We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sha’Ran Lowe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sha’Ran , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

Everything happens at the right time, when it is time – even when it feels like time may be slipping away. It took me years, and I mean years, to finally get to a headspace where I fully understood that statement with clarity and confidence. I used to resent the fact that I didn’t start pursuing my art business right out of high school. I knew then that I was something special. So, I felt like I wasted time by not heavily pouring into my dreams in my younger years, coincidentally- life has its way of centering you along the journey. Looking back now, I wish my present-day self could have told my 21-year-old self to chill. Instead, I was so consumed with the desire to start while I was young, so that I could have this massive empire by now. I wanted my impact to be global by now; I wanted to share the love and light that I had through my gifts. Little did I realize, it was not time. I’m glad it wasn’t time then. I had to grow through some grueling experiences. I have been a master high school English teacher for the past 14 years and taught in several different cities across the United States. Teaching in inner city school districts is a whole story in itself. But I’ll say this, having to survive with very little income, remaining positive to inspire the next generation, while holding on to my dreams for over a decade was a circus that felt almost impossible to juggle. But during that time, I didn’t realize that I was gaining experience, overcoming obstacles, getting connected, building a solid support system through my students, being invited to broader connections that would elevate me later, failing hard, getting rejected terribly, being challenged by opposing views, learning to agree to disagree – I mean the list can go on but I think we get the picture here. I had a purpose to serve these past 14 years, and while serving in that purpose it was setting me up all along for this moment today. If I would have started sooner, I would not have a story to tell. I wouldn’t have been that reachable inspiration that my students had witnessed all along. I simply would not be the woman that I am today, if I had started back then. This level of confidence, maturation, and pressure feels grown, sexy, and unshakable. I love it here!

Sha’Ran , 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?

My name is Sha’Ran (pronounced shuh-rAnn), but I go by my artist name, Tall Thunda! Simply put, I was born to light up atmospheres. This creative storm had been brewing ever since I was able to get my hands on resources that allowed for my ideas to find freedom in homes of expression. I’m a multi-faceted creative that naturally works with different avenues: painting, body painting, writing, tattooing, and tall girl musing. My services depend upon my client’s needs. Due to this understandable reality, I often consult with them to provide options for what will work best in delivering a product or service that will best capture their stories. This is when my business name, Jupiter’s Juke Joint, was finally born. Jupiter’s Juke Joint is a creative studio that is for the bold and boundless. For those who are seeking to dream beyond the traditions and spark a fire to their originalities. From custom commissioned canvases, tattoos, body paint sessions for photography, or authentically written messages – I am able to offer a wide variety of gifts for my clients that makes their stories, their existence feel immortalized. Being that I have years of experience with teaching and understanding, I am naturally equipped with the ability to listen first before delivering. Often clients come to me with ideas, fragments of expression, and in some cases nothing in mind but the desire to have something special to them. I have been trained and refined over the years as an educator and artist; I can help bring someone from absolutely nothing to a final product that is mind-blowing.

I am very proud to say that any client that I cross paths with will feel seen, heard, valued, and appreciated. I am my client’s biggest cheerleader, encourager, and confidant. I pride myself in providing a space that is comfortable, inviting, clean, and inspiring. Welcome to a world where outer space dreams are birthed from underground roots!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Start-up capital wasn’t even a term that I heard growing up. It was not something that was familiar in my community because in my community all we knew, and all that we had access to, was the grind. Teaching was not only my job to help pay my living expenses, but it became the job that funded the materials, resources, and opportunities needed to grow and expand. As we may know, teachers do not get paid – it’s often embarrassing having to explain how little our salaries are, but I didn’t let that stop me from my dream. Every paycheck I set aside a certain amount of money whether it was $5 to $500 to invest and stock up on the supplies needed, especially for tattooing and canvas commissions. For a long time, I had to survive within that paycheck-to-paycheck reality until eventually I was able to hit the ground running by creating space in my living room to set up shop and serve the community. For the longest that has been my studio. But finally, after so many years of struggling tears, continuous hard work, and belief that one day we will make it into my own brick and mortar, I have been blessed beyond measure with an opportunity to have a dedicated studio space to operate Jupiter’s Juke Joint! I believe it is because of my discipline, determination, and faith in self that one day things will change that I experience mini miracles. If you move right and do right, while holding on to your dream no matter how long it takes- you’d be surprised at the doors that’ll open for you!

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

My business is still fairly new to the world even though I have been operating in my gifts since high school. With that being said, because I had to wait so long for this moment to arrive, I was intentional about doing my “homework” so that I had a vision before going into it. So that I knew what my why was while being able to establish the infrastructure and longevity. During the moments where I couldn’t do much besides dream, I constantly studying the way in which the artist markets existed. One of the advantages that I had was having lived in different cities, so I paid attention to interests, events, took note of what people were seeking, inquired on how similar businesses were operating, and if the opportunity presented itself. collaborated with those who were already in the market. Simultaneously, I was working as an educator with population of people who will spread the word fast, good or bad, about your character and dignity. With those two things working in my favor, I capitalized on them. For example, when I officially opened my books for tattooing in June 2024, I showed up ready and had a constant flow of clients booked every single month. I had a network of people eager to support because I had established relationships and partnerships beforehand. Now of course the business must speak for itself, so I’ve learned to remain true to myself and stick to the values and missions of my business without fitting in with everyone else. It isn’t my calling or purpose to operate like those around me in the market, I am here to be different. That difference captures people’s attentions who are seeking what is real and authentic!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tallthunda.com
• Instagram: tall.thunda