Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayna Higgenbottom.
Shayna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a Memphis TN native. I moved to Atlanta right after I graduating college to pursue music. At the time, I only knew two people who lived in the city and one way to get my music out. The only way I knew how to get my music heard was beat battles. I started competing against all the boys in the city and winning. After competing for a year, I wanted to diversify my craft.
So, I started teaming up with indie artists, producers, and other writers to make more than just beats. I need records to be taken seriously and an artist. I started my company, Early Birds Production LLC, and started curating artists and developing their sound from scratch. Now, I am on a mission to take over ATL and the charts by collaborating with like-minded creatives, consistently learning, and being the best producer and person that I can be. Plus, I gotta represent for all the women coming up in the industry because the future is definitely female!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This road I’ve taken is about as smooth as downtown ATL roads. Being a female in the industry, I have had a lot of challenges dealing with mostly men in the industry. A lot of men try to belittle you with their words and make themselves appear superior over you or devalue your creative expression and opinions. I think I’ve realized that most men secretly dislike a female that can lead. It messes with their egos or something.
The most challenging part is adjusting to the expectations that you started with and getting your head in the game. As women, we have to learn the rules of the game first. Then, with little guidance, we have to learn how to play the game through trial and error as we go. After we finish absorbing all of that info, you individually find your own way to win the game. However, once you have found the key to winning, you can never let the men know that you know how to win. You have to let some of them think they are the key part in your success….. that’s the game.
Please tell us about Higgy Beats.
I am a music producer that aspires to inspire. It’s not just about the recognition and growth for women in the industry but growth in entrepreneurship as well. My company is Early Birds Production LLC specializing in music production and artist development. Apart from music, I am a Forex trader and a real estate agent specializing in income real estate. My goal is to use music as my platform and educate as well as influence my peers to make better investment and business decisions. We have to get off the wheel of allowing companies to control how we spend the majority of our time building their businesses, legacy, and making everyone but ourselves rich. It’s less about the chase to fame and more about building and uplifting the mindset of people through something that is familiar to everyone- music.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
In 5th grade, I play my boyfriend at the time in a real game of love and basketball to determine if we were going to break up or not. I lost… but we still cool.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Higgybeats.com
- Phone: 6788068684
- Email: Higgybeats@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Higgybeats
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Higgygotbeats
- Twitter: @Higgygotbeats
Image Credit:
G Father
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
