I’m back and it has been an eventful and productive three weeks for both Cinco Verde Publishing LLC and my artist project, SoulePhix. As always, I’m focused on staying grounded in my vision and pushing forward with purpose. Here’s a look at the highlights of what’s been happening recently:
First, let me start with the legal and business side of things. Earlier this month, I filed the official paperwork with the Texas Secretary of State for a DBA (Doing Business As) under the name SoulePhix for Cinco Verde Publishing LLC. This was an important step for solidifying my artist identity within the company. Even though I have been recording music unofficially under the name SoulePhix since 2001, having a clear, legal structure will help me expand my brand in more organized and professional ways. Following that, the trademark paperwork for SoulePhix has officially been filed and submitted. This is super important as this will ensure that I don’t have any potential legal conflict issues with any similarly sounding named music groups that emerge or are already out there but unofficial. I have been recording under this name for such a long time and I don’t want to have to start all over building name recognition especially after already submitting music globally. While the paperwork process had been a bit slow—thanks to some printer trouble—I’m finally feeling confident that the name is protected. This was something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and now that it’s in motion, it feels like a significant achievement. Once everything is completely processed, I’ll have the legal right to exclusively use SoulePhix, which is exciting because it solidifies my commitment to this name for the long term.
On the music front, I’ve been making great strides too. The song that Curtis and I wrote called Simple Pleasures has been preliminary scored for the sheet music goal and I’m happy to say that it’s moving forward to the proofing stage. The next step will be refining the score and making sure it’s as perfect as possible before I share it more broadly later this year. I’ve also been working on new music and one of the songs I’ve written recently is tentatively called “Journey.” When I first started working on the piece, I called it “Variations in D.” With the songwriting process in full swing, I’m feeling more inspired than ever to continue building my original music collection. I’ve been committed to releasing 1-2 original songs annually, and I’m steadily working toward a complete body of original works that will eventually be shared with the world.
One of the more exciting developments in the past few weeks was the second trip I made to El Paso. I went there to continue exploring potential investment properties, and this time, I had the opportunity to look at properties with Hector, a guitarist and contractor I’ve been working with. We toured several properties, and while I’m still keeping my options open for now, I’m thinking about ways to diversify my business and generate passive income. Real estate has always been something I’ve been interested in, and now that I have the ability to invest in rental properties in El Paso, it feels like a natural next step for Cinco Verde Publishing. I’m considering long-term strategies to grow the business, and rental properties could offer a steady stream of income while I continue focusing on the creative side of things. While I haven’t made any final decisions yet, this exploration is definitely part of my broader vision for securing the financial stability of my company and expanding my reach musically.
In addition to the property search, I’ve also been working on expanding SoulePhix’s merchandise offerings. As I’ve shared before, I’ve been looking into unique product ideas that align with my brand’s aesthetic, and I’ve found a new vendor opportunity that I’m excited to meet with in February. The potential for this new partnership is focused on uniquely scented candles. I’ve always wanted to create something tangible that represents the essence of SoulePhix, and scented candles seem like the perfect fit. They’re intimate, personal, and have the potential to evoke emotion, which is what I want my brand to do. I’m really looking forward to meeting the new vendor, selecting new fragrances and seeing how we can collaborate and bring this product to life. The idea of SoulePhix candles feels so right for the brand, and I’m excited about where this will lead.
And then there’s the ongoing work on my vinyl LP. As part of my plans to release more music and expand my presence, I’m in the process of remastering more songs for the vinyl album, which I plan to launch in the near future. One of the most important parts of this project is working with Jason Richard, my long time producer that I’ve worked with previously. We’re scheduled to meet again in a couple of weeks to focus on the remastering process. I’m feeling good about how things are coming along. Each song is a step toward completing the LP, and it’s becoming more and more real with every session. The goal is to put together a high-quality collection of tracks that truly reflect who I am as an artist and showcase the timelessness of jazz, blues, and Latin lounge music.
I’m looking forward to what comes next, knowing that I’m moving in the right direction, building a strong foundation for my brand, and staying true to the music that means so much to me. I continue to strive to post on social media regularly by sharing playlists weekly and new shorts every week. While there’s still a lot of work ahead, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far and excited for the future. I’m continually learning, adapting, and refining my approach as I move closer to turning my dreams into reality.