Business Be Boomin’ | It’s All Shaping Up, Ain’t It? | Q4 ’24:

Where does the time go?

As we wrap up Q3, there’s been a lot of growth we’re seeing as a business at Hum of the Earth Studios, LLC.

I’m super grateful for the handful of paying clients we've secured this year, as well as my newly hired team members that have been delivering value from day one to support our mission. In 2025, we're only looking to sign on 5 new clients (i.e. for now). We'll be digging deeper instead of waxing wider, and we’re prioritizing quality and results over quantity of sales volume (or unsustainable streams of revenue, overall). One day at a time.

Here's to building a future life we're all continuously grateful to show up for! 🙏🏽 🙌🏽 🎶

We can't say for sure what the future holds, but I know this much... so many folks are hurting out here. Tired & torn-down. Even still, there are so many reasons to be grateful; and, when you keep pushing through it all, you're sure to find pockets of lasting joy along with a whole lot of love to be shared between friends & family — new & old, left & right, black & white, so on and so forth. My hope is that we’ll balance the scales & settle the score, my friends.

May this next batch of the LIFE we share with one another inspire us all to rise to greater heights, together.

Life | On The Road, Again (sure as you’re born) | Q3 ’24:

For starters… we’re so thankful to have been invited to Roots Rock Revival “High in the Catskills” pro-songwriter’s retreat at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY this year. Special thanks to Oteil Burbridge for the invite, and to the Music Master’s Collective team for awarding me a scholarship. Another round of thanks to the people in my life who continue uplifting me along this magical, musical mission — who, by virtue of grassroots fundraising, have completely sponsored my trek — toward joining along as we unite together with world-class musicians to cultivate tremendous intention, lasting joy, and enduring fun! 🙏🏽 🙌🏽 🍑 🥭 🎶

In an unexpected turn of events, DR has been selected to become the artist manager for hip-hop/R&B musician “Baby Boy Da Prince” (Universal Music Group > Republic Records). Some players in the industry have the nerve to refer to him as a “one-hit-wonder”, but you’d be mistaken to silo this immensely gifted & hard-working southern/NOLA-based gangster rapper. Underestimate his capabilities at your peril.

Baby Boy Da Prince is making a comeback into the music industry. In the short term, we’ve been brought onboard to focus on booking and promotion support for BBDP as he seeks to re-enter the regional/national festival circuit. And, for the first time ever, BBDP is now also working towards producing and providing a full-scale, live-band setting for upcoming/future shows. 🙌🏽

Let’s Get This Show On The Road | Q2 ’24:

It’s official!

The production schedule has been created and we’ve begun filming our debut documentary. In a series of early/pre-release buzz, we’ve received a few additional endorsements from professional musicians, stand-up comedians, and even a well-known fitness influencer/model who earned YouTube stardom from going viral for filming athletic “trick shots” — all of whom had overwhelmingly encouraging pep-talks for us!

In April, DR has also been approached by an ultra-platinum globe-trotting artist who charted on the global top 40 list, having earned hundreds of millions of listeners across the world. We’re not announcing anything publicly just yet, but stay tuned as we work through arriving at an equitable agreement. From our initial conversations, it seems that The Mango Jam is being prospected for some studio work to create a live-band sound for a southern hip-hop/gangster rap star’s upcoming new album release. From there, we’re being asked to consider a live-performance appearance at NPR’s Tiny Desk series, in Washington, DC. 🤯 🙌🏽

Lastly, DR had the opportunity to kick-off opening night at Oklahoma City’s “Norman Music Festival” at a newer venue in the region, by the name of Up Together Venue. The majority of the festival, unfortunately, had to be cancelled due to a slew of tornadoes that came rip-roaring during the festival dates. Still, DR was honored to participate in an event that helped to elevate the artistic landscape of his local music scene!

🥭 Catch A Happy New Year Vibe | Q1 ’24:

Video production has commenced on a short documentary that our pal Carson James Argenna is helping us produce. Here are a few behind-the-scenes teaser clips featuring cameos from some recognizable sources of influence. To be included in our upcoming, soon-to-be-released video projet called "Mango For It". Enjoy!

And, our extra special thanks goes out to this supremely gifted & kind-hearted gem of a creative mind, Catherine (Catmospheriic) 🙏🏽 we will most definitely be collaborating again, sooner than later! Below is a sneak preview of a longer-duration shoot that we’re putting together. Shout-out to Dan [the "roadie"] for capturing this moment during an impromptu "Fire on the Mountain" cover by the Grateful Dead. ✌🏽⚡✌🏽

Mango Jam Music | Year-In-Review (2023)

Our goal for 2023 was to create & establish a business model, while solidifying our strategic partnerships with independent creatives across the globe.

If ‘22 was an initial proof-of-concept chapter, then ‘23 represents a renewed phase for outreach & expansion for us.

Going forward, in 2024 & beyond, we’re looking forward to becoming consistent in delivering best-in-class inspiration & creative expression that is fundamentally priceless. Let’s enjoy this ride!

Reconnecting w/ Oteil Burbridge for Fresh Inspiration | December ‘23:

In December, our founder DR was honored to be invited once again to a private group mastermind meeting with Grammy award-winning bass guitarist, Oteil Burbridge.

We discussed the importance of preserving passion, authenticity, and longevity as a performing artist, among other topics, ranging from our musical inspirations to technical jazz chord-phrasing and beyond.

We even got a chance to hear him jam out, a bit, too! OB was kind enough to extend a personal invitation to the annual Music Masters Collective event being hosted in the Catskills, NY during June ’24 (known as Roots Rock Revival) — a four night all-inclusive songwriting workshop featuring an eclectic array of activities designed to ignite the spirit. Crossing our fingers that we’ll be able to join! 🙏🏽

Our First Hillberry Ho-Down | Harvest Moon Festival 2023 | October ‘23:

As a kick-off to end-of-year, so as to commence with the winding down of 2023, we were invited to travel over to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for our very first ever Hillbery celebration, hosted by none other than the kind folks who organize the annual: Harvest Moon Festival (Hillberry).

We’d have to agree that the combination of all those upright basses, banjos, mandolins and resonator guitars surely conjured up some sonic sweetness in the crisp & cool mountain air… 🙌🏽

From the fire-dancers to the overwhelming sense of community, the all-day & all-night live music, and beyond — it was a true pleasure to escape up to Hillberry, even as first timers. 💃🔥🕺

(i.e. pictured above is the band Railroad Earth opening for Elephant Revival during the final evening of the festival)

We sincerely offer up a big thanks to our friends who put this onto our radar 🙏🏽 can’t wait to do it again!

Einstein’s Dreams Partnership | Debut Album “Flight Manifest” | August ‘23:

During the later part of the Summer season, our team began implementing 6+ months of strategic media planning in partnership with the truly virtuosic multi-instrumentalist: Eric Heveron-Smith. 🤝

He has spent the past 15 years playing trombone, tuba, and upright bass with virtually every band in the vintage swing dance scene. Recently, he toured across North America with the YouTube supergroup known as Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. He has opened for noteworthy performers like B.B. King, Tower of Power, and has recorded with artists such as A.C. Newman, Jonathan Scales (i.e. alongside Victor Wooten, Christian Scott, and MonoNeon), including performing a gig with the legendary artist Michael McDonald. Eric has founded a new group named Einstein’s Dreams and has now partnered with us to lead his own jazz band, release & promote his debut album “Flight Manifest”, and of course, continue to cultivate songwriting that is soulful, melodic, and impeccably swinging! 🙌🏽

Meeting Up + Connecting w/ Dead & Company’s Jay Lane | June ‘23:

What an honor it was to bump into the legendary percussionist, Jay Lane, who has played for Primus, RatDog, Wolf Bros, Further, Dead & Company and more — we crossed paths at Uncommon Grounds Cafe in downtown Saratoga Springs, NY and as you can imagine, it was a total honor & privilege to witness the full D&C band that weekend for two nights at SPAC, ahead of joining them on tour in Queens, NYC at CITI Field as well as the 3-show finale of the Final Tour, at Oracle Stadium in San Francisco, CA. We’d say this was a particularly productive & prosperous haul! Thank you again for providing a rich wellspring of most excellent sonic sustenance — can’t wait to do it all over again real soon for another undeniably good time 🌹⚡️✌🏽✌🏽

Interviewing + Learning w/ Dead & Company’s Oteil Burbridge | April ‘23:

We had the unexpected honor & privilege of meeting this two-time Grammy-winning contrabass-guitarist, who toured with Allman Brothers Band for 17 years, as well as Tedeschi Trucks Band for 2 years and the Dead & Company since 2015: Oteil Burbridge.

We spent nearly 3 full hours diving into topics ranging from jazz inspirations & influences, to dubiously mystical Icelandic Elves and much, much more.

A big thank you from us to you, OB; keep on shining that light of authenticity & creativity!

Grateful Dead Project Affiliation | February ‘23:

We’re especially grateful to have discovered our music landed onto the Official Grateful Dead YouTube channel. In ‘23, our selection was just a basic instrumental sample of a tune called "Fire on the Mountain".

We're just glad to share any space w/ beloved Deadheads, fans & lovers of live music, and of course, the affiliation with the official GD account is a confidence boost. Enjoy, all!