PRODUCTIONS
Artist of the Month
Every month Life Starts Now Productions strives to honor the artists, entreprenuers, and hottest talent to highlight the great work they do!
Check out all of the amazing honorees and to nominate someone in your community, click here.
Candice Hairston-Salters
Artist of the Month | November 2016
Written By: Shalun Wells | November 24, 2016
Find out whatever your drive is
James Cody
James Cody is a passionate dancer, who had the privilege of competing on the nationwide television series, So You Think You Can Dance. James is ready to take the dancing/entertainment industry by storm with his pure raw talent and swag.
We were able to catch up with James to shed some light on his work with our “Top Questions” listed below.
Q: How was the "So You Think You Can Dance" audition and what did you gain from the experience?
A: It was interesting, you know. You meet a lot of colorful people and you learn a lot about that type of business process. Like Reality TV, at first I was nervous then I was more on the doubtful side that maybe I didn’t have enough or what they were looking for. What you learn through that is that people see you for who you are no matter what. So, when it comes to Reality TV the best thing for you to do is to just be yourself. I was nervous at first, but you have to overcome that if you want to be in this type (entertainment) industry.
It (the experience) was crazy. It’s a lot of work. It’s all about image. You learn that image is everything, on and off the camera. I learned that you cannot do anything without it possibly being put on a public spectrum. So, I learned to build character. It was a good learning experience. I met a lot of dancers and networked. I was able to work with people I never thought I’d work with or even meet.
“Whatever makes you happy in life and genuinely brings a smile to your face is something you should look into doing.”
Q: Your YouTube Channel, I WUB Dancing, How did you come up with WUB? Does it stand for anything?
A: Wub is love. Years ago, back when dub step was really mainstream and the general personification or way that some would describe the sounds of dub stepping was wub. You know the little modulated bases in the music. So, me particularly dancing to that genre all the time back then, it was like a big part of everything that I put on YouTube. When it came to making a YouTube channel I didn’t want to just put “I love dancing”, so I just put “I Wub Dancing”
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
A: Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you should do. Whatever makes you happy in your life and genuinely brings a smile to your face is something you should look into doing. Otherwise, you’re going to find yourself thirty years down the road from now thinking you should have taken on something that you loved to do. You have to ask yourself if it’s something that you would be happy with yourself for doing. The driving force behind your happiness is yourself. It’s about you.
Artist of the Month | October 2016
Written By: Shalun Wells | October 13, 2016
James Cody
Hip Hop Dancer
Pictured: James, Never missing a chance to thank the man above.
James Cody also known as JCODE striking a dance pose.
What I’m trying to do with I Wub Dancing is I don’t want it to just be a YouTube channel; I want it to be a community. I want I Wub Dancing to be a community based on dancing and having a passion behind it. It isn’t always about the best moves and what’s trending right now. It’s about drive and the love of doing what you.
Make sure to check out James' YouTube channel, subscribe, and keep up with iWubDancing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Written By: Shalun Wells | October 13, 2016
Fashion Designer
Brittany Shelvin
Brittany Shelvin
Artist of the Month | September 2016
Written By: Shalun Wells | September 15, 2016
Brittany Shelvin is a future educator with crazy, passionate faith. The Prairie View A&M University, senior is the CEO and founder of Fervid Faith, an online fashion boutique.
Her fervid faith designs will excite you and give you courage while going through life’s journey.
We were able to catch up with this fashionista to shed light on her work within our “Top 3 Questions” listed below.
Q: How did you come up with the name Fervid Faith?
A: I’m a big person about faith. I heard somebody tell me that faith is an unnecessary risk taken on God, and Fervid is a word saying you’re passionate about something. It’s over the top. I believe in crazy faith, so “Fervid Faith” basically revolves around having crazy faith in God and believing and trusting in all his words.
“If you have that “fervid faith” you wouldn’t have to worry about it and know that it’s God that will take care of you.”
Q: What was your inspiration?
A: God. Everything I do he is my inspiration. I follow some people like Tye Tribett and Carla Cannon, but I just sit in my prayer closet and everything just comes from Him (God). I say “God what do you want me to do? What do you want me to say?” Sometimes I put it in my preaching, sometimes on my YouTube, and sometimes I put on my shirts. It’s all coming from Him.
Q: What advice would you give someone else you would want to follow in your footsteps or start their own line but don’t know what to do?
A: I would say don’t give up! A lot of times it may be challenging trying to figure out what’s the best thing everybody will like or I don’t have enough money for that. I’m a struggling college student, so I understand. I’m planning conferences; I’m doing everything under the will of God. It’s just me trusting Him. So, just trust in him and don’t think about the pressure. If you have that “fervid faith” you wouldn’t have to worry about it and know that it’s God that will take care of you.
Make sure to check out Brittany Shelvin's official website, purchase her clothing, and and keep up with Fervid Faith on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Written By: Shalun Wells | Septemner 15, 2016
Visit www.fervidfaith.com Today"
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
"With man it may be impossible, but with God all things are possible"
Juq'o Vibe
"Hey, when you're being yourself, you're the coolest one in the room."
Q: How did you get started?
A: If you want to take it way way back, I played the keyboard at my church. I got into melodies and learned that lyrics are important (at age 15). As I got older, in college, I started to produce my own music and other people's music as well. I realized that some of the things I would (write) people related to and that the average person on the radio weren't talking about. I was talking about real life stuff. It would be waking up not having money, and people losing their job; I talked about relatable stuff. I would talk about relatble stuff and people would be like, "Can you play that again? Where can I get that song?" It got to the point where I was like, "You know what? I need to make more like this." So that's how I started.
The hip hop scene needs more lyricist like upcoming rapper Juq’o Vibe. The Milwaukee native is the Creative Director of the L.A.M.E Lyfe Movement that stands for "Living According to My Expectations” promoting individuality and self-acceptance. He sees the bigger picture and is not your average rapper.
His lyrical flow and charm keeps you engaged and the content in his music keeps you informed all while being entertained. This guy is NEXT.
We were fortunate enough to chat with the uprising star in the "Top 3 Questions" listed below.
Q: What does "L.A.M.E. Lyfe" mean and stand for?
A: L.A.M.E. Lyfe means "Living According to My Expectations". You know what, people always gravitated towards me and thought I was cool. It wasn't because I was following the crowd and doing what everyone else was doing, I was being myself. They saw that no matter what was going on around me, I always stayed true to myself. I wanted folks to know, "Hey, when you're being yourself, you're the coolest one in the room. That's how L.A.M.E. Lyfe came about and I started to incorpate my music into too.
Artist of the Month | August 2016
Written By: Tezya Jackson | August 11, 2016
Hip Hop Artist
Juq'o Vibe
Performing with Shoose Mcgee at RAW Dallas
Q: What advice would you give a upcoming artist that wants to inspire without conforming to the status quo?
A:I would tell artists to not focus on getting everyone to listen to your music and get what you're saying. Focus on the people that do listen and get what you're saying already. Focus on the people that say they do like you, even if it's 10-20 people, focus on them and cater to them. Because when you focus on this demographic and age group doesn't like my music, they like the trap (music) stuff and you try to conform into them (it stops your purpose). When really, you already have core fans that like what you're saying and like what you're doing allowing you to be yourself. So I would tell them to focus on who's rocking with you, and build on that. Don't worry about trying to get the whole world all the time.
Make sure to check out Juq'o Vibes' official website, download his music on apple music, spotify, soundcloud and and keep up with L.A.M.E. lyfe movement.
Written By: Tezya Jackson | August 11, 2016
Live in Dallas at the Swisher Sweets show performing songs with recording artist Ni Taylor and -topic.
Recording Artist/ Songwriter
Brandon Kareem
Brandon Kareem
Artist of the Month | July 2016
Written By: Tezya Jackson | July 14, 2016
R&B music still has high hopes with class acts like Brandon Kareem crooning all over the Dallas/Fort Worh metroplex. The recording artist has the swag, charisma, and raw talent to make you fall in love with his voice.
The Texarkana native spoke with us recently about his most recent projects, Life, Love and Liquor, how he got started, inspiration and solid advice for the music business with our "Top 3 Questions" listed below.
Q: How long have you been singing?
A: Well, without giving away my age, two decades. (laugh) I started out real young doing music and performing. I actually started out in a group, and we all grew up together. It's crazy, our group started out in a talent show that they were having in my hometown. The talent show was like a 'Showtime at the Apollo' kind of style and the show was the opening act for Roger Troutman (Zapp & Rogers) and it was over 5,000 people on the fair grounds. We were kind of like the Boyz II Men of our town; our name was Brother's with Potential. It was four of us and you can actually look us up, we sold a lot of records.
From Left to Right: Brandon Kareem and El' Kevon Sullivan.
"I want to leave my legacy behind. I want to have something that I can give back to other people."
Q: What's your biggest inspiration?
A: Hmmm, my biggest inspiration? Hmm (laughs) that's a very broad question. Well, I want to be able to do this music for not only myself but for my family. I don't have any kids or anything like that but I want to be able to have a future that I can pass down to. I want leave behind my legacy. I want to have something that I can give back to other people. That drives me as well, musically.
Q: What kind of advice would you give someone that wants to pursure their dreams but are afraid?
A: I would tell them to never take anything likely, as far as, anything you want to do. Believe in it fully and you can achieve it if you definetely put in the work.
You have to take that time to be uncomfortable, that's one thing that any artist has to realize. You are going to have long nights, you're going to be tired, you are going to want to give up and have so many naysayers. People that are going to say, "You're this age, you don't look a certain way, you are too big, you don't look pretty enough". You have to let that go because one thing that I really believe is "cream rises to the top". In other words, the best is going to come out regardless. So no matter what anybody else has to say about what you're trying to do, with the work, you can achieve anything you want to do.
Make sure to check out Brandon's official website, reverbnation and check him out on Pandora Radio
Written By: Tezya Jackson | July 14, 2016
Official Website
From Left to Right: Flowman, Madame Mims, & Brandon Kareem.
@BrandonKareem
It's no suprise that Autumn Morris is our first artist to spotlight ever. She's smart, witty, and not to mention the CEO of her own virtual magazine, Mane Dame Magazine. The 27 year old Kanas native is taking Texas by storm with her entreprenurship and social activism. Morris stands as an advocate for African American peace and justice; as well as women's equality.
We were able to catch up with the upcoming mogul and find out what it takes to truly earn the "Artist of the Month" for the month of June with our "Top 3 Questions" listed below.
Q: What made you want to start a magazine and who does it represent?
A: My inspiration comes from my love of writing and meeting new people.
It became, what would be the best and most influential way to help people,
women, reach women and be the average person that people could talk to.
We've been developing the magazine for 5 years and up & running for three.
Autumn Morris
"We are the one stop shop for your bestfriend, homegirl, your hair dresser that you tell all your business to, covered in every issue."
Q: I noticed on your virtual magazine you have a section devoted to Black History content. Why was it important to feature Black History?
A: An issue I have with Black history month in the public school system is we are taught (as well as our children) about the history of Blacks as slaves. No one takes the time out to teach our children about where we came from before slavery. It was important to me, being a women's magazine, to make sure the women in Black history weren't left out.
Official Website
From Left to Right: Reese Stokes, Autumn Morris (center), and Taylor Rednose.
Q: Could you elaborate a little bit more on the inspiration behind the name of your magazine?
A: Yes, every topic that we hit on, every issue that we talk about, every event that we go to...we are the one stop shop for your best friend, homegirl, your hair dresser that you tell all your business covered in every issue. The magazine that you could tell, and discuss any (and) everything. I'm working right now on making sure everyone goes out there and vote. You have to register and have to vote and get your voice heard; that's incredibly important. As well as finances, the Black community has a hard time getting it together and for college, family vacation, bugets...I'm looking to get a financial advisor to come on the team to bring that assisatnace for all of our readers. That's what it generally means for Mane and Dame to be your bestfriend, we're here for you in all aspects in our reader's life.
Make sure to check out Autumn's official virtual magazine, maneandamemag.com and check out her Freedom Travels link, http://freedomtravels.globaltravel.com/.
Written By: Tezya Jackson | June 9, 2016
CEO of Mane Dame Magazine, Autumn Morris
Artist of the Month | June 2016
Written By: Tezya Jackson | June 9, 2016