Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Sutherland.
Andrea, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a firm believer in a purpose-filled destiny. I believe nothing just happens. I believe everything is Spiritual. There are no coincidences. My story starts in Jamaica, West Indies where music and culture rules. I was washed in and exposed to an entrepreneurial and a community mindset as I watched my parents.
My father was a tailor by trade and owned a fine tailoring company where he made clothes for people such as the Wailers (of Bob Marley and The Wailers). He went on to open a Restaurant and Transportation company. My mother was an elementary school teacher and ultimately she became a Midwife where my brother and I were on baby deliveries with her whenever she was needed.
In Jamaica unfortunately you have the haves and the have nots. Not much middle class. Our mom I would like to say was one of the Mother Teresas in our community. She worked at the clinic by day and at night she administered prenatal care and delivered babies at homes for those who could not afford care at the clinic or hospital. She accepted no payment. I would say she was one of the saints in our neighborhood cooking extra food daily and helping anyone who needed it. My brother and I would hand carefully wrapped dishes in a towel to kids and adults who came to pick up food for their families. It was a very discreet and organized process. She handled it so well where no one felt as if they were getting a hand me out. Everyone felt as though “Nurse” (her name in the community) was being a friend. She did not do it for fame nor recognition. She did it because she had a love for people and that came from her spiritual belief that we are all God’s children and that there is a God. That left such an impression on me, That formed my framework for my thought process and how I would see the world.
I migrated to Brooklyn, NY at the age of nine with all that Jamaica gave me and the desire to build, make an impact and take care of community.
After majoring in Communications at Hunter College I worked as a Community Liaison for for a Non Profit community organization and at some point I met a DJ/Musician in whom I saw the same entrepreneurial spirit I had. He also had a spiritual outlook on life and so we connected on that level.
Because music was such a big part of my growing up and it’s also very spiritual I gravitated to the musician inside and wanted to help him build. He was involved in creating a genre of Electronic Music some years earlier and when we met it was “old news”. He was shelved basically.
He shared with me wanting to quit and walk away from music. When I learned his story I saw that he too had a major purpose which was to impact people (community) on a large scale. His management company split up and he had no representation. He felt hopeless. I wanted to inspire and simply help him build. . I started doing research on promoters and venues abroad and ordered a monthly subscription to the big three Dance music magazines from Europe and made it my mission to learn this genre. I did not grow up In House Music. Reggae, Pop, Gospel RNB, were my center. House Music was school for me. It was heady at first but it became my heart. I began to see why people loved it so much. I jumped right in and started managing and ultimately doing everything including booking, marketing and brand development. 18 years later he is considered a legend and I’m humbled to have been a part of that journey.
Along the way we’ve built several brands together including Afro Acid record label state of the art music studio and Wildpitch Underground, a venue here in Atlanta where we brought legends Danny Howells, Dennis Ferrer, Felix Da Housecat, Dave Morales, Carl Craig, Derrick Carter, Josh Wink, Dubfire, Vic Calderone, Chus and Ceballos, Mr. C, Tony Humphries, Guy Called Gerald, Reggae artist Protege’, Yardcore and many more.
We partnered with Mixmag to present the My City Atlanta edition for the first time here. . Oscar and Thea Presents LLC worked closely with me on that and many other projects as well. Wildpitch was a very special place, It was the launching board for so many ideas and brands. It was inclusive and brought everyone together, white, black, purple…in a city where some venues are labeled “black” or “white. It wasn’t normal venue. It was operated with the artists in mind and was a lot more lenient towards promoters so this added to the impact we all made overall. We made it easier for a promoter to come in do what they do. We also partnered with brands such a Roland Corporation and Pioneer DJ etc. to present interesting workshops and concepts etc. I hope the goal was achieved. Wildpitch was a labor of love….it was about taking care of the community in a small way through the music.
The venue closed in 2018. Going back to nothing just happens, it was part of my transition. It was time for me to walk my own path instead of helping to solely build someone else’s. In 2020, I started consulting and and assisting with events here and there in the city by booking talent that I had relationships with for other venues and promoters.
We all have our own paths to walk. Everyone has a purpose and there will always be road signs and even maps divinely helping along the way. We just have to simply be bold enough to take the first step and sometimes that means starting over. I look forward to the next chapter.
Currently, I’m curating events and one that I am very passionate about is Sippin’ Sundaze at Calabar and Grill in Stone Mountain, It’s owned by Kerry Wright and her sister Chef Shauna. It’s such a special little spot. The food is immaculate and the drinks perfectly crafted and they all are beautifully made. Sippin’ Sundaze- the concept is based on the artist and live performers. We give them the space to share their stories in a very vulnerable way… they give us what they want to give. The Live DJ is given the freedom to go where ever he wants to go. It’s not genre specific. So that has been my focus. I’m working with my partners/friends to present other concepts soon as well.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think when you are true to your purpose there is always a negative force trying to interrupt your path, constantly trying to keep you from fulfilling your destiny especially if you are contributing positivity and love throughout the journey. So yes, it has been challenging in different ways. Being a woman and a woman of color is one of the challenges that jumps out.
I somewhat had to be very mindful of everything I did so as not to give the wrong idea sexually or I had to represent and articulate myself well because the expectation is that I will “Ebonics” my way in the male-dominated conversations. Unfortunately color and gender is still a “thing:” So that had to be navigated daily. But I had an amazing team at Wildpitch where the guys treated me like one of the guys and color wasn’t a thing. We were truly white, black, purple and whatever other color you want to add in. I’ve also made amazing friends/colleagues along the way where gender and race weren’t any issue. So there was some balance there for me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an artist manager. A business owner. A brand and marketing advocate and I guess specialist? I believe I am able to see a concept from start to end and I can see all the pieces needed to make it whole. To some that seems daunting, But it comes very natural to me. Understanding what the direction and artist or brand is going and understanding who will be receiving what they have to give is a science and I think I’m able to grasp that well. So I help consult for others and help bring their concepts to life.
So basically the past 18 years I’ve managed DJ Pierre and Afro Acid our label, music studio and brand. I set the groundwork for Afro Acid which became a movement…more of a lifestyle.
I owned and built Wildpitch the nightclub/venue brand. We were very successful in helping to move the House music scene along.
Currently I’m building the Sippin’ Sundaze concept at Calabar and Grill.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Pure and true love. When people are selfless and they allow their better selves to emerge…that makes me happy. My kids which may include kids of other family members-:). I have a tribe of babies. But my natural born kids My 28yr old son Mark is outstanding. He makes me happy because he has such purity in heart, Not a perfect being…tripped up along the way like most teens but his heart always wins me over.-:). My 2 girls Nia and Nylah are a planet of their own. Extremely talented. Nia is an artist and a very good one. She is the Anime’ master challenging most animation out currently. She also plays the Cello. Nylah edits videos in a creative way. She plays the Viola and has the sweetest spirit. . They make me smile.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sippinsundazedayvibes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sippinsundazedayvibes
Image Credits
Monk for the Wildpitch photos
