Gary Sheng and Nicholas Parasram Faith Music Industry Reunion

Date: September 15, 2025
Participants: Gary Sheng, Nicholas Parasram
Format: Phone call reconnection
Location: Gary in New York; Nicholas in New York (visiting for sister's baby)
Context: First substantial conversation in 2+ years between former best friends (2015-2018 period), covering Nicholas's massive music industry success, both participants' faith journeys, and potential future collaborations

Executive Summary

This reunion conversation between Gary Sheng and Nicholas Parasram represents a significant reconnection after a 2+ year gap, revealing remarkable parallel evolution in both participants' lives toward faith-based living and business success outside traditional systems. Nicholas has achieved extraordinary success in the music industry, managing artist Stryv to billion-stream independent success generating $2 million annually, while simultaneously undergoing personal transformation through sobriety (2022) and return to Christian faith. Gary has evolved from political activism toward spiritual ministry and miracle documentation. The conversation reveals providential timing for potential collaboration in Christian music industry, with Nicholas positioned to help Gary's gospel artists bypass traditional record label systems while both participants prioritize faith-based relationships and God's will over secular success metrics.

Key Themes and Strategic Insights

Music Industry Success and Independent Model

Stryv's Billion-Stream Success:

"Stryv played with the Swedish House Mafia on Friday, and we did the gospel afterparty, so it's pretty sick... last year, we did the record. It did a billion streams. Totally independent, dude."

Financial Independence Achievement:

"Fucking, dude, we made like $2 million last year. Wow, just on music. Yeah, dude. We did it, man... We beat all the systems, dude. Beat all the odds, man. Ten years later, dude."

Artist Development Story:

"Do you remember this dude? He was supposed to be a doctor, and we took him out of school and shit. Like, I red-filled him."

Current Revenue Scale:

"Now he's touring. Touring about 100 to 140K in revenue a month. Managing the whole thing, and yeah. It's been crazy, man."

Justin Kan Partnership Origin:

"Him and I were in Marrakech when, like, Moves came out, when the record came out or whatever. And he looked at me, because I got a million streams in a day, and he was like, Hey, how's it going? And he was like, Oh, you gotta quit the fund now... He angel-invested into, like, my management company."

Independent Success Framework:

• Completely independent from record label system ("Totally independent, dude. So we're making all the money")
• Artist development from medical school track to touring success
• Million streams in single day triggering major investor interest
• Monthly revenue of 100-140K from touring and management
• Gospel afterparty following Swedish House Mafia collaboration
• Systematic approach to "beating all the systems"

Faith Journey and Personal Transformation

Nicholas's Sobriety and Faith Return:

"I started going to church again, in 2022, when I went sober. And yeah, ever since I've been, you know, I go to this church in LA, my girlfriend is devout Christian... So yeah, I pretty much have been back, kind of, you know, rediscovering faith myself."

Childhood Faith Foundation:

"I was baptized. And my grandma on my dad's side, like, would go to church and we'd talk about Bible and stuff when I was younger, and then she died. And so I never did."

Gary's Spiritual Evolution:

"We may have talked about like, for like one second, it wasn't like, it wasn't a huge, huge part of my life when we caught up like, two years ago. But now, now it's like the main thing, as it honestly should be."

Gary's Supernatural Experiences:

"I've also just had a lot of interesting supernatural experiences... There's this concept of baptism of the Holy Spirit that is pretty under talked about in most churches."

Faith Journey Framework:

• Nicholas's return to childhood faith through sobriety journey
• Gary's evolution from metaphysical exploration to central faith commitment
• Both participants moved from secular success toward faith-based living
• Recognition of supernatural reality and Holy Spirit baptism
• Faith as primary identity rather than social club membership

Relationship Values and Marriage Standards

Faith-Based Relationship Requirements:

"You're not going to dig a girl that isn't of faith, right? Like that's why all these girls are like fucked... No, you're right. I mean, look at it, dude. Look at the landscape right now. It's fucked."

Cultural Critique:

"Because by the time you get married to your chick, dude, your chick's been ran through over a hundred times, dude... If you get, if you get under 10 nowadays, you're lucky, you know, you're blessed."

Nicholas's Relationship Standards:

"That's why my girls, I'm only dating girls like that, you know? Everything else is fucked... She's devout, you know, devout Christian for a long time. She's a member of this church, Korean American church."

Household Order Recognition:

"They need to submit, they need to follow the order of the household. Importantly."

Marriage Framework:

• Faith-based relationship requirements as non-negotiable
• Recognition of cultural degradation affecting relationship quality
• Emphasis on finding partners with genuine faith commitment
• Understanding of biblical household structure and submission
• Prioritizing spiritual compatibility over secular attraction

Gary's Ministry Evolution and Vision

Movement from Political to Spiritual:

"Charlie Kirk's death moved me. I would say his, his, I think a lot of people will have the, have some, some, not the most ideal conclusion from it either. Right. Where it's like, okay, Charlie died, you know, go to church, vote Republican. Like that, that's, that's too simple of an answer."

Calling Recognition:

"I feel, I feel, I feel pretty called to make disciples of the nations in a way that is not, you know, Charlie Kirk's death moved me."

Music Industry Opportunity:

"When I think about what started my faith journey was Sunday service and Jesus. And so if I were to think about like the making disciples of nations mission overall, like music is absolutely critical to that."

Artist Development:

"I absolutely have artists that, you know, will have generationally important praise and gospel songs. So one of them is locked into a, she could leave actually whenever she, whenever she feels ready to, but she's locked into like a Def Jam like contract where they're not doing jack shit for her."

Ministry Vision Framework:

• Evolution from political activism to discipleship mission
• Recognition of music's critical role in spiritual awakening
• Identification of gospel artists needing independent development
• Critique of traditional record labels as "not mission oriented organizations"
• Vision for spiritual talent development outside institutional systems

Secular Business Critique and Moral Alignment

Billionaire Consulting Experience:

"Consulted with this billionaire in Austin for a few months. And realized I didn't, he wasn't just the right moral compass for me, honestly... Beyond the spiritual misalignment, not that I need to work with people that are completely aligned, he's like, very much almost has like no soul."

Institutional Problems:

"He was hiring really bad people that are, you know... They're not morally bankrupt. They're tech savvy. They're no educational theories. They're good with kids, you know, they're just like, very rare, very rare, very rare."

Leadership Failures:

"He wanted that control and was kind of insecure, I think about giving up control. And he didn't want to manage and lead... He's building hundreds of millions of dollars a year. And he has not hired any leader, any leaders that I, that I, that I really respect."

Spiritual Requirement for Success:

"Almost any time you try to advance an earthly mission that's secular, like you're just going to like end up with a bunch of bullshit of like egos and, and really like, I think you just got to give it up all to God."

Business Morality Framework:

• Recognition that secular business missions ultimately fail without spiritual foundation
• Importance of moral alignment in business partnerships
• Critique of ego-driven leadership in secular organizations
• Understanding that giving control to God prevents organizational corruption
• Need for spiritually grounded leaders in mission-critical work

Record Label System Critique

Traditional Label Problems:

"These are just not interested in really, they're not mission oriented organizations. Let's be real... No, dude, they're all, they're all, they're all a little fumbling, dude. A lot of them are fumbling right now."

Def Jam Critique:

"Because I think Jeff Jam, they're going to, they're going to go through a whole bunch of shit. That's what I heard."

Independent Success Validation:

"Yeah, dude, we're totally independent, dude. So we're making all the money."

Record Label Framework:

• Traditional labels lack mission orientation and spiritual purpose
• Major labels "fumbling" and facing systemic problems
• Independent model allows artists to "make all the money"
• Labels not serving artists' best interests or spiritual missions
• Independent success demonstrates viability of alternative systems

International Business and Cultural Perspectives

Saudi Arabia Business Success:

"I mean, look at, look at, look at a nation like Saudi Arabia, right? Which I've been doing business with like over there, everything is so great because it's connected, right? They mastered it, you know, like their life is, like their whole system is set, the government, religion and everything's online and business."

Unified System Benefits:

"They did pretty well, right? So it makes sense, you know?"

Travel and Global Perspective:

"I'm rolling around a bit. I'm in New York here for my sister's baby. And then when I go to Saudi Arabia for a week, I think I'm back to New York for a birthday. And then I'm gonna go back to Saudi Arabia."

International Framework:

• Saudi Arabia as example of unified religious-governmental-business system
• Recognition of benefits when all societal systems align under common values
• International business experience providing comparative perspective
• Understanding of how unified moral frameworks enable societal success

Future Collaboration and Vision

Gary's Media Machine Recognition:

"I think honestly, like after you printed a media machine, you've printed both the media machines, like you should just be the media machine, dude. Like you should be the face of this thing."

Talent Agency Plus Personal Brand:

"I think it does look something kind of like a talent agency plus me being one of the talents, but also just like highly curating who gets elevated because I keep, because people trust me in these spiritual circles."

Nicholas's Faith in Gary's Potential:

"Part of me thinks one day you'll call me and be like, yo, I'm building the next Palantir. You want to join? You know, like, who knows? You know, you might save the world one day, Gary."

Travel Plans:

"You know, let's plan to travel together in this in this coming year, man. Let's do it."

Collaboration Framework:

• Recognition of Gary's media-building capabilities and need for personal platform
• Vision for spiritual talent agency with Gary as both curator and talent
• Nicholas's continued belief in Gary's world-changing potential
• Mutual interest in future travel and collaboration opportunities
• Timing alignment for Christian music industry collaboration

Strategic Outcomes and Implications

Immediate Collaboration Opportunities

Christian Music Development:

• Gary has gospel artists needing independent development
• Nicholas has proven system for independent artist success
• Both understand record label system limitations
• Shared vision for mission-oriented music business

Independent Artist Management:

• Nicholas's Thin Ice Entertainment model as template
• Gary's spiritual artists needing professional management
• Combined approach: spiritual mission + business excellence
• Bypass traditional label system entirely

Faith-Based Business Network:

• Both participants prioritize spiritual alignment in business
• Nicholas's international experience + Gary's domestic ministry vision
• Potential for creating alternative business ecosystem for Christians

Long-term Strategic Vision

Christian Music Industry Revolution:

• Independent model proving financially superior to label system
• Gospel/praise music having major cultural impact potential
• Both participants positioned to influence next generation through music
• Alternative to both secular and superficial Christian music industries

Spiritual Business Movement:

• Creating business models that prioritize God's will over profit maximization
• Demonstrating success possible outside traditional secular systems
• Building network of spiritually-aligned entrepreneurs and artists
• International perspective (Saudi Arabia) informing domestic Christian business

Cultural Transformation Through Music:

• Music as primary vehicle for discipleship and cultural change
• Independent artists having greater freedom for spiritual message
• Bypassing institutional gatekeepers in both music and ministry
• Creating sustainable financial model for Christian artists

Personal Development Trajectories

Nicholas's Continued Evolution:

• From tech entrepreneur to music industry success to faith-based business
• Sobriety and faith providing foundation for sustainable success
• International business experience expanding worldview
• Relationship stability supporting professional focus

Gary's Ministry Integration:

• From political activism to spiritual warfare to practical ministry
• Recognition of music's critical role in cultural transformation
• Building systematic approach to spiritual artist development
• Positioning for major cultural influence through spiritual authority

Key Quotes and Memorable Insights

On Independent Success:

"We beat all the systems, dude. Beat all the odds, man. Ten years later, dude."

On Faith Evolution:

"Now, now it's like the main thing, as it honestly should be. It's become much less metaphysical."

On Relationship Standards:

"You're not going to dig a girl that isn't of faith, right? Like that's why all these girls are like fucked."

On Business and Faith:

"Almost any time you try to advance an earthly mission that's secular, like you're just going to like end up with a bunch of bullshit of like egos and, and really like, I think you just got to give it up all to God."

On Music Ministry:

"When I think about what started my faith journey was Sunday service and Jesus. And so if I were to think about like the making disciples of nations mission overall, like music is absolutely critical to that."

On Record Labels:

"These are just not interested in really, they're not mission oriented organizations. Let's be real."

On Saudi Arabia System:

"Everything is so great because it's connected, right? They mastered it, you know, like their life is, like their whole system is set, the government, religion and everything's online and business."

On Gary's Potential:

"Part of me thinks one day you'll call me and be like, yo, I'm building the next Palantir. You want to join? You know, like, who knows? You know, you might save the world one day, Gary."

On Cultural Problems:

"By the time you get married to your chick, dude, your chick's been ran through over a hundred times, dude."

On Independent Music Success:

"Yeah, dude, we're totally independent, dude. So we're making all the money."

Conclusion

This reunion conversation demonstrates remarkable parallel evolution in both participants toward faith-based living and business success outside traditional systems. Nicholas's transformation from young tech entrepreneur to sober, faith-oriented music industry executive with massive commercial success (billion streams, $2 million annually) provides a proven model for independent artist development that Gary needs for his gospel artists.

The timing appears providential: Gary has evolved from political activism to spiritual ministry with specific focus on music's role in discipleship, while Nicholas has achieved exactly the independent music industry success that could serve Gary's mission. Both participants have moved away from secular business models toward faith-based approaches that prioritize spiritual alignment over pure profit maximization.

Their shared critique of traditional systems - Gary's experience with the soulless billionaire, Nicholas's success bypassing record labels - demonstrates understanding that sustainable success requires spiritual foundation. Nicholas's international business experience (Saudi Arabia) provides perspective on how unified moral frameworks enable societal success, while Gary's domestic ministry vision offers application for Christian cultural transformation.

The conversation reveals both participants' commitment to faith-based relationships and biblical household structure, indicating shared values that could support long-term collaboration. Nicholas's continued belief in Gary's world-changing potential, combined with Gary's recognition of music's critical role in his discipleship mission, creates strong foundation for future partnership.

Most significantly, both participants have achieved success by "beating the systems" rather than working within them - Nicholas in music industry, Gary in various entrepreneurial ventures - positioning them to create alternative Christian business ecosystem that demonstrates faith-based approaches can be both spiritually authentic and financially successful.

Their planned travel together and obvious mutual respect after 2+ year gap indicates relationship strength that could support major collaborative projects in Christian music industry, potentially revolutionizing how gospel artists develop careers outside traditional label system while maintaining spiritual integrity and mission focus.