We recently connected with Sully Papo and have shared our conversation below.

Sully , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Honestly, the idea came from being tired of how things were run for independent artists. I was doing shows where you’d pay to perform, just to end up performing in front of other artists, no real fans, no support, no way to grow. It felt like a dead-end.

So I started creating something different. I wasn’t trying to be a promoter, that’s never been me. I just wanted to build a space where artists could really win. I started organizing studio tours, linking with other creatives, throwing shows that actually had energy and intention behind them. During COVID, I even found ways to keep things going safely, and that’s when I realized, this is more than just a side thing. I’m building something real.

That’s how Hidden Sound Village was born. I see myself as a community builder. I design experiences where artists aren’t just showing up, they’re growing, connecting, earning, and walking away better than they came in. It’s about building something that lasts. Something that gives back.

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

My name is Sully Papo, and I’m the founder of Hidden Sound Village, a community-driven platform where independent artists can grow, connect, and actually benefit from their work. At the core, I’m an artist. But over time, I became a community builder because I saw the problems artists like me kept running into and I wanted to change that.

I came up doing the typical shows where you pay to perform in front of other artists. No real fans, no real love, and definitely no way to grow. It didn’t feel right. So I started organizing things differently. Studio tours, pop-up performances, community-focused events. I wasn’t doing it to be seen. I just wanted to give people like me a better shot.

Hidden Sound Village provides:

Live music showcases that center the artist and the experience

Vendor markets that uplift small Black and Brown businesses

DJ and audio/visual services for events, parties, and weddings

Merch and ticketing models where artists keep 50% of their sales

A real community where creatives support each other and grow together

Everything we do is designed to help artists walk away with something valuable. Whether it’s fans, footage, merch sales, or new opportunities, the goal is always to make it worth showing up. We also partner with Nawlage Is Power Inc, our nonprofit, to support youth, community work, and cultural storytelling at every event.

What makes us different is the heart behind it. I’m not here chasing clout or trying to fit into industry politics. I care about building a culture where people feel seen, supported, and celebrated. I take pride in knowing that what we’re doing is helping artists grow for real.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and Hidden Sound Village, it’s this: we’re not in this just to throw shows. We’re building something with purpose. Something that gives back, creates space, and brings people together.

I’m Sully Papo, and this is what I stand on.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One moment that really tested me was during the pandemic. Everything was shut down, and a lot of artists had no place to go. Most venues were closed or too risky to use, and people were scared to gather. But I knew artists still needed somewhere to express themselves, so I found a way to keep going while keeping everyone safe.

We had a venue, and before and after every single event, I would sanitize the space from top to bottom. I wiped down mics, cleaned every surface, and made sure everything was ready. At the door, we did forehead temperature checks and followed strict safety protocols. It wasn’t easy. There were nights where I’d clean until 2 a.m. after the show, just to be ready for the next event.

But I knew what I was doing mattered. Artists were depending on me to create a space where they could perform, connect, and feel safe. That season proved how serious I was about this work. Hidden Sound Village became more than just events. It became a support system when people needed it most.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Hidden Sound Village started as something I was doing on the side while working full-time in construction. I was still making music, helping friends book shows, and organizing small events here and there. It didn’t feel like a business at first. I just wanted to help artists like me get real opportunities, because I knew what it felt like to get stuck in those pay-to-play situations with no support.

Things started to shift once we got more organized. We introduced artist ticket links, where they keep 50 percent of the sales. That changed everything. Artists started promoting hard, crowds got bigger, and the energy at the events leveled up. People felt invested. It stopped feeling like a hustle and started feeling like a real movement.

Then we began building partnerships. I linked with Studios and started giving away free studio time as performance incentives. We teamed up with Nawlage Is Power Inc to bring more purpose into the events and give back to the youth. We also started locking in dope venues, building merch drops, and hosting vendors so small businesses could benefit too.

Now, even though I still work a 9-to-5, Hidden Sound Village is the thing I’m pouring my heart into. The goal is to take it full-time. We’ve built something people believe in, and every show proves that we’re creating real value for artists, fans, and the community around us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hiddensoundvillage.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddensoundvillage/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiddensoundvillage.co
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiddensoundvillagemusic