I’m Ed Collins; retired Navy Chief, storyteller, and founder of Fouled Anchor Music & Fouled Anchor Photography. I’ve lived enough life to know that inspiration shows up everywhere: in a lyric, a photograph, a stage production, or even a film still waiting to be made.
After 20 years of service in the Navy, I carried forward a love of leadership, guidance, and motivation. Life has handed me its share of hard lessons, but I choose to let those struggles shape me, not define me. My anchor may have been fouled along the way, but the course I’m on is true, and it’s aimed at building something meaningful.
At my core, I’m a romantic and a believer in the power of creativity. I’m passionate about helping young artists and dreamers find their voice, their vision, and the hope they deserve. Through music, art, film, and photography, I strive to create and champion stories that matter.
My approach
“What’s it take to get your next three songs published?” I asked Ethan Willis one day on the drive back from the range. His answer: championing, course setting, and cash. I didn’t have a huge bankroll, but I had enough to set things in motion. And when it comes to championing, I can be the loudest voice in the room for any undiscovered talent with heart, faith, and undeniable gifts. Ethan had all three. So in 2022, I invested and started Fouled Anchor Music. We published See You Next Week, I Can't Call It, and Set on Summer Time by Ethan Willis.
Our second major project came with Raleigh Keegan. His double album, Appalachian High, is pure truth; an Appalachian story told in melody and lyric, hard and tender at once. It speaks of pride, struggle, and the kind of love that endures. Americana feels alive again through these songs.
By 2025, we realized publishing alone didn’t capture everything we wanted to create. So we expanded to include Fouled Anchor Photography, adding visuals to the music in the form of photography, videography, custom art, and (as a Part 107 certified pilot) drone work to tell stories across every medium.
The name carries weight. A fouled anchor represents the Sailor’s most frustrating challenge; caught, tangled, resisting the seabed. It means work ahead, hard and relentless. But once cleared, the anchor holds steady, ready to secure the ship. That’s how we see this industry: faith, sweat, and persistence against the currents until the anchor finally bites into success.
