Some albums seem to arrive all at once. The songs are written, the record is made, the artwork is finished, and suddenly it exists. Others take years to become what they were always meant to be. For our latest episode of Judged by the Cover, we sat down with Chattanooga singer-songwriter Teni Rane to talk about her new album, Never Turning Back. What started as a conversation about album art quickly became a much bigger discussion about identity, persistence, collaboration, and what it really means to build a life as an independent artist. Part One: Finding Her Way Back to Music Teni Rane's journey as an artist hasn't exactly been a straight line. Growing up in Chattanooga, Teni spent years balancing music with other parts of her life. She played Division I soccer, studied chemical engineering, lived in Sweden, and eventually began working as an engineer. Music was always present, but it wasn't always the thing at the center of her life. During college, she kept music alive in smaller ways, including volunteering at a local day shelter where she would show up with her guitar and play during lunch. Eventually, after college, the guitar went into its case and life got busy. It wasn't until a friend encouraged her to start playing again at local events that something clicked. Teni began writing and recording more seriously, eventually making Heart in Tennessee. But that project came with a devastating setback: after the initial recording sessions, the recordings and master tapes disappeared. She could have walked away. Instead, she started over. That second attempt not only resulted in Heart in Tennessee, but also introduced Teni to something she hadn't expected...she loved the recording process. That experience helped set her on the path she's on today. Perhaps the most interesting part is that some of the ideas that would eventually become Never Turning Back were already taking shape years earlier. "Meet Me in Stockholm," one of the album's foundational songs, was written in 2016 while Teni was living in Sweden. Sometimes an idea just needs time. Teni talked about the idea of a creative "incubator"...that sometimes a song, project, or idea can sit with you for years before you're ready to bring it to life. For an independent artist, that's an important reminder: just because something isn't ready yet doesn't mean it isn't worth holding onto. Part Two: Building Never Turning Back At its heart, Never Turning Back is an album about place. But for Teni, place isn't simply geography. It's home, heritage, memory, relationships, travel, and the emotional spaces we carry with us. That becomes especially personal when she explores her Armenian heritage and the complicated relationship between where you live, where your family comes from, and what "home" actually means. Songs like "Secondhand Memories" and "Soil on My Soul" explore those ideas, while songs such as "Meet Me in Stockholm," "Arkansas," and "Somewhere to Drive" connect the album to physical places and movement. All of those different pieces eventually needed a visual language. That's where the album artwork came in. The initial idea involved a kaleidoscope...individual pieces coming together to create something larger. That evolved into ideas of storybooks, chapters, and eventually stained glass. Test print of Never Turning Back CD and Vinyl covers for final approval The stained-glass concept became the perfect metaphor for the album itself: individual pieces that can stand on their own, but become something bigger when they're brought together. From there, we developed individual visual elements around the songs and themes of the album. The sun connected back to Heart in Tennessee. Roads represented both physical travel and emotional movement. The rose tied into multiple songs, including "Secondhand Memories." Those pieces eventually became more than just the album cover. They were used as individual single artwork, then expanded into the vinyl and CD packaging, social media assets, labels, cards, and other pieces of the album's visual identity. Teni was particularly intentional about making sure Never Turning Back felt like its own project while still belonging to the larger visual world she'd been building through Heart in Tennessee and Goldenrod. Purple and denim became important visual anchors, showing up not only in the artwork but throughout the album's video content. For Teni, that consistency matters. As she put it during our conversation, artists don't just have an auditory identity...they have a visual identity too. Part Three: The Independent Artist's Survival Guide Our conversation with Teni also turned into something of a masterclass in what it takes to operate as an independent artist. Keep Showing Up Teni's career is full of reasons she could have stopped, but persistence has continued to move her forward. Whether it was losing the original Heart in Tennessee recordings, putting herself forward for Grammy consideration, or simply continuing to create despite the uncertainty that comes with an independent career, she keeps putting the work out into the world. Her mindset isn't that she's the most talented person in the room. It's that she works hard, wants to keep improving, and believes in what she's making. That's something every independent artist can take away: you have to advocate for your own work. Know What You're Trying to Accomplish Teni also talked about the importance of having a release strategy. For Never Turning Back, she released six singles leading up to the full album. Rather than treating the album's release date as the finish line, she began building the story months ahead of time. There's no single formula for releasing music, but understanding what you're trying to accomplish can help determine what your strategy should look like. The Boring Stuff Matters Being an independent artist means doing much more than making art. Metadata, ISRCs, PRO registration, distribution, promotion, radio, press, physical products, and scheduling are all part of the job. The creative work might be the reason people connect with the music, but understanding the business surrounding that work is what allows an artist to operate professionally. Build the Career That Fits You Perhaps the most refreshing thing Teni shared was her perspective on touring. She doesn't necessarily want to spend three months at a time living on the road. Instead, she's looking at weekend runs, destination shows, house concerts, radio appearances, conferences, and opening opportunities as ways to grow her career without forcing herself into someone else's definition of success. And that's an important lesson: There isn't one way to build a successful independent music career. The goal is to create a career that allows you to continue making the work—and to build a life that supports it. Never Turning Back By the end of our conversation, the title Never Turning Back felt like more than the name of an album. It feels like a pretty fitting description of Teni Rane's journey. She stepped away from music. She found her way back. She lost an entire recording. She started again. She wrote songs years before they found their home. She learned how to record, produce, release, promote, collaborate, and keep moving forward. And that's what made working on Never Turning Back such a rewarding project for us at JW Creates. The artwork isn't simply decoration for the music. It's another piece of the story...a way of bringing together the places, memories, movement, and experiences that make up the album. Because that's what we love about album art. The best cover doesn't just decorate the music. It gives the music another way to tell its story. Want to hear the whole conversation? Watch the latest episode of Judged by the Cover on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. We dive much deeper into Teni's journey, the making of Never Turning Back, the artwork, collaboration, touring, and what it really looks like to build a career as an independent artist.

When Phil first told me that The Rolling Stones had a new album coming out, my honest reaction was, "Wait... really?" Not because I don't respect the band. Quite the opposite. It's just hard to imagine a group that formed in 1962 still creating new music over sixty years later. Most artists eventually fade away, retire, or become legacy acts that simply tour their greatest hits. The Rolling Stones, however, continue to do something few artists ever accomplish...they're still creating. Their latest album, Foreign Tongues, surprised both of us. Not only because of the music, but because of the artwork that introduces it. As we discussed on this episode of Judged by the Cover, the cover art isn't polished, perfect, or conventionally beautiful. In fact, it's intentionally the opposite. And I think there's an important lesson in that for every independent artist preparing to release music today. An Album Cover That Doesn't Try to Be Perfect The cover of Foreign Tongues immediately catches your attention, but probably not for the reasons you'd expect. Instead of another heavily composited photograph or glossy digital illustration, The Rolling Stones commissioned American painter Nathaniel Mary Quinn to create an original pastel portrait. The piece blends recognizable features of the band members into one fractured, weathered face. It's abstract. It's uncomfortable. Some fans have even described it as ugly. Ironically, that's exactly what makes it work. The artwork wasn't designed to present The Rolling Stones as untouchable rock icons. Instead, it reminds us that they're human. After six decades of touring, recording, and performing, they've accumulated scars, stories, and imperfections. Rather than hiding those realities, the artwork embraces them. Even Mick Jagger reportedly joked about the character on the cover being "Mr. Ugly," while still praising the decision to use an actual painting instead of computer-generated artwork. That decision speaks volumes. The Cover Matches the Music One of the things that impressed me most after listening to the record was how closely the visual direction matched the music itself. The album wasn't built around polished perfection. Instead, the band recorded many of the songs live in long takes, allowing natural imperfections to remain. Rather than editing every note into place, they leaned into the chemistry that comes from musicians playing together in the same room. You can hear it. The guitars feel raw. The performances have energy. The blues influence that's always been part of The Rolling Stones' identity is still front and center, and those little imperfections actually make the songs feel more alive. That's the same feeling the cover art communicates before you ever press play. Good album artwork doesn't simply decorate the music, it prepares the listener for the experience they're about to have. What Independent Artists Can Learn As someone who designs album covers for independent musicians, I think it can be easy to fall into the trap of asking, "What does everyone else look like right now?" But that's often the wrong question. The better question is, "What honestly represents this music?" There are incredible AI tools available today. There are thousands of templates. There are design trends that come and go every year. None of those things are inherently bad. But if your artwork only follows trends, it risks looking like everyone else's. The Rolling Stones could have created another clean, polished digital cover. Instead, they hired an artist whose style reflected the emotional character of the album. That choice made the project feel timeless. Your artwork doesn't have to imitate someone else's success. It should communicate your own story. Authenticity Is Becoming More Valuable It's interesting to watch what's happening across creative industries. As AI-generated content becomes easier to produce and digital tools continue making everything cleaner and more perfect, audiences seem to be craving the opposite. We're seeing renewed interest in vinyl records. Film photography continues to grow. Live performances remain more meaningful than ever. Even CDs, which many people assumed were gone for good, appear to be finding new life among collectors and independent artists. Why? Because people still want something real. They want something they can hold. Something with texture. Something created by another human being. That same principle applies to your branding. Perfection doesn't always create connection. Authenticity does. Create Something That Looks Like You One of my favorite moments from our podcast discussion came when Phil asked a simple question: "Would you tell a painter to stop creating because they're 82 years old?" Of course not. Artists create because that's who they are. The Rolling Stones aren't trying to compete with younger bands or reinvent themselves to fit today's trends. They're simply continuing to tell their story the way they've always told it. There's a lesson in that for all of us. Whether you're releasing your first single or your tenth album, don't chase whatever design style happens to be popular this month. Instead, ask yourself what your music actually feels like—and create artwork that reflects that. Because the best cover art doesn't just get attention. It tells the truth. If you'd like to hear our full conversation about The Rolling Stones' Foreign Tongues, including our thoughts on the music, the artwork, and why we think physical media is making a comeback, be sure to check out the latest episode of Judged by the Cover. And if you're planning your next release, I'd love to help create artwork that tells your story. Every great record deserves a cover that's just as memorable as the music inside.

A few days ago, I came across a picture I hadn't seen in a while. It was from what my wife and some of our closest friends jokingly called my "retirement party." Four years ago, they gathered together to celebrate me leaving my full-time job and taking the leap to pursue my creative business JW Creates full time. At the time, it felt like the beginning of a brand-new chapter. Looking back at that picture today, I realized something. I don't think they were celebrating that I quit my job. I think they were celebrating that I finally had the courage to try. That picture made me stop and reflect on everything that's happened over the last four years. If I'm being honest, it's been nothing like I imagined. The Dream JW Creates officially became a full-time business in July 2022, but the story started years before that. Looking back, I can trace it all the way to 2015 or 2016. Back then I was creating simple logos for hobby projects and designing cover art for my own music that I was uploading to SoundCloud. I didn't think of it as a business, I just loved making things. 1ST JW Creates logo designed in 2016 By late 2019 and early 2020, with a little push from my wife, I found myself asking a bigger question: What do I actually want to do with my career? I knew I wanted to create, but I hadn't figured out what that looked like professionally. Then I had my lightbulb moment. I decided I wanted to design cover art. I also realized that if I wanted to build a real business, I couldn't wait around for cover art projects alone. So I started saying yes to just about every creative opportunity that came my way. A logo for a friend's business, cover art for a local musician, podcast artwork, branding projects, and eventually websites. If it gave me the chance to learn and create, I was all in. Slowly, project by project, my evenings and weekends began to fill up. I'd wake up before work to squeeze in a few hours of design, head to my day job, then come home and work on client projects late into the night. Little by little, what started as a creative outlet began turning into something much bigger. It was exhausting. But it was also exciting. For the first time, I could see that maybe this wasn't just a hobby anymore. Then something happened that changed everything. My employer knew I had been doing freelance creative work on the side and approached me about redesigning their website. At the time, it wasn't just the biggest creative project I'd ever been offered, it was the first time I thought…Maybe I can actually do this. More importantly, it started an idea in my mind and heart. If I was already this busy outside of work, what could happen if I actually gave this dream my full attention…? After a lot of conversations, a lot of prayer, and the support of some incredible people around me, I decided to take the leap. What I Thought Success Would Look Like Like most entrepreneurs, I had a picture in my head. I figured that after about a year, I'd have enough steady work to hopefully pay the bills, continue growing the business, and keep building relationships with amazing clients. Looking back, I realize success was never just about money. It was about freedom. I wanted flexibility with my schedule. I wanted time to invest in friendships and community. I wanted to support my wife, our dog, and the life we were building together. I wanted to wake up excited about the projects sitting on my desk, especially album cover projects. Those are still my favorite! I imagined a steady stream of meaningful creative work and the freedom to keep chasing it. Instead...Life got complicated. When the Story Changes There wasn't one dramatic moment where everything fell apart. There wasn't one terrible client. Not one terrible month. One catastrophic decision. It was slower than that. The projects became less consistent. The income became less predictable. The stress became harder to ignore. My wife was incredibly supportive of the dream, but like any responsible spouse, she also cared about things like paying bills and planning for the future. We had already agreed before I left that we'd set benchmarks along the way. If the business wasn't reaching certain goals after a specific amount of time, we'd reevaluate. Six months later, that's exactly what we did. I made the decision to go back to work part-time. Thankfully I was able to return to my previous employer in a completely different role, one focused on the creative work I love doing, while still giving me the flexibility to continue building JW Creates. From the outside, that probably doesn't look like success. In fact, for a long time, I was afraid to even tell people. I worried they'd think... "Well...I guess that didn't work out." I'll admit it. I felt embarrassed. I wondered if people thought I had failed. I wondered if I'd disappointed the people who believed in me. I wondered if I had made the wrong decision. But here's what I've realized. Sometimes we judge a story before it's finished. Looking Back Instead of Looking Around That picture from my "retirement party" forced me to stop comparing my story to someone else's and simply look at my own. When I did, I realized something surprising. I wasn't thinking about money, I was thinking about people. I thought about the incredible clients I've gotten to work with. The musicians who trusted me with the cover art for their songs. The podcasters who trusted me with their branding vision. The entrepreneurs who trusted me to help tell the story of their businesses. The nonprofits trying to make a difference in their communities. I thought about launching Judged by the Cover, a podcast that gave me an excuse to geek out over album artwork with my friend Phil. I thought about joining Podnooga and eventually having the opportunity to help lead this community that's encouraging podcasters and creators throughout Chattanooga. I thought about speaking at a creative conference about podcasting. Speaking at a Rotary Club meeting about my love for album cover art. Even getting invited onto a local television station to talk about the podcast. None of those things were on my original business plan. None of them. And perhaps more importantly, I thought about having the flexibility to be present for my wife's family during her dad's cancer journey & passing. That's not something you put on a vision board. But it's something I'll always be grateful for. If I had never taken that leap four years ago, I honestly don't know how many of those opportunities would have happened. Success Looks Different Now Somewhere along the way, my definition of success quietly changed. Four years ago, success looked like owning my own business full time. Today…? Not so much. Today, success looks like having meaningful work. Working with clients who’s projects genuinely excite me. Creating cover art that tells someone's story. Designing logos that help launch a dream. Building websites that help businesses grow. Having time for my wife. Having time for friends. Being part of a creative community. Having enough stability that I don't have to say yes to every project simply because it pays. Ironically, returning to my previous job didn't kill my creativity. It protected it. Because I'm not relying on every single project to pay next month's bills, I can be more intentional about the work I accept. I can spend more time on projects that truly matter. I can politely say no when something isn't the right fit. I can keep building the business I actually want instead of the business I feel forced to build. That's a freedom I never expected. What I Actually Learned Owning a business has taught me plenty. I'm more confident than I used to be. I'm a better designer. I communicate with clients more effectively. And I've become much more comfortable putting my work into the world without obsessing over every little detail. I've also learned that time management is still something I have to work on. Procrastination still has a way of convincing me that deadlines are farther away than they really are. Some lessons never stop teaching us. But maybe the biggest lesson has nothing to do with business. I used to think successful entrepreneurs were simply more disciplined. More gifted. More driven. Now I think something else matters just as much. The people around you. Looking back at that retirement party picture, I'm reminded that I didn't make this journey alone. My wife supported me, even through the uncertainty. Our friends encouraged us. People believed in me long before I felt like I had earned it. That's a gift I'll never take for granted. When It Doesn't Look Like Success If someone only looked at my career from a distance, they might see someone who left a full-time job only to eventually return to the same one. That's one way to tell the story. But it isn't the whole story. The whole story includes friendships. It includes clients who trusted me with their ideas. It includes podcasts, speaking opportunities, creative growth, confidence, a community I love, and a business that's more focused today than it's ever been. Most importantly, it includes a life I genuinely enjoy living. Looking at that picture now, I don't see someone who took a risk that didn't work. I see someone who had the courage to take the first step toward a life that ended up looking different, and better, than he expected. Maybe success was never about being fully self-employed. Maybe it was always about building a life where I get to use the gifts God has given me, serve people well, create work I'm proud of, love my family, invest in my community, and keep chasing the projects that make me come alive. If that's what success looks like... Then I think I'm doing just fine. And if you're reading this wondering whether your own journey looks "successful" enough, maybe stop comparing it to someone else's highlight reel. Instead, ask yourself a different question. Are you becoming the person you hoped you'd become? Because sometimes success doesn't look like success at all. Sometimes it just looks like growth.

Custom cover art for podcasters! With different packages to choose from we have options to work with podcasts of all sizes with all kinds of budgets. PODCAST COVERS The expression “Don’t judge a book by its cover…” simply doesn’t apply to online thumbnails and cover art. In the podcast world listeners will typically scroll through a library or category of different podcasts and glance at what’s available. If a podcast has a top notch cover design, they will assume it speaks to the quality of the podcast. Don’t miss out on listens because of your cover art. PAC K AGES STARTUP 2x concepts 1 round of revisions Light photo editing Open source icons/elements ENQUIRE FOR PRICE PROFESSIONAL 2x concepts 2 rounds of revisions Custom made icons/elements Advanced photo editing ENQUIRE FOR PRICE PRE-MADE Select one of our many Pre-Made Podcast Cover Art options Budget friendly Quick turnaround time COMING SOON *Most Popular LET'S WORK TOGETHER PODCASTER ENQUIRE

Calling all non-profits, small business, bands, online groups, etc.... Use this page to enter the JW Creates Logo giveaway!!! LOGO GIVEAWAY Use the entry form below to enter the JW Creates Logo giveaway!! I will be selecting at least 1 winner to receive a basic vector logo for your non-profit, small business, band, online groups, etc... There is no real criteria, I will be basing the winner on who has the best name, story, and who's project I think will be the best design. Your challenge is to wow me with your why!! Also you need to like, follow, and share the JW Creates page on Facebook and Instagram using the links below. Entries will be allowed through December 1st, 2022, and the winner will be announced December 5th! ENTER THE LOGO GIVEAWAY!! First Name Last Name Email Phone How did you hear about the giveaway...? Tell me about you and your business, non-profit, band, etc...? Please add me to email list for other giveaways, promotions and newsletter. Register Thanks for entering!!! Like, follow, and share the JW Creates page on Instagram and Facebook using the links below!

Offering full service website design services. I'm a proud Wix partner, and would love to tell you why their platform is right for you and your business. WEBSITES Websites promote you 24/7: No one else will do that for you . CUSTOM WEBSITES In todays digital world, a website that accurately promotes your brand is essential. A website is the first touch point for your potential audience , so it has to give them the right impression. At JW Creates, we specialize in custom websites without the high price tag or long lead times. Check out our most recent website projects below. VISIT YWHAGFOUNDATION .ORG WEBSITES + BRANDING Are you starting out and need to develop a brand to go with your website...? Or is your branding feeling a little old and need refreshing...? When you are launching a new website, its a great time to address your branding too. Check out the packages below to get set up with a website + branding package. WIX PARTNER I have been designing websites with Wix for over 7 years, and thats why I proudly use them as my website platform and partner. They incorporate a lot of useful tools, in a safe and easy to use package. Their support is second to none, so you know that your site is in good hands. OLINE STORES EVENT CALENDARS MUSIC PLAYERS AND MORE.... CUSTOM ELEMENTS Each website project is different, just like the brands or musicians they represent . Custom elements, icons, videos and etc... will help you stand out from the crowd. SEO Search Engine Optimization is important, because people have to be able to find your site online. We have the tools and expertise to make sure your website is highly visible and searchable. PAC K AGES STARTUP One-Page Website Basic Fonts and Elements 1 - 1 hour training call Wix based website ENQUIRE FOR PRICE PROFESSIONAL Custom Website Design Up to 5 Pages (included) Custom Fonts, Elements/Icons (as needed) SEO Setup Google MyBusiness setup (if needed) 2 - 1 hour training calls Wix based website ENQUIRE FOR PRICE DELUXE Everything in Professional Full Professional logo and branding development ENQUIRE FOR PRICE *Most Popular LET'S WORK TOGETHER