Rocktails Brands: An Amped Up Spin on Mixology was founded by mixologist entrepreneurs Maya Banatwala and Kristen Kreft who shared a dream of blending their creative talents, music expertise, and cocktail mastery. They first conceived the idea while working together behind the bar at fast paced Cincinnati Mixology Speakeasy in 2012. Over five years, they developed their concept into a unique cocktail coffee-table book series inspired by musicians, bands, and song lyrics. In 2018, Banatwala and Kreft launched their Rocktails book series, introducing their imaginative concoctions to the world with a celebratory Bourbon toast.

Kristen Kreft A Music Theater Graduate of Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts and The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, Kristen has grown up on the stage and in the recording studio, recording her first single album called “Head Over Heels” on the Fraternity Label. After several Off-Broadway productions, National Theater Tours and Regional Theater productions, her path led her back home to her Cincinnati roots. While back home, Kristen won the 2010 Cincinnati Entertainment Award for Best Blues Band as a lead vocalist, song writer all the while holding down the keys and organ. She toured and sang soul backing vocals for regional recording artists, and finally fronting her own band The Perfect Children. She and Maya met while working side by side as Mixologists and fell in love with the idea of combining their love of music and Mixology, and together founded Rocktails: An Amped Up Spin on Mixology in 2017.

Maya Banatwala As a second-generation daughter of an immigrant native to India, hard work and entrepreneurship have always coursed through Maya’s veins. A University of Cincinnati Graduate of English Literature and Spanish explains her love for the arts. After graduation, she co-owned a vintage boutique, Chicken Lays an Egg where she organized and curated countless fashion shows, pop-ups, and artistic demonstrations for those several years. She is a passionate performer and fronts her bands, Heavy Hinges (est.2012) and Mynah Tones (est. 2018) as lead singer, ukuleleist, and co-songwriter. In 2012, Maya and Kristen became besties working together as dedicated Mixologists.. In no time, their collective dream of honoring music history and mixology became realized as they co-authored two books (2018 and 2019) and began their businesses, Rocktails: An Amped Up Spin on Mixology (est. 2017) and Bars on Wheels (purchased 2023, est 1989.) In 2022, Maya was invited to be a featured NPR’s Moth Storyteller in Chicago, so she is very excited to once again take to the stage equipped with another story that begs to be told.

Matthew Umphreys

Matthew Umphreys is a Cincinnati-based musician who loves working with great singers, regardless of genre. He has worked around the country as a pianist, coach, arranger and music director with organizations such as a Cincinnati Opera, Playhouse in the Park, The Carnegie, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Song Initiative, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, the American Traditions Competition, the Skivvies, and Celtic Woman. Matthew is a Founding Artistic Director and Principal Artist of Queen City Cabaret, which released their debut album Count Your Blessings: A Tribute to Rosemary Clooney in December 2021.

Matthew currently serves as Director of Music at Columbia Baptist and Linwood Baptist churches in Cincinnati and he is a sought-after collaborator for recordings and recitals.  He holds degrees from Luther College and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. In his free time (lol), Matthew enjoys practicing yoga, riding roller coasters and baking muffins.

Jordyn Jones (They/She) is a sophomore musical theatre major at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. They are a multi-faceted artist. Trained in multiple styles of singing (opera/classical, pop, jazz, rock and musical theatre) and they are a multi-instrumentalist. Also producing, writing and touring with their own solo music. Credits include: Jutta in In The Green (CCM), Ensemble/us Mama Euralie in Once on This Island (CCM), Ensemble in Hair (CCM), Ensemble in 50 Years of Flaherty (Carnegie Hall) . Upcoming: Celie in The Color Purple (The Carnegie)

Instagram: @jordynamanijones

Carter Minor is a rising junior at the University of Cincinnati (CCM), where he majors in Musical Theatre! His recent credits include Ensemble/Claude Understudy in HAIR (CCM), Jojo in Seussical (The Carnegie), Ensemble/ George Understudy (Shenandoah Summer Music Theater), Ensemble in Once on this Island (CCM), Ensemble in 30 Years of Stephen Flaherty at Carnegie Hall (CCM), Jack in Into The Woods (Short North Stage), and TJ in Sister Act (Short North Stage).

Erin Morton is a junior at the University of Cincinnati (CCM), Where she majors in Musical Theatre! Her recent credits include Ensemble/Dionne Understudy in HAIR, Constance in Ride The Cyclone, Caterpillar/Butterfly in Alice In Wonderland (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati), Shadow in In The Green (CCM), Norma in Hands On A Hard Body (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati),  Ti Moune in Once On This Island (CCM), and Ensemble in 30 Years of Stephen Flaherty at Carnegie Hall (CCM)

You may also recognize Erin from her recent viral video performing “Creep” at CCM MT’s Jam Band show 

Bex Odorisio is an actor and multi-genre vocalist based in Brooklyn, NY, with a passion for developing and performing in new works of musical theater. Her theatrical credits include the First National Tour of HADESTOWN and the inaugural Shanghai production of NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812. She is a silver medalist and a recurring host of the American Traditions Competition, an annual vocal competition celebrating American music in Savannah, GA. Bex trained at the multi-disciplinary Playwrights Horizons Theater School within NYU Tisch and holds a Shakespeare in Performance certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. More of her work can be found at www.bexodorisio.com or on social media as @benditlikebexy.

Niko Kordalis, Guitar

Niko Kordalis is a Cincinnati based musician and works as a guitarist and instructor locally. He loves playing music of all styles and began his musical journey with an interest in Blues, Rock, Funk, and with a growing love for Jazz he pursued a degree in Jazz Studies and holds a BFA from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. 

Niko currently teaches private guitar lessons at the Cincinnati Music Academy and has for the past nine years as a part of the wonderful faculty there. 

Outside of music Niko enjoys hiking, learning new things, playing games with friends, and traveling to experience nature and different cultures.

Brian Malone, Drums

Brian is a freelance percussionist and has performed from Carnegie Hall to the Kennedy Center to South America, Europe, and Japan and with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Don Rickles, The Beach Boys, Joe Piscopo, The Skivvies, Bootsy Collins, xylophone virtuoso Ian Finkel, and the rock groups Over the Rhine and Blessid Union of Souls. He can be found in the pit at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and at regional theaters and in tours around the country. Brian has performed with the Kentucky Symphony,

Sophia Troyer, Bass

Sophia Troyer graduated from the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is currently studying at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM) in their jazz studies program with a focus on upright bass. Sophia recently won first prize in the Vocal Division of the 2023 Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards at the Aronoff Center.