BY MAUREEN PARKER for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 11/6/2026
Ok, so boom! This is going to be my cheat week, where I combine a business feature with a little name-dropping from an event that was fun, informative, and hella creative.
I was invited to a grand opening and industry mixer featuring a cornucopia of artists, and this mixed bag was bone apple tea as far as events go.
Above the Record’s Industry Night took place Oct. 24 at a recording studio on Tacoma Avenue South. Teryn Reché, the event’s organizer, invited me, and let me tell you: I had no idea there was a music studio tucked away over there.
The setup is very nice, with different spaces that can be used for all types of media and entertainment purposes. If you’re someone looking for a place to bring your creative ideas to life, it’s worth checking out.
Another aspect of the evening that caught my attention was an area set up for individual artist interviews, podcast-style. While people were mingling elsewhere in the studio, artists had a space to sit down and talk about themselves and their work.
Now, you already know the writer in me was interested in that part. There were so many people to meet, and a quick introduction only gets you so far. Having an interview space added another way to get to know the people behind the creativity.
It also gave me a better idea of what the studio could accommodate. I walked in thinking about music recording, but here was a different use for the space happening right in front of me. Networking in one area, interviews in another—there was a lot packed into that evening.
There were so many things happening at once, but everywhere I turned, something or someone caught my attention. I met caterers, bakers, singers, poets, comics, photographers, journalists, graphic artists, managers, and sound engineers.
And some of those were just one person, lol.
That was part of what made the evening so interesting. You could start talking to someone about one thing they do and discover three more talents before the conversation was over.
During my time there, I spoke with several artists and collected as much information as I could so I can eventually introduce them to you through stories of their own. The conversations may have been short, but they gave me plenty of reasons to keep asking questions.
I have a lot of writing to do, folks. I met comedians from Seattle, poets and singers from Everett, reggaeton artists from up north, and spokenword artists right here in the Tacoma area. Different backgrounds, different styles, and different ways of expressing themselves, all sharing space for an evening.
Now wait. Did I mention the catering and desserts?
Because we need to talk about that. Waribo Kitchen, based out of Shoreline, was there, and that food was absolute fire. Finding out they’re in Shoreline kind of pissed me off, because that is not exactly around the corner when a craving hits. But they cater, so the opportunity to get their food again is very much available.
Rydah’s Sweet Treats was also there with cookies and other goodies, including the regular-schmegular kind and infused options for folks who like to partake.
Between the food and the conversations, I had plenty to keep me occupied.
I was over the moon to be invited. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, my outside time is few and far between, and this particular outing was absolutely worth getting out of the house for.
I left with new contacts, future story ideas, and a real appreciation for what Teryn and her team put together. Getting that many creative people in one place takes time, effort, and a whole lot of coordination. Anyone who has ever tried to get five people to agree on dinner plans knows what I’m talking about.
This was a room full of people with different schedules, talents, and ambitions, and the evening gave us a chance to discover one another.
I look forward to seeing what Teryn and her team bring to our area next. If this gathering was any indication, there are more good things to come—and more local people you need to know about.
Fun fact from the evening: I was the oldest person in the building.
But it didn’t feel that way.
The acceptance and appreciation being passed around, mixed with the curiosity and enthusiasm about all the different talents in the room, made age a nonfactor. Everybody had something to bring to the conversation, and there was an interest in finding out what that something was.
Looking around at the younger people in that space, I felt good about the future of our arts community. There was talent, certainly, but also a willingness to connect, listen, and appreciate what someone else was creating.
If what I experienced that evening is any indication, that future is in very good
And this almost-60-year-old was happy to be in the room.
Oh, and last but certainly not least: There were games and prizes.
And I won a photo shoot!!! Now, considering I have a milestone birthday coming up, the timing could not have been better. Your girl is getting ready to turn 60, and apparently we’re going to document the occasion properly!
Clearly, my outside time was well spent. To learn more about Above the Record (ATR), a music and entertainment company, contact founder and CEO Teryn Jaziré Reché at (341) 400-6692.
