We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Illusionaut (band) Ryan Cook a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Illusionaut (band), thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The article initially focused on my band, Illusionaut, which these days, with the state of music, is Art, for arts sake.
I own a Tattoo studio, with my wife, Brooke Cook, called Lucky Bella tattoos.
Or Tattoo studio is named after her late Shih Tzu Bella and has become a safe haven for business professionals
I also run a small record label called spinning inside records
Illusionaut (band), 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?
How it started: When I was four years old, my older cousins and aunt had a family church band that performed in various venues, including retirement homes. As a child, I even performed in an assisted living facility/ halfway house/ drug rehab facilities.
During my teenage years, my younger sister battled cancer, at St. Jude research hospital and I frequently traveled 300 miles to Memphis to spend time with her, while she was in isolation. The music I heard around Beale Street provided solace and inspiration as she underwent chemotherapy, becoming a valuable coping mechanism for me.
Fast forward to 2020 when I was writing our second album. I realized that much of my art (I am a professional tattoo Artist to pay the bills) and lyrical content centered around infusing positivity into sounds and images that may initially appear darker but possess a soothing nature. It is my aim to bring happiness and foster a sense of connection through my music and art.
The band name:
Our band name, Illusionaut, was intentionally chosen to create a neutral platform that doesn’t confine us to a specific music style, allowing us to continuously evolve our sound. This approach frees us from the constraints of trying to replicate previous works, enabling each album and song to stand on its own. The term “Illusionaut” represents someone in the unified field of consciousness, who is on a quest for truth, embodying our journey as seekers of authenticity and exploration. It serves as a reminder that our music is a conduit for transcending illusions and discovering deeper truths.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ve always tried to surround myself with people with positive energy, , or somehow bring out the best in you and how you feel and vice versa.
This includes at the Tattoo studio that I own called Lucky Bella Tattoos.
With my band and Record label (Spinning Inside Records) it’s been the same. I’ve never wanted anything to be about ego only positive energies .
After our first album, we embraced the concept of wearing masks to transcend ego and explore themes of self-reflection and truth. Mirrored masks became a symbol of delving deep within ourselves, embracing vulnerability, and seeking personal truths.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
The band name: Our band name, Illusionaut, was intentionally chosen to create a neutral platform that doesn’t confine us to a specific music style, allowing us to continuously evolve our sound. This approach frees us from the constraints of trying to replicate previous works, enabling each album and song to stand on its own. The term “Illusionaut” represents someone in the unified field of consciousness, who is on a quest for truth, embodying our journey as seekers of authenticity and exploration. It serves as a reminder that our music and art is a conduit for transcending illusions and discovering deeper truths.
Contact Info:
- Website: Illusionaut.com and luckybella.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Illusionautband and Instagram.com/LuckyBellaTattoos
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Illusionaut and Facebook.com/luckybellatattoos
- Youtube: Illusionaut , Lucky Bella Tattoos , Spinning Inside Records
Image Credits
Kurt Lunsford