COVER:
Launch, Issue 2, December 2022. The Interview Issue. A look into the lives of West Virginia University’s young entrepreneurs.
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Contents:
1. Bailey
2. Soren
3. Jillian and Sammie
4. Nia
5. Anna
Editorial Team:
Editor-in-chief Adam Payne, Photographer and Multimedia Designer Shaun Wilson, Associate Designer Agustín Urioste.
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Letter from the editor:
In my last 5 years working at the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab, one thing has become abundantly clear: there is no shortage of creativity and innovation in our state and at West Virginia University. The ideas coming into the LaunchLab have only gotten more diverse, more comprehensive, more artistic, more cutting edge and more impassioned over time. With each of our pitch competitions becoming more competitive than the last, and new waves of talented individuals originating each semester, the LaunchLab has flowered into a robust ecosystem of creatives from every age, major, and discipline. For LAUNCH: Issue 2, we wanted to magnify just a few of these stories by highlighting five of our current standout clients with personal one-on-one interviews.
Whether it be a filmmaker, a game designer, sustainable planners, a musician or an inventor, each of these student-turned-entrepreneur success stories is richly, uniquely their own. Through this exploration with Bailey, Soren, Jillian & Sammie, Nia and Anna, I hope you are able to understand first-hand how undeniably driven and deeply passionate each of these creatives are for their work. Throughout these conversations, we of course spoke about each of their innovations, but I also got the chance to learn more about them as individuals. What makes them tick? What brings them joy? Who are their role models? Their support system? Their big ideas? Their lofty dreams?
As they, and so many other young entrepreneurs like them, lay the foundation for the future of West Virginia, they carry their story in every step. I am ecstatic to share their point of view with each of you, and incredibly proud to leave this as my final contribution to the LaunchLab before I graduate.
Thank you Bailey, Soren, Jillian, Sammie, Nia and Anna for letting us hear your stories. Thank you Agustin for assisting with design, to Shaun for the amazing photos on every page, and to the entire LaunchLab team for your unwavering support. With Love, Adam Payne.
(Photo of Adam in a dimly lit room looking up)
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History:
In the summer of 2014, Matt Harbaugh and Fonda Holehouse laid the foundation for the WVU LaunchLab as a simple means to support students entering the West Virginia Business Plan Competition. In the basement of Hodges Hall, the current home to the WVU LGBTQ+ Center, the (defunct) CodeLab, the MakerLab, and the LaunchLab were forged. Expeditiously, students began discovering and effectively expanding the innovation centers with each visit. In 2016, as the new Evansdale Crossing was being built, the LaunchLab and MakerLab were able to expand and form their new home on the 4th floor. Now under the direction of Executive Director Dr. Carrie White, the LaunchLab network has augmented into both the Morgantown and Beckley campuses, has been awarded international recognition, and has launched hundreds of businesses. With thousands of clients coached and dozens of pitch competitions hosted, the LaunchLab has formed into an advanced, comprehensive innovation and commercialization center that services any idea that walks through its door. With the MakerLab expanding to a larger, more resourceful space on the 3rd floor, and new endeavors like LaunchLab Studios and the Creation Station On Wheels launching, the LaunchLab network is larger than ever. Whether it be an artist creating a film, an entrepreneur releasing a gaming app or an inventor creating beauty technology, the LaunchLab is able to support its clients through hands-on mentorship, creative marketing, and comprehensive prototyping resources. Now, thanks to a generous alumnus and donor, The LaunchLab has been named for its benefactor, the Morris L. Hayhurst LaunchLab.
(Photo of a corkboard and papers with string depicting yearly timeline of LaunchLab events.)
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(Photo of various services provided by the LaunchLab.)
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Bailey McCord. Writer, Director, & Film Maker. (Photo of Bailey drinking from a straw.)
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(Photo of Bailey at a movie theater.)
Bailey McCord is turning her years on stage and
passion for media into a new career as she embarks on the major film project, “Strange Taste.” We talked film industry in Appalachia, admiring Hollywood legends, creative fuel and the scalding hot takes. This is Bailey.
Tell me a little bit about yourself!
My name is Bailey McCord. I am a senior majoring in Interactive Design for Media and I have a Theatre minor. Here at the LaunchLab, I have competed in a couple of pitch competitions for a short film that I have written and plan to direct this winter! I am really passionate about filmmaking. I have a background in musical theatre and general, but I spent the summer studying at UCLA in their film production intensive. I got to be a writer and a script supervisor there, and that really launched my major realization that this is what I want to do. I want to be in filmmaking.
The short film that you’re working on is called
“Strange Taste.” What’s it all about?
It is a 10-minute horror comedy short film, and we follow our main character in rushing a sorority. That sorority just so happens to be one of the deep underground, ‘join this and you’re going to be set for life’ groups. But, the way that they’ve become so powerful is they have to murder people to be inducted! It’s kind of like a secret society. So the girl, she’s struggling with… ‘do I want to murder someone?’ Her roommate and best friend rushing has already killed someone and is pressuring her into it. And, she’s listening to these true crime podcasts the entire time. So it’s a bit of a commentary on sororities, on the obsession with true crime and on desensitization. But then, she meets this guy on Tinder and is planning to kill him. But, he shows up, is also a serial killer fanatic, and thinks he is going to kill her! However, they form a connection, fall in love, decide to just do it together, the plot thickens and they set out on their quest to murder someone!
So you went to UCLA and decided now film is going to be your bread and butter?
Absolutely! It kind of used to be a hobby, I think. I love watching movies, and I wanted to just create.
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But then I went and really studied film—in Los Angeles, where it’s happening. I was like, ‘I could totally do this! This is where it’s at.’ It reinvigorated my passion and focused me more towards it as a career path.
So, you have the short film already written and already cast?
Yes! We’re gonna shoot for filming during 2022 winter break, it’s really important for me to have other students involved and not just be me running the whole show. I wanted to open the opportunity up to as many people that have free time. =
I think we can agree that creative opportunities sometimes can be few and far between in West Virginia, so this is an amazing opportunity!
Absolutely. I think that my idea behind doing this project is that, because of COVID there was a major gap in being able to be creative. Then being in school, we have a major gap in our resume credits. We don’t really have like two years worth of portfolio material; that’s another reason why I wanted to include people. Then also for film in West Virginia, we don’t have a central union, we don’t have a film office, and those are the spokes in the wheel that really keep film moving and make sure everyone is being adequately taken care of and compensated and just making a safe, positive work environment where people can continue to make film.
I love that you’re winning money so that you can actually pay people for their art!
Yes! Me too!
How do you relax?
I really love a good facial mask. If I’m trying to study and still focus I love some chill lo-fi in the background. Sometimes I’ll have a go-to TV series that I put on in the background. Right now, it’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Just something that’s comfortable and silly and I don’t have to worry about. Anything that’s not too attention-grabbing, but it feels safe.
What is your hot take?
You know, I I have a lot of hot takes. But, if we’re sticking to the film industry, a lot of mine relate to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is controversial… I know a lot of people love Marvel films, but I don’t really like the movies anymore! I used to love them, but I feel like it’s such a formula. That’s the problem with a lot of media, it’s become so corporate, and they just want to pop out spin off after spin off. I just want something original! I want my expectations to be subverted! And I never feel that with Marvel. (But, it’s totally okay if you like Marvel movies! There is a place for that!)
Is there a director or creator right now that you feel is doing the opposite, doing the good work?
I’m really into Donald Glover. I love “Atlanta,” I think that he’s hilarious. Then, in the same vein of serious yet comedic, I just watched Jordan Peele’s “Nope,” and I’m still thinking about it! People are always like, ‘Oh, he’s a horror director,’ and I’m like, ‘No, he’s a comedian! It’s hilarious! Don’t you see it’s funny!’ I really love Diablo Cody, I think that she has some of the best writing out there. There are a lot of great people out there doing fun, new things, I just bounce around so much!
Is there like a piece of advice that one of your mentors has given you that has stuck with you?
I think, just do it! People always say, put yourself out there. Just show people and just share. That’s the one thing that I’ve really latched on to and tried to force myself into sharing my work.
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What’s your best advice for staying creative?
I think just follow your intuition! If you have this great idea while you’re in the shower or you’re driving in the car, don’t let that go. Don’t think, ‘oh, this is a dumb idea,’ explore it! If you like to write, start writing about it. If you’re a photographer or a fine artist, jot some ideas down and don’t forget about it. It might be an initial idea and you’re not sure where it’s going; keep it on the shelf, keep a notebook of your big ideas. If you think this is a good idea, I’m sure there’s someone else out there that thinks it’s a good idea. So, don’t be afraid to share with other people. I felt like as a freshman and sophomore, I was really quiet and reserved, and I didn’t want to be passionate about things. But, if you share your passion with other artistic people, they want to help you. They’re excited to create too. The ball just keeps on rolling.
Is there a person that you think influences your work the most?
If I’m looking up to people, Diablo Cody is who I want to write like. Edgar Wright, he did “Scott Pilgrim” and most recently did “Last Night in Soho,” I really love the way that he directs. He writes all his stuff to music, so it’s very incorporated. Everything is super fun and stylized, and I just think he’s doing a lot of crazy stuff that I want to imitate and bring into my own work.
What is your defining feature as a creator?
I think that I have a very odd, off-the-wall sense of humor! Other people are like, ‘I don’t know how you came up with that.’ Not that I’m saying I’m a visionary or some genius, but I feel like I will write, design and create things that are catered towards what I enjoy and what I find funny. I really enjoy social commentary in a sense, but also things with depth and symbolism. I like doing stuff that has multiple meanings and that you can Google it later. That’s what I strive for.
What do you want to leave behind?
Appalachia is really important to me. I’ve had this conversation with so many different people: how important it is to perpetuate a positive stereotype and bring the arts more within our community and to be reflective of our community in the arts. I think that if I could have an impact by creating things that can give to the next generation of artists and creatives. I worked for a children’s community theater for a while, and that was one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever done. You get to see people grow and prosper into the creative process. I just love working with other people. I love giving other people the opportunity to collaborate, because they have so many other great ideas.
“Being able to give back to the community
that raised me is really
important to me.”
Do you think in the future you see yourself living here or moving somewhere else?
I think a little bit of both. I definitely don’t have a super strict five-year-plan. Right now, I am doing a research internship for an LA-based documentary company. The remote working thing really works, and I think COVID has made that much more possible. I definitely see a period where I’m probably going to have to go out and find greater things. And hopefully, whenever I feel like I can build myself and become a support system to create, I can bring that back and give that back. I definitely want to stay connected with the community regardless of where I am.
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Soren Kowalski. Founder of Four Letter Word Games. (Photo of Soren with caption: ‘Level Up!’)
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Nicholas “Soren”
Kowalski has spent years in gaming app development with his company Four Letter Word Games (FLWG), and he has no plans to slow down any time soon.
His newest release “Seagull Smash” is just the latest of Soren’s work that fuse art and technology as one.
We talked creative drive, pitch competitions, overcoming hurdles and eating German breakfast.
This is Soren.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What’s your major? All that good stuff.
I’m from Charles Town, which is in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, and I’m a computer science student here at WVU. This is my senior year, and I’m graduating in May! Charles Town has some really beautiful nature, and it just has a really small town vibe to it with lots of small businesses.
What kind of work do you do?
I came to the LaunchLab last semester in the spring. I’ve been doing app development for a long time, but I wanted to take it to the next level. I met someone from LaunchLab at one of the career fairs, and they were super nice. I don’t remember who it was, but they told me they could help me do marketing and help me do more on the business side of things. And LaunchLab has helped me a ton throughout this whole process of making my most recent game.
Your company is FLWG games. Can you tell us what you’ve created through that?
Yes, so Four Letter Word Games. Our first game was called “Left,” and it was literally a ‘Four Letter Word Game.’ I was planning to stick with that naming convention and just have a whole bunch of four letter word games, but I abandoned that really quickly because it’s very creatively limiting. So my next game was “Germaphobe,” which was a recreation of one of the first games I’d ever made. And then most recently, I’ve made a game called “Seagull Smash” with the help of the LaunchLab. It’s kind of like “Flappy Bird” meets “Jetpack Joyride.” You play as a seagull destroying a city! … and evading the police!
What motivates you to stay creative like this?
I like making games because it allows me to create experiences I can share with other people! Just hearing them give feedback on how they took the experience, and then also, being able to create whatever world I dream up! Programming and game development has always allowed me to share experiences like that.
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What do you think is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I think a lot of people have told me just that, you’re not going to necessarily make a lot of money with game development. But it allows you to have a creative outlet, and It allows you to share experiences with a lot of different people. And, that’s the most important thing about game development to me.
What is the last thing that you saw or that you listened to that took your breath away?
Well, I attended the LaunchLab ZinnStarter pitch competition, and just the passion that all the other entrepreneurs have here at WVU! I didn’t expect there to be so many talented and passionate individuals all working on, not necessarily the same things I’m doing, but these completely different creative projects. It was really cool to see, and they’re all just really inspired to share that with as many people as possible.
Thanks for the plug Soren! What would you say, holds you back as you are working on all of these projects?
I’d say the major thing that holds me back is just not having enough time in the day. There’s a lot of things I’m passionate about, and it’s just hard to fit everything in.
What is the best meal that you’ve ever eaten in your entire life?
Let me tell you, my mom’s Christmas breakfast! She makes a very special spread of sandwich stuff, and it’s all German-themed because she grew up in Germany. She just makes the best food, and it’s a really special moment where the whole family sits down.
What is your pre-pitch competition ritual?
I’ve found that the more I repeat my pitch, the less nervous I am. So, really, in the hours leading up to the competition, I’m just going over and over and over through my whole pitch in my head!
Apart from game development, what are some of your passions or hobbies?
So, of course, game development is my main passion, and my main hobby. That’s really the one that stuck with me the longest because it allows me to do so many other different things. Like I’ve had phases where I’ve been really into music, or really into art, and really into 3D modeling at one point, but I can always tie it back to some kind of game. I think game development has really been a way to encompass all of my passions into one. The technical stuff is probably only half of what I do. It’s a lot of creative work as well.
(Photo of Soren at a local Arcade.)
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What do you think is a moment that you’ve been the most proud of?
There’ve been a lot of milestones that I’ve really been proud of, but a lot of the time, it’s more about the little personal details that really inspire me to keep creating. I was spotlighted in a Google Play promotion where they were highlighting three different app and game developers from every state. And I was selected to represent West Virginia! So that was just really cool.
“But, it’s the personal one-on-one interaction that really keeps me
motivated.”
After the last LaunchLab pitch competition, there was a parent that came up to me, and they told me that they loved my game and that they played it with their son! They were in kind of a competition to see who could get the higher high score. It’s just been really great hearing what everybody likes about the game and what it means to them!
(Photo of Soren at arcade.)
(Ad for Four Letter Word Games.)
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Jillian and Sammie. Founders of Blue & Gold solutions.
(Photo of Jillian and Sammie amongst plants)
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Jillian Blair & Sammie Sliger turned serendipity into a full-scale eco-conscious business. The pair’s evergrowing company Blue & Gold Solutions is dedicated to forging sustainable green spaces. We talked health & wellness, female role models, environmental impact and even the bacteria eating the Titanic. This is Jillian & Sammie.
Tell me a bit about yourself & where you’re from!
S: I’m Sammie Sliger. I’m from Fairmont, West Virginia. I just graduated in May from the Reed College of Media with a degree in Strategic Communications and a minor in Professional Writing and Editing. And, I have a little wiener dog named Rocco who is my pride and joy.
J: I’m Jillian Blair. I am currently a junior and studying Environment and Energy Resources Management with minors in Sustainable Design and Geology. I am originally from Wheeling and I have lived here my whole life. I do not have a dog but I am accepting Rocco into my life as my god-dog.
How did you two meet?
J: Oh, this is fun! I feel like we’re on the Bachelorette! So it was very, very serendipitous. We met because Sammie and her husband were hosting a Wednesday night small group, and my roommate invited me to go!
S: Yeah, it was a Bible study that my husband was doing through our church in Morgantown. In the weeks before meeting her, I had become obsessed with the circular economy, which is an environmental term. Then I met Jillian and obviously, she’s an environmental science major! But I think what really made us be like, ‘Wait, should we be besties?’ was when I was like, ‘I think I’m going to get my master’s in Europe,’ and she was like, ‘Oh my gosh! Literally, me too!’
J: Both of us were just suddenly on the same page, and I remember the thing that struck me the most about Sammie, was when she asked me afterwards, ‘Can we have a conversation about sustainability later?’ No one has ever asked if we can have coffee and talk about this thing that I am just over-the-moon passionate about. Then, we went to The Grind [a local Morgantown coffee shop] and were there for like three and a half hours to flesh out the entire idea!
How did Blue & Gold Solutions come to be?
S: I had already signed up and submitted my video for the March Idea Challenge through the LaunchLab. What I was wanting to do... well I really had no idea actually! I just knew I wanted to do something environmental focusing on the circular economy with WVU, but I hadn’t really fleshed it out. Then I met with Jillian and I was like, I know this girl can help me figure out something! That’s when she pitched the idea of adding a green roof somewhere on WVU’s campus.
J: So, we ended up with the WVU Health Sciences Campus because the same mutual friend who connected us was talking about how it is just this white cinderblock environment and so stressful. There’s like four tables on the entire campus. It’s an incredibly toxic, competitive environment, and very poor for student’s mental health with black asphalt and very little grass and trees. From an environmental perspective, this could be fixed up like big time! A green roof could act as a fail-safe: a noncompetitive environment for students to recreate, relax or have outdoor study sessions. Then, we were talking about the environmental benefits of this too! I mean Patteson Drive floods all the time, and so much of that comes from the blacktop at the WVU Health Sciences Campus. If we put this green roof up here, we have an opportunity for water retention and for gray water harvesting to use in the toilet systems or sprinkler systems!
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(Photo of Sammie and Jillian surrounded by plants.)
You’re so right, how can you have a health campus without the wellness aspect? They go hand-and-hand! What are the next steps for
Blue and Gold?
S: We are getting registered as a real business. Like we were saying, this started as a project we wanted to do, but now we have become full-on ‘business girls!’ But then, next is really looking for a client and building up our social media platforms. Which is really fun, and allows me to use my major with marketing and advertising, I love it.
J: We knew that was going to be our biggest roadblock, having the first person commit to us. But it was so wonderful, when we went to the Appalachian Social Enterprise Summit, we were literally just in a room of people who understand the value in taking the leap of faith with a person and letting them do what they’re good at! I cannot even tell you how amazing the mentorship that has resulted from that event has been. Multiple organizations said they would give ground space to experiment and flesh out some concept designs. These people here in Appalachia are seriously being our biggest champions, and it makes me want Blue and Gold to be a champion for Appalachian communities by introducing green infrastructure into these spaces.
Jillian. Who right now, inspires you with their work?
J: I am very inspired by Alex Morgan, the soccer player! She’s just an incredible athlete. I used to be an athlete in my past so I understand how much time and resilience that takes, but she has also become a public figure in a way that I feel is really helping people. I think-
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-there’s a lot of athletes and celebrities that now are using their platform to suddenly be politicians. She invests in a lot of small women-owned businesses, and she does sponsorship for them without requiring money. She’s also a mother. Obviously, motherhood isn’t something that I’m looking at in my life right now, but she has allowed herself to maintain her identity as a woman; being a mother and taking care of someone but not taking away from her tenacity, business and athletic identity. She understands that it’s not mutually exclusive to be a woman and be a powerful figure.
Sammie, if you could learn one new thing instantly, what would it be?
S: I’ve sometimes been jealous of the people that are super good at math or super good at science. Man, I wish I could just have hard skills like that, but that’s just not where I thrive. I feel like my whole life I’ve been really creative. I’ve always loved painting and drawing. But, I feel like our business is giving me a really amazing outlet for combining creativity with the environment and science! I would also love to have knowledge of graphic design, just know so much more about it and how to use it. Architecture seems so cool too. Something along those lines.
Jillian, what’s your biggest fear?
J: Oh, god, my biggest fear is the Titanic! I have a debilitating fear of sunken boats. My junior year of high school, I got to go to a conference and sing to war veterans at Pearl Harbor and I literally almost threw up because I could see part of the USS Arizona sticking out of the harbor! But the Titanic specifically is what started all this because I had a weird fascination with it as a child.
S: Guys. I have a really interesting fact about the Titanic.
I would love to hear it!
S: By 2030 the whole sunken Titanic is going to be gone because there’s a bacteria that’s eating away at what’s left of it! Such a huge piece of history! Gone!
That’s actually bananas! I guess everything goes back to nature!
In your work thus far, you have competed in
different pitch competitions, you just registered as a business, you’re making all these great
connections, what is something that you’ve been the most proud of in your work?
J: Hmm, I think I am most proud of us in an overarching sense! I’m most proud of how well we have overcome our doubts about ourselves. I think both of us definitely had impostor syndrome, we were like, we’re not qualified to be having these ideas, we need to give it to a professional who does. Then realizing,
“there is absolutely no reason why we can’t be the people doing this.”
S: We do love our idea. We also recognize that it’s big. But we’ve just had so many people come to us and be like, ‘No! It’s not too big, and we’re really excited for you.’ I think just receiving that support has been the most exciting thing. For example, we both got an email after the Summit from President E. Gordon Gee congratulating us! Just coming back to WVU even though I’ve graduated, I’m still getting so much support from my school, so I think that has been so encouraging.
(Photo of Jillian.)
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(Photo of Sammie.)
S: I think honestly just being a woman entrepreneur is so exciting! There’s been so many recent movements to specifically invest in women-owned startups, and I think that’s really exciting for us. I also feel like we’re getting a lot more recognition, which is cool. For so long we weren’t on the same playing field as men, and I feel like we had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously.
“I feel like we’re really moving to a point where we are believing in women and understanding the
awesome set of skills that they hold and bring into all different facets of the industry.”
Are you guys looking to expand your team? Or is it a two-woman enterprise taking on the world?
S: I think for now, we are a two-woman enterprise. But we’ve talked about this a lot. I think that eventually we would want to hire out, but for now I feel like we both have passion for it and skills that we can still use for the business.
J: We actually talked to Carrie [LaunchLab executive director Dr. Carrie White] about this before. I do see ourselves expanding and having a reliable network of experts and consultants to help us with some problems because we have to understand that we’re not going to be able to do everything right. We want to get to a point where there needs to be more than two people doing all this because that means we have a lot going on! When it comes down to it I think it’s Sammie and I setting the culture, the vision and the network.
S: I feel like to be an entrepreneur you have to be willing to adapt and learn new skills. That’s where we’re at right now.
Where do you two see yourselves in five years?
J: Well, physically, I want us to both be graduates of a master’s program. Both of us are applying to similar schools overseas. I see a really, really nice portfolio of project concepts and completed projects. That’s a dream for sure.
S: We are young, and I want to experience the world! So yeah, England, for our master’s programs. Mine focusing on sustainability, management and some of the more business aspects I think would be really cool for me.
J: Mine would focus on sustainable design. I see myself doing more design and planning. I am by no means an architect, I’m not an engineer, but I definitely see myself doing more on the design side. Then, I love the idea of staying in Appalachia, which is really bizarre, because when I was a kid my dad owned a business and it really took a toll on him. I told myself, I’m not going to do two things: I’m not going to stay in West Virginia and I’m not going to own a business. You know... life throws a wrench in your plans.
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Hitting all the high notes. Nia, musician and artist.
(Photo of Nia posing behind a projection.)
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Nia (a.k.a. Samantha Maumbe) is a versatile creative using her passion for the performing arts to fuel a budding music career. We talked releasing her newest hit “Miss Me,” building a community of artists, living across the globe and, of course, Beyoncé. This is Nia.
Where does your name “Nia” come from?
Actually it’s a funny story. I was looking through a lot of different names, and Nia just came to pass! It was actually just perfect because basically Nia literally means “goal”and “bright.” In Swahili that’s what it translates to: bright, goal and goal-oriented. And I just thought, ‘you know, this is literally me.’ So that’s how it came to be!
So it’s your stage name, obviously because you are a musician. But you’ve also acted as well?
Yes! So, at WVU, I actually had a minor in theater. And basically, I took the necessary classes and then I dabbled into African American theater and intermediate acting. But even with the little classes that I did take, I feel like I learned a lot, and because of those I was able to actually get involved in a show. Earlier this year, it was called “Sonnets for an Old Century,” and it was such an amazing experience. I used to do theater all the time back in high school, but this was my first time in a long time performing on stage; so it was definitely surreal and very awesome.
I saw the show. It was absolutely incredible.
Did it reinvigorate your passion?
Oh, most definitely! I think it was kind of like an epiphany. Like, ‘Yeah, girl, this is what you love to do. This is literally you.’ So it really just opened my eyes.
Now that you graduated, what are you doing besides music?
Right now, I am actually a family advocate at a child advocacy center. It is such a rewarding job. And, I’m just surrounded by other co-workers who have the same heart as me, always ready to help out in any way that we can. I absolutely enjoy it. It’s a good ‘day job’.
Tell me about your experience becoming a
musician and releasing music.
It’s amazing. It’s so crazy. Ever since I was little I would dance and sing, and throughout middle school and high school I would write songs here and there. Obviously I didn’t put those out or anything, but just along the way in high school I met a really good guy named Connor Riley [aka Noams]. He was somebody that kind of allowed me to record music. That’s when I started to really get out of my shell, use the songs that I’d written before and actually sing them! Just this past year I met my producer Hashmadeit, who has helped me produce, helped me get out “On My Way” [her first single], and “Miss Me” [her newest single, out now]. Honestly, the whole process is great. It’s almost like second nature. It’s something that just comes so easily to me that it’s crazy.
“It’s literally therapuetic for me. Writing music is my way of dealing with life. All our emotions, all the things that we go through; it’s just my individual way of coping.
Do you have a musician who is your idol?
*singing* All the single ladies, all the single ladies. All the single ladies Now put your hands up!
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Beyoncé! THE Beyoncé. So when I graduated high school, my mom actually got me tickets to see Formation [Beyoncé’s 2016 Formation World Tour]. Hands down, I’d never been to any concert, but no concert will ever top that. You can’t tell me nothing, no concert will top that. I love Beyoncé SO much. Her music, her art, and just who she is as a person. She really is just amazing.
WAIT. I also saw Beyoncé in Pittsburgh in 2016 the same night as you!? But anyway… is that something you try to emulate in your work?
I feel like I can never be Beyoncé, I’m sorry. She is like on a whole nother level. Just like Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey, their voices are just immaculate. I don’t think I’m at that level. I know I’m not hahaha. But, definitely when it comes to songwriting and the style of music, I definitely resonate with that.
If you could teleport anywhere in the world right now where would you go?
Honestly, I would want to go to some kind of island. I mean, I’ve been to and lived in Cape Town, South Africa for a couple years actually. I was born in the States, but there was a point where my whole family moved to South Africa. My parents had really good jobs there. There was a point where I literally knew Xhosa, I knew Afrikaans, I knew a whole lot of different languages when I was younger and you retain a lot of things quickly. So then, from Cape Town I moved back to Kentucky of all places. But I definitely want to go back to visit there.
(Photo of Nia behind a projection of her name in different fonts.)
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(Photo of Nia posing.)
I feel like you and the other local musicians have a really great sense of community. Do you feel that too?
I feel that. Oh, I feel that. I think it just helps that we’re all here and all creative beings. We just love music, so we are able to connect in that way. We already have so much in common just from being creative. So, yeah I definitely feel that for sure. I know that some of the people I have met, if I talk to them, they’ll be willing to help me in any way that they can. No money, no anything needed. Just because ‘I know you as an artist and because I know that you’re upcoming and want people to know you more.’... I think that’s literally how you get successful, honestly. It’s the connections and just helping each other.
What part of the business stresses you out?
Honestly, I always joke around with my producer, but I wish I had some kind of team. Because this marketing stuff ain’t a joke. It’s not a joke. You’ve got to put a lot of effort into it. You’ve got to know the ways of the internet, to know your audience, to know when people are online, to know what’s trending. There’s just so much to consider. I feel like, as an independent artist right now, it’s really difficult to work on the marketing side. To book gigs and to do all those things, you’re totally doing it on your own. I’m doing my first show in December, and that within itself. It’s just so much to know. It’s definitely humbling.
Do you have any other long term goals? Do you want to be signed by a label?
Honestly, that would be a dream. Yes, that is a dream. I think I definitely have a lot of dreams. I’m at this point in my life where I’m just going to do my part and let God do the rest. Like, truly, I’m just gonna do my part: work hard, get music out, do this, do that… and just see what comes out of it, really. But yeah, that would be a dream, to be with a record label, and just make music.
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Anna Cummings. Think pink, inventor of the earring backtrack
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(Photo of Anna’s product.)
Anna Cummings transformed her class project into a fully realized beauty company. Her new creation the Earring BackTrack, is just her first invention. We talked pitching the idea, creative motivation, fictional character inspiration and the power of pink. This is Anna.
Tell us a little bit about what you do here at WVU.
I’m Anna and I am a senior studying Business Management and Entrepreneurship. Over the last year and a half, I have been developing the Earring Backtrack: a simple handheld tool to help you put in your earrings if you have long finger nails, arthritis or other dexterity issues! I’ve been working on that and I was involved in a couple of pitch competitions last year and won some funding money. So I’m still working on that, and I’m very excited to keep going and hopefully get that on the market soon.
What’s your favorite part of what you’re studying?
First of all, the climate and the energy in the business school [John Chambers College of Business and Economics] is insane. Everybody that I’ve met is just so supportive and friendly, it’s such a good place to be in. I like the management side of things because I want to run my own company and so I like learning about all of that. But the entrepreneurship side is my absolute favorite part; being able to develop things on my own instead of just being told to do an assignment and turn it in.
What’s so cool about your idea is that it started in Dr. White’s class, right?
Yeah! I was in Dr. White’s class last fall, and we had an assignment to come up with a product to solve a problem. I was sitting in bed thinking ‘What can I do for this assignment that’s due the next day?’ Then, I was thinking about how I had just changed my earrings that morning and thought, ‘Wow, that was really complicated! My nails are really getting in the way. Let me make something that can fix that.’ So I presented it, and Dr. White immediately said, ‘You have got to go and get a prototype made in the MakerLab!’
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Since then, you have secured funding from the Women Innovate, WV Collegiate Business Plan and the WV Innovation & Business Model pitch competitions. What was that experience like?
It was super cool! I learned a lot. It was definitely a lot of hard work and took a lot of time and energy, but it was definitely worth it because I made so many connections with people in the industry. Now, I’m working with so many people that are offering me more funding, product development, marketing help and I also got to meet a bunch of other entrepreneurs in the area! It was just so cool to kind of get into that world because I’ve always dreamed of doing this, and now I’m in it and meeting these people. It’s just been really exciting!
That is amazing! An idea that you had for class has skyrocketed to something so much bigger.
And, it wouldn’t be possible without the support of everybody around me. I’ve had so many people pushing me and supporting me, and just connecting me with other people and resources. It’s just been like a whirlwind.
What does success look like to you?
Well, I’m hoping that I can sell some Earring Backtracks, and hoping people will want to buy them! But I would say for me, it’s not about the money or about the customers. I’ve dreamed of doing this since I was 12 years old. It means so much to me to actually be doing this and be in this position, so success is not defined for me by money, or how many products I sell. It’s more so being proud of myself and what I’ve accomplished. And I feel like I’m on the right track.
When you were young, you always had the idea to work in the beauty industry?
I’ve always loved makeup. My mom actually said that one time she caught me, I was like two or three years old, and got into her makeup. She found me, I had put on a bunch of mascara, and she said it was perfect. So she was like, ‘Oh no! We have a problem!’ Then in middle school, I started a YouTube channel, and was doing those classic makeup tutorials. That was cool, but I always wanted to have my own company. I would say that started more towards the beginning of high school. I was in a marketing class and just really loved everything we were talking about; the marketing and business sides of everything. So then I was like, well, let’s put the two together and have a beauty company! I’m hoping that after the Earring Backtrack, I can start making some makeup products.
Is there someone that really inspires you?
Can it be a fictional character?
Of course!
So, my favorite show is “One Tree Hill.” Brooke Davis is a character on the show, and I just love her. I’m probably going to name my first child Brooke. She starts out in the show all over the place, but then she ends up starting a clothing line and being this big time business owner. She’s the definition of a ‘girl boss’ in my mind. Watching that and seeing how you can start from almost nothing and come out that big is just so powerful. That is really inspiring to me!
Where do you get your inspiration to stay as creative and motivated as you are?
Honestly, I think it’s the people around me. I would say I’m creative, but when I have the support of people pushing me to do it, it’s a lot easier. It pushes me to want to do more. What else can I create? Can I do something else? It’s really easy to be creative in a space that is so positive.
What’s your big goal for the Earring Backtrack?
“I’m hoping that
everyone I walk past used it to put in their earrings that morning. I hope everyone has one, and it’s on all the shelves.”
Everywhere. Amazon. Target. Sephora. I was even thinking it could be sold in nail salons! You’re getting your nails done, and then you see it and think, ‘Wow, I can’t really get my earrings in once I have these nails... so let me get that!’
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(Photo of Anna.)
What is your favorite piece of clothing you own?
I love sparkles and sequins, and I have a fully sequined hot pink dress. I’ve already worn it so I feel like I can’t wear it again, but it makes me feel fabulous.
Right now you’re still a full-time student, is that crazy for you?
I don’t sleep. I’m doing something every second of the day. It’s totally insane, but I love all of it. It pays off in the end. When I do have a second to sit back and reflect on what I’ve done, it’s like, ‘Wow. I did all of that!’
Be selfish for a minute. What are your three favorite attributes about yourself?
I would say I’m pretty outgoing, and I like that because I am comfortable talking to people. I don’t get super nervous when I’m going into a new situation, and I really enjoy being with people. Then, I like my drive. I feel like I have a strong drive, and I like my work ethic. I push myself to get everything done that I want to get done. I feel like it’s really easy to give up, especially in the situation that I’m in right now with my business.
You walk outside, enter the lottery and win $10
million. What’s the first thing you do?
Oh my gosh, I’d probably buy a house! A big house for my family and all my friends. That’s actually been something that I’ve always thought about; getting a big house and having a separate wing for everybody. Then, I’d honestly probably buy a bunch of makeup! I’ve always wanted to live in New York City, but there’s no houses like that in Manhattan… so maybe like a nice penthouse? Maybe a beach or a lake? I have to talk to the people that are gonna be in the house!
I love that. There’s a room for everyone!
And it will be hot pink! The whole house.
Can we talk about that? You have established a
sort of power color haven’t you?
I just love it! I love pink! I feel like it’s girly, but also it’s powerful because it’s like, ‘I’m a woman. I’m here to do something big.’ I feel like it makes a statement, and I feel like I’ve always had a bold personality. “That color just fits.”
END.