We recently had the chance to connect with McCrae and have shared our conversation below.
McCrae, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Life flows like a river’s current. You can swim against, but ultimately nature’s pull will outlive the strength in your arms and legs. Helplessly, you’ll be carried downstream. Life’s kind of like that. You can swim sideways, grabbing at rocks, pulling yourself ashore for brief moments- only to find that the moment you dip your toes back into the water, the current still pursues, unchanging. Whatever path you’re on, remember it’s completely okay to swim ashore and rest when your limbs falter, but the river waits for no one. I dream of a beautifully interconnected world- one full of collaboration, communication, and accelerated development. I dream of a world where we take a second to stop fighting the rushing current, and build rafts to ride with the flowing waters. Along my river, I’ve stopped alongside beautiful places, bringing mementos, souvenirs, and various objects from the physical world. All I’ve found through my travels however, is that they only weigh you down. “To gain the world but lose the soul” is one of the oldest lines that still holds true. As I’m called to travel the world, learn, share my experiences, and grow, I’ve found the only sanctuary to be within the mind. The lessons and knowledge that I collect along my path, are far greater a value than any precious rock I could’ve found atop one of the million+ mountains that span the globe. The transition into a life of detachment has always been unnerving, in the same way leaving home without your cell phone can feel. In my ever evolving journey, I’ve found now more than ever to be the time to truly dive into your inner self, and the fulfillment it can bring.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, storyteller, and music creator originally from the Chicagoland area. Born blind in my right eye, I’ve learned to see the world in ways most people overlook. That perspective shapes everything I create, from music and film to visual art and immersive experiences. I use my disability as both a symbol and a reminder: our limitations can become our most distinctive strengths.
I run Garden Heart Productions with my cousin Brandon Bennett, a creative multimedia powerhouse based in Chicago, where we produce music videos, short films, branding campaigns, live events, and more. Whether it’s a mural on a highway underpass or a concept album with cinematic visuals, I’ve always searched for ways to fuse storytelling, technology, and emotion.
I developed McCrae’s Warehouse in 2024 to share my wearable creations with the world. What started as a fun way to reinvent the eyepatch, has morphed into an outlet for my creative expression through custom wire wrapped glasses, to clothing and accessories- all handcrafted through blood, sweat, and creativity. (Okay maybe with not so much blood)
Currently, I’m crafting on my sophomore album LUX, which dives into themes of light, legacy, and letting go. With a release set for early 2026, I aim to completely shatter expectations and bring forth a one of a kind sound experience.
At the core of everything I do is a desire to connect. Whether through sound, image, or space, I’m always chasing that spark that makes someone feel seen, heard, or inspired to create something of their own.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I remember being a toddler, barely tall enough to reach the upright piano. My arms would stretch to their limits, and with every bit of force in my fingers, I would press down on the keys and let the wave of sound overtake me. I didn’t understand what forces of nature were at work, only that because of my actions, the once stagnent air would begin to dance across the room, filling it with the most beautiful colors. With my right eye never fully developing, my brain would always have more room to explore the other senses. In the same way gazing at the Grand Canyon could fill you with wonder, hearing 4 notes colliding into a major 7 chord for the first time rocked my socks off. In those early moments, I felt a new power inside of me, one that I could harness- but never fully control.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Run toward failure. Understand that growth only happens through raw experience, and behind 101 failures is the solution to everything you’ve always wanted. (Also buy bitcoin in 2009)
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
Our brains are all connected. In the same way invisible signals surround us everyday, from bluetooth, wifi, radio, and lidar lasers bouncing around the room, our brains and nervous systems communicate with one another constantly. In the same way we connect on social media, we should also take a step back to walk through the grass barefoot. Let earths natural electrical energy, and free electrons absorb through your feet and regulate your own bioelectrical fields. Do your own research, because they’re not going to teach you this in schools.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Life is 100% about connection. Screw the rat race. Yeah I want to be a millionaire, everyone does, but the selfish route always ends with the rat chewing off its own tail. Let connectivity thrive, and the money will come. If we’d take a step back on the geopolitical level and instead of playing monopoly with land and resources, prioritize the development and infrastructure of the collective human race- we probably would’ve had the cure to cancer years before the atomic bomb.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gardenheartproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccraesgarden/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McCraeOfficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mccraesgarden
Image Credits
Sk8 Liborius Behind Shot: Philip Hiblovic via 21 Artistry
