Music moves people. Whether enticing individuals to be up and dancing, touching on their emotions, or spurring them into action – music creates a momentary and lasting impact on its audience.

As a well-loved agent of the arts, the renowned harpist Mariea Antoinette has influenced her listeners to do all three: dance, feel, and act through her music and, more recently, the caressing tunes of her 2020 album “All My Strings.”

A native of San Diego, California, Mariea Antoinette is the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to playing the harp. Mariea is a national recording artist, composer, and speaker. She is widely regarded as the world’s premier soulful, groundbreaking harpist.

With an extensive repertoire of smooth jazz, R&B, and soul music, and an inspiring character participating in philanthropic endeavors, the artist’s fans have pinned her as the Dorothy Ashby of R&B. This unique distinction and acknowledgment of her skills has pushed Mariea Antoinette to explore both the facets of her genres and the positive possibilities of leveraging her platform.

Working on her career, Mariea first attended the University of California San Diego (UCSD) for her undergraduate degree and the University of Arizona, Tucson, for her master’s in harp performance before setting off to make her name.

To say that she succeeded would be an understatement. Her passion for music and unprecedented talent has taken the crowd-favorite harpist to coveted stages across the United States of America and beyond national borders. Mariea Antoinette has performed for the Los Angeles Southeast Symphony Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, at numerous events, including those for the former First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama.

The outstanding musician has also shared the stage with Ne-Yo at the BET Awards, Nathan East, and Greg Phillinganes, among others, and has been a recurring artist in countless major jazz festivals in the country. Mariea’s awe-inducing mastery of her instrument inspired a dedicated following.

The success was followed by Mariea’s CD entitled “Straight From The Harp,” the special edition of which climbed the Smooth Jazz Global and Billboard charts, sitting comfortably on the Top 5 spot. In 2018, she released her hit single “ Overture” and made her mark as one of the industry’s best. The classic fan-favorite debuted on the Billboard Top 5 and made history, holding the #1 position on the Smooth Jazz World Listener chart for over 6 weeks. Her recently released CD “All My Strings” also made the ranks in the Top 100 albums of 2020 and continues to scale hurdles – drawing in a larger crowd for the masterful artist.

Since her debut, Mariea Antoinette has been honored as the Instrumentalist of the Year by the San Diego Prestige Awards, with the Best Jazz Single for “Overture” by the Black Women in Jazz & the Arts Association, and a BMA Image Award.

Continuing to write her legacy as a genre-bending musician of unequaled prowess, Mariea will be headlining at the upcoming Catalina Island Jazz Traxx Festival on October 23, 2021. While preparing for a mind-blowing performance, she continues to wow crowds at celebrity and VIP events.

Outside of her musical endeavors, the forward-thinking harpist is also a powerful voice against human trafficking. Mariea Antoinette recently partnered with “Daughters Lives Matter” and has become a beacon of hope, shedding light on the ugly reality of human trafficking through uplifting music while helping survivors rediscover a zest for life through fine arts and music.

Learn more about the brilliant harpist behind “Overture.” Be moved by a one-in-a-million talent and learn more about Mariea Antoinette by visiting her official website and following her on Instagram (@marieaantoinette).

Music-making is all about precision, especially when it comes to expertly handling instruments.

When it comes to high-quality drumming, one can never go wrong with Collision Drumsticks, the UK and Europe’s largest drumstick brand. Established by Carlton Banks, who’s been a professional drummer for over 15 years, the brand continues to soar towards greater heights.

Collision Drumsticks is built by the artist, for the artist. Its reputation has made it a massively popular brand within the drumming community while also giving drummers a platform of their own to be heard. It is a brand that stands at the forefront of putting the underdog musicians into the limelight whilst also supporting established musicians alike.

With Carlton Banks as the CEO and Owner of Collision Drumsticks, the brand has grown massively, all thanks to his connections within the music industry as his brand has garnered a full roster of up-and-coming independent artists and international touring artists who have adamantly endorsed his brand. 

Carlton Banks and his team over at Collision Drumsticks have developed a very specific mission and vision for the brand and the drumming community as a whole. The esteemed drumstick company upholds and embodies its core values, especially when it comes to fostering a community and transparency. 

The music scene is known to be a notoriously cutthroat industry, but Collision Drumsticks aims to bring a community of musicians together to foster collaborations in the spirit of music rather than competition. The brand fully understands and supports grassroots artists all over the world, helping them hone their skills through high-quality drumsticks and a powerful brand message.

Collision Drumsticks has become a standout brand in the industry. It has supported over 1000+ artists in over 80+ countries and proudly endorses a global family of over 200+ artists as part of the exclusive Team Collision roster. Artists that are part of the roster are proud to share their music story and the Collision brand’s message with their diverse audiences. 

Carlton Banks and Collision Drumsticks stands up for musicians in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the music industry; cancelling live events, postponing tours, and halting practice sessions. In line with this, the brand has launched a membership program called Collision BACKSTAGE in order to support the modern drummer to learn, collaborate and grow in these trying times.

Collision BACKSTAGE helps musicians to learn more about the business of their music and gain insight into what it really takes to be a successful artist online and offline. The membership provides musicians with an immersive online community experience, supporting artists to sharpen their mindset, market and monetize their music. It also teaches budding drummers to build their artistic confidence and hone their craft.

Collision Drumsticks isn’t just a brand that provides a remarkable product, but it’s also a brand that offers its full support for aspiring drummers everywhere. The brand is a testament to Carlton Banks’ passion for drumming and the music industry as a whole. Their efforts have certainly created a ripple within the music industry, and the positive wave of change is looking to be bigger and better than ever before. 

To know more about Collision Drumsticks, make sure to visit the company’s official website. For more live updates, follow the brand on social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube.