Category Archives: UMC UnderDogs

Meet the UnderDogs (and Special Guests) Monday Night in New Orleans!

We’ve been talking about NOLA MusiCon for months, and it’s finally almost time to take the Starship UnderDog down to New Orleans and do this thing!

We’ve already told you about this amazing conference, and the official Crescent City Crossroads showcases that we’re co-producing alongside our friends at DAWn Audio and Tunetrax.

But… what if we told you there is more to the story? (Around here, there always is!)

Before the conference officially gets underway, we’ll be at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans) this Monday, October 27 as we preview this year’s NOLA MusiCon with a special UnderDogs Across Borders live event. Join us in-person or online beginning at 5 p.m. CT, as we present two rounds of our popular Have You Met…? interview series. Round 1 (5 p.m.) will feature some of our Nashville crew, while Round 2 (6 p.m.) will highlight creatives from the Big Easy and elsewhere!

Round 1 (5 p.m.):
Host: Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
Guests: Yonna Jones, Joe Baze, Gerard Longo

Round 2 (6 p.m.):
Host: Mandy Ortiz (DAWn Audio)
Guests: DJX, Amelia Ray, Mac Infinity

You’ll want to stick around after that. Beginning at 7 p.m., we’ll remain at Cafe Istanbul to bring you an UnderDogs Across Borders interstate showcase, featuring live performances from an array of artists. We’ll be dropping that full lineup a bit later this week, so stay tuned!

Da’ Healerz, Guidance Whiskey Team Up on ‘Everybody Need Some Guidance’

Back in August, Da’ Healerz treated us to the live debut of their then-forthcoming single, “Everybody Need Some Guidance,” released in conjunction with Tennessee’s own Guidance Whiskey.

In case you need a refresher, here’s a video of that performance.

As it turns out, the studio version goes just as hard. Released on October 17, “Everybody Need Some Guidance” is a stadium-ready anthem which commemorates the launch of Guidance Whiskey’s Guidance Music imprint. It’s only appropriate that the first release is a celebration of ambition, creativity, and community — complete with a toast over its hard-hitting instrumental.

The release comes as Da’ Healerz get set to join us in New Orleans for Crescent City Crossroads, NOLA MusiCon‘s official after hours showcases presented alongside our friends at DAWn Audio and Tunetrax. The showcases take place Oct. 28 and 29 at two unique Big Easy venues, and full details are here.

Standing Tall Above the ‘Whispers’ (ft. Kelsey Muse)

Kelsey Muse grew up in the music industry. Along the way, she’s had the opportunity to uncover her true artistic voice. On this episode of The Quinn Spinn, we dive into Kelsey’s journey, and how she maintains focus through all of the ‘Whispers’ along the way.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Follow Kelsey: ⁠https://instagram.com/kelseymusemusic⁠
More about The Quinn Spinn: ⁠https://umcworldwide.com/thequinnspinn

An Exclusive Talk with Nashville’s Rising Star, Blvck Wizzle

Hey UMC Fam, it’s your girl SADGURL!

This summer, I had the pleasure of partnering with Melodic Convos (part of the Mobile Melody Show) for an exclusive talk with Nashville’s most beloved rising star, Blvck Wizzle. This Nashville native has captured the hearts of the city and held the public’s attention since the moment he began sharing his signature songs at open mics in 2015. Blvck Wizzle mixes guitars, storytelling, and unforgettable rhymes to create a refreshing and undeniably catchy sound.

Wizzle has had a whirlwind summer, from being featured on the album Step Brothers 4 Life with Tennessee legends Starlito and Dontrip, to Mayor Freddie O’Connell dubbing Wizzle’s record “Cashville Be Ballin” the new city anthem!

Watch this interview for a closer look at this country boy’s inspirations and the pivotal moments that initiated the unfolding of this superstar in the making.

Everything You Need to Know About Tonight’s UMC Events in Nashville

October and the home stretch of 2025 are set to begin with a bang tonight, right here in Nashville.

We’ll be back at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville) this evening for a double dose of fun with the UnderDogs, beginning at 6 p.m. with a live taping of our Have You Met…? interview series. Join host Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess as she welcomes outstanding UnderDogs and special guests to share about their projects, processes, and the ways life informs the creative journey. Tonight’s lineup includes:

  • Hip hop artist, producer, and 1/2 of Da’ Healerz Foundation Mecca
  • DJ, sound engineer, producer, and songwriter Agie Gee
  • Revolutionary hip hop artist and industry educator T.R.A.N.E. Spitta

Speaking of industry education, you’ll want to stick around after Have You Met…? concludes, as we offer a special, FREE presentation of our Building Your Authentic Artist Brand workshop. This workshop — as experienced at SXSW 2025, and soon to be experienced at Confluence Carolinas and NOLA MusiCon later this month — guides musicians (and other creatives) through the steps of developing a purpose-driven, values-based creative ecosystem. Building Your Authentic Artist Brand is designed to help artists identify the unique “why” behind their work; learn best practices for attracting their true audience across three key segments (fans, collaborators, and business partners); and build a sustainable, profitable creative business on their own terms.

Want the inside track on all of these opportunities and more? Consider checking out the buttons below!

Have You Met…? Live! Returns to Nashville Oct. 1

It’s been a minute since we’ve sat down and gotten to know some of the UnderDogs, hasn’t it?

Let’s fix that — and let’s do it live!

Join us at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville) at 6 p.m. CT — right before our FREE Building Your Authentic Artist Brand workshop — for an in-person edition of Have You Met…? This series, hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, is an opportunity to get to know the creatives in our UnderDogs community through real conversations in an intimate setting.

Joining us for this edition of Have You Met…? are…

  • Hip hop artist, producer, and 1/2 of Da’ Healerz Foundation Mecca
  • DJ, sound engineer, producer, and songwriter Agie Gee
  • Revolutionary hip hop artist and industry educator T.R.A.N.E. Spitta

Attendance is FREE — and, unlike other editions of Have You Met…?, the only way to catch this one live is to be there in-person! A replay will be made available on our YouTube channel at a later date to be determined.

Want to be featured on an upcoming edition of Have You Met…? Join the UnderDogs today!

REPLAY: UnderDogs Across Borders, Vol. 3

Donate to UnderDogs Across Borders here!

This month’s UnderDogs Across Borders concert is perhaps our most genre-diverse offering to date, featuring performances from across the musical spectrum and beyond.

Tonight and through October, your support of UnderDogs Across Borders helps us bring the UnderDogs to New Orleans for NOLA MusiCon 2025, taking place Oct. 28-30. More details about our plans are coming very soon!

Our September 16 lineup includes:

  • Impactful spoken word artist Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
  • Nashville hip hop legend E.T.
  • Revolutionary hip hop artist T.R.A.N.E. Spitta
  • Multi-genre, multi-instrumental wizard Brother Dusty
  • Dynamic ‘ROCK&B’ artist Tony Carpenter

Sept. 20: UnderDogs Across Borders at the Nashville African Street Festival

As though next week wasn’t already exciting enough, it turns out that our UnderDogs will be taking the stage not once, but twice in Music City!

We are proud to partner with the Nashville African Street Festival — now in its 43rd year — to present an UnderDogs Across Borders showcase on the Beats & Rhymes stage. The festival takes place all weekend long at Hadley Lillard Park (1038 28th Ave. N., Nashville), with the UnderDogs Across Borders showcase taking place Saturday, September 20 from 4-5:30 p.m.

Hosted by Kelsey Muse and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, this showcase will emphasize performers from across the hip hop and R&B spectrum, including:

  • Kelsey Muse
  • SADGURL
  • DJX
  • Nicolas Soul
  • Yonna Jones

The event is free to attend. As always, those looking to support the cause are encouraged to donate to our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, which fuels live music experiences and activations for our UnderDogs in Nashville and beyond!

WATCH: T.R.A.N.E. Spitta Shines on the Sacrifical Conversations Podcast

Revolutionary artist T.R.A.N.E. Spitta is one of five performers slated to join us at Helping Our Music Evolve on Tuesday, September 16 for UnderDogs Across Borders: Vol. 3.

The Nashville-based hip hop artist, performer, educator, and entrepreneur always has plenty to talk about, and he took to the Sacrificial Conversations podcast on 104.1 Tab Radio in Nashville to discuss art, its impact, and to highlight his upcoming UnderDogs Across Borders performance. T.R.A.N.E. also speaks about the ways our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign serves to connect creators regardless of genre, creative discipline, or location (that part begins around the 41-minute mark).

Check it out below, and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch UnderDogs Across Borders: Vol. 3 from everywhere next Tuesday!

UMC, NOLA MusiCon Partner on 2025 Music Showcases

Our return to the Big Easy this October’s NOLA MusiCon just got a whole lot sweeter!

We’re proud to announce that we are partnering with NOLA MusiCon alongside our friends at DAWn Audio and Tunetrax to present this year’s official showcases. The team is currently putting the finishing touches on two spectacular lineups — one set for Tuesday, October 28 at Cafe Istanbul, and another on Wednesday, October 29 at The Rabbit Hole — which will showcase talent from across the musical spectrum and geographic borders.

We’ll be announcing full lineup and event details shortly. In the meantime, we’re looking for a few good partners to support us in making this year’s NOLA MusiCon one to remember! Your organization can sponsor these incredible showcase events, and we’ve provided a few informational slides below.

For individuals, you can always support our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign — and we’ll be putting every penny raised between now and the conference toward these two extraordinary showcases!

Oh, and one more thing: you can get 25% off your NOLA MusiCon passes by using the code UMC25 at checkout. Register now!

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