Artists Supporting Artists

9Ball Creative was born from a simple belief: the best music happens when artists feel supported throughout their creative journey.

artist supporting artists
recording studio vintage vibe

How 9Ball Creative Came to Be

“I never wanted to be in the music industry. I wanted some generic job that pays the bills for me and my wife to start family. I had always planned to play music and even record my own, but to be in constant competition with other artists, not a fan. Then one rainy evening in Monterey, California me and my wife visited an antique store after we just chowed some chowder and I stumble across something that gave me a spark of inspiration: a billiards 9 ball.

I instantly remembered playing 9 ball pool (opposed to 8 ball most people are familiar with). It wasn’t about stripes vs solids to see who could get the 8 ball in first after completing their own goals. 9 ball is about collaboration, the goal is the same: hit numbers 1-9 consecutively, miss a shot and the other play has a turn with the same goal. They pick up where you left off and vice versa, you carry the same goal and can help each other out on the same path.

Now take the competitive pool scene away and you see how musical artists can work together to achieve similar goals. In the end, we may never reach the mystified “9th ball” in this game of life but the 1-8 are where the magic happens. It where we live. It’s why we make art.

We may only help you with a few of the goals in your life, let’s say 1-4, and you’ll carry on to accomplish great things, or we’ll work together on numbers 2, 5, and 8, the main idea is that we’re a collaborative community for artists to work with every—and any—step of the way. Let’s make something together.”

— Michael Dishno, Founder

What We Stand For

Collaboration Over Control

We believe the best music comes from true partnership between artist and producer. We provide expertise and guidance while ensuring you remain the creative director of your project.

Authenticity Over Trends

Your unique voice matters more than fitting into current industry molds. We help you refine and amplify what makes your music special, not change it to match what’s popular.

Professional Excellence

Being artist-friendly doesn’t mean being unprofessional. We bring business-level organization, clear communication, and reliable delivery to every project.

Long-term Relationships

We’re not just here for one project—we want to be part of your artistic journey for years to come. Success to us means watching our artists grow and achieve their goals.

Accessible Expertise

Professional-quality music production shouldn’t be limited to major-label budgets. We work to make our services accessible to independent artists at all stages of their careers.

What Drives Us

We exist to empower indie artists by providing professional-grade music production and design services through a truly collaborative process. We believe every artist deserves to work with partners who understand their vision, respect their creative process, and bring the technical expertise needed to achieve their goals.

Our commitment goes beyond just delivering great recordings. We’re here to support artists throughout their entire creative journey, from those first rough demos to building a complete artistic brand.

Our Team

Michael Dishno

Michael’s passion for music began in childhood when he discovered the bass and learned to play it so he could jam with friends in a band. Over the years, guitar and bass have remained his core instruments. Writing songs and performing became his primary outlets for self-expression, leading him to dive into recording and producing his own music in 2016. What excites him most about the creative process is collaborating with other artists and seeing shared visions come to life.

With 9Ball Creative, Michael’s mission is to create an inclusive, welcoming space where artists are free to explore, express themselves, and collaborate. He believes that anyone can be an artist, and he is dedicated to building a community that nurtures creativity and fosters collaboration.

Alexandra Dishno

Alexandra’s passion for creating something extraordinary from nothing has been a constant throughout her life. She grew up in a family that celebrated artistic expression and her passion for creativity developed naturally. With an art teacher for a mother and a graphic designer for a father, Alexandra was inspired by their influence and the time they dedicated to nurturing creativity. Her childhood was filled with inspiration—from painting and sketching flowers in the park to filling sketchbooks with imaginative collages. In 2020, Alexandra earned her BFA with an emphasis in Graphic Design from CSUF. Her professional journey has included roles in merchandise management and graphic design, particularly in the apparel industry, where she honed her eye for detail and innovation.

For Alexandra, creativity is deeply personal and spiritual. She views her artistic talents as gifts rooted in her faith, inspiring her to create with purpose and intention. As the creative director and co-founder of 9Ball Creative, she channels her passion into shaping the brand’s unique identity, infusing it with her distinctive style that blends retro artistry with noastalgic design.

Brittani Maxwell

With 15 years of experience across diverse creative fields, including set design, costume design, special effects makeup, and album art, Brittani brings a wealth of expertise to 9Ball Creative. As a fellow creative spirit, she’s passionate about using her skills to help bring others’ imaginative visions to life. Brittani’s unique approach combines professionalism with a vibrant, creative flair, and she’s excited to contribute her talents to collaborative endeavors, ensuring every project is a standout expression of artistry.

Ricky Spencer

From a very young age, Ricky has had an immense love for creativityand music. He not only liked the concept of taking an idea that wasonce imagination and making it into something tangible and real, butalso felt that expression through music was something that can healand connect people. He began writing songs at the age of 15 andstarted producing his own music at the age of 18 in 2015. He foundworking through the whole process of creation to completion wassomething he could see himself doing for the rest of his life. Throughthis journey, he has discovered how music is an effective way ofimmersing oneself with the beauty around them while also being anexcellent way to express the vision within one’s subconscious.

With 9Ball Creative, Ricky seeks to inspire artists to bring out themost of the creativity deep inside of them. Cultivating an environment where creativity can thrive is of utmost importance, while also providing the practical tools to turn it into something tangible. Ricky has a passion for people, and aims to work with them to create music that explores the very expansive body of human expression.

Matt Alvarez

Matt spends his 9–5 leading creative marketing at a Dallas-based startup—but his experience extends well beyond the desk. With a foundation in photography, digital arts, and music production, Matt’s background includes formal training and years of hands-on work across the creative spectrum. He’s built brand kits and logos for startups and nonprofits, launched mobile apps to the App Store, developed and maintained websites, and regularly edits content for active media channels.

He manages social media strategy for multiple brands, oversees content creation, and supports ongoing engagement across platforms. Matt currently serves on advisory boards for both nonprofits and for-profit companies, where he brings a practical, creative-first perspective to branding, communications, and growth strategy.

His work is driven by clarity, craftsmanship, and a drive to align the mission with the with the market.

Our Vision

Within the next 3-4 years, we’re planning to open a dedicated 9Ball Creative studio space in Southern California, a place designed specifically for the collaborative process we champion. This physical space will expand our capabilities while maintaining the intimate, artist-focused atmosphere that makes our current work special.

The studio will be more than just a recording facility; it will be a creative hub where artists can work on both their music and visual branding in an integrated way. We envision a space where musicians, designers, and other creative professionals can collaborate naturally, breaking down the traditional barriers between different aspects of artistic production.

Even as we grow, our commitment remains the same: providing indie artists with the professional support, creative collaboration, and authentic partnership they need to bring their vision to life. Even if you’re not in Southern California, we’d love to connect and talk about future projects!

Recording studio california

Working with Us

Our Approach

Every project starts with conversation. We want to understand your goals, your influences, your concerns, and your dreams for the project. From there, we build a customized approach that serves your specific needs.

Our Timeline

Currently, all team members work with 9Ball Creative part-time, which means we plan projects carefully to ensure we can give each artist the attention they deserve. We’d rather work with fewer artists and do exceptional work than rush through projects.

Our Commitment

When you work with 9Ball Creative, you’re not just hiring service providers—you’re gaining creative partners who are invested in your success. We celebrate every milestone with our artists and take pride in being part of their journey.

Ready to start a conversation about your project?

to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can support your artistic vision.

Follow our Journey