Conversations with SheeBangs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julianna Toney.

Julianna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My love for the arts began as early as I can remember . I’ve been doodling and drawing since I was a child. I’ve been making mixes and playlists since I was in high school. I studied Art and Theater at Valdosta State University; focusing on painting, graphic design, costume design, and fashion. I became Creative Director a fashion show each year at the school. I showcased designs from real local designers, casted models , booked talented college students such as photographers, videographers and hosts. The show became an anticipated event on campus.
After getting my degree at Valdosta State, I had my first art exhibition in Atlanta which was a huge success. I then decided to continue my education by attending Savannah College of Art and Design. I studied fashion marketing & management. After getting my degree from SCAD, I moved back to Atlanta and began working luxury retail.
The first luxury brand I worked for was Chanel in 2019. It was very brief, but it taught me a lot about the luxury world. My time ended there early 2020 after the passing of my brother and the pandemic. Through that tough time I then found my way to Dior. I began working there as temporary assistance. I helped with sales and I helped with store operations. This was the beginning of my art and fashion career. I was learning the brand, learning the client, styling and learning store operations.
My mother became sick and I decided to leave Dior. Somehow, I knew that my journey with Dior was not over. Somehow I felt like Dior was home to me.
But it was necessary for me to step away from the house at that time. This is when I began learning how to DJ. Thanks to DJ MoneyMaal, I learned the basics quickly.

In 2021 I became a DJ. All the while my mother was dying and I had no idea. I got my first DJ residency on Peter Street at the renowned SPIN. Every Monday, R&B night. Soon I was getting booked for private events and fashion shows. I secured two other residencies; Sauce Buckhead on Sundays and Escobar seafood on Wednesdays. I also started doing graphic design for two brands Nyrva and Free Hugs. I created the iconic logo for the brand Nyrva. I’ve designed a few collections for both brands . And I was in charge of the web design for Free Hugs. I was also designing my own brand at the time. I pioneered the campaign “ black Creative Influence the World “ which is still on my website today .
In the same moments, I got recruited back to work at Chanel. I worked there for a few months and then my mother passed away September 2021. That was crazy. In the same moment, I got a residency at Copper Cove in Buckhead. I was mixing for so many entertainers. From Gunna to The City Girls, Young Thug etc. I felt like I was on top of the world, but still dealing with a lot. I ended up leaving Chanel again as you could imagine. Took a lot of time off.

In 2022 I got re-recruited to go to Dior permanently. I always knew I would go back to Dior because it always felt like home to me.. I still feel this way. I was working full-time and still a full-time DJ. I was also still grieving the loss of my brother and now my mother. But I continue to push. I worked for Dior for another two years or so. This was amazing because I met so many great people/clients. I didn’t know that my two worlds would soon collide. Dior clients would soon become partnerships and DJ gigs.

When it all became too much, I decided to leave Dior in 2024 to be a full-time Creative. DJing, getting back into painting, graphic design, etc. It all was going well. But still not enough. I then was recruited to work for Celine. I managed the back of house for a few months but it wasn’t for me. I decided to leave and go back to my full time creative life. I had a moment of “what’s next”.
I got a new DJ residency at Your 3rd Spot. I was DJing a lot of private and corporate events, doing less design, not painting at all. So, 2025 I decided to find balance. I got recruited for another luxury brand which I currently work for. It is very accommodating and low-key. I keep that very private. I went full on into my DJ career. I use my free time sketching, painting, and creating DJ mixes.
December 2025 I finally had another art show “The Second Layer” showcasing paintings, photography and graphic design. Thanks to Oberon Asscher on Auburn Ave and an artist Brill Adium for helping me put that together.
Today I still have my DJ residency at Your 3rd Spot. I’ve expanded my DJ resume to many private events for Atlanta’s elite and some celebrities. I just recently was the DJ for Lil Baby’s Back to School Fest. And I’ve began traveling to DJ. So far LA, Nashville, and Dallas TX.
As I’m growing as a Creative, there is still so much more in store that I have to give to the world.
More art is coming.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. Being a Creative is the surface. At my core I’m still a human and I’m still a woman. I have lost my mother and my brother along the way. It’s very hard to get in a creative space when you’re grieving. Not to mention, in the midst of this I was a caregiver for my father who needed a kidney.
Music is therapeutic. I found that DJing helped me feel better. But sometimes I find it hard to create art. I have experienced long periods of time where I could not pick up a paintbrush. Creative blocks where I could not sketch or design a thing. I’m still working through this today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a multidimensional artist. At the forefront, I am a DJ. But a lot of people know me for fashion design and painting. What sets me apart from other Creatives is that I don’t have just one thing that I focus on. I’m always working on multiple things at once. And I’m always looking for ways to combine all of my talents and skills. I am most proud of the growth in my DJ résumé. This year has been very pivotal. I got to go to LA to DJ with R&B Only. I got to go to Dallas to DJ at Komodo. And I got to DJ for Lil Baby a few times! I’m also very proud of my art show which was held December 2025. It meant a lot to me because it had been 10 years since I’ve shown my paintings. I am also proud of my YouTube series called Shee Sessions where I DJ and cool spaces. I designed all of my cover art and flyers myself. Still combining all of my talents with each curation.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories are every single summer. Every summer, my mom would send me to a different summer camp. The two most memorable are the Morehouse sports camp and Camp Cedine in Tennessee. I learned every sport from tennis to volleyball to swimming basketball, etc.. at Morehouse. Camp Cedine is a Christian camp in the middle of Tennessee with so many activities, This is where I found my love for art, horseback riding and canoeing. These are still some of my favorite past times to this day. I love these childhood memories because they have made me into a more complex well-versed person. They contribute to the layers of myself; The parts of me people don’t know. And they have taught me how to interact with people from various walk of life. I love the way those summers have shaped me into the wildflower of a woman I am at 34.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sheebangs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shee.bangs
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shee-bangs
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/X9duMacrdmOlPIUCay
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shee.bangs