The continuing evolution of me and Artful

An ärtful re-introduction and a little bit about me.  

Hey gang! It’s been a bit and I wanted to catch you up on things, share some exciting things on the way, and take you back to where things all started for me.

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Gabe: Welcome to artful, the community committed to championing artists and creative misfits from all walks of life. This show gives you an insider's look into the real scrappy lives of artists. creating with purpose, including interviews with beatboxers, graffiti writers, DJs chefs, photographers. Illustrators filmmakers and music artists from around the globe, as well as insights and inspiration from yours truly. I'm Gabe Ratliff an award-winning artist, coach, entrepreneur, and fellow misfit. All right, let's do this.

[00:00:50] Gabe: Hey gang. It's been a bit and I wanted to catch you up on things. Share some exciting things on the way and take you back to where things all started for me.

[00:01:00] Gabe: You see. For over 30 years, I've been in love with art and music and I've been creating it, curating it, and supporting it in one form or another. It all started with playing air drums, along with Stewart Copeland to The Police's. " Every breath you take" when I was a kid. I started playing drums when I was about 10 years old. And went on to play in the marching band, concert band, and orchestra through my senior year when I became quad captain and got to play in front of 80 million people at the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade in New York City.

[00:01:32] Gabe: Whether it was recording, producing, and remixing several records with bands like A Shoreline Dream and Drop the Fear. Or being fortunate enough to play at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater with two different bands. I've been active in the music scene for as long as I can remember. Since 1997 I've DJ'ed at outdoor festivals, weekly residencies, radio shows, and at world-renowned nightclubs like Beta The Church and Soma.

[00:01:59] Gabe: I've been a talent manager for DJs. Co-founded two production companies and even promoted several epic parties inside caves in the Southeast region of the U S. As well as hosting a weekly radio show for four years, that supported local and regional DJs.

[00:02:14] Gabe: I've co-produced award-winning multimedia projects, where we created a film to accompany our full-length album. And we swapped instruments when we would play live. I've been able to experience deejaying at Burning Man with sparks flying behind me as a guy used a grinder on a metal pole. As I played electro house at the Dustfish camp on the esplanade. I've been dripping with sweat as the crowd. And I had a magical experience together during my ethereal techno set at Chronicle on the coast of Goa at the Holy Moly Festival.

[00:02:45] Gabe: I spent almost 10 years ordering new vinyl and buying and selling used records as a dance electronic music buyer at notable record stores like Twist and Shout Records, Barts Vinyl Attic, and Lost and Found Records.

[00:02:58] Gabe: After designing and producing content for companies like Adobe Nikon, Craftsy Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and Lowe's. For over 10 years. I founded my own company called artful. That is committed to championing artists with content, community, and branding. to help them go from the bedroom to the big stage.

[00:03:21] Gabe: In 2017, I began hosting this podcast. Where I interview creative souls, making an impact in the world. to share how they got where they are today. so the ambitious artists can learn from their journey. In 2021. I started the artful radio show to spotlight artists that are making waves and tickling eardrums all over the world.

[00:03:42] Gabe: I recently went through my buddy, Chris Martin's 16-week program called Unlock Your Creative Journey. It was really helpful for me because I was lost in life. I was very depressed after losing my dad last year to cancer. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go in my life. And in my business. And there were two standout things that came out of the program outside of finding where my internal compass was pointing me.

[00:04:09] Gabe: One of those. Was how to answer the question. What I do.

[00:04:14] Gabe: I am a creator. Uh, curator. And a community builder. championing artists. at the intersection between music. art. and storytelling.

[00:04:27] Gabe: The second is my manifesto. Which has also. The artful manifesto.

[00:04:33] Gabe: We are misfits. mavericks. bohemians, punks rebels. weirdos risk-takers explorers, adventures, and dreamers. We are artists. We create just for the sake of creating, without concern for the outcome. We inspire others through our authentic unconditional creativity. We are enough. That is all, nothing more, nothing less. When we do feel small, we reach out to each other for support in whatever form we need at the time. To get our head out of our ass and go create something awesome. and hopefully together. We let the past go. We experienced the present in the moment we create our own future. We enjoy the journey. and embrace the detours. We see other misfits. We hear them. We support them and promote their work. We create a wacky crazy wonky, funky world, no matter where we go. We are drawing our lives, not fucking tracing them. We are painting outside the lines. At the end of our lives. we will skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke thoroughly used up. totally worn out and loudly proclaiming. Wow. What a ride.

[00:06:12] Gabe: At artful, we are here to support artists that want to create with purpose and thrive as they succeed in life, career, and craft.

[00:06:21] Gabe: We offer a community space to get support along with fellow DJs and music producers. As we grow our brands together. We also offer branding services like brand consulting, photography, graphic, design, and websites. We have an artist spotlight that is curated with working artists from around the globe that are getting our attention. as well as music, film and series recommendations that are telling unique stories we think are worth checking out. We sell merch that supports creative misfits from all walks of life by donating 5% of profits. to nonprofit organizations like Gender Amplified, Girls Rock, and Youth on Record. And you even get to choose which organization your purchase supports.

[00:07:08] Gabe: And launching in 2022. We've got weekly branding sessions, a live three-month branding program, and an on-demand branding course to provide the support artists need to go to the next level with their music brand. wherever they are in their journey. We're also offering a new artist branding package that includes photography, visual design, and a website. along with three hours of consulting with a branding expert in each area. as well as our a la carte services with tiered pricing to meet your needs.

[00:07:39] Gabe: Just to give you a taste of what's to come with content. The podcast is spinning back up with all new guests and monologues to support you on your journey as music artists. And keep your ears peeled for the next episode of artful radio, called Neon Demons. which is all about synth wave. One of my favorite genres these days. We have a ton of exciting things coming up in 2022. As well as some awesome new partnerships and collaborations.

[00:08:09] Gabe: And so there you have it, kids. A bunch of new, awesome stuff. Super excited. I'm filled with passion, filled with purpose, and I'm really excited to see where things go coming up in the new year. I hope you're doing great hope you have an awesome day and I hope you have an awesome weekend. And remember. Keep being artful. I love ya.

[00:08:31] Gabe: Well, that's it for this episode, whether this is your first time listening or you're already a fan. Thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy the show. Our links and show notes for this episode can be found at the artful.co/podcast. If you have. Please subscribe to the show and leave a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, wherever you listen to podcasts, if you like what you hear and want to be a guest or know someone that's a good fit. Go to the artful.co/guest. And if you want to leave me a note about an idea or topic for the show, go to the artful.co/speakpipe. Thanks again for listening until next time. Keep being artful.