Even if you are from the same neighborhood as someone else, you might still be coming from different places. Where you are from is a complicated question and it elicits complicated, but interesting and thought-provoking responses. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Bulat Nasibullin | Music Marketing Agency CEO and Founder

I’m from everywhere and nowhere in particular! I was born in Russia, moved to England when I was 12, then to Canada at 22, moved down to the States at 27, back to Canada at 34 and now back down to Los Angeles at 35. As much as I hate to admit it, my background and upbringing had a profound impact on who I am today. Not only in my worldview, but also cultural pre-dispositions, political views, career choice, life-partner choice, the emotional baggage and many other things that maybe even I don’t recognize in myself. Read more>>

Meiqi Zhang | Interdisciplinary Artist & Designer

I’m from China and now I live in Chicago. I hope that my work can convey certain values, and I pay most attention to environmental issues. I’ve been moving around since I was a kid (Guangzhou, Canada, Hong Kong and the US), I had grown up in a city of steel and concrete, I had little access to nature, so I had a deep appreciation for nature. In recent years, I have had opportunities to see beautiful sceneries around the globe, which made me pay more attention to environmental protection. Read more>>

Eric Craig | Documentarian

I’m from Los Angeles, but I was born and raised in South Los Angeles. Growing up, I never really thought much about where I lived. In fact, I thought strip malls, being moments from a train tracks, having bars on windows, and being on a track system in school was all completely normal. It wasn’t until I was much older, and traveled much more, that I realized that people live much differently in the city with many more privileges. Though, I still haven’t figured out if that is a “good” or “bad” thing yet, but it’s certainly set the standard of my expectations in life (and that I never really cared much for luxuries, either. Read more>>

Ronni Mardor | Singer Songwriter & Composer

Being born and raised in Israel, my heritage and culture effected, and still effect, my approach to music and life in general. I’m originally from Israel, but after 21 years I decided to move to London in order to pursue a career in music. Following a 4 years songwriting degree in London, I continued my journey and moved to California where I’ve been since. Israel is a tiny country, combining people from all over the world who got there, based on the idea that is their ‘safe haven’. By doing so, Israel is full of cultures from different parts of the world, creating a unique ‘Israeli fusion’ in art, music, fashion, cuisine and storytelling. Read more>>

Cecil Clay | Actor & Brand Ambassador

I’m originally from Saint Louis, MO. Being raised in the Show Me State, I’m keener to focusing on what’s in front of me. There can be a lot of smoke and mirrors surrounding any aspect of Corporate America. I believe an awareness of who or what is being offered to me has helped me to circumvent unfortunate situations. I was also raised to be in survivor mode. That’s needed out here in Los Angeles where the competition is heavy and the cost of living is substantially different than it is back home. I don’t allow myself too much time to harp on problems. Having defied the odds on more than one occasion, I’m ready to step into my thriving season. Read more>>

Kenyon Curtis | Key

I’m from Detroit,Michigan, I have a very unique upbringing I lost my mother at the age of 14 that really impacted my life for me and my older brother. The 14 years that I did have with my mother see taught me some very valuable things such as cooking,cleaning and how to be self sufficient. I had to grow very quickly, threw out the years I’ve had some struggles at one point I lived in a homeless shelter while attend school. Read more>>