We caught up with the brilliant and insightful 00Luv a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

00Luv, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

My creative career started when it was destined to start, and I wouldn’t change a thing. There are some memories I’ve made on this journey that hurt to remember, but I wouldn’t choose to forget.

I do wish I had taken some risks sooner than I did, and I am up late at night sometimes thinking about some decisions… if they were mistakes. I’m excited for this next part of the journey and to learn more. I do take my time releasing projects, which isn’t good in my opinion. Let’s see if I can change that, for I’d like to see what we can create together next.

00Luv, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

How’s it going,

I go by 00Luv, but you can call me Luv. I’m a songwriter, booking manager, founder of STL Vintage NIGHTFEST, and one of my favorite crafts is International Creative Directing.

My journey started as a songwriter believing in a fantasy, a story. There was someone who told me they didn’t believe in them anymore. Skipping those details, sometimes stories end or are put on pause, as I’ve learned over time. I started questioning life while finding joy in music. I’ve never been signed, and through my journey, I found a need in my city—a desire for growth and income. It’s a desire I can quench, and through my own interests, which align with helping to raise the bar of entertainment.

This is how things led to STL Vintage Nightfest, booking management, and International Creative Directing. What I call creative directing is having the vision and ability to see the potential and value in people, places, or things, bringing them together for a common goal. It’s international because I’ve met people not from this country, and there are others I plan to work with as a creative. This next part is where it gets juicy though. Part of creative directing, to me, is taking small details of a project and turning them up a notch. That can include lights, runway installations, food, etc. But, for example, instead of just having an artist come by and rep their business, which can be a good time, how about I ensure they also have an outfit from a local designer, and we use a photographer who’s proven to do some marketing without even asking? There are different types of art, and I see art forms complementing each other at different levels.

I started STL Vintage NIGHTFEST within the last year to be part of the change I want to see, regardless of how many people know about me. I was also throwing a rave in a cave as a songwriter, hoping to attract my Cinderella, but Festus City shut it down. The fest, which is like a night market, will be a great foundation for Saint Louis, income, and a huge blood vessel for its art. The vision goes so far it makes me smile. You’d really have to be there to see the evolution, but the inspiration comes from Santee Alley in California. If you can picture that, then you may have an idea of the future scale. This is a creative vending/small business environment that I love, incorporating music and new innovative installations since I’m a songwriter. I didn’t have many chances to perform, but now we have one every month.

Through vending, I can support students, single parents, other creatives, small businesses, and more as we grow. It’s free to vend, and you keep all profit. I am a songwriter, which is the catch. You just have to get a hold of me. I fund the fests, so I might be at work or trying to work on my own craft even. Shoot a follow to one of the pages, leave some comments, and stick out more than the next vendor.

Saint Louis City government, I can help you raise money on a large scale consistently per month with my vision for STL Vintage NIGHTFEST, for Union Station, Delmar Loop, Armory, or directly. These are some spots I have my eye on to work together, but I can only work with a few or one so I can focus. My goal includes raising income for the city, which can be accomplished easily with their help, and raising the bar for entertainment with STL Vintage NIGHTFEST. I can make all your dreams come true. I can also pay artists who know how to collaborate at high levels more or bring in more creatives for installations, which will inspire.

I’m very proud that with the help of others at times and some moments no one knows about, we are here. I aim to go as far as I can so that I can truly tell someone, “If I can do it, you can.” My friends, my gift I have can easily be taken away. I want you to know that I’m only this far because there were times when I found like-minded people willing to work together for a common goal. Work together, friends. Work together. Let’s try to learn to respect each other and create beautiful songs/art. Money isn’t a bad goal, but don’t let it cripple us from moving forward together.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society, if we’re talking about the people, is being very supportive and is the reason STL Vintage NIGHTFEST has grown at all. Thanks for coming!

What I find to be the most helpful is people voicing their opinions, sharing content, commenting on posts, and saying a name in a room full of opportunities. Tell me my music sucks, yeah! Tell me what I can do better. Tell me it’s good. Tell me why.

Oh yeah, let’s dance!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I’ve only been with a handful of people and have felt enough heartbreak already. I’m still going through depression because of it and my own thoughts. The goal is to learn better ways to use my time and energy. Despite my depression, I’ve been able to mask it and create vibrant, deep mood installations that make people smile. She hasn’t walked in, and I don’t think she ever will (whoever she is at this point), but I’m still going to throw that party.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlvintagenightfest?igsh=ejYxbDE5YjY2ZW9i&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/pimHJMFseHFtpmp4/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@00luvofficialpage?si=Azc7ytDIUtApdhEn
• Other: Instagram artist page: https://www.instagram.com/001uv_stories?igsh=MXdwbDB4cTF1Yno5NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Pic 1 Dj ———- La Chapa – Female Monarch – Pic 2 DJ ——- Zhuzhu Flutttr Pic 6 ——— Songwriters —————— ArchGuru Bhaïti Avoid Killbrody Pic 8 Dj ——- Blurr