By Jonathan Anthony Burkett
Most stores pick one lane. A bookshop sells books, a music platform streams music and a fashion site sells clothes. Upstormed does all three, and that is on purpose. Here is why I chose to put my books, my music and fashion under one roof, and what it means for you when you visit.
One Person, Several Callings
I describe myself as an entrepreneur, author, poet and music artist. I found my voice in reading and writing and became a published author. I record inspirational hip hop and soul on my own label, Upstormed Records. And I founded Upstormed LLC and the Upstormed family of online stores, starting with upstormed.com.
Each one is a different way to share the same message, and the store is where they meet.
The Message That Ties It Together
If you read my memoir, Neglected But Undefeated, you meet a boy who grew up without a mother's love, faced hardship and serious health challenges, and refused to be defeated. If you listen to my signature song, One Life with Ambelique, you hear the reminder that you only get one life, so make it count. If you wear Upstormed merch, you carry that same spirit with you.
The message running through all of it is simple: whatever you have been through, keep going. A book can tell that story in depth. A song can put it in your ears on a hard morning. Something you wear can remind you of it on an ordinary Tuesday. Putting them together makes the message easier to live with, not just to read about.
What You Will Find Under the Roof
The flagship, upstormed.com, carries more than 4,000 products. That includes:
- Books: my memoir, the Friends 2 Lovers series and my novel Fighting To Become Champions.
- Music: my releases on Upstormed Records.
- Fashion: women's and men's clothing, jewelry and accessories.
- Gifts and lifestyle pieces: for the people you love and for your own space.
- Upstormed merch: the most direct way to carry the brand.
There are also price collections such as $15 & under and $25 & under, and sister stores including Upstormed Clothing and Upstormed Store.
The easiest way to explore is to start with whatever brought you here. If you are a reader, open a book page and then look around the gifts. If you are a listener, check out the music and then browse the merch. If you are a shopper, set your budget, find what you came for and take a moment to see the books and music on your way out. Every path leads back to the same message.
Why This Is Better for You
Bringing everything together is not only about my story. It also makes life easier for the people who shop and read and listen.
Discovery goes both ways. Someone who comes for a jacket might find a book that speaks to what they are going through. Someone who comes for the memoir might find a gift for a friend. You do not need to know my work to enjoy the store, and you do not need to shop to enjoy my work.
Gifts can carry meaning. A piece of jewelry paired with a book about resilience, or a shirt paired with a song that says keep going, turns an ordinary present into something with a message behind it.
Your support goes further. When you buy from an independent brand that also publishes books and releases music, you are supporting all of that creative work at once.
How Independence Shapes the Store
I publish my own books and release my music on my own label. Building my own store follows the same thinking: you do not have to wait for someone else to give you a platform. That independence lets me keep my books, music and products connected in a way that makes sense to me, instead of scattered across places I do not control.
It also means I care about the experience. Orders go through Shopify checkout with prices in U.S. dollars. Some items ship from overseas, so check the delivery estimate before ordering. Each store has its own refund, shipping and privacy policies, and questions go to contact@upstormed.com.
Come In Through Any Door
You might know me first as a writer, a voice on a track or the name on a store. However you arrived, everything is connected, and you are welcome to explore all of it. If you want to start with the stories, see my books here. If you want to see it all together, visit Upstormed Shop.
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