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During her sophomore year of college, <a data-mce-href="https://linktr.ee/justgracehere" href="https://linktr.ee/justgracehere">Grace Runkle</a> stood at a microphone in front of her peers and prepared to lead a night of worship. She hadn’t led worship in a few years, but since she’d only been asked to sing a song or two, she’d accepted. As she stood on stage, her voice – which she had always considered to be a struggle point of her art – was transformed.&nbsp;“When I went up to the mic to sing, in that moment, God touched my voice,” recounted Runkle. “He gave me a voice I had never had before. It's like in that moment, he taught me how to sing.”Runkle is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Lynchburg, Va. and she graduated from Liberty University this past spring with degrees in business and ministry. Over the course of the last two years Runkle has released five singles, each of which express her central mission to see the gospel communicated through artistic expression.“I would say that my mission is to communicate the gospel to the world, to both the unsaved and the saved,” said Runkle. “But also specifically, I want to call the church back to honest creativity, excellence and beauty with their art, because I believe that God has called us to be a light in the darkness and part of that is releasing art into the world.”&nbsp;<figure id="figure-1y1qd83sdkmnp872iw" class=""><p style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; margin-bottom: 1.75rem; font-size: 18.72px; line-height: 28px; font-weight: 400; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', sans-serif;" data-mce-style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; margin-bottom: 1.75rem; font-size: 18.72px; line-height: 28px; font-weight: 400; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', sans-serif;"><img id="bpg4dnun8mnp87m5h" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/8lPHSOPd9qhrHcIyL14aAK5nHAOn2lrME8P2kzIS8pHyI2DvyjIwc2MFr5KR0wYO.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="85%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/8lPHSOPd9qhrHcIyL14aAK5nHAOn2lrME8P2kzIS8pHyI2DvyjIwc2MFr5KR0wYO.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 85%;" style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; --tw-filter: ; --tw-backdrop-filter: ; --tw-bg-opacity: 1; background-color: rgb(243, 244, 246); width: 640px; aspect-ratio: 3 / 2; object-position: 50% 85%;">Grace’s Debut</figure>Runkle’s debut single, “captivated”, was written on her bedroom floor with nothing besides a notebook and a few hummed phrases. The single was released on May 17, 2024, and it was the song that started everything.“It was so imperfect,” said Runkle. “Like, I think most people feel like they have to wait till they've written a thousand songs and perfected the plan and done everything, and I quite literally released the first song I ever wrote where I didn't even have a guitar in the first place.”<p style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; font-size: 18.72px; line-height: 28px; font-weight: 400; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', sans-serif;" data-mce-style="border-color: #e5e7eb; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; font-size: 18.72px; line-height: 28px; font-weight: 400; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', sans-serif;"><img id="1y1qd83sdkmnp872iw" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/37R01kkvP1Hq2Khc4tljIlkN4lE6Vt5MGLNHRsVjJhLeI6ANg98n4HYnm97U8wQb.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="80%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/37R01kkvP1Hq2Khc4tljIlkN4lE6Vt5MGLNHRsVjJhLeI6ANg98n4HYnm97U8wQb.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 80%;" style="border-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(62,172,255,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-transform: translateX(0) translateY(0) rotate(0) skewX(0) skewY(0) scaleX(1) scaleY(1); --tw-border-opacity: 1; --tw-filter: ; --tw-backdrop-filter: ; --tw-bg-opacity: 1; background-color: rgb(243, 244, 246); width: 640px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); aspect-ratio: 3 / 2; object-position: 50% 80%;">Runkle hadn't studied music in college, so her musical skills were largely either self-taught or God-given. And she never thought that she would be able to pursue music; she had never received prophetic words, nor had she grown up with assurances that she would be some sort of life-changing artist. So when she released &nbsp;“captivated”, it was a step of faith and born from the conviction that she could make a difference in the world.<blockquote>“I'm such a believer that God uses really weak people who don't know what they're doing,” said Runkle. “He is strong where they are weak, and I am very weak. And I think that song reminds me of my weakness in the most pure and joyful way, because God used it so wonderfully.”&nbsp;</blockquote>Runkle’s sound is distinctly indie, and it reflects the genre that made her feel connected to music in the first place. Still, Runkle identified a need within the music industry.&nbsp;“I noticed this gap in the market of people longing to connect with music that brings light into a dark industry, but not a lot of people doing it in a creative way,” said Runkle. “And so it was noticing there was a need and realizing that I think I could be the person to fill it. And I think that I could save lives if I opened up and started being honest about the gospel.”<figure id="figure-k3lobdzkimnp87zoj"><img id="k3lobdzkimnp87zoj" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/ew16MdW3i27G5hYIH3yqkVzeHq6jcZryBSYm4p7yyP57XvDvRG4EJ9E8dvWyb0vv.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 20%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="20%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/ew16MdW3i27G5hYIH3yqkVzeHq6jcZryBSYm4p7yyP57XvDvRG4EJ9E8dvWyb0vv.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 20%;"></figure>In Runkle’s words, her life is changing faster than she is. She doesn’t want fame, and there are aspects of life as a public-facing figure that are uncomfortable. But when reflecting on what keeps her rooted, Runkle recounted the story of Jesus and how he fed the five thousand. Instead of leaving the crowd, he turned and ministered to them.&nbsp;While acknowledging that there are parts of this journey that require her to deny herself, Runkle has still found this season of life to be fun. In her own words, it’s something of a movie.On April 10, she will be headlining <a data-mce-href="https://tr.ee/rKWXUiG3F8" href="https://tr.ee/rKWXUiG3F8">THE BIG SHOW with OC Artists Collective</a>. She’s flying out to Los Angeles and performing at the Jesus Center, accompanied by openers <a data-mce-href="https://beacons.ai/tannerlauzon" href="https://beacons.ai/tannerlauzon" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Tanner Lauzon</a> and Ethan Mizell. It’s not Runkle’s first time on stage, but it’s her first time performing at this scale – a milestone she described as both terrifying and exciting.&nbsp;​​“It's a little surreal, but it means so much to me because, like, truly, what an honor to get the opportunity to carry influence in a room where I get to sit up there and sing songs and proclaim the gospel,” said Runkle.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-y8nhseflhmmnp8a9s4"><img id="y8nhseflhmmnp8a9s4" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/cJutVf9Ituj12i5lTRBsHz7yhH9pWhVVFi2Gc3kdwxoKL8v3c6AxggpR5Pdcgu5a.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: null% 75%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="null%" data-positiony="75%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/cJutVf9Ituj12i5lTRBsHz7yhH9pWhVVFi2Gc3kdwxoKL8v3c6AxggpR5Pdcgu5a.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: null% 75%;"></figure>Runkle is fully, and almost supernaturally, equipped. Much like sophomore year, it’s not just her at the microphone.“I think what's been so grounding for me is remembering that when I get up on that stage, it's not even just me,” said Runkle. “It's the Holy Spirit in me that is actually singing and performing, doing these things.”As to where she’s planning on going from here, Runkle alluded to several different upcoming projects. &nbsp;She plans to collaborate with Christian artists, and she might even tour. The one certainty is that each of these future endeavors will express her mission excellently.&nbsp;Life has changed since that stage she stood on sophomore year, but even still, Runkle’s life is just picking up.

Introducing Grace Runkle

<h3>Meet Ivan Castro&nbsp;</h3>Ivan Castro’s musical journey began with a cheap, battery-powered piano that his aunt gifted him when he was twelve-years-old. It sat under his bed for months until boredom struck and the keyboard finally emerged, played from the privacy of his bedroom.&nbsp;Today, <a data-mce-href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HElG82P9GRSfQhqs1mt14" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HElG82P9GRSfQhqs1mt14">Ivan Castro has roughly 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify</a>. Castro is a musician and singer from Long Beach, Calif., and he has a twofold mission in his music: to glorify God, and to mimic His divine artistry.&nbsp;On March 6 and 7, Castro will be headlining two consecutive shows for OC Artist Collective's <a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg">MOMENTS</a> with support from <a data-mce-href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xCWbBpvJpf8QSfFtgZRHa" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xCWbBpvJpf8QSfFtgZRHa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nadège Nightingale</a> and <a data-mce-href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0N4p8Is9wCKlnXrlEYRQxk" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0N4p8Is9wCKlnXrlEYRQxk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rylee Orr</a>. It’ll be his first time performing live, a milestone that’s been a long time coming.<a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[UPCOMING EVENT: Moments with headliner Ivan Castro and support from Nadège Nightingale and Rylee Orr on March 6th and March 7th]</a><figure id="figure-35ljk4uu8smm8kvxr3" class=""><img id="35ljk4uu8smm8kvxr3" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/359Iw7fsclfi8NGfaJPtBnVqZjfj3H3xkyKPu5ZGGl8bJu1JsY5ULA63gSMlVRaw.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 65%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="65%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/359Iw7fsclfi8NGfaJPtBnVqZjfj3H3xkyKPu5ZGGl8bJu1JsY5ULA63gSMlVRaw.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 65%;"></figure>“My mission as an artist first and foremost is to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. After that, it’s to create music that is genuinely touched by the hand of God,” said Castro. “If God is a creator of creativity, if God is a creator of music and of art – then the art that’s created for him should be better than anything else possible in the world.”&nbsp;Castro is passionate about elevating Christian art, and started recording music with the intention of creating the type of worship songs that he genuinely would have enjoyed listening to as a youth. So Castro doesn’t just want to make music; he wants to make great music. And above all, he wants to honor the ultimate artist, God.<h3>Ivan’s Story</h3>Castro was in middle-school when his parents came to Christ and started attending church regularly. With this religious transition came another shift: no more secular music. From then on, it was only worship music and Christian radio stations.&nbsp;“I was forced to listen to Christian music on the radio, and ninety-nine percent of it, I was not into and I was not feeling it,” said Castro. “I was just like okay – I feel like this could be so much better, but it’s not.”&nbsp;This discontent was a major contributor to Castro’s indie folk style of music. He wanted to move away from the traditional Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) genre, particularly attentive to the quality of music he was putting out.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-yg8n8ibzyamm8j8pr1"><img id="yg8n8ibzyamm8j8pr1" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1dps996lGZKTzYp7OqaXrLh6aaxTBvuQdZlVfL3shwo86syYwUBMDs6eO9aLVQ0N.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 40%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="40%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1dps996lGZKTzYp7OqaXrLh6aaxTBvuQdZlVfL3shwo86syYwUBMDs6eO9aLVQ0N.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 40%;"></figure>As Castro experimented with musical instruments, he became fairly adept at playing piano by ear – but it wasn’t until he graduated from high-school and took an introduction to guitar course that his passion for music truly sparked. And he didn’t just like it – he had the talent.“Any instrument I touched, or even like learning to produce, it just clicked in my head. It just made sense,” said Castro. “And so, I started praying, asking God, is this a gift? Is this something that I should take more seriously?”&nbsp;Over the course of several months, God confirmed to Castro that music was not only a gift, but also something that Castro should be seriously pursuing.&nbsp;<blockquote>“It took years of learning, seeing, and practicing and producing and doing everything on my own before I felt like – okay, now I wrote a song that I’m so happy with, and content with it, I can release it,” said Castro. </blockquote>Castro was hesitant to perform his own original music, but he regularly played in the worship band at his church. On one Sunday after a service, Castro was approached by a member of the congregation who expressed profound awe in Castro’s musical capabilities.&nbsp;“He was like, ‘if you use your gifts for the Lord, if you put out music and you pursue that’, he was like, ‘I could see you in stadiums, and I could see you, your voice and just your heart is going to touch people all over the world,’” recounted Castro. “‘God’s just going to be able to use you in ways like never before.’”<figure id="figure-ihao2dat8urmm8j94g0"><img id="ihao2dat8urmm8j94g0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/cdzKIFtGlKiyCtPRRhWiPgJIblFLRDVC90lJjAdKjxgcBwuHuY77CboDOhvMxDes.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/cdzKIFtGlKiyCtPRRhWiPgJIblFLRDVC90lJjAdKjxgcBwuHuY77CboDOhvMxDes.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;"></figure>The encounter inspired him, and not long after, he released his <a data-mce-href="https://youtu.be/yM72-_Vro4M?si=zzmoOPv64gS6SBKV" href="https://youtu.be/yM72-_Vro4M?si=zzmoOPv64gS6SBKV">debut demo, “Every Word.”</a> As a self-described perfectionist he didn’t want to release anything less than great, but Castro made peace with the fact that the song would be used for God’s glory.&nbsp;“I didn’t want to feel like I spent hours and hours and hours putting something together for it to just kind of flop,” said Castro, laughing a little. “And it did.”&nbsp;With about fifty followers on Instagram at the time, Castro’s demo only received a few dozen listens. It wasn’t the start he’d anticipated. So Castro stepped back from music, believing that a standard 9-to-5 was a more practical way to &nbsp;support his family.But Castro’s resolve to step away from music lasted about three months. After experiencing a nearly fatal car accident in December 2024, Castro committed to releasing a song every single month of 2025.&nbsp;“It potentially could have killed me,” said Castro when recounting the accident. “And thankfully, no one else was injured except me – and the car I was in got totaled – but I walked away with a broken pinky finger.”&nbsp;The moment the shock of the accident wore off, only one thought came to mind: he could have died, and he hadn’t lived out his calling.<figure id="figure-9zs1jsrlamm8j9dj9"><img id="9zs1jsrlamm8j9dj9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/27XDudE0S9sSNF1uvEPGOtfELLEHwBMfiHRkq8ti3QRGuYs5qv56oqKaQTFmduyH.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: null% 60%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="null%" data-positiony="60%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/27XDudE0S9sSNF1uvEPGOtfELLEHwBMfiHRkq8ti3QRGuYs5qv56oqKaQTFmduyH.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: null% 60%;"></figure>In May 2025, his first release – the same one that had been such an initial disappointment – unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, allowing Castro to quit his job and pursue music full-time. The experience of his failed demo release was entirely redeemed.&nbsp;The visibility garnered online led to millions of streams and label interest – but Castro chose to remain independent, relying on streaming royalties to support his family.&nbsp;<blockquote>“Within a year, God just completely turned my life around. It just took that obedience,” said Castro. “That radical obedience and that shift of changing where my heart was.”</blockquote>This radical obedience has culminated in where Castro is now. &nbsp;The upcoming <a data-mce-href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUjL_1KlLbq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DUjL_1KlLbq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MOMENTS</a> show is reality finally lining up with the dream for Castro. It’s a representation of the vision that God first showed him five years ago. &nbsp;<a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[BUY TICKETS: Ivan Castro will be headlining OC Artist Collective's MOMENTS on March 6th and 7th with support from Nadège Nightingale and Rylee Orr.]</a><a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> </a>As for where he’s going? Castro’s most recent EP release was December 26, 2025, but he has plans to release his first full length album in 2026.&nbsp;“I won’t hold back,” said Castro. “It’ll be big. Whether it’s this album or a future album, I want to create the best album to ever be created.”&nbsp;For more information on Ivan Castro, visit <a data-mce-href="https://ivancastro.org/" href="https://ivancastro.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ivancastro.org</a> or check out his music on <a data-mce-href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HElG82P9GRSfQhqs1mt14?si=DYKl7yU9Qw646q5_nNXfeQ" href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HElG82P9GRSfQhqs1mt14?si=DYKl7yU9Qw646q5_nNXfeQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spotify</a> or <a data-mce-href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ivan-castro/1767106069" href="https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ivan-castro/1767106069" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple Music</a>.&nbsp; ####ABOUT OC ARTIST COLLECTIVEOCAC was founded in January 2024 by Gem Ceniza, Miles, and Emmeline Pennell with a bold vision: to create a space where artists could not only grow but also achieve professional success. From its roots as a community-driven collective, OCAC quickly evolved into a dual-purpose organization—a launchpad for musicians and a powerhouse event producer. With artist development programs like Song Club and marquee events like Moments and The Big Show, OCAC has become a beacon for musicians seeking both creative development and professional recognition. <a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective.org/" href="https://ocartistcollective.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Website</a> | <a data-mce-href="https://www.instagram.com/ocartistcollective/?hl=en" href="https://www.instagram.com/ocartistcollective/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> | <a data-mce-href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ocartistcollective" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ocartistcollective" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>&nbsp;ABOUT MOMENTSMoments is a live music experience presented by OC Artist Collective, designed to give audiences the chance to experience a genuine, intimate moment with an artist. Each gathering is thoughtfully crafted to feel personal and immersive — more than a concert, but a shared experience. Through intentional storytelling, stripped-back performances, and meaningful connection, Moments creates space for artists to be fully seen and heard while cultivating a welcoming creative community. <a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg">Upcoming Show: Ivan Castro with Nadège Nightingale and Rylee Orr</a><a data-mce-href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg" href="https://ocartistcollective1.ticketspice.com/moments?utm_source=ig&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=link_in_bio&amp;fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTeyTT86i9eVecmk-6HGmFnn9LB4AFu28P1LFMxQTuAsOp_hQ_4U8EQ7-gME_aem_68Jdm1WgheyCIm0pRSO8gg"> </a>MEDIA CONTACTFashion Castillo Social Media and Communications Manager Email: <a href="mailto:ocartistcollective@gmail.com" data-mce-href="mailto:ocartistcollective@gmail.com">ocartistcollective@gmail.com</a>

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The Vision Becomes Reality as Ivan Castro Headlines MOMENTS