At the Indie Auxperience, Musicians Find New Ways to Be Heard

We’re on the cusp of summertime here in the United States, and a few things are extremely clear: we know, now more than ever, “freedom of speech” isn’t free. Artists, musicians especially, struggle to finance themselves and find ways to be heard. Meanwhile, we’re living through what the U.S. surgeon general recently called a loneliness epidemic.

So last month when I pulled up to the Rich City Studios’ Indie Auxperience, an industry mixer and talent showcase held on Treasure Island, I was relieved to see artists coming together, expressing themselves and creating ways to generate revenue.

I nodded along as Lady Maf spit bars from her song “I Been Thuggin’.” I talked about Bay Area fashion with Trav Lyrics (a.k.a. Ya Boy Black Ice), a Richmond hip-hop artist and owner of The 41510 Brand.

And then I took in a performance by Kaayla Lynn, a sultry R&B singer who did two songs, “Away” and “Girl of Your Dreams.”

A performing vocalist since her freshman year at college in Atlanta, Kaayla Lynn had taken a hiatus from her craft for the past few years. But on the heels of losing a loved one last spring, the East Bay-based singer and songwriter recommitted herself to her art in 2025.

While working as an elementary school music teacher and raising a child doesn’t leave much time for performing, Kaayla Lynn finds ways to stay active. She sings in a choir and at karaoke spots. But she says it’s hard to get her original songs heard.

So she signed up for the Indie Auxperience, choosing to hop on stage and sing her heart out for a crowd beside an amazing view of the San Francisco skyline.

Rich City Studios owner Charles “ChuckT” Turner created the Indie Auxperience to offer artists more than just a stage and an audience.

“At many open mics,” he says via phone, “you’re performing in front of other artists who are just trying to get their stuff off.”

A music producer I’ve known since we were teens, ChuckT wants the Indie Auxperience to be a industry pathway for the participating artists.

Attendees pay a sliding-scale fee, ranging from $14–$108. After the event, ChuckT compiles a playlist of the performers’ music and strategically sends it to contacts at radio stations around the nation. He also arranges artist interviews with Kyrie Grayson’s FN2S (From Nothing to Something Network), which focuses on unheard talent.

ChuckT says that in addition to gaining new fans, receiving constructive feedback and putting yourself in a position to make some sales, artists also reap the benefits of industry knowledge and connecting other artists.

Which is important, because making music can be a lonely process.

“You’re sitting in your house, and you’re working and you’re working,” he says, “if you’ve been a hermit because of your creative process, you can come out to one of these events, meet people, follow them and find out what open mics they’re going to later.”

That much is true for Kaayla Lynn, who subscribes to the old adage, “It’s not always what you know, it’s who you know.”

At the Indie Auxperience, she met people who make merchandise, design websites, print posters and create content. She also met Azkia Malik, who performed his song “Vibes Right.” Afterward, he invited her to perform at San Francisco’s Boom Boom Room.

“And then, that just opened even more doors for people to know me and my music,” Kaayla Lynn says. “When you’re in a place where there’s like-minded individuals, that’ll help you out in the future.”

Rich City Studios hosts the second Indie Auxperience on Saturday, May 24 at Music City in San Francisco. Details here.