Connect
To Top

Meet Tai Carpenter of Compose Yourself Magazine in LoHi

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tai Carpenter.

Tai, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I first started Compose Yourself Magazine when I was 16 living in Dallas, Texas. My mom ran her own entertainment production company where she worked within the live music and fashion industries. From a young age, she inspired me to take on small roles in different projects, for example, when she curated the Ed Hardy Fashion show at (what used to be) the Palladium Ballroom in 2007 – it was so long ago but I still remember helping print up contracts, attending meetings at the AEG Live offices with my mom and watching deals happen, up until the actual show where I watched the models walk.

The energy that surrounded me was infectious – creativity was coming from different outlets, and it was overwhelming. I had always been a writer, creating short stories as a child and eventually hoarding several notebooks by the age of 15. When my mom started branching into the live music industry, I began to assist her in writing press releases and artist biographies. Instead of just being at the meetings, I was being asked my opinion and it felt good. I’m lucky to have had the encouragement from so many adults at that age because I don’t think I would’ve felt capable enough otherwise. When I launched Compose Yourself, I was just beginning my obsession with live music journalism.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Having the background I did, I was pretty successful off the bat interviewing my favorite artists. I still remember the first time I needed help drafting an email about applying for press; I was clueless and trying to utilize what could be found on Google at the time. My mom brought me by the AEG offices where several partners were happy to walk me through the process. I’m forever grateful for them taking the time to instill the motivation I needed to start CYM, and I still take the advice I was given to heart.

I wasn’t concerned with turning it into anything lucrative – I was just a kid who loved music and wanted to write about it. I didn’t have a thought out plan with what I wanted the magazine to ultimately be, I was just having fun. I’d get in touch with different labels, get connected at concerts and was meeting artists I looked up to left and right. I was that girl at the show taking notes and I was just blissed out and grateful for each experience. The other half of the magic was meeting people in so many changing landscapes; making friends and bonding through music has created some of my strongest relationships to this day. It’s crazy to think about how many people I wouldn’t have met without music.

Please tell us about Compose Yourself Magazine.
Compose Yourself Magazine puts on contributors all around the country to attend concerts and festivals of their choice, cover it through their own perspectives and then share the features through our website. Though it first started in Dallas, we’ve grown to cover more than 20 cities with nearly 50 revolving contributors. It’s all through word of mouth and volunteer-based. We encourage those wanting to expand their portfolio to be on our team.

The idea behind the name came when I was thinking of potential interview questions. When asked what you’re composed of, it should include what drives you – what makes you at the end of the day, when you’re left alone with your thoughts and dreams. I’m proud that we’ve been lucky enough to be a base for people to do amazing things. It’s important to have a platform, regardless of size, to share your passion with the world. I firmly believe that through live music and art, we can create sustainable social change and I’d like to think Compose Yourself is apart of that.

In addition to covering live music, we focus on social issues as well by showcasing non-profits, interviewing social justice leaders and spotlighting different movements. Because of this work, we are able to partner with art institutions and connect the gap between social justice and art. It’s been an amazing intersection that I believe promotes community engagement and self-awareness, which are both becoming more and more important these days. My focus is still heavily on live music, but it’s hard to not take a stand for one another and our planet as well. I figured there was no reason why CYM couldn’t be a platform for these issues as well. Everything is related.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t change a thing. Compose Yourself Magazine has been a big portion of my life and it’s my baby. I’ve grown so much because of the experiences the magazine has given me, and it’s to this date one of my proudest accomplishments.

Contact Info:

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in