Created to Create is a space for creative insight, real-world experience, and the ongoing work of building a life led by creativity and purpose. Here, I share lessons from my journey as an artist and creative professional, offering perspective, guidance, and ideas to support both those doing the work and those learning how to step into what they were made for.

Hey Dreamer,

My name is Alonté Cross, I’m a multi-hyphenate creative who walked away from corporate life to make music my full time job. At the end of 2025, I signed a publishing deal under Universal Music Group and started working on my second album. I also grew a music community from 0 to over 12,000 people in just three months through the First-Class Music Suites, namely the flagship Neo-Soul Suite.

I run Crossfade Productions, where I build spaces for stories, music, and creative ideas to meet. Created to Create is my corner of the internet where I share what I’m building, what I’m learning, and the ideas shaping my creative life.

Every post lands right in your inbox. If you want to jump into the comments and connect with other music lovers, cool. If you want to quietly enjoy the content on your own, that works too.

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.