Meet Miss Storm of Earkandi Productions in Lithonia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miss Storm.

Miss, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Warren a very small city in Northern Ohio, I grew up in a single-family home with my three younger brothers and my mother who struggled with mental health issues.

Growing up opportunities were scarce, and there was no mentor-ship for my city’s youth.

As a young child, I always admired artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson. My imagination was bigger than life, and I wanted to create amazing videos like Thriller put my story in a song and inspire the world like it inspired me.

Although I had dreams of working in entertainment my mother was not supportive of this due to suffering from extreme anxiety. She would always redirect my dreams to something more practical like being a doctor.

But my desire was to work in the world of entertainment. Unfortunately, my hometown did not have an outlet to develop my gifts, and I knew I needed to master my craft.

At the age of twelve, I decided to join a church choir. I remember standing there scared on the pulpit with the microphone in my hand, Eventually, I began leading songs and the more I sang the more confident I became. I joined my school choir and began singing at school functions which led to participating in school plays.

By the time I entered into middle school, everyone knew who I was and would ask me to sing for them, especially when they were sad even my teachers would tell me that my voice was “Angelic” and it made them feel better.

“To me being a singer was equivalent to being a doctor” I felt like I found my purpose early in my life. I had the ability to heal and inspire complete strangers and I could not deny my true passion.

Right before my sophomore year in high school, my principal told me about an opportunity to sing with the “gospel legend” Kirk Franklin. Despite my mother’s approval I auditioned anyway and ended up having the pleasure of touring with Kirk Franklin and the Family.

Shortly after, things began to take a turn and I found myself pregnant and in an abusive relationship. I began living a different lifestyle and I strayed away from the gospel music I was brought up on and became more interested in secular music.

After having my 2nd child, I decided to move 3 hours away to Columbus, Ohio to start a new life. When I got to Columbus, I did not have a plan. All I knew how to do was sing and Unfortunately, I found myself in yet another unhealthy relationship.

By this time, I was a 24-year-old single mother and I was ready to give up on my dreams of working in the entertainment business altogether. It was hard to hold my head up high; I was feeling ashamed of who I had become and feeling unhappy about the direction my life was going. I was going through an identity crisis, trying to raise my children and take care of myself at the same time.

In the summer of 2004, my children and I were walking home from the store and there was a wet newspaper article on the ground. Looking back, it felt like it was laying there just for me to see it and something told me to pick it up.

It read: S.T.A.R.S “Striving To Achieve Real Success.” To my surprise, the organization taught “at risk” youth music composition and helped them get opportunities for record deals.

I called the organization and spoke to the youth manager at the time “April Dillard” and told her everything I been through I told her how music was the only thing I ever loved besides my children. April introduced me to the owner of the program and we became very close friends. I truly believe It was destiny for us to meet each other. Picking up that wet Newspaper in the middle of the street saved my life.

April was the lead instructor in the program and very knowledgeable in engineering and studio recording together we began writing and producing songs.

We became one of the “Most Requested Local Artist” and eventually was added to rotation on our local radio station.

Our buzz grew rapidly and we started ghostwriting and consulting other local artist and became regular Opening Act’s for Major Artist such as: J Holiday Keyshia Cole Da Game & Day 26 We won several awards from the Local Radio Stations Ascap and was nominated for an Ohio Hip Hop Award.

We won: “Best Mix tape of the year” “Best Female Artist of the year” “Best Song of the Year” and “The Golden Pen” award from Ascap that year.

In 2011, April left S.T.A.R.S and joined forces with me to jump start my company Earkandi Productions. During the start-up phase of Earkandi I was on tour with Lil Wayne and Crime Mob.

By this time, I had written my first platinum record for Bad Boy entertainment and started the first all-female production company in Ohio to give women in music an opportunity to learn, share, create, and live out their dreams.

In 2012, I stepped out on faith and moved my children and Earkandi Productions to Atlanta, Georgia. I realized how vital it was to be able to teach the publishing side of the music business. I wanted to inspire and motivate more mothers that had the same passion I did.

I am proof that you can still be a mother, and live out your dreams. I lead by example and take great pride in teaching young women how to balance family and practice time management.

In 2014, I became an international music publisher-administrator and incorporated a boutique publishing company to educate and offer music licensing opportunities to other artists.

Over the last ten years, Earkandi has generated over 100 music placements in everything from TV commercials, movies, film, radio, restaurants, and even video games. As of today, Earkandi has over 600,000 streams worldwide with major platforms such as: Vidal, Sassoon, Redbox, Rent-A-Center, Subway, PlayStation, BET, and more.

Apart from music, I also started my own non-profit organization called: “The M&M Foundation”, “The Moving Mountains Foundation of Motivational Speakers.” I merged all of the pain, joy, knowledge, and resources I accumulated over the last twenty years and used those experiences as a Testimony to give back and inspire others.

A Non-Profit Organization changed my life and I only hope mine will leave an indelible impact on others as well. As a result, I volunteer and speak at schools as often as I can and I outsource many speaking engagements to my experienced Team Of Volunteers “The LifeSavers” ©.

In 2018, I went back to my hometown with April and my children and together we hosted the first “Recipe For Success” event to help educate and give back. {This was the very 1st time my mother ever seen me perform live}

In 2019, I created the first Black History Month Cypher Series© in Atlanta, Georgia. The B.H.M. Cyphers is a hip-hop blog dedicated to pay homage to the African-American culture via music, art, entertainment, and interviews from people all over the world.

Later this year, I will be releasing my first short film, “Gunz and Roses“ based on a true story of my life.

I have created my own lane from my own vision and I never gave up on myself. Everything I involve myself in now has to have a purpose either to help someone and or inspire personal growth.

My motto is P.O.P “Purpose Over Paychecks.” © I believe one person can change your entire life. They can either ignite a fire in you or blow out the fire in you. I only come to ignite flames.

Has it been a smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road Life is full of challenges. The obstacles make you or break you.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Earkandi Productions – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am an “Artist”, I create music that the world beats to drives to waits on hold to goes down the elevator in and shops in the mall too.

I am a “Renaissance Woman”, I specialize in putting the puzzle pieces together for each unique individual client. Everyone is different and has different desires and are at different levels and requires different knowledge.

I am a “Visionary”, I help create a map that guides you to your next stop.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta is a place of Opportunity, Especially for the Entrepreneur minded… This is one of the easiest places to come and start a business. Here the saying is true ” If you build it people will come”. I’m a witness The traffic and the weather are unpredictable ..but it has taught me to be ready for anything.

I Do Not like the amount of “Homeless People” I see in Atlanta. My Ultimate Goal is to be able to do more about that. My children and I feed them and pray with them but it’s Not enough. I would like to open up a facility for them and help them transition.

Pricing:

• Face To Face Consultation $200.00 (1 Hour)
• Over The Phone Consultation $100.00 (30 minutes)
• Song Critique $75.00 (5 Songs or less)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.earkandiproductions.info
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/TheRealMissStorm
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/1Missstorm

Image Credit:
Earkandi Productions

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