Behind the Artists
The Art of the Process
The lights shine brightest at the top, but the road to success is a journey few are willing to take. To chase a dream and see it through to fruition, it takes much more than work ethic. In the face of rejection, uncertainty, and criticism, an artist that stays the course is nothing short of a rebel fueled by sheer ambition and dedication to their craft.
Introducing Behind the Artists, an interview series between artists, creators, and innovators in the Western community as they look back on the beauty of the hard-fought journey to success. In these candid conversations, discover the stories behind the art, the passion that led to a breakthrough, and the self-reliance needed to overcome doubt. These are conversations that prove—no guts, no glory.
Ora Brown & MŌRIAH
Ora Brown is a western actor and stuntman. He has starred in several films and TV shows, but before making it to the big screen he was born and raised to be a working cowboy. He talks about his believing in his journey beyond the ranch with fellow actress, country-Latin singer, and producer MŌRIAH. As a Mexican American artist, MŌRIAH has persevered to build a career around both of her cultural influences and bridge the gaps between her two worlds.
From Ora Brown
I've always had dreams when I was a little kid of different things I wanted to do in life. Well, this was one of those things, be an actor.
Everything's always worked out. All the dreams, all the ambitions, all the things. You put the effort into it, you stay consistent. You be love and light, and things just happen. It always does.
I've been blessed my whole life, and everything has always worked out. Always believed it would, so I think maybe that's why.
From MŌRIAH
Growing up, there was music at every party, and it was one of two things. Mariachi music or country music… What has been in my veins from the beginning is this blend of both sounds, both worlds. And it's my passion and my joy and my privilege to try to create that bridge that people can walk across.
As an artist, I think part of what I've learned to do, a muscle I've gained, is to befriend rejection. To know that rejection is a part of my story, my character development, a part of what keeps me going. It's not something to run away from. It's something that is kind of a companion that gives me insight as to where to go and where not to go.
Nashville is this beautiful place, and it's a home. It's home with its own set of doing things. I am so thankful for the country legends that have influenced me as an artist and as a creative. I'm stepping into that house with humility, with an eagerness to learn.
Effy Harvard & Colleen Gallagher
Effy Harvard is a singer-songwriter from Texas and Colleen Gallagher is a western digital content creator based in Tennessee. Together they share their stories of growing up in rural America and creating art that honors their roots and connects with people in an authentic way.
From Colleen Gallagher
When you stay true to yourself online, it does come with saying no to certain things. It is missing out on money, but at the same time, you gain so much more in an audience that actually trusts you and follows you and follows your advice.
I was doing too much initially. I was sharing content that I thought people would want to see, and then it wasn't until I just shared the simple things in life—the countryside, waking up, being in rural America and going to get a breakfast biscuit at the local diner or whatever the case may be. I think people want simplicity. They're craving real life. So once I started sharing that, I really saw the impact it had on my followers.
I had a girl come up to me at an event, and she told me that she bought and learned to ride motorcycles because of the videos I posted taking my bike to rural America and just checking out different honky-tonks, local dive bars. That was just one of those moments where I was like, okay, what I'm doing actually is making somewhat of an impact. Girls are getting hobbies they maybe wouldn't have had before, and they're exploring their country side.
From Effy Harvard
I am grateful for the extra time I had to develop as an artist prior to publicly releasing. Taking pause gave me clarity on what world I wanted to create visually and sonically
My writing is emotionally driven, lyrics serving the feeling, with a touch of dark comedy, wrapped in 1950s nostalgia. ‘Answering Machine,’ my new single, showcases the honest duality of fighting between your heart and your head during a complicated break up.
Country music is often rooted in poetry, tying personal details into rhythmic storytelling, it’s timeless. I hope to be an artist that feels like home, where we connect in the speakers, and dance through the seasons together.
Ben Christensen & Matt McCormick
Before Matt McCormick was a renowned western painter and mixed media artist, he was a tattoo artist working on his craft as a side project in a borrowed artist’s studio. He talks about his creative journey with Ben Christensen, a western photographer and creative director who comes from a similar background of pursuing the winding path of an artist against all odds.
From Matt McCormick
This is a lifelong journey to me. Seeing an artist in their studio at 80-plus years old is the most beautiful outcome that I could have.
I lived in New York for a bunch of years and worked in bars and nightclubs and things like that. And would always have a little art studio, whether it was in my closet room that I had. Just a desk in a corner. Or what it's become now. I was always drawing and always painting and always making things.
As an artist, or a creative of any kind, I think we're all chasing this thing, whether it's validation from our peers or others. And so the balance for me is currently I exist between splitting my career down the middle. The last couple shows I've done have been just for me. I'm trying to impress myself. I want to grow as an artist.
From Ben Christensen
I took a year of just shooting a whole bunch of free-styled Western photo shoots and I started getting invited to ranches. Some people liked it, some people did not. But I just had this vision of the simplicity of the outdoors and creating fun characters and I just kept doing it.
Those shoots that I did at the beginning of my career are the most special to me because that is what everyone's seeing today and connected with today. It was maybe years later, and they weren't ready for my vision then, but they're ready now. And I'm reaping the benefits now from what I decided to do on my own years ago.
The journey of it's been fun because I'm selfish. The camera's one thing—the photography, that side, it's great—but I'm more about the experience. I do things that I personally want to do. I want to go cowboying in the middle of nowhere with Arizona cowboys. So I'll go do that. And that's how I gain the trust and relationships. But I don't come in like I know everything. I'll come in with my saddle, my bedroll, and just eager to learn and to help in any way.
