Living in the Limelight

Kirstie Kraus (Mar. 2023)

Kirstie Kraus is thirsty for love and magic, for joy and sunshine. She’s thirsty for compassion and authenticity. And above all, she’s thirsty for anything that sets her soul on fire. She carries her thirst in her songwriting, her live shows, and in her everyday connection with other kindred spirits.  Kirstie infuses this passion into her music, creating a perfect blend of country, funk, blues, and rock.
​​She’s a 2 time Women of Country and JMA Nominee and she’s releasing incredible music, including a new duet with Thomas Kavanaugh called “Who Am I Gonna Love,” the track featured here with her episode!  Enjoy this conversation with Kirstie as we explore what her art means to her and what she wants for her fans to experience. 

Jennifer Jess (Mar. 2023)

Jennifer Jess is a singer, songwriter and recording artist based in Atlanta, GA. She originally found her passion for music by listening to greats such as Celine Dion, Abba, Etta James, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and more. After studying Opera for a year, she decided she wanted to go a different direction and pursue pop music full time. She initially found her core fan base online on a platform called Twitch Tv and streams to her worldwide community of almost 18,000. Jennifer released her first single in 2019, garnering over 800,000 streams on Spotify and landing her first Spotify editorial playlist in 2022. She appreciates the ever-changing world of pop music and loves being able to create music that moves the soul.

Five Piece Kit (Feb. 2023)

Five Piece Kit is a FOUR member band based out of Woodstock, GA.  They launched their debut EP, "Out of My Hands," in 2022 and JUST dropped a new single called "Say We're Right" on all major platforms.  The group is comprised of Austin, Michael, Jared, and Josh (guitar, drums, bass, and singer).  Enjoy this conversation where we explore what brought them together, what keeps them together, and what it takes for young musicians to try and gain some ground in the music business.

Emma Charles Townsend (Feb. 2023)

Emma-Charles Townsend is a 10 year-old country music singer and a HUGE Dolly Parton fan! She began singing during the pandemic in Pigeon Forge, TN at age 7,  and was part of the 1% of performers in the world getting a paycheck. In 2021, she began working at Dollywood during the Christmas Season as a Youth Performer. She has completed 3 contracts at Country Tonite Theater and is still working at Dollywood as needed for each season.  She has also released her first single, “Never go a day without a rainbow.”  Can you believe all of that is happening from a 10 year old? 
***If you are interested in being in an episode of our podcast, check out LivingintheLimelight.com for our easy questionnaire!

Ian Shelly Holmes (Feb. 2023)

Ian Holmes is a vocal powerhouse.  He’s a true artist with a heart of GOLD.  Some highlights to mention include: American Idol contestant, a feature on the Lord’s Prayer Project in 2007 which reached the Top 50 on Billboard, and he has opened for Collective Soul, Dionne Warwick, Taylor Hicks, and more.  Recently, Ian has played a fundamental role in stage vocals for the multi Latin Grammy winning group Camila, playing to audiences in the tens of thousands.  He’s also a vocal coach and an entrepreneur.  But, besides all the glitz and fame is a singer who wants to share his gift with you!  By the way, stay tuned through the end of the episode so you can hear his newest song (released 2/14/23), “Everything About You,” which is a very appropriate release for Valentine’s Day as it is dedicated to his wife, Perla!   

Kent Aberle (Feb. 2023)

Kent Aberle is a first call drummer from Atlanta, GA. Kent is currently performing and recording with a number of artists.  Kent’s ability to be a groove chameleon performing all styles of music as well as his harmonizing backing vocal ability has made Kent one of the busiest drummers in the U.S. for both live performance and sessions. Kent has over 20 years touring experience both in the US and Internationally including China, Japan, Australia, Canada, and others. Kent has performed on The Conan O’Brien Show, The Today Show with Kathy Lee and Hoda, The Talk, and has performed numerous times at the Grand Ole Opry as well as the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and numerous major festivals around the world.

iLUVTOKYO (Feb. 2023)

“iLUVTOKYO” is a  25yr old artist/songwriter out of Warner Robins, Ga. Born Dianerra Smith in 1997, and originally from the Boogie Down Bronx, NY,  iLUVTOKYO has always had a passion for the art of music as a whole. While music first started for her as a way to vent, it has now blossomed into a full time passion.  Check out her latest MIXTAPE "Out Of Sight, In Mind" on all major streaming platforms!

Liliana Tani ”Lulu” (Jan. 2023)

Multi instrumentalist and award winning songwriter, Liliana Tani (Lulu) was born to share her passion for music. At only 14 years old Liliana has contributed to over 50 music videos with combined views in the hundreds of millions. She has recorded vocals on hundreds of tracks and performed on stages across the globe. In 2017 she became a member of the One Voice Children’s Choir. In 2018 she became a member of Kids America, a singing group that created original music together. In 2020 Lulu joined the Acapop! Kids, a music brand created by the minds behind Pentatonix. In 2022 she joined Far Out Record's girl group called Glotivation representing Far Out Toys Glo Up Dolls. She has been a guest performer on the news, radio stations, and podcasts with performances at venues as large as the MGM Grande in Las Vegas and has even done a tour in Japan. And behind all of this accomplishment is a young human with a dream of creating music that will inspire, uplift and bring people together.

Tah’Chon Mills (Jan. 2023)

Today we have the fortune to speak with Tah’Chon Mills, otherwise known as Lil’ Boss!  This 7 year-old artist is not your typical kid!  Rather, he’s an author, actor, model, and a singer!  He has several movie credits under his belt and is the author of “I am a Superhero.”  He has several songs currently streaming including “Lil Boss” and his most recent release, “He never fails.” Enjoy this conversation with Tah’Chon and his mom as we explore what makes him such a special artist and an inspiration to so many.

Olympia Papageorgiou (Jan. 2023)

Today we are visiting with Olympia Papageorgiou – Olympia is an international singer and recording artist based in Atlanta, Georgia whose music is a mix of multiple styles, including R&B and International Pop. Her newest single, “No Titles” will have you dancing through the night!  One super fun fact is that her music can be heard in over 25,000 retail stores around the nation!  Let’s meet Olympia!