Meet Joey “60 East” Atilano | Artist & Founder of the Happiness of Pursuit Festival

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joey “60 East” Atilano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joey “60 East”, what do you attribute your success to?
I think the most important factor behind the success of our Festival is authenticity. The people that come to our show know that all the people involved in the creation of the event our also actively involved in the culture and community. I think that creates an event/space where people know that not only do we know what we are doing with the curation of the event, but also that this is an event they need to attend.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am proud and excited to see how much our Festival has grown in the past 5 years. Business-wise I never expected to have my own Festival, I really just wanted to be an artist, but my life kinda lead me into this, and im glad it did. It definitely not easy , there was a lot of ups and downs along the way. I was able to overcome most challenges with the relentless attitude and thick skin I earned by being an artist. Most the lessons I’ve learned involve better communication, with clear communication about everything with everyone, everything tends to run smoother, and that’s in life also. I want people to know that when come to our Festival there going to get exactly what we tell them. A Hip Hop culture experience like no other. I grew up going to big Hip Hop Festivals and always told myself if I ever throw events they are going to incorporate all aspects of the culture, from the music to the fashion and graffiti.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them where I take most the Artist that come into town for the Festival, the Ontario Mills which is the local mall, but also one of the largest in the state. There is a bunch of random activities and restaurants in that area also from national chains like BJ’s and Olive Garden to local staples like Mama For Dios and Big Al’s. I would also take them indoor skydiving and to the K1 Indoor racing track. We would also catch a Hockey game or concert at Toyota arena.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The whole team and everyone that helps out with the show. All the people at the venue and all my friends and family members that volunteer their time to help the vent run smooth. Most importantly all the fans that make the trip locally and the people from out of State and Country.

Website: www.thopfest.net

Instagram: @thopfest

Twitter: @twitter