#kellen winters

[justkake-blog]

MEET OUR NYC BRAND AMBASSADOR: ALEX

1. WHAT DO YOU DO? (include school, major, work related to career, etc)

I'm a freshman at Marymount Manhattan College. I am a Marketing Major with a minor in Arts Management. I'm currently managing an artist named Joe Basquill.

2. How did you discover KAKE? What do you like about the company so far?

I discovered KAKE through a friend, Rachel Lessing, who interns for the company. I like that the company has such an open mind for creativity. The company allows people to express ideas and let's people really go outside the box. 

3. Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

In ten years I hope to own my own record company that focuses on the art of music, not just what sells. I hope that I have made a name for myself in the music industry. I also hope Joe is more successful than I ever dreamed he could be. 

4. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE ARTIST/BRAND TO WORK WITH WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?

One name, Beyoncé. I would work with Beyoncé because she emulates everything an artist should be. She is poised, she is confident, she's smart, she's driven, and she makes music that she wants to make. She doesn't just make what sells, she makes what she feels and I really admire that about her. 

5.  DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO DO YOU VIE TO EMULATE IN YOUR DAILY OR WORKING LIFE?

I hope to emulate Meryl Streep. When you hear her name you just feel greatness. She gives everything she does 100% and I really admire that. I want to give everything I do everything I have, because I strive for perfection.

6.  Let’s throw it back to the first day of school- name two truths and a lie.

- I was heavily involved in my high school's theatre program.

- I was born in New York

- I was crowned Prom King my Senior year.

7. What tools do you find essential in your life?

 I find confidence to be the most essential thing in my life. I feel that you can't be successful without confidence. You need to believe in yourself to be able to accomplish your goals. Every morning I wake up and I look in the mirror and I tell myself "You can do anything you want", and it makes all the difference.

8. In 2014 I hope to ________

  In 2014 I hope to prove to everyone that I am a force to be reckoned with. I've always been a dreamer and I felt that people just shrug off what I say because I dream big and I dream crazy. I want to show people that I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

   9. What do you hope to get out of your experience with KAKE?

  I hope to develop the ways to get make my ideas a reality. I'm always thinking and imagining cool ideas but I never know how to execute them. I feel that the KAKE team can help me harness my ideas and bring them to life.

 10. Favorite song of the moment:

My favorite song at the moment has to be Partition by Beyonce. The dirty beats, the creative transitions, the sexy lyrics, and the combination of the two songs Yoncé and Partition just make me feel like I'm the baddest. The lyrics are so raw and real that it paints the mystical picture in my head. It makes me feel so sexy.

[justkake-blog]

MEET THE FAM: Rachel

1) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION WALKING INTO THE KAKE OFFICE?

I walked in and was stunned. The KAKE office has a huge, open work space, tons of light, a studio filled with beautiful instruments. I noticed almost immediately that both Kellen and Na'el have really good taste in music, which they often blast through the speakers. So, I was in heaven. 

2) WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO LEARN THROUGH WORKING WITH KAKE?

I want to learn how to turn ideas and dreams into a reality. It's definitely harder than it sounds. I don't think people appreciate all of the tedious tasks that any artist or entrepreneur has to complete before getting what they want. I want to be able to come up with a great idea, and execute it in the best way possible. 

3) WHAT HAVE YOU ALREADY LEARNED?

I've learned so much. Most importantly, I've learned how crucial it is to reach out to people, artists, companies, ANYBODY for support. I'm notoriously bad at asking people for things, and starting conversations. Kellen has made me become comfortable with networking- there is always a way in, it's really all in the way that you say things. Na'el is always schooling clients who come in (artists, managers, etc) on the music industry, and I always listen. To sum up what I've heard- the music industry is really brutal, and nothing is as it seems. 

4) WHO'S SCARIER? NA'EL OR KELLEN? 

It really depends on the day :P Honestly, Na'el and Kellen aren't the scary type, but let's just say I would never want to let either of them down. They are my mentors, and I look up to them.

5) WHAT'S THE COOLEST MOMENT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED SO FAR AT KAKE?

Coolest moment for me has to be after all of the weeks planning and setting-up an event, when I get to step back and see it all coming together. At both Dafte Haus and the KAKE launch party I was amazed. It's a crazy feeling to see really cool artists and creatives enjoying something that I helped put together. Events are pretty tough and time consuming but the coolest moment (in any situation) has to be when you see that your hard work was worth it. 

6) IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE ARTIST TO WORK WITH WHO WOULD IT BE? WHY?

I would want to work with Jay Z. He understands the world in a way that I hope to someday. I feel like I could learn so much from working with him.

7) HOW HAS KAKE HELPED YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF BRANDING YOURSELF?

KAKE brands itself in a very conceptual way. KAKE is a company that has a distinct voice, look, and feeling. That's what people love about it. So when it comes to branding myself, I understand I have to have the full package. Every aspect of my "brand" has to be 100% me. People won't respond to a brand that reminds them of something else. They have to come across it and think they've discovered something really rad and become curious enough to keep checking in.

8) WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU THINK OF KAKE BECOMING A "SUCCESS?"

I see Kake behind many successful and unique branding strategies. I think that the team is really good developing multifaceted business plans. We're presented with a product, brand, person, and immediately we're thinking of ways that we can differentiate the client from everyone else. AND we're allowed to come up with some crazy sh!t. Social media marketing is becoming too common...the internet as well... let's just say Kake is thinking outside of the box that is your computer. 

9) WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WHEN YOU THINK OF BECOMING A "SUCCESS?" HOW CAN KAKE HELP YOU GET THERE?

I see myself successfully helping others to become a success. In the future, I want to be building really intricate and creative strategies for clients and discovering artists that could be really big. I'm a researcher (stalker?). KAKE teaches me to hunt for unique talent- and Kellen trusts my eye which is really cool. When I'm interested in a community or genre or anything, I stalk everyone who is (or claims to be) a part of it. This gives me an advantage- I figure out the trends within each realm and can manipulate them to benefit any sort of marketing plan. I get opportunities to do this a lot at KAKE and it's only making me stronger at what I do. 

10) DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO DO YOU VIE TO EMULATE IN YOUR DAILY OR WORKING LIFE?

Graham Nash, of the band Crosby, Stills, and Nash. On top of being an amazing musician, he's a pioneer of technology, the arts, and a damn good business man. I read Nash's book recently, and he taught me that your passion should always lead you, and it will lead you the right way. No matter what happened in his life, music always took him back to where he belonged. 

11) FAVORITE SONG OF THE MOMENT. GO.

I Spy by Mikhael Paskalev. The lyrics are great: "I spy with my little eye/to fall is connected to trying". That line is my little anthem right now. Also, there's electric guitar and harmonicas and you can dance to it.

[justkake-blog]

Our friends over at Circus Mag featured KAKE x OJ HAYS creation #TheRecipe on their beautiful site today! The zine, based in Chicago and run by a small group of talented writers, "aims to educate and enlighten the masses of the Generation-Y mindset and perspective--representing today’s young, beautiful and inspirational." On top of blogging about style and culture, these guys incorporate a level of self-reflection and honesty that seems to be scarce in today’s blogosphere.

That being said, we are SO happy to announce that KAKE will join the Circus team with a monthly column, written by our founder Kellen Winters.  We’ll keep you posted, but until then, browse Circus Mag + learn something new ;)

[justkake-blog]

CHICAGO, IL, NOVEMBER 26, 2013 – The team at KAKE, Kellen Winters and Na'el Shehade, have partnered with animator OJ Hays to produce a short commercial. OJ has previously worked with several ad agencies and is also known for his impressive film and artwork for artist Chance The Rapper.  

In less than a minute, viewers can learn about how the folks at KAKE can strategically and creatively fix any business qualm, illustrated with OJ's signature wacky and fun graphics. Filled with colorful cartoons, the commercial is an inventive yet comprehensive way to show the world what KAKE is all about. CHECK IT OUT! 

Click here for more info.

[justkake-blog]

Our co-founder Kellen Winters never stops. 

This week, she teamed up with LA-based music and lifestyle site, Vita 10|17 in an interview that takes you through KAKE's past, present, and future as we know it. 

Feed your head.

[justkake-blog]

"When people say they’re not creative or artistic I immediately call rubbish. Everyone has a technicolor brain, some of us just need our hand held."

our co-founder Kellen Winters via Vita 10|17

[justkake-blog]

An Act of Bribery

Hey fam,

Kels here!

Not sure what's gotten into me these days, but I've been feeling like a kid on Christmas. And all these feelies are inadvertently bringing my benevolent side to light. 

With #DAFTEHAUS right around the corner, some of your favorite hip-hop and lifestyle sites have been bringing my collaboration with My Morning After to light. I'm certainly thrilled to be working alongside some amazing people that really seem to pull it (whatever 'it' is) out of me. I want everyone to be exposed to the progressive and cool vibe that both Flow and myself have created as a result of simply putting our heads and resources together.

Bottom line: I NEED YOU TO EXPERIENCE DAFTE HAUS. 

I've got a handful of free Share Ruby Hornet's post by tagging KAKE on Facebook, Twitter, and by using the #DAFTEHAUS hashtag, and admission for you and a homie is on moi. 

NOW GO!

See you Friday,

KELLEN

[justkake-blog]

Shamless Plugs: My Morning After

Flow Johnson, our partner in crime for DAFTEHAUS, is a photographer at his own company, MyMorningAfter.net and the head of partner relations at Brave New Art World. Flow not only has a knack for making art, but is talented in presenting art in different ways, especially in the form of an event. Pretty much a jack of all trades, right? He attended our KAKE launch party, snapped some pictures, and before we knew it, KAKE and MyMorningAfter.net were collabing on a super dope event, #DAFTEHAUS.  It has been a blast working with such a talented, experienced person, who is in tune with our vision of what an event should be. We are thankful for Flow, and #DAFTEHAUS would not be alive without him. Check him out at MyMorningAfter.net.