Meet the TxLips Gang
-
she/her
Planet Vanessa is a professional musician that has played piano since the age of 7. She has played for professional and emerging artists across the country, with experience in big music festivals such as SXSW in Austin, TX and the A3C Festival in Atlanta, GA. Her musical style crosses multiple genres of music. As a sound creative she has also produced music for Television commercials, podcasts and social media marketing.
@planetvness
-
she/her
Erin Mosley is an Atlanta native who began her musical education in the 8th grade after picking up an acoustic guitar. After playing for a few years she decided that she wanted a change and switched to bass guitar in the 10th grade. She went on to study at the University of Alabama where she eventually began taking private cello lessons. Erin moved back to Atlanta after graduating, and now plays with a few music projects including the Soul Conglomerate. She also occasionally plays cello at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA. Her favorite genres are funk, R&B, and rock Her inspirations include Flea, John Paul Jones, Victor Wooten, Wilton Felder, Esperanza Spalding, and the music duo Chargaux. She always states that bass is her heart and cello is her soul.
@erin_mosely
-
she/her
Learning from her dad how to play drum set when she was just 5 years old, Whitney Sellers is a powerhouse that loves to play all around her hometown. Whitney believes that we determine our own “Success”! “Being where you wanna be, and doing what you wanna do is success!” Learning lessons from the experiences of mistakes made during her younger days have made her the musician she is today, and pushed her to always take advantage of any opportunity she is given. Get up and just do it!
@whitneyksellers
-
she/her
Danielle 'Breedlove' Webster is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, and producer native to Buffalo, NY. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA where she pursues music full time as a freelance musician, providing session work & assisting in performances for live bands of all styles including Rock, R&B, Reggae, Pop, and more. As a graduate of Georgia State University, she is currently working toward her goal of attaining a professional status in the field of music supervision, film scoring, and licensing for film and TV.
@every1breedlove
-
she/her
Alexyss Hicks is a drummer, originally from Bolivar, Tennessee but currently residing in Nashville, TN. At age 4, she began pursuing her interest in drums and by the age 7, she began playing outright. From playing drums at church through her middle and high school-aged years, she found herself playing behind local artists such as Jhonni Blaze, Alacia LaRobin, and other Nashville locals. Some of her favorite genres to play are gospel, R&B, pop, and neo-soul.
@lexie_pooh
-
she/her
Indigo Una is a Summa Cum Laude Jazz Studies graduate from Howard University. She is a member of the Premier Vocal Jazz Ensemble "Afro Blue.” She also started a group with her best friends called The Soul Sistas. She writes songs, produces her own music, and has performed around the United States. Through Berklee Jazz Festival, she was awarded the Superior Musicianship and Judges Choice award two years in a row for performances in vocal jazz. She loves to explore the world of vocal jazz. Whether that be through touring, teaching vocal masterclasses at conservatories, or teaching her students about the value of receiving an education in music.
@indigouna
-
she/her
Raised in Durham, North Carolina, Megan Maloney was influenced by many different artists; including: Ella Fitzgerald, Itzhak Perlman, The Ramones and Selena. She attended Durham School of the Arts where she was classically trained on viola, guitar, and string bass. She later studied at Berklee College of Music where she majored in Viola and Guitar performance. She has performed with the blue moon string quartet, Tercer Divisa Latin band, and many other rock bands around NC.
@maloney2123
-
they/them
Jae Stix has always been fascinated with instruments and the amazing way performing can touch each and every person. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, she honed her gift at a very young age playing with gospel churches, and eventually catching her first break playing in the choir at the age of five years old. She has accomplished many projects including live concerts, stage plays, open mics, festivals, touring, and group/private drumming lessons. Jae Stix is a professional drummer with a unique sound seeking to inspire those she can reach with her gift.
@drummer.jaestix
-
she/her
Aliah Guerra is a Canadian Trinidadian Jazz musician (electric guitarist, singer/songwriter, and producer). In the spring of 2018 Aliah independently released her self-produced Soul/Jazz Album “Sounds of a Seed”.
After Completing the 2018 TD SOCAN Creative Entrepreneur Incubator Program, and performing for the Canadian songwriter Hall of Fame showcase 2019, Aliah had recorded a song at the famous Slaight studio in Toronto, was mentored by Peter Cadernali ( Celine Dion, Tina Marie, & Rick James), and Adrian X (Drake, PartyNextDoor,The Weeknd).
That song (now entitled “Out 2 Cali”) premiered on CBC radio nationwide, and was then picked up on to the Montreal Chill playlist (curated by Spotify).
@aliahg420
-
she/her
Professionally Tiye Cochran is a Hip-hop artist and Blues guitarist with a diverse musical background. As an emcee, she works within the community to empower individuals through the art of improvisational hip-hop also known as "Freestyling". As a hip-hop artist she uses rap to express aggression and a desire for financial freedom. As a guitarist Tiye uses gritty and bluesy riffs to convey an array of emotions, thoughts, and feelings. With a Master of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, she is the Owner and President of the independent label BrookLanta Entertainment, LLC.
@tiyecochran
-
she/her
Endorsed by Lakland Basses and Mono Creators, Netta Sherrell is a multi-instrumentalist, educator & mentor, born and raised on the south side of Chicago. She has extensive experience with venue operations and event management and has worked for companies such as Disney, Chicago Broadway, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Netta has performed with many artists including “SIX” for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, and Guitar Gabby & the TxLips Band for the Netflix x Jordan Peele original “Wendell & Wild”. She has appeared on several hit tv shows such as “EMPIRE,” and has performed on WGN’s Daytime Chicago.
Netta currently tours with the Tony Award-winning Broadway Musical, “SIX,” and continues to use her experience to educate and empower youth and young adults on the importance of marketing, networking, music production, and music performance. You can catch Netta playing with bands such as Free Your Dreams, Attack the Sound, Guitar Gabby & The TxLips Band” and her home church New Promise Land.
@nettasherrell_bass
-
she/her
Born in Los Angeles, California, Aisha Gaillard is a drummer of over 20 years. She discovered her passion for music and drums at the age of 3 she went on to be a 2012 scholarship recipient for the 1st annual Roderick D. Jones Memorial Scholarship foundation, which awards young gifted jazz artist. In 2014/2015, Aisha was the drummer for the World Stage Women’s History Month Benefit concert. She had the honor of accompanying artist such as pianist Gail Johnson and violinist Karen Briggs and a list of others. As a recent college graduate from Cal-State Long Beach with a BS in Hospitality Management, her future goal is to own a restaurant with live music. She currently plays at various churches and gigs around the city with an array of artist/bands such as UMI.
@aishagdrums
-
she/her
DC Native with Jamaican blood, Robzie has always been drawn to music as a form of self-expression. Her journey thus far has led her to work with some of her Grammy-nominated professionals including producer Ghian Wright and recording engineer Niko Bolas. Having been exposed to various music communities while touring nationally and internationally, Robzie developed a passion for helping elevate and maintain the musical culture and scene of her home, DC. From Pride Fests to the Kennedy Center Millenium stage, Robzie has played or participated in events as a public speaker with the goal of helping increase the visibility of black women in entertainment. Robzie is a founding Board Member of This Could Go Boom, a 501c3 nonprofit with the mission of amplifying marginalized voices in the music industry. Having studied business at Georgetown University, Robzie also looks to help other artists build a sustainable lifestyle through doing what they love.
@Robzie_Trulove_Drums
-
she/her
Bri is a young musician from Baltimore, Maryland who's mostly known online for bass covers. She loves her bass and some of her favorite artists include Green Day, BTS, Willow Smith, and Rico Nasty! She hopes that other young girls go after their dreams.
“Please don't listen to what anyone else has to say about your personality and interests!! If you enjoying yourself is bothering someone else, they probably just haven't found themselves yet. Please keep doing whatever makes you happy”
@devilishbri_
-
she/her
Su Preme is a dedicated drummer, percussionist, music producer, educator, healer, motivational speaker, and Human Resources professional. She is a graduate of Spelman College (B.A) and Georgetown University (M.A). Su Preme founded FruitfulRhythm in 2017, of which she sees percussion in just about anything, and immensely enjoys striking a balance between healthy living and making music!
Su Preme finds fulfillment in her platform when individuals can find and align their own rhythm whether it’s through a percussion workshop or even a wellness seminar. Su Preme has performed at the John F, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Brooklyn Museum, Baltimore Rhythm Festival, The Wammies, DC Funk Parade, WUSA Channel 9 (Great Day Washington), to name a few, and has also worked as an educator and workshop facilitator for top nonprofit organizations and academic institutions for various age groups. Stay tuned for upcoming projects!
@fruitfulrhythm
-
Electric Guitar and Acoustic and bg vocals
Faith D. Toran is a Communication Specialist, Environmentalist, Guitarist, Academic, Author and poet. Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Margaret Gada Sloesberg Foundation and The Walton/UNCF Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship. A graduate of the American University of Paris, class of 2018, she received a Master's of Arts in Global Communications (Development track). In 2013, she received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Spelman College, and is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in Burkina Faso, West Africa.
Over the past 12 years, her professional experiences have covered working in Communication for Development (C4D) and environmental sustainability in the US, Burkina Faso, France, India and Guinea with specialized technical knowledge of Communications for Development (C4D) project design, implementation and management. Communication for Development (C4D) – is, at its very essence, about understanding the needs of communities and individuals to develop context-specific people-centered solutions aiming to overcome existing challenges that hamper the adoption of desired behaviors so that children and women, including the most disadvantaged, survive and thrive both in emergency and development contexts. She completed a sustainable development field mission in Burkina Faso with The United States Peace Corps, conducted research on, designed and implemented communication plans with the World Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Association in France, conducted an impact study on the effectiveness of participatory frameworks within waste management programs in rural India, managed communications for the Relaunch of the International Association for National Youth Service in France and served as C4D Specialist on a UN Climate Adaptation and Resilience project in Upper Guinea, West Africa.
Faith joined MSF in 2019 where she served as a Field Communication Manager in Haiti and Cameroon. She now has joined the Climate Smart TIC project as Communication and Fundraising Coordinator. Her passion for environmental justice and sustainability started when she was young. In her role with Climate Smart, she is focused on producing effective and engaging communication materials that support communication processes that share the best environmental practices and help to scale decarbonization solutions. She believes that we are stronger together and that our collective knowledge, expertise, actions, and understanding, will provide sustainable solutions that work within the diverse contexts in which we live and work.
@faithd_toran
-
Bass and Voice
www.laurasimonemartin.com
instagram: laurasimonemartin
Laura-Simone Martin is a 17-year-old bassist already nationally acclaimed bass player and vocalist who has performed at venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Blue Note at Sea Cruise, the Monterey Jazz Festival with the Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo, and the VAIL Jazz Festival with the Vail Jazz Workshop Allstars. She also has performed at Dizzy’s Club, Birdland Jazz Club, South Jazz Kitchen, Tribeca Film Festival for the Jennifer Lopez Netflix Premiere, Halftime, and more. Currently, she plays with Princeton University’s Creative Large Ensemble and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra. This past summer, she was a part of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra, where she toured the U.S. with Sean Jones and 3x Grammy Nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn. She has also been in the National Association of Music Education All-National Honors Jazz Ensemble for 3 years. In her junior year, she founded the Queen Amina Music Program to help push the “women in jazz”/music movement. This program is for 4th-8th grade instrumentalists at the Lawrence Intermediate School and Lawrence Middle School, where she teaches songs, the history of women in jazz, improvisational skills, and how to navigate modal progressions. Through the program she has been able to invite artists like Katie Thiroux, Camille Thurman, Dr. Chelsey Green, Mimi Jones, Oscar winner and Grammy-nominated saxophonist Tia Fuller, and more.
-
acoustic guitar / vocals / Ableton Loop / Music production
Born and raised in Montreal, RnB Soul singer songwriter Odreii grew up in a very musical environment. After studying music in London and winning multiple songwriting contests, she returned to Montreal to start working on her own project. In 2019, Odreii released an EP and a single entitled ''Runs In Mi Blood''. The single peaked at #3 on PalmarèsADISQ’s chart, featuring the most played tracks on Quebec's english radio stations.
Her following single Go Solo was released in 2020 and got her the iHeartRadio artist of the month title in June. In 2021, Odreii released her first album called Sweatin' Gold. Odreii won Rolling Stone Battle of the Bands' competition, and promoted the album release with shows in Montreal, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Catch Odreii this summer as she will be performing all summer across Quebec and Ontario.
-
Astin Rocks. is a singer-songwriter and bassist living in Atlanta, GA. She currently fronts drum & bass Southern Rock Duo, "Thee BLK Pearl."
-
she/her
Tempest “Storm” Thomas is an accomplished artist, award winning bassist, singer-songwriter,
entrepreneur, music educator and federal retiree who was born and raised in the DMV area.
“The Storm Project” is her solo project and serves a mixture of Smooth Jazz, R&B, Soul and
Funk music. Her overall mission for creating this dynamic ensemble is to use her passionate
gift of music to promote positivity and to inspire her audiences.
Storm has an extensive background in live performance and her rigorous touring schedule has
allowed her to share the stage with some phenomenal recording artists including Erykah Badu,
Ginuwine, Chrisette Michele, Ceelo Green, MC Lyte, Dougie Fresh and many more. She was
the award recipient for "Be There" Magazine's Bassist of the Year in 2018. She was also
recognized along with her bandmates by Mayor Muriel Bowser and was honored with the
Women's of Excellence Award in 2020. Storm was also recognized and featured in “Be There”
magazine’s 2021 publication of the 100 Most Inferential People in the DMV area.
Storm also serves as the bassist for the dynamic premier award-winning all-female band “Bela
Dona” and she has toured worldwide with this unit for well over a decade. Storm launched her
solo project in 2017 and released her single 'Love Triangle” as an independent artist. She was
inspired to write this song to inspire women to overcome relationship challenges. She is
currently working on her EP and plans to release it in the near future.
-
Piano/Keyboard/Synths/Sound Design, Bass, Production
Melody Ector is an LA-based session keyboardist, composer and producer who tours and records both internationally and throughout the United States; she currently worked most notably with major pop artists Teyana Taylor, King Princess, Tones and I and Bea Miller. Originally from West Orange, New Jersey, Melody began studying classical piano at the age of 3 and started jazz piano shortly thereafter. After performing across the tri-state area throughout her childhood and as a young adult, she moved to Los Angeles to attend USC’s Popular Music Performance Program and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree. While at USC, she studied privately with Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler, and Alan Pasqua; by the time she graduated in 2019, she was already touring extensively with King Princess, with whom she performed in headlining shows and festivals such as Saturday Night Live, James Colbert Show, Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Glastonbury, among others.
-
Sterlyn Termine is an electric bassist, pianist, composer, and producer from Brockton, MA. She graduated from Howard University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition and Theory. Sterlyn is the electric bassist for the second national tour of the Tony award-winning musical, “Six.” She is also the founder of BlackGirlMusic, a digital platform dedicated to recognizing and elevating black women in music.
-
Alia is an artist from NC. They have had several musical experiences, from singing in the choir, playing percussion in a concert band & playing violin in an orchestra. She plays guitar, bass, and percussion. Their favorite influences are Willow Smith, Tyler, The Creator, Nirvana, Living Colour & Blind Melon.
"I hope to inspire others to embrace their authenticity, to live a life they want to live."
-
Keisha B., also known as Sistah Punk, is a singer and guitarist from Brooklyn, New York, and the front woman for the alternative rock band Cryo Child. Keisha started as a street performer and grew to collaborate with other musicians, host live music in local bars and venues, and promote the NYC punk rock scene. Inspired by generations of legendary blues artists such Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bessie Smith, and Tracey Chapman to rock and roll icons from Nirvana, L7, and The Distillers, Keisha's soulful vocals, nostalgic lyrics, and grunge guitar riffs have become the signature style of her genre.
-
Diamond McCoy is a guitarist from Detroit, Michigan, who began guitar playing at 7. She is classically trained on clarinet and used the harp as a way to discover arpeggiated techniques on the electric guitar. She enjoys writing short original guitar pieces and uploading them to social media platforms. She's endorsed by Jackson Guitars and loves being surrounded by many inspiring musicians.
-
Miranda is an R&B singer/songwriter from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the 2020 Boston Music Awards recipient for R&B Artist of the Year. Her NPR Tiny Desk audition showcases the range of her voice and style. She recently opened for ED Sheeran with the Boston Music Project.
-
Isley was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They grew up listening to the radio as a kid, listening to Top 40, the rock station, and the indie stations. They grew up with the radio as a child and the internet as a teenager. Heavily influenced by many arts, they eventually found their passion in music. They began singing and writing songs at 9, eventually picking up guitar and bass. Isley graduated from Minneapolis Media Institute in 2014 for Recording Arts and Production, with an interest in recording and mixing. They currently write and sing indie rock and punk music.
-
Acisse Jay (äkēsā jā), born Jessica Michelle Hall, is a rock/blues singer-songwriter from Norfolk, VA. With a sound that can be described as "the soul of rock," Acisse Jay brings new perspectives to blues rock music. Acisse Jay has opened for legends such as Roy Roberts, Johnny Rawls, Darryl Johnson, Penny Smith, and 2021 Jr. Bluesman Award winner Brendan Hinch during the 35th Annual Carolina Blues Festival. Having studied under legends such as Kevin Wilson, Sr. (Guitarist | Founder of International Musician's Summit), Acisse Jay provides a unique live experience to keep on your radar.
-
Kourtney Lowman is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. During her time there, she majored in Jazz Performance while minoring in Electronic Performance. She's a flute principal but also picked up other instruments like the Oboe, Tin Whistle, Recorder, Xiao, Dizi, Shakuhachi, EDI, and EWI. She was also a temporary studio and pit musician while at Berklee.
-
Atim Opoka (She/They) is a Ugandan-American songwriter, vocalist, composer, producer, and teaching artist. Who fuses Afro-pop and alternative beats while embracing the power of transformative storytelling. They are a 2023 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, 2023 WIP Red Eye Theater, TRCSTR 2023 Artist, a 2021 recipient of a Waters Award, and an Our Space is Spoken For Fellowship from the Twin Cities Media Alliance. She's inspired to share authentic stories. Amplifying marginalized people taking their power back by telling their stories. She believes that everyone has the power to be an artist. Storytelling is a birthright. It all depends on the environment that surrounds the individual.
-
For most of her life, sounds, music, and voices have surrounded Glory Yard. Now based in Minneapolis by way of Brooklyn, NYC, drumming has been her golden ticket, taking her across the country and worldwide. Her passion and dedication to rhythm have been awarded many opportunities, leading her to support well-known artists such as Lizzo on Saturday Night Live (2019), Alaina Castillo at Coachella, Coldplay’s Music of Spheres tour in Houston, and Dua Saleh.
-
TK Johnson is a drummer and singer-songwriter from Richmond, VA. Her passion for the drums started early. She was raised on Motown, old-school Soul/Funk/R&B Music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and old-school Gospel. By the time she developed her ear for studying music, TK had recognized the genius of Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Patti Labelle.
She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has graced the stages of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS’ Saturday Morning Show, the Newport Folk Festival, and AfroPunk. She has toured with artists and bands like The National, Boygenius, Dijon, Clairo, and Metric.
-
Bio coming soon.
-
Born in Chester, PA, Shorn Marshall has sung in church choirs since she was 6. When she was 14, she took music seriously by starting to write. By the time she became a freshman in college, she decided to learn guitar. Ever since then, she never put it down. Now she made an accomplishment by creating her first project, building her fan base by doing videos for social media, and collaborating with other artists.
-
Zaniah is a 24-year-old singer/songwriter from Louisville, KY. Growing up, she was exposed to a diverse range of music spanning many different genres, drawing inspiration from artists such as Lauryn Hill, Tracy Chapman, Esperanza Spalding, Erykah Badu, and many more.
With roots in old country music, her sound can be described as a contemporary take on R&B/Soul with a southern twang. Her unique charisma and warm, silky tone set her apart as something extraordinary in today’s musical landscape. She heavily emphasizes live instrumentation and musicality with an original, modern approach to achieving a familiar, vintage sound that can speak to every generation.
TxLips Band, LLC. Executive Team
-
Tasha Tavaras holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Savannah College of Art and Design and currently works for the Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture as a Contract Specialist. She is a photographer, maker of various things, and a budding gardener and is all things #Empowerment. Tasha has been on the Executive team for TxLips Band, LLC. since 2017 and has dedicated her life to creating change in every aspect she can.
-
Jess Garland is a Dallas-based singer-songwriter, recording, and performing artist. She is a multi-instrumentalist who combines harp and guitar loops to evoke her unique brand of celestial avant-garde pop with ethereal jazz tones. Jess most recently opened for Jackie Venson and Hayden Pedigo. She has also opened for Gingger Shankar and Madame Gandhi. Undermain Theatre recently announced that Jess will be performing in their upcoming live plus streaming 2021/2022 season on February 19, 2022. In May 2021, Jess released “Harp & Sol” which is an art film and music composition focusing on environmental racism in Dallas and Black feminism. Jess co-produced the film and composed music for Their Lives Mattered: A Dialogue Honoring Stolen Lives by Dallas law enforcement. Jess has partnered with She Shreds Media and has been featured in Guitar Girl Magazine and Kyser Presents Locals. She is the featured harpist on These Machines are Winning‘s Slaves for Gods album, as well as Sunshine Village’s album, The Buffalo Trees Saved The Children of The Sun. Her debut single, “Glow” is out now.
-
Kristina was born and raised on the South-side Chicago, IL and graduated from Spelman College in 2019 with a B.A. in Sociology, and a minor in Dance. During college, Kristina was a Corella & Bertram Bonner Scholar and represented Spelman’s civic engagement office on a national level. She was an Andrew Goodman Foundation Fellow and a Fellow of the Spelman College Social Justice Program. She completed internships with Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC., the Atlanta Braves, The Greening Youth Foundation, and 9to5 Womens' Rights Organization (which she is now the youngest board member). Upon graduation from Spelman, Kristina was a Fulbright Scholar in Sarawak, Malaysia. In addition to her academics and community engagement, Kristina is a professional dancer for the US Womens' National Basketball Association team, The Atlanta Dream, and uses dance not only as a passion but a second career. She loves doing the work of the people and knows the power of the arts. She has committed to doing this work for the rest of her life!
-
Jennale Adams is a gifted female Guitarist, Songwriter, Musician, Writer and Poet. She was born and raised in Queens, New york.Influenced by many different genres of music in order to create her signature sound, She loves R&B, Soul Latin- Rock , Rock & Roll and a little Jazz.
She discovered her love for music at the age of 10,she credits her father for her pursuit of music and the electric guitar. “ I remember growing up and desiring to play an instrument. I tried the flute and violin but they never called out to my soul the way the electric guitar did and always has. My curiosity and desire to pursue electric guitar came from the fact that I never saw female or Women of color guitarists represent in music, which inspired me even more. My life changed forever and the path to making music my lifelong passion was solidified when I first got my hands on a Black Fender Mexican Stratocaster. She is influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Her hero Carlos Santana Joe Satriani, Prince and stevie ray Vaughan.
-
Fayola Waithe is a recent graduate of Agnes Scott. She enjoys reading, writing, and going to the beach when she is not working. Fayola also loves to listen to music. She enjoys listening to “Tyler the Creator,” “Destroy Boys,” “Men I Trust,” and the “Internet,” to name a few!