Tag: Entrepreneur

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Meet Luisa Maria

Born as a Bronx Native, fearless with a big voice and an even bigger personality, Maria understood that to be great you have to do great. Overcoming obstacle as she continue to grow her brand is the definition of a true go getta . Maria is a bright star working hard, proving the world that she has what it takes to be a Model & entrepreneur that she is destine to be. She is not stopping nor does she intends to as she turns this dream of hers into a realty.

Meet Luisa Maria as she speaks with V-Henny about her journey.


V-Henny: Who inspired you ? 
Luisa Maria: Growing up with women who looked like me in my family made me proud, also Ashley Graham 
V-Henny: What were some of the steps you had to take to get to within your career?
Luisa Maria: I had to practice poses and face expressions, and get a good portfolio shots every few months as my look changed. I had to submit these photos to agency’s hoping they would get back to me. 
V-Henny: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
Luisa Maria: To invest in myself even if it feels like nothing is changing. 
V-Henny: If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
Luisa Maria: I would change the way we get paid months after doing a photo shoot. I don’t think that’s fair. V-Henny: What is one message you would give to your fans? 
Luisa Maria: To never ever give up. But to also not put your self worth into what gigs you get or what jobs you’re waiting to hear back from. 


V-Henny: Looking back then to where you’re at now, give me a moment that made an impact within your modeling career.
Luisa Maria: In 2020 I was on the verge of quitting modeling because I’ve been trying to get signed to any agency for 5 years. But I told myself let me just do one more portfolio shoot and try one one more time. 2 week after I did that I was signed! 
V-Henny: How long have you had this creative vision and what pushes you to
be consistent ?
Luisa Maria: I didn’t believe in the 9-5 work life that society has ingrained into our heads. I’ve always been creative weather it was singing, acting or writing I knew working at a desk job will never bring me true joy. 
V-Henny: In order to succeed in life you have to know how to give credit and 
give back . Who would you give credit to for your success thus far? 
Luisa Maria: I would give credit to my family who always believed in me even if they didn’t understand my vision. And to my amazing agent. 
V-Henny: Has it been a smooth road for you as a creative/model? Elaborate on a struggle you are most proud of overcoming.
Luisa Maria: It hasn’t been smooth because as empowering of a women I am to be plus size and owning it, I still struggle with body image. I’ve learned to accept myself at whatever stage I am in life and be graceful and patient to myself. 
V-Henny: What’s next?
Luisa Maria: To keep modeling while taking more care of my Health in all aspects, I would like to get more into acting and singing as those are my roots. And to do more glam shoots instead of mostly lifestyle and fitness jobs I’m getting now. 

You can follow Luisa Maria on Instagram and her work listed below.

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LV Jay Lives with No Regrets!

Meet  LV Jay an artist from Miami, Florida who refuses to live in regret. LV plans to take on his passion to another level and pursue his dreams as an artist and entrepreneur. V-Henny had the pleasure of interviewing him on his process and what he’s been currently working on.

V-Henny: Who inspired you to make music? 
LV Jay: As far as who inspired me I would say Lil Wayne  inspired me to make music because he is so versatile and can do a lot and that’s something I strive for in my music myself. My twin brother had introduced me to Lil Wayne music back when we were in middle school. I used to walk around with all his tapes downloaded on my PSP and It was over from then.

V-Henny: What age did you start writing and recording music?
 LV Jay: I actually started writing music at the age of 24 but at first I used to just freestyle with my friends and I eventually made my first track . Most of the time I would go off the flow of the beat & how I’m feeling at the time. But now I actually write my songs out. 

V-Henny: What made you want to become a player in the music industry?
LV Jay: What made me wanna become an artist is the freedom of expression they have and music is something that could help me talk to others that may be going through the same thing I’m going through in life . 

V-Henny: What is your goal with being an owner of a label?
LV Jay: My goal is to have my label big like QC one day and build a label with family vibes that’s very important to me . 

V-Henny: Looking back then to where you’re at now, give me a moment that made an impact within your music career. 
LV Jay: What made an impact on my music from back then to now is seeing my friend Yung JD go so hard and seeing other artists from Florida go hard in the rap game. They make me want it more and become a better artist myself.   

V-Henny: Has it been a smooth road for you as an artist? 
LV Jay: No it hasn’t been a smooth road as an artist because I’m an independent artist and you have to be organized in order to compete with other artists that are actually signed to these big labels . But to be real I Love the grind and the hustle that come with the music industry. 

V-Henny: What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
LV Jay: If it wasn’t for music I’ll be going to school getting a masters degree or owning a business if I wasn’t focused on my music career . 

V-Henny: What were some of the steps you had to take to get to where you’re at in your career?
LV Jay: The steps I had to take was to find out what kind of artist I am and what kind of music I wanna make . Then after I discovered that I just started working on songs and investing in myself also started networking within the music industry. 

V-Henny: What projects are you presently working on?  
LV Jay: I’m working on a mixtape that I’m making with Yung JD right now. It’s going well so far and will be a hard tape. The tape will have 10 tracks on it. 

V-Henny: Who would you most like to collaborate with?
LV Jay: I would like to work with Lil Wayne , Future , DMX , Lil Durk, No Cap , Lil Baby , Polo G , Lil Tjay and Drake and many women artists like Summer Walker and Cardi B. 

V-Henny: Other notables you have worked with?  
LV Jay: Other nobles I have worked with was an artist named Saintlee. She has a great voice and we made a track called “Right from wrong” . It’s on my EP “I Jay You” which is on all platforms. 

V-Henny: What’s your ultimate goal within your artistry ?   
LV Jay: My goal is to become a gold artist first and then a platinum artist next. I wanna be the next big thing out of Florida .  

V-Henny: What is one message you would give to your fans? 
LV Jay: The message I wanna give people that listen to my music is a point of view of my life and also a positive message to grind and go get it no matter what challenges you may face. 


V-Henny: What is the best advice you’ve been given to pursue your goal as an artist and a label owner?
LV Jay: The best advice I got as an artist and a label owner is you go get out what you put in with this music game. Meaning the more I work the more progression I’ll see and if I don’t work on my craft you won’t see much change. 

V-Henny: Is there anything else you would like the world to know about you?
LV Jay:  I would like the world to know that I’m going to be the next big artist coming out of Florida. 

You can find more of LV Jay’s work on

https://linktr.ee/lv_jay

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Meet The Other Shade

The Other Shade is a multifaceted artist in which he is known to be a talented R&B singer, a producer and owner of his own clothing brand. Pushing his artistry to become a notable powerhouse, the Virginia native is making a name for himself as he set the tone throughout the industry. Pyro Da Arsonist had the pleasure of interviewing him as you learn more on who is The Other Shade.

Pyro Da Arsonist: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us what do you do and where you are from.

T.O.S: Thank you for having me, I’m an R&B artist named T.O.S. Also known as The Other Shade. I own a clothing company called KALIFRAGALISTIC, and I also produce beats for movies and musical artists of different acclaimed levels.

Home used to be Fairfax, Virginia, in my early life I moved around different areas in the same county till I came to college in Morgantown at WVU.

Pyro Da Arsonist: Why did you choose The Other Shade as your stage name?

T.O.S: I remember I was making my first Instagram account in the middle of 7th grade and I wanted to make a name no one will think of but that represents me. To me the other shade offers colors and the shade between the lights of things. Basically I’m just always the other aspect.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What or who inspired you to become an artist?

T.O.S: Big L, Rick James, The Weeknd, Tupac, and Nas were the biggest influences when it comes to greats in music. I had two close friends that passed at the beginning and the end of 2020, those two were my most physical influences which is what pushed me to be the no look back artist I am today.

Pyro Da Arsonist: How would you describe yourself as an artist and describe your sound?

T.O.S: As an artist I see myself as very detailed and extremely personable. It’s always been hard to show my emotions but I found the easiest way to express is through music because I can only judge myself. The sound that comes out is very cinematic and has been compared to films more than day to day music.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What project are you currently working on and what kind of feedback have you received from your current single?

T.O.S: So I’m working on my studio album called  “D’evils of beauty” that I’m recording at IMI studios throughout the month of April. My current single “All in Ones” will debut and mark the first release of the project. After submitting to music reviewers I’ve had nothing but positive feedback, the most negative comment was a better mix-down which IMI studios will undoubtedly take care of in April.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What is one of your most memorable performances and why?

T.O.S: I would say my very first one at 123 pleasant St. in Morgantown. It was a beat battle and we had a whole promo and everything for the area. It was my first taste of the life I always felt needed me.

Pyro Da Arsonist: Have you ever had a bad performance and if so how do you move past it without letting it affect your confidence?

T.O.S: My second beat battle had more of a randomness to it, my competitor had lost their father just a few days before so it kind of dulled the atmosphere. I noticed I felt sympathetic but I realized no matter what music is music and pushed forward.

Pyro Da Arsonist: In this age of social media what do you feel is more important in an artists success, talent, number of followers or an investor?

T.O.S: In this age I would say investors for sure, money makes the world work that much faster for you. Social media makes chances more available for the everyday artist but no matter what money comes into play at some point.

Pyro Da Arsonist: What words of wisdom would you give to those who want to start a career in music?
T.O.S: My best advice would be that if it’s been your gut feeling over multiple years and you keep ignoring it? Don’t. That’s how history gets lost. Those artist with a natural tug to them are the ones to watch out the most for because they’re usually behind the scenes till they realize they are the scene.

Thank you for sitting down with The Artistry and we wish you lots of success in all you do.

Follow T.O.S on all Social Media

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Meet William Benson “Billionaires Row”

“Luxury starts where functionality ends and where the true value is personal and so has no price or reason”. -Marcel Wanders 

William Benson is a shining example of transferring career skills into entrepreneurial endeavors. His corporate financial background gave him the legs he needed to navigate his brand prosperously through the high-end liquor industry. Benson held the title of Senior Manager at Tyche Capital. Tyche Capital is “a venture capital firm that focuses on investments in early and early growth stage companies with disruptive technologies”.William Benson gained financial strategy tools by way of managing a myriad of clients which included Fortune 500 companies and emerging technology firms. His affluent clientele did not discourage him from working with start-up media companies as well. 

William Benson is the founder of Benson and Benson, “a multi-national Consulting firm & Real Estate Investment Group, who specializes in developing and actualizing Real Estate investment strategies”. These two different worlds gave Benson the fiscal tactics he needed to successfully launch and sustain “Billionaire Row”. “Billionaire Row” is a “global luxury brand which designs, develops, and markets luxury goods for the modern trendsetting and affluent customer”. If his products resemble the fluidity of his website then there is no doubt in my mind why he keeps such an opulent patronage. The silky representation used to showcase his Brut Rose Champagne and Brandy Cuvee XO, sets the tone for purchase purpose. Each product details ingredients, describes their scent and taste for connoisseurs, explains the best food pairing options, and includes a cocktail recipe for those who’d prefer a mixed drink (brandy). 

“Billionaire Row” has been the drink of choice at star-studded events such as: Kris Jenner’s Haute Living Magazine Cover debut event, The Weeknd and Selena Gomez’s Birthday Bash, and The 4th Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards at the Sunset Tower in West Hollywood.

“We are suggesting a new kind of opulence, of intelligent indulgence over blind gluttony”. -Naeem Khan 

William Benson’s philanthropy is just as impactful as his global luxury brand. Accompanied by his consulting services, Benson is a board member of Unspoken Smile. This New York based, non-governmental organization specializes in free dental care for children worldwide. In 2016, “Billionaire Row” launched their company by way of Gabrielle’s Angel Ball Foundation. This event, orchestrated by her mother Denise Rich, commemorates the successful life of Gabrielle Angel who lost her fight with cancer. Industry elites poured out a total of $3.7 million for this cause. William Benson’s initial alignment with a charitable organization pushed the positive intention of his company. By 2017, “Billionaire Row” was recognized at the Unite4:Humanity award ceremony and gala.

“Billionaire Row” is a beautiful representation of Black opulence. William Benson is breaking through a stigma and giving a blueprint for young entrepreneurs of color to prosper. 

Website: http://williamlbenson.com/