CITY OF PALMS PODCAST
Everyone has a story to tell...
Two brothers in Southwest Florida talk with people from around town and beyond about music, art, skateboarding, and everything in between.
THE RENAISSANCE IS NOW
SOME OF OUR FAVORITES…
KING ROC
He's been in the SWFL hip hop scene for years, and his intricate writing and unique cadence sets him apart from other MCs. He's a champion battle rapper, has a self-produced album that caught the ears of many so far, and he isn't slowing down anytime soon because he's full of drive and is harnessing even newer arts that will ultimately contribute to this tree of success in art and entertainment.
“RAISING THE BAR” SWFL FREESTYLES
EDDY ROCK
a journalism graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University who has extensive experience working both within the music scene and for a corporate broadcast outlet. He has produced records with over a million streams, and he currently works as a music engineer at The Facility - one of the most renowned studios in Southwest Florida . It was a pleasure to speak with him about his history in local music, writing for FGCU, working the night shift at Wink News, his affiliation with Curate SWFL, and his relationships with local legends like Brenden Bennett, Nate Traveller, and Dominic Fike. There is much more to come from Eddy as a musical artist, as an engineer, and as an asset to SWFL arts and culture.
-SHINING LIGHT ON LOCAL LEGENDS-
ATOMIC
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
From artists, to musicians, to pastry chefs, to photographers and directors - Southwest Florida has become a hub for making a living as a creative entrepreneur. Every year we see more and more of our creative associates being able to quit their day jobs to pursue passion projects full time. It can be one of the most difficult things to juggle (now more than ever). There is one man in town who has not only established himself as a successful entrepreneur, but he is helping many others do the same. Andrew Torres was known in college as “Mr. Make it Shake” because of his ability to handle high-pressure situations better than the average student. He graduated with a master’s degree in accounting while maintaining a college football career AND growing his budding passion project – The Atomic Kicks, a business selling designer sneakers and clothing. He took that drive and determination outside of the school setting after landing a job as an accountant, but he knew that this wouldn’t be his final career path. It wasn’t long before Drew developed his brand into something more fulfilling and fruitful than any accounting job. He is an example to all creatives in the way he grew his skillsets in the workplace and then applied them to a brand of his own. Thanks to his formal skills in business and finances, combined with careful networking and growing a loyal customer base, Drew is now thriving as an entrepreneur. More recently, The Atomic Kicks has branched out into local music and art. Drew knows as well as all of us that there are artists who deserve to make a living from their work, so he has been using his knowledge and skills to manage some of SWFL’s finest - Sling, Onewaytb, and Jay Deru - to help them on their way towards financial freedom as creatives. He has even used the unprecedented events of 2020 to form his newest collaboration – The Atomic Mix! Favianna Mullings (Favi Cakes) and Spencer Boyd have teamed up with Drew to produce local delicious desserts and to coordinate events safely around town through the global pandemic. You can check out what else he has in store by following his social media pages and his website [theatomickicks.com].
