PERSPECTIVES: Artist Talks with Lavender Studios

The precarious duo of Miss Anelyse and Jayme Smith from Chaos in Red swung by the studio to share some songs, some stories and some sass. We would say the experience was eclectic for sure. Embracing the chaos is how they have survived and got through this topsy-turvy world of ours. If you would like to follow the chaos you can find them on YouTube where they are chronicling their adventures and taking you along for the ride. You can also visit their website for show dates and geocaching updates!Chaos in Red YouTubeClick hereChaos in Red WebsiteClick here

The multi-faceted Poppy Flowers stopped by the studio to share her story, her art, and her poetry with us. This was an amazing experience from someone who has spent decades gaining insight and curiosity in painting, fabrication, poetry, artistry, publication, and curation. To learn more about Poppy (Alice McCaan) check out her Creative Spark Gallery website or better yet, go visit her in the Englewood Arts District. Creative Spark GalleryClick herePolly's Art WebsiteClick here

Nick May stopped by the studio to share his story and his love for music. While Nick’s education is in classical saxophone, his playing is very modern and progressive. His songs invoke question and connection almost as if it’s asking what if or why not? The way that he expresses his essence through the reed and into the soul is mesmerizing. He utilizes a lot of techniques that are very uncommon in the classical world, and he has this ability to really draw you in to focus and pay attention to every breath and key press. Nick also shared with us an unreleased track that we could not post but we will return to it as soon as it gets released. We’ll just say, not a dry eye in the house. Nick ended the session with a reminder, “music is meant to be played for and with people” and we couldn’t agree more!You can find more information about Nick and the I Exist Project at the links below.Nick’s WebsiteClick hereI EXIST PROJECTClick here

The multi-disciplined visual artist Gwynevere Buie hung out with us on this wet and cold Sunday. She shared some of her portfolio and her processes for creating truly unique and fantastical pieces. While this artist talk was a first for her you can tell she is passionate about her art and her community. We can't wait to work with her again down the road. If you would like to see more of her work, check out the links below. InstagramClick hereWebsiteClick here

The ever so delightful Charlie Cloud swung by the studio on this rainy and cold Sunday to share their story and their songs about life and love. The word unrequited comes to mind. We met Charlie a long time ago and we are so excited to finally have them out. If you would like to hear more from Charlie and their upcoming projects, check out their socials below. InstagramClick herePatreon and NewsletterClick here

LOL Gator (Loyalty Over Love) stopped by the studio to share his story and his journey for the bag! This guy is the hardest working artist who is doing everything possible to make hip-hop his career and for that we tip our hat! You can find out more about LoL Gator at the links below. InstagramClick hereYouTube MusicClick here

Dwyane Golden hung out with us at the studio and showed us his musical chops and lyricism. He is a hip-hop artist from Kansas City, Missouri, grounded in faith, family, and truth. His music is a reflection of real life; raw, intentional, and rooted in purpose. With a deep connection to rap and a lifelong respect for lyrical honesty, Dwyane brings heart and conviction to every verse. For fans of authentic hip-hop with a message, Dwyane Golden is a name to remember.You can find Dwyane at the links below. YouTubeClick hereInstagramClick hereAll Streaming PlatformsClick here

The hilarious Hilari Holt stopped by the studio and shared her beginnings, her mission and her excitement about the future. Hilari is a Kansas City, Missouri born and raised multifaceted individual; from acting (Film, stage, commercial) to producing to writing, leading and comedic performing (specializing in improv comedy since 2016). She is the founder, executive director/producer of Black Comedy Fest KC, Kansas City’s first all encompassing (improv, stand-up & sketch) comedy festival centered on showcasing black comedic creatives l since 2024. Apart from career, Hilari is not a stranger to a board meeting (and speaking up in one) or community service projects and is a huge lover of & believer in all that Kansas City has to offer. We can't wait to collaborate and work with Hilari on upcoming projects and programs that she's working on behind the scenes. In this video you watch her short film, Black Up as well as an improv song writing session with Dwyane Golden and LOL Gator!You can find Hilari at the links below. FacebookClick hereInstagramClick hereLink TreeClick here

Joshua James stopped by the studio to share some tunes and his story about how he grew up in a large family in Arkansas but migrated to KC after college and hasn't looked back! From his soft Avett Brothers style folk singing to his Andrew W.K. type of live energy, one thing is for sure, Joshua James knows how to party! You can find out more about Joshua James on his socials and you can find him hosting The Wednesday Wave at Grinder's in the Crossroads. You can also follow his band Joshua James and The First Aid Kit performing all over Kansas City and Lawrence!Joshua's InstagramClick hereThe First Aid KitClick hereWednesday WaveClick here

We invited multi-discipline artist Phil Dunn out to the studio to share his story and his art. This was an amazing talk that dug deep into where our vision and how our art comes to life. You can see Phil this 1st Friday at Apex Artspace with previous Perspectives alum, Justin Canja!April 3, 20265pm-8pmApex Artspace (1819 Wyandotte Street, KCMO).A message from Phil,I am a self- taught artist. I graduated with a degree in film and video production in the early 90’s but I didn’t find painting until much later in life. I started painting and working with resin as a form of therapy. I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity early in my art career to work on several large scale projects around Kansas City for Society, The Uptown Theater and The Fall among others.I am drawn to the ambiguous nature of abstraction. There is a freedom to painting organically and letting the subject matter present itself to me through mark making. I consider myself a “blue collar” artist in that I value destruction as much as construction. I often use nontraditional tools such as masonry trowels, putty knives, scrapers and sandpaper, along with my brushes and palette knives. I try as often as possible to use materials taken from job sites of the construction jobs I work on. Scrap wood, doors, cabinetry, cardboard, anything that I can reclimate into a useful surface. Often, I finish my work in resin. Resin provides a crystal-clear finish that adds magnification and clarity. Resin makes the colors I use jump back to life giving the appearance of wet paint. I am open to all mediums in service to each particular piece I create, utilizing acrylics, inks, collage and found or repurposed objectsI view art as a conversation. My work is a physical manifestation of seeking a connection. A connection to the natural world, the technological world, to myself and to each other. I enjoy creating work that has a meditative quality in that it often continues to reveal itself with prolonged viewing. My aesthetic combines elements of abstraction and surrealism. My love for abstraction is deeply rooted in the unspoken conversation between the artist and the viewer. Perception is uniquely individual and malleable…and fun to mess with.I have been exhibiting work professionally in the Kansas City area since 2019. I have been a resident artist at InterUrban Art house since June of 2025 and am currently represented by Smalter Gallery.Phil's InstagramClick hereSmalter GalleryClick hereInterUrban ArtHouseClick hereMoD GalleryClick here

Angela Brown from Creative Wares and Things stopped by the studio to give us a clinic on water marbling. She took us through the Japanese Suminagashi method as well as a new gel plate option and traditional paint transfer techniques. It was really fun and we got to create our very own take-home art piece! We definitely want to bring her out again and see if we can get more people involved. Let us know if you are interested in learning more about it!From the artist: Creative Wares was founded by Angela and Matt, blending two family businesses—MomsandMes and ARB Creative Designs—into one creative home. What started as a 4-H project has grown into a place where art, craft, and teaching come together.Angela is the creative force behind Creative Wares. An award-winning jewelry artist and printmaker, she specializes in monotype printmaking and marbling techniques, including traditional Western marbling and Japanese Suminagashi. From paper and fabric to glass, wood, metal, and leather, every piece she creates is truly one-of-a-kind.At Creative Wares, I don’t just make—I also teach and inspire. Whether you’re looking for unique handcrafted art or the chance to explore your own creativity, this is a place to discover your creative voice.Angela's InstagramClick hereCreative Wares and Things WebsiteClick here

Jennifer and Jessica from Facing Giants swung by the studio today to share their songs and their story. Top tier piano playing from Jennifer and vocal harmonies for days. Facing Giants is a KC Christian Pop/ Punk band that leans into worship and the gratitude that comes from their faith. You can check them out on all the socials and they have new music out on all streaming platforms!FacebookClick hereYouTubeClick hereSpotifyClick here

Bailey AKA AVOIDBEE swung by the studio to share her animations, comics, and her backstory. We were blown away by her amazing detail work and her creative landscape of unique characters and histories. Bailey has been a recent supporter of Lavender and we are so happy to have her as part of our community. Her dedication to representation for the LGBTQiA community in her character development and publications are a true sign of an ally and a leader. Go check out her website and ETSY store to pick up your very own copy of her new comic Lilith and Frogs with Jobs sticker packs!WebsiteClick hereInstagramClick hereETSYClick hereBailey's PatreonClick here

Kirstie Lynn stopped by the studio to share her songs and some of her favorite stories. We are absolutely blown away by her talent and her vocal chops. Her warm smile and her "on a journey" style lyrics really have a way reminding you of home and the promise of better days ahead. Here's an excerpt from her website: Originally from the Fingerlakes region of Upstate, NY, Kirstie Lynn brings elements of all the places she has called home into her songwriting. From the lilacs of Rochester, the bridges of London, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Appalachia, and the sweeping prairies of the Midwest, you can find melodies and words accompanied by her finger-picking on guitar reminiscent of the many lives she has lived so far.Kirstie Lynn's music is inherently emotional, providing a story-teller perspective to the trials and triumphs of life. As an aspiring conservationist and naturalist as well, her lyrics are deeply saturated in the outdoors and her experiences and adventures in nature. With her vocal training, Kirstie Lynn's voice is free and easy to listen to. Listeners have compared her voice and style to that of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Brandi Carlile, and Judy Collins, but her singing is truly something new and refreshing. You can find Kirstie Lynn playing either solo or with long-time friend and music partner, Galen Clark, in the Kansas City area.Kirstie's WebsiteClick hereKirstie's InstagramClick here

Multi-disciplinary artist Justin Canja swung by the studio to share his work and his multitudes of mediums with us. He started off the event with a poem then dove straight into growing up with undiagnosed ADHD and how his love for tinkering captured his focus away from school and work. Justin's work spans slam poetry, collage, sculpture, window painting, and crafts. He has a residency at InterUrban/ArtHouse and is continuing to explore different approaches to expression and art. InstagramClick hereFaceBookClick hereInterUrban Art HouseClick here

Izzy swung by the studio and shared her songs and her story. Her voice was somehow soft and sweet but also, verbose and haunting. Playing in minor keys and alternate tunings really brought out the melancholy in her sound. She ran the gamut of loss, losing, soaring and revenge. She has new music coming out soon so make sure to follow her on your favorite streaming service. She has a couple singles out already and they are fantastic!Much love to Izzy as she prepares to move out state to start a new adventure.InstagramClick hereListen HereClick here

It was a cold and wet February afternoon when the sound of color and life erupted in the Lavender Studios' living room. We welcomed the indy rock/fusion band Flower Gun to share their music and their story. If you'd like to follow this amazing band please check out their socials and be on the lookout for new shows coming to Kansas City. 3/21 RINO with Foxlin3/28 Hillsiders and 4/25 Sk8bar.Flower Gun Link TreeClick here

Zoey from Mellow Portobellow Studios stopped by our studio to share her art and how she got started. She also shared some pretty amazing buttons with all of us in attendance. Hailing from Topeka, she made the trek across state lines to bring the vibes and all the unique ways that she expresses herself and shows that she can make art just for fun as well. We can't wait to see what comes out next from Zoey. Her work truly is one of a kind! Check out her store and order some original art from this great creator!Zoey's StoreClick hereZoey's InstagramClick here

We met Tracey a few months back and invited her out to the studio. She blew us away with her emotionally deep writing, insight and quite clever guitar playing. We absolutely love that she has fallen in love with Kansas City and made us her musical hometown. From her iconic green hair to fighting for equity for all, Tracey makes it apparent she means business. She's got new music in the works and we can't wait for it to be released. So keep an eye out for those new tunes. Give her a follow on her Instagram and then check out her single Savage Soul on Spotify or Apple Music.Tracey's InstagramClick hereTracey's SpotifyClick here

Maddie hung out with us on a cold day in October and warmed our hearts with songs from the heart and a passion for storytelling. We had a packed house and deservingly so. Maddie is a fantastic lyricist, musician, and vocalist. Her warm and cheerful tone that's almost as soft as a whisper reminds us about our humanity. The quiet thoughts that run through our heads almost as if emotion is looking for an escape hatch. She sang songs of hardship and loss of what could have been but also, the anxiety and anticipation of what could still be. If you'd like to follow Maddie on her adventures please check out her socials below and then go to one of her shows and support the cause. In this case, the cause is cause she's broke and needs your support. We can't wait to have her out again. She is truly a cut above the rest. Maddie's Link TreeClick hereMaddie's InstagramClick here

Poet Laureate, DJ, Producer, Non-Human music curator, inventor and gamer Alejandro Sabillón stopped by the studio to share his travels, inventions, philosophies on life and the link between his life growing up in Honduras and then the United States and how it all plays out in his favorite game, The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time! Take this deep dive with us as we travel into his past, present and future as this music maker, curator, and activist travels the globe and explains how plants and animals can make music of their own and how we can support them. If you'd like to learn more about Alejandro please click the links below. Jon's Ted TalkClick hereJon's InstagramClick here

Luke "Skippy" Harbur stopped by the studio and reminded us why he is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)He shared his love for creating sounds and textures with just his mouth and his breathing. He also shared songs from the heart that help heal and help empower us to survive another day! If you would like to learn more about Skippy and all of his amazing projects and programs that he is working on or has created please check out his website at the link below. Skippy's WebsiteClick here

We invited Camry out to the studio to share her art and music journey with us! Starting out as a musician then turning her sights on creating a new instrument so that she can turn paint into music. Welcome to the world of Coloratura! From her website:Coloratura is an innovative system of musical paintbrushes that operate as MIDI controllers. Each of the twelve paintbrushes in the system is assigned to a unique musical note and color, enabling users to create both physical art and real-time digital music simultaneously. As the brushes touch the canvas, color and sound emerge as one, creating a multi-sensory experience for users and observers that simulates synesthesia. The end result of each user experience is an electronic music composition and a tangible, analog piece of art.THE ARTISTCamry Ivory, a musician, artist, and inventor based in Kansas City, is the creative force behind Coloratura, a groundbreaking instrument that transforms ordinary paintbrushes into tools for creating electronic music and physical art simultaneously.  Through her community-driven interactive workshops and captivating live performances, Camry harmoniously blends visual art and music together, redefining the boundaries of creative expression and inviting viewers and users to challenge conventional notions of art and music. Her passion for using technology to create beautiful, immersive experiences fuels her mission to reignite the innate spark of creativity within us all. As a featured performer and facilitator, Camry has collaborated with many musical and artistic organizations, including Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Kansas School for the Blind, ArtsKC, Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts (MOXSONIC) Festival , Kansas City STEM Alliance, Harmony Project, and the Folk Alliance International Music Conference,  She is the 2024 Rita Blitt Interdisciplinary Artist Fellow at the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University, where her work continues to explore the intersection of art, music and technology, fostering innovative artistic collaborations.You can learn more about Coloratura and Camry at the links below! Camry's InstagramClick hereCamry's WebsiteClick here

Dandelion swung by the studio on Feb 1st to share his stories of his travels and his lived experiences while backpacking across Europe and Northern Africa to working at at a school in Hawaii. Much love for his exposure and exploits of traditional greenskeeping and natural perseverance. You can find more of his music and philosophies on his instagram and his website below. From his website: Dandelion Lakewood is an otherworldly bard: a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, audio engineer, sound designer, and video maker born in Kansas City.As if emerged from an ancient, abandoned temple woven from thriving, thick green foliage, Dandy conjures musical spells for creatures of distant realms so that they can remember their sovereign power and lift each other up.Lakewood integrates various styles into his eclectic blend of indie, folk, blues, jazz, noise, ambient, americana, balkan, middle eastern and psychedelic sounds. He also hosts a podcast, Voice Seeker, which features perspectives from a global assortment of speakers.Dandy became a wandering bard unexpectedly in 2014. It was then that he abandoned his stationary life in Chicago and went on a musical journey spanning 30 countries and 4 continents including Hawai’i, Europe, Ireland, North Africa, the Balkans, and Turkiye to absorb musical traditions and play music for countless people in festivals, bars, cafes, living rooms, barns, streets, and forests.Dandelion has shared the stage and collaborated with a diverse host of international artists, including Perija, Høly River, Julie Byrne, True Lions, YACHT, Nadja, ÖZGÜR BABA, Davey Dynamite, Plastic Crimewave, X Dirty Fingers, Billy Mack Collector, Jeremy Waun, Frank Hurricane, Eric Funn, Izpod Korenin, Damla Eker, Cross Record, Margo May, members of Seyyah, and more.His influences span 90’s trailblazers Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and Portishead, indie auteurs The Microphones and Animal Collective, the austere electronic worlds of Kraftwerk, Monolake, Autechre, Aphex Twin, and Plastikman, Turkish artists Erkan Oğur, Erkin Koray, Gaye Su Akyol, Oratnitza, Selda Bağcan, Aşık Veysel, Aşık Mahzuni Şerif, and Oruç Güvenç ve Tümata, ambient soundscapes from Harold Budd, Brian Eno, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Faust, the folklore tradition from The Anthology of American Folk Music, The Carter Family, Doc Watson, Jimmie Rodgers, Leadbelly, and traditional folk songs worldwide.Dandelion is currently thriving in Kansas City, crafting new recordings and developing the most recent incarnation of his indie-psychedelic band Bowl of Dust & Co.Dandelion's InstagramClick hereDandelion's Website Bowl of DustClick here

Hannah hung out with us at the studio and shared her music and her sweet synthey tones! Hannah, originally from Arkansas moved up here after going to an art school in Memphis and is now a permanent KC trooper! Her music reminds us of having a conversation in our head where we are playing out both parts. She tells a story but then also reflects on that message and how it impacts her, quite beautifully we would say. You can follow Hannah and her band Silvee through her socials below!Hannah's InstagramClick hereHannah's Art PageClick hereSilvee MusicClick here

Payton stopped by the studio to share her art and her story. We are so grateful to have people like Payton who understand the importance of art as community glue. It is the stories and the experiences that bind us all together. We loved her approach to set aside traditional or academic ways of doing things to charter her own path with her art and it really shows how expressive and vulnerable you can get when you are left to your own devices and get to create just to for you. You can stay up to date on Payton's work by following her socials. Payton's InstagramClick here

Julia came out to our Halloween Haunted House Arty and shared some of her favorite songs dressed as Microsoft's Clippy! It was a wonderful performance and a sincere toast to the pre AI days of just having a little helper while writing a document. Sorry for the camera angle, the house was packed and I had a hard time trying to squeeze in there! But I hope you appreciate it none the less. You can find more Julia Wildstar at the link below!Julia's WebsiteClick here

On November 16th, 2025 we invited the amazingly poetic Jade Green to the studio to share some songs and some insights. Their bold activism and authenticity was a call to arms to stop the genocide in Gaza and to stand up to our oppressors! Shooketh were we! You can find out more about them and their new band Sissyfuss below. Jade InstagramClick here

We invited our new friend Selene out to the studio for a Halloween themed House Arty. Not only did she bring the vibe but she brought a whole attitude! We were blown away by her compassion and her unyielding support of her friends, family and for social justice! Accompanying her performance was Marcus Rattler on percussion, Zachary Arias on guitar, and Brian Robinson on bass.We can't wait to see her perform again. If you want to follow Selene and see what's she's up to next. Click the link below to go to her socials.Selene's WebsiteClick hereSelene's InstagramClick hereSelene's FacebookClick here

Currently based in Lawrence, Kansas, independent singer-songwriter Audrey Chopin signs her indie folk/rock debut as Aud Whitson releasing music under Swaddled Moon Records, a made up record company.Drawing inspiration from diverse influences, Aud Whitson channels a sound that is timeless and deeply personal. She uses songwriting as a medium to tell vivid stories that offer comfort and connection to those trying to find words for complex emotions.Apart from writing for herself as Aud Whitson, Audrey Chopin is a multi-genre vocalist and songwriter who loves to collaborate with other artists.Aud's Website for show dates!Click hereAud's InstagramClick here

We invited the amazing Waleska Font from No Divide KC to share her stories and her art with us. Waleska is a Venezuelan multidisciplinary artist whose work weaves together poetry, visual art, and cultural storytelling. Through her series The Sacred Crop, she explores the profound spiritual and cultural significance of corn in Pre-Columbian Latin America, blending vibrant visuals with poetic narratives to invite viewers into a world where art and heritage intertwine.You can see more of Waleska on her social media or what she's working on over at No Divide KC.Waleska's InstagramClick hereNo Divide KCClick here

Danielle, stage name "Danielle Ate the Sandwich" stopped by the studio and shared some songs, some stories, and some laughs. Danielle really is a top tier musician and song-writer. Her songs are filled with humor, honesty, self reflection, and a plucky perspicacity you just can't find anywhere else! After her session, she hung out and we all wrote a song together as a group and it just the best experience for us and our group of rag tag art lovers. Danielle tours around the country doing one-woman ensembles which include multiple characters and outfit changes as well as promoting her latest album, Fumbling, which is a zero-skips, perfect album to listen to when you need to feel your feelings. You can find Danielle and all of her projects here. Danielle's WebsiteClick hereYou can also find Danielle at Sequins Before Noon at the Blackbox Theater on Jan 15 with Nan Turner!You can find her show dates hereClick here

When we try think about who writes and performs the most beautiful songs in Kansas City, Gracie Caggiano is always at the top of that list. We found Gracie at a songwriters performance session at Englewood Arts with other fabulous musicians and her writing and empathy and love really blew us away. Gracie is an amazing composer, singer, instrumentalist and human being and everyone in KC knows it! Gracie describes herself better than we ever could. This description is from her website. "Gracie Caggiano is an eclectic poet-composer, performer, and producer based in Kansas City, MO. Empathetic and fatefully existential, Gracie muses on complex emotions and human experiences, crafting poetic spaces where listeners can speculate about love, vulnerability, meaning, and disability. Whether songwriting in popular genres or composing concert music, Gracie synthesizes diverse stylistic elements from her popular-music background and classical training. Gracie creates embodied music which champions the limitations of her disability and reclaims the aesthetic value of fragility. As a performer, she is known for her hauntingly beautiful vocals and authentic delivery. Her idiosyncratic guitar work often employs alternate tunings to facilitate weakness in her hands, resulting in colorful harmonic progressions which characterize songs and concert works alike. Gracie frequently collaborates on a range of creative projects, from writing short-film scores and dance pieces, to producing and co-writing songs for and with other singer-songwriters. Gracie has composed concert music for the Stetson University Chorale, UMKC Graduate Fellowship String Quartet, and And2 Percussion. Her concert works have also been performed by the Stetson University Concert Choir and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City (in partnership with No Divide KC). In May 2024, Gracie released her debut album I can’t be anything but human—folk-adjacent, classically-infused songs which passionately chronicle love and grief.Gracie holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Stetson University (spring 2021), where she studied composition with Manuel de Murga and voice with Karen Coker Merritt. She earned a Master of Music in Composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in spring 2023, where she studied with Yotam Haber, Paul Rudy, Chen Yi, and Zhou Long. "​Gracie's InstagramClick hereGracie's WebsiteClick hereGracie's IMDBClick here

We got the absolute privilege of having to major players in the music and audio industry out at the studio! Professor SHYGUY also known and Brandt Cooley is a touring musician who writes and produces his own work and he hops around to different Cons throughout the country all year long. Comiccon, Crypticon, Colossalcon, Magstock, Frolicon, you get the idea. But he also plays here locally as well with his partner Blythe Renay. They came out to the house during an exceptionally frigid day and where Brandt was outside working an event all morning long. Add on to that some technical difficulties on our side and it was definitely a somewhat stressful evening. However, they persevered and put on this amazing living room sized accommodation just for us!Blythe is an industry powerhouse on her own, she does voice-over work for tv and video games. She is also a singer, actress, and runs a fitness class over in KCK. Seriously, go check out her IMDB!Blythe Renay's IMDBClick hereWe met up with these two at a local show and they were absolutely amazing! Brandt brings in a projector and screen to his shows and he has custom videos that he made that go along with all the songs. This is especially handy when you are trying to follow along on one of the songs that every word is sung alphabetically! They came out to the house during an exceptionally frigid day and where Brandt was outside working an event all morning long. Add on to that some technical difficulties on our side and it was definitely a somewhat stressful evening. However, they persevered and put on this amazing living room sized accommodation just for us!The two incorporate lots of nostalgic video game sounds from 8-Bit games blended with heavy doses of distortion and crazy guitar playing! Every now and again you can catch them with a live drummer which really ups the concert experience. If you ever have the opportunity to check these two out, please go out of your way to do so. It is worth it. We promise!!!

We invited out the amazing Nan Turner to the studio to share her amazing story and all the projects she's working on. One of which is Nan + The One Nite Stands which is a musical group that she put together with local KC musicians and singers. From her website "After so much commitment in her young life, Nan wanted a creative project where she wasn’t tied down to people or genres. She wanted to play and dance with many different people. The One Nite Stands were born! They are a rotating cast of musician and dancer friends that have illuminated and energized her songs from NYC to Kansas City to Baltimore! And let’s not forget Germany!"While Nan was here she put on a few scenes from her upcoming musical, Sequins Before Noon. "Part rock concert, part musical theatre, all 90’s figure skating. Featuring Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, Oksana Baiul, their mothers, and some celebrity guests like Scott Hamilton and Courtney Love, Sequins Before Noon explores existentialism, friendship, murder, and your relationship with your mother."Nan taught us how to follow the fun with her songs, dancing, acting, and just love of the game. We can't wait to see her performance at the Black Box Theater January 15-18. Nan's WebsiteClick hereTickets to Sequins Before NoonClick here

We met Lindsey at KC Oasis, which is this secular community in Kansas City of people who may have grew up with a religious foundation, but have since left the church and maybe deconstructed or maybe are just trying to find community. We got invited to give a community Spotlight moment and we connected with Lindsey because she’s an artist! She told us her harrowing story and how over the last decade she has been working as a filmmaker to bring attention to suicide awareness after the fallout of her husband‘s death while he was a police officer. We learned so much from Lindsey and about how communities react to suicide. When you watch this presentation, please do so with an open heart. But there is a trigger warning for suicide, suicidality and loss.Lindsey who is an art teacher by trade, started doodling at her group suicide loss meetings. She realized that by doing Blind Contour techniques she could keep the anonymity of the folks there and still show the impact of the expressions on their faces. When you see her works you see can see recurring themes of loss and restlessness.We were so grateful to have her share her story and tell let everyone know, you are not alone, there are people who care about you deeply even if you haven't even met them yet. If you need someone to talk to please dial 988 to reach someone from the Missouri Lifeline support team. You can learn more about Lindsey by clicking the link below. LIndsey's Website, Above The RugClick here

On November 9th we invited Julia Wildstar to share her talent with our community and to breathe life into our collective consciousness! Julia works best on a huge stage so that her theatrics and massive voice can be truly appreciated. But she brought all of that energy to the lavender living room just for us! She showcased her voice but also her music writing and production skills. All of her songs are self produced, mixed, mastered and released by her alone. She won't stop until she's at the top!You can visit Julia's website for more info about her and her upcoming performances!Click here

November 9th, we invited artist, mother, and cake decorator extraordinaire Jeni Reynolds to give an artist talk about her methods and backstory on how she became an artist and why she uses art to express herself and how it creates a time capsule of emotions and her memories. After her talk her daughter and musician Julia Wildstar sat down at the piano and played some of her favorites for us!You can see more of Jeni's work here!Click here