Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jose Arce. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jose, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Growing up with a speech impediment, I was always hyper-aware of my voice and whether people were actually listening to me or taking me seriously. That stayed with me for a long time. So when I got into music spaces, I noticed how many people, especially women, queer people, and marginalized creatives, were shrinking themselves just to survive in rooms. I recognized that feeling immediately because I knew what it felt like to question whether your voice mattered.

I was also molested as a child for years, and growing up, my bedroom became my sanctuary; the one place where I felt safe, grounded, and fully myself. A huge part of creating GRL SND was wanting to recreate that feeling for other people. I wanted to build a space where creatives could feel protected, supported, and free to express themselves without fear. Not just creatively, but emotionally too.

I remember thinking, “Why doesn’t a space like this already exist?” Not just a studio, but an actual community where people could create, learn, network, and feel seen at the same time.

That’s really where GRL SND started. It wasn’t just a business idea to me; it felt personal. I wanted to build the kind of environment I wish I had seen more of growing up. A place where creatives could walk in and immediately feel safe, inspired, and empowered instead of judged or overlooked.

What got me most excited was the possibility of creating something bigger than just recording sessions. I realized people didn’t only need studio time; they needed access, education, visibility, mentorship, and real community. That’s why GRL SND evolved into workshops, events, panels, artist development, and the PYNK BOX podcast. I wanted to create an ecosystem that actually supports underrepresented creatives in multiple ways.

From a logical standpoint, I knew there was a need because every time I talked about the idea, people immediately connected to it. Women and LGBTQ+ creatives were constantly saying things like, “I’ve been looking for something like this,” or “I never feel comfortable in traditional studio spaces.” That validation kept confirming that this wasn’t just my personal experience; it was a shared problem.

I don’t think I was necessarily solving a problem no one else had ever thought about, but I do think GRL SND approaches it differently. A lot of spaces focus only on the business or only on aesthetics, but for me, community comes first. The goal was never just to rent studio time; it was to create culture, connection, and opportunities for people who are often excluded from these conversations.

What makes me most proud is seeing people walk into GRL SND and immediately feel like they belong there. That’s when I knew this was more than an idea; it was something people genuinely needed.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jose Arce, and I’m the founder of GRL SND, a Los Angeles-based creative community and recording studio centered around supporting women and LGBTQ+ creatives in music. I also host the PYNK BOX podcast, where we create space for conversations around music, creativity, identity, and culture.

I got into this work through my love for music, artist development, and community building. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just passionate about music; I was passionate about creating environments where people could collaborate, grow, and genuinely feel supported. That’s what led me to build GRL SND into more than just a studio space.

Today, GRL SND offers recording sessions, workshops, networking events, panels, artist development support, and creative programming that helps underrepresented creatives access opportunities, education, and community. A huge part of what we do is helping artists feel more confident in themselves and their creative voice while also giving them real industry resources and connections.

I think what sets GRL SND apart is that we lead with intention and care. A lot of creative spaces can feel transactional, but I’ve always wanted GRL SND to feel collaborative, welcoming, and community-driven. People aren’t just coming to record music; they’re coming to connect, learn, and feel inspired.

One thing I’m especially proud of is seeing the relationships and collaborations that have emerged from the community we’ve built. Watching artists meet through GRL SND, support each other, and continue growing together reminds me why I started all of this in the first place.

The most important thing I want people to know about my brand and my work is that everything is rooted in authenticity and in creating real impact. Whether it’s through the studio, our events, workshops, or the PYNK BOX podcast, my goal has always been to create spaces where creatives feel seen, empowered, and encouraged to fully step into who they are.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When it came to funding GRL SND, I honestly just believed in the vision so much that I was willing to bet on myself completely. I ended up pulling money out of my retirement funds to help build GRL SND, and to this day, I have no regrets about it.

At the time, I knew it was a huge risk, but I also knew how important this space could be for the community we were trying to serve. I didn’t want to wait around for the “perfect” opportunity or for someone else to validate the vision before starting. I believed in what we were creating enough to invest in it myself first.

Since then, a lot of what we’ve built has truly come from the ground up and out of pocket. Whether it’s events, workshops, studio improvements, or programming, we’ve continued pouring back into the community because we genuinely care about the impact GRL SND is making.

Right now, we’re actively looking for sponsorships and partnerships that align with our mission so we can continue expanding resources and opportunities for the GRL SND community. But even without major backing, we’ve been able to keep growing because the community itself is so strong. The support, trust, and love people have shown GRL SND has honestly been one of the biggest confirmations that this work matters.

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

One thing my journey has taught me is that resilience isn’t always loud or glamorous; sometimes it’s simply continuing to show up even when things feel uncertain.

Building GRL SND has come with a lot of challenges financially, emotionally, and mentally. There were moments where I questioned whether I was capable of carrying something this big, especially while funding so much of it myself and trying to create opportunities for others at the same time. But every time things got difficult, I would think about the people who relied on these spaces and the creatives who told me GRL SND was the first place they genuinely felt safe, supported, or seen.

I think one of the biggest examples of resilience for me was making the decision to pull from my retirement savings to invest into GRL SND. It was scary, and there was no guarantee things would work out. But I believed in the vision enough to take that leap anyway. That decision taught me a lot about trusting myself and committing fully to something bigger than fear. There have also been moments where events didn’t go perfectly, resources felt limited, or burnout hit hard, but I’ve learned how important it is to keep adapting instead of giving up. I’ve realized resilience is about staying connected to your purpose, even during difficult seasons.

What keeps me grounded is the community. Seeing creatives collaborate, gain confidence, build friendships, and feel empowered through GRL SND constantly reminds me why I started this journey in the first place. Those moments make every challenge worth pushing through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.grlsnd.com/
• Instagram: Business: https://www.instagram.com/grlsndd/ | Personal: https://www.instagram.com/noway_hozayyyy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jose-arce-75810b184/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grlsnd
• Other: PYNK BOX Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/47geB1dm5LZLM4ES4B7eyG?si=3c607ebcbcdf44b7