The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of the LA’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool. Check out LA’s rising stars below.
Christina Sledge
We are extremely proud of our body of work thus far. Collectively we published ten books, two essays and produced two short films, Joined by Fate and Maryland Closed for COVID. Five of our books are bestsellers on Amazon. We tell diverse and compelling stories that highlight unique experiences and backgrounds. Additionally, all of our books are 200 pages or less to reach readers that are limited on time. We also offer indie authors self-publishing consulting services. We help make the self-publishing process easy and stress-free. We also recently launched a Sledge House Media merch store: https://sledgehousemediastore.com/ Read More>>
Eunoia Sonders
I grew up in Missouri as part of a large family—so large that I’m talking double-digit siblings! From an early age, I was drawn to the arts, but I also excelled academically, managing to graduate a few years early. I wasted no time preparing for college and, before even turning 18, I left Missouri to move to Hawai’i on my own. Read More>>
Lejin Fan
Then I moved to LA for my BFA, to NYC for work, and now to London for my MA study and personal career. My bond with the internet and virtual pop cultures, my experience with the ever-changing landscape around me, and my passion for experimenting art with technology which was found later in my academic journey all together impact my career right now in art and fashion deeply. Read More>>
Chaz Pringle
But just three days before our departure, I felt a profound inner knowing: I wasn’t going back to Brooklyn. This wasn’t a casual trip; it was a leap of faith. I had no job lined up, no car, and no home waiting in California. Yet, I knew this was a defining moment in my life. Despite my fears, I told my family and close friends, “I’m leaving, and God is going with me.” I packed as much of my apartment as I could, left the rest behind, and boarded my one-way JetBlue flight. Read More>>
Kb Vega
As I entered high school, I began to feel the profound impact of that trauma. The anger and confusion I had as a child turned into self-loathing. I hated what I saw in the mirror, feeling unworthy and unattractive. My body image issues became a constant battle. I compared myself to others, thinking I wasn’t good enough, never thin enough, never pretty enough. My self-esteem plummeted, and I couldn’t escape the negative thoughts that plagued my mind. Every glance in the mirror was a reminder of how I didn’t measure up. Read More>>
Tiffeny Wilson
I love connecting with people through my music, spreading love, joy, and a message. I fell in love with acting in my 20’s and really dove deep into that world. Being a part of someone’s vision and seeing it come to life gives me goosebumps and an internal excitement that’s unexplainable. The way people respond and interact with different stories and characters is beautiful and beyond special. Movies, theater, and television can be so powerful and transcendent. I also love creating movement, doing choreography for the stage and video productions. I am so passionate about the arts and I’m so happy to experience being a part of those worlds. Read More>>
Effy Wang
I was involved in some students’ musical projects and also joined some local musician groups. Right before I graduated, I got an internship opportunity as an A&R assistant for a famous music label from Taiwan. That experience changed my perspective and motivated me to pursue my artistic career. So I auditioned for Berklee College of Music in 2018 and I got accepted. I moved to the US and studied performance, contemporary music writing & production for five years. Now I’m a singer-songwriter, music producer, and DJ based in LA. Read More>>
Sonny Apollo
I was born in Frederick, Maryland, I was born early and with asthma. My first three years of life were spent on a nebulizer for a good portion of the day. Frederick is a small town. While growing up in Frederick, I participated heavily in the black church: I was in the choir (and at a time, the youth choir director), I was at prayer meetings, I was at bible study, I participated in the writing competitions, I was a part of the drama ministry, and one summer I ran a music workshop sharing what I was learning in school with others from church. I was also very involved in the arts scene in Frederick. I participated in school plays (middle and high school), community theatre, classical concerts, etc. etc. etc. Read More>>
Aerin Wu
I first really thought about pursuing animation when I was in high school in Canada, where I took my first animation class. That’s when I started watching lots of indie animations on Vimeo. The more I watched, the more I became obsessed with it. Later in that class, I made a short experimental animation, which I was really proud of at the time. Read More>>
Daniel Liga
Before finishing my Master’s career, it was during covid times and I was the only bread winner during that time. My wife was pregnant with our 3rd child and I was travel nursing to provide for my family as she was going through her pregnancy as it was much more difficult compared to our first three. Working full time while travel nursing, full time school with doing clinicals that felt like a 2nd job and maintaining the family was not an easy task. Thankfully we got through it and we are here, where we are! I’m looking to keep growing as time keeps going on! Read More>>
Oren Katz
So naturally, we loved coming to our father’s jewelry shop as little girls to design pieces for ourselves, play with all the curiosities in his shop, and watch the artisans at work. Even as babies, my mother used to design custom jewelry pieces in my dads shop, so as we got older we loved being a part of the process. I remember our friends always asking us to recreate pieces for them that our mom designed, which she loved to adorn us in. So without really knowing it, we had been selling jewelry almost our entire lives. I remember our friends coming to us every birthday, graduation, or celebration eager to get one of the jewelry pieces on their list. Read More>>
Penny Slinger
I went on to publish two more books of collage in the 1970s, and the book Sexual Secrets, the Alchemy of Ecstasy which introduced Tantra and the idea of sacred sexuality to a modern Western audience. Working on that book brought me to America, along with my partner and co-author, Nik Douglas, Read More>>
Sung Park
2024 marks my 30th year in my career. I originally started in clothing and textile as my main study/major but transitioned into makeup at a friend’s suggestion. I never imagined it would become such a significant part of my life or that I would continue for this long. My journey began in Korea, where a friend working at a broadcasting station encouraged me to attend makeup schools and academies. That’s how I took my first steps into the world of makeup. Read More>>
Shahin Studios
In 2017, we moved our business to Los Angeles, where we expanded into new ventures like interior design, murals, spatial art, and installations. We’ve even explored custom tile-making and collectible design objects. Today, Shahin Studios is a thriving creative hub that balances artistry with technical excellence, offering services that span from branding and silkscreen printing to transforming spaces through innovative design. Each project is a reflection of our Egyptian roots, our commitment to craftsmanship, and our passion for storytelling through design. Read More>>
D-win
As a rapper, singer, music engineer, and clothing designer, I strive to share my musical journey without vulgar language and to promote the word of God. In my designs, I focus on filling the voids in my own closet, sharing the entire process from fabric selection to the final product on the website. My greatest strength is my ability to take risks and make the seemingly impossible a reality. Having lived in Indianapolis, Chicago, and Los Angeles twice, I have a unique perspective and am able to manifest my dreams into reality. Being from the mid-west, I understand that opportunities for success in the clothing Read More>>
Alex Amick
I started with one goal: to make high-vibe, plant-powered supplements that empower people to look and feel their best from the inside out. Today, Vibe Nutraceuticals is more than just a brand—it’s a movement for people who are done settling for mediocre health. Every product we create is infused with intention, innovation, and the belief that you’re your own best healer. And we’re just getting started. Read More>>
Timothy Hill
After a corporate layoff earlier in 2024, I embraced the freedom to fully commit to my dreams. I launched my podcast, What’s The Tea With Tim, where I dive into deep, honest conversations that inspire and connect. I also began pursuing voice acting, modeling, and writing—avenues that allow me to tell stories in unique ways. Each challenge has made me more resilient, and every step has reinforced my belief that this journey is where I’m meant to be. Today, I’m proud to create work that uplifts and inspires others, while staying true to the vision that brought me here. Read More>>
Jonathan Moon
I remain grateful for the gifts and help I’ve received in my journey both as an artist and as just another human searching for dignity and some security, but it has been truly difficult at times. The best I can do is look forward in an educated way, and look back at the ways that I’ve aided or accelerated my own hardships. I think maturing as a business means realizing all the ways I tend to get in my own way. Sometimes I wish I had been given different opportunities, but I try to focus on the advantages I’ve been granted. Even simply time to write and read and reflect is a privilege. Read More>>
Lydia Dupra
Heaux Cosmetics initially began as part of the harm reduction section of my mentorship company. Liquid Finesse our Oxytocin spray was made with the intention for sex workers to experience less violence by making their clientele kinder to them. We started taking off in the mainstream during COVID because so many couples were experiencing dissatisfaction on lock down with their significant others. Years later we’re still developing formulas to help people from all walks of life enhance their social interactions. Read More>>
Phil Martin
After high school, I went to college in Lafayette, LA, Cajun Country. My classmates were from places like Franklin, Opelousas, Thibedoux, Houma, legit Cajuns. I ate some of the best food I could have ever imagined down there. They were fascinated with me because my Colorado accent made me sound like Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but I also had legit southern roots. So, I was not afraid to try anything and most of the food down there, I had had a SC version of it. The cooks at the cafeteria bugged out when I got excited for stewed okras and tomatoes. I grew up eating that with fried catfish, what’s the big deal? Read More>>
