibition that I’m working on, tentatively titled: “A Sense of Indigenous Place: Native American Voices and the Mound at University of Tennessee, Knoxville.” Read more>>

Martin Powell

The most meaningful project I have worked on is reaching a wider audience other than church events. Being a Gospel Rap Artist, my music is Christian based, so the only place I would perform was Christian events. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus saves, but it needs to be communicated in all areas. I needed to branch out, so I started performing at open mics, no matter where they were. I started many meaningful relationships from starting this project. The relationships brought me to many great events, Dreamfest, MicCheck, Dope on Arrival, Backroom ( Memphis Artist for Change), Memphis Music Commission, HoodIdol, Wrap98 Music Mondays, Memphis Hip Hop Awards and many more. Read more>>

CJ Page

I worked as a bassist in The Aina Cook Band, a Family run Madagascar based Blues/Soul band, which opened for John Prine before his passing. We recorded 2 Studio Albums, and an EP while I was in High School and early College. I have had many bands, and artists I have worked with, lately it has been Alarm Tactics, a Hardcore band that discusses topics of self-doubt, vulnerability, and misunderstanding. Read more>>

Tyler Smith aka Ty Smitty

The most meaningful project I have worked on is the new project I am working on now. I’m going on 2 years being homeless and the songs in which I address the situation are on my new project called Thieves World. It’s a very dark look at the world stemming from my experience being homeless and being abandoned by my family for no reason. There is a lot of mental health problems in my mother’s side of the family and I’ve been exposed to verbal abuse my whole life. I’ve never felt love from my family or at all Read more>>

Terri Britt

Breaking the generational cycle of emotional chaos and inner lack so that my family and I could thrive has been the most meaningful project in my life. I’m a wife, mom and nana. Family is the most important thing to me. But as a young mom, I really struggled. I bought into the old family paradigm that says, “Love means you must deny yourself. And it’s my job to be good and make others happy.” Read more>>

Stephanie jacques

I am currently working on the most meaningful project. I’m creating a record in honor of my parents. my father passed away this past Nov and I spent so much time writing and processing that I am turning it into a record. The record is called Miles Jean Sessions which are my parents middle names. Its the most ” me” record I’ve created. Its a country record that has influences of soul and GoGo. Read more>>

Jarleel “JD” Earby

It’s Earby Studios. Hands down! It’s been the biggest, most rewarding and challenging project I’ve ever worked on. Since college, people have always been telling me that my artwork has been good enough to be put in galleries and exhibits. Yet at the time, I didn’t know anything about the art world but that didn’t stop me from trying. Read more>>

Kariana Taylor

To date, the most meaningful project I’ve worked on was the very first Juneteenth Festival in Goldsboro, NC. I’m a Goldsboro native, but left for college in 2012. I attended NC A&T. While at A&T, I had to take A LOT of history classes. Journalism will do that to you, haha! I thought I knew a lot of black history, but had NO IDEA! Read more>>