In the beginning it was just a matter of proving to everyone who ever doubted me that they were wrong. However my mind is constantly over flowing with ideas to the point where if I don’t release that creative energy, I’ll basically go insane. So it’s more of a form of therapy.

2.) If you could compare yourself to someone who is already established in your line of work, who would that be and why? If you don’t like to compare yourself, then what separates you from other everyone else who does what you do?

There are tons of great creatives going the independent route when it comes to the music business. I think I have a mindset similar to Russ, but my energy and style is more similar to the Flatbush Zombies.

3.) Everyone in life goes through adversity of some sort. Is there anything in your life that has any influence on the work that you do? What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure on your path to becoming an entrepreneur?

Just observing life and death throughout my life. The beauty and horrors that come from both. The biggest challenge I’ve faced was probably when the closest people in my life said I was crazy and seeing them not believe me. However I learned they couldn’t see all the ideas and madness inside of my head. So when I started bringing my vision to life, they started backing me up. (It’s all love now!)

4.) How do you prepare yourself to create? What is your process?

The very first thing is stripping away my ego and accepting valid criticism. Second would be coming up with two messages, one that’s fairly obvious and then another that is a more subtle one that forces people to do a double take. The final step would be planning and marketing all of the visual and promotional aspects for that single or project.

5.) Unfortunately many industries are full of talented individuals who more or less become the “starving artist” and don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or hard work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?

Building an intricate and vast network of fellow like-minded creatives. We’re all walking businesses and platforms, so we can all aid each other in achieving our goals.

6.) Would you rather work for a big corporation or would you rather stay independent? Why or why not? What makes one better than the other? Are you able to make a living with your art? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your business? What advice would give to someone who’s interested in pursuing a career in the creative industry?

I think in today’s day and age, record labels aren’t necessary. Obviously it will be difficult without the tools they possess, but no one ever said this industry was easy to maneuver. I don’t make that much off my art (yet). However, again if you’re aiming to join in the music business, you have to be willing to die playing the long game. My advice would be to discover your identity with your art and to never put yourself in a box. Versatility means you can do almost anything, and that makes you far more ahead of the curb compared to most people who get complacent.

7.) How do you think the internet and social media affected the creative industry and how artists are able to market themselves? Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s economy if they’re not social media savvy?

Not in the slightest chance. If you’re not using social media or putting your work online, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Plain and simple.

8.) Typically, entrepreneurs who try to create products and/or services for mass consumption for the general public and make more money are seen as “sell-outs.” Do you see it that way and if so, what do you plan to do to make sure that what you offer stays true to your brand and make a good living at the same time without having to “sell out”?

First off we as mammals are always and should always be evolving. I think people get so attached to what they find attractive or appealing in art, people, products, or brands that they lose their minds at the slightest change. That’s why my debut album is going have these different sounds and genres. My thought process was how can someone get mad at me for doing something different if I do it all. So just go where your heart is leading you.

9.) What are the positives and negatives of the music industry? What is it about the music industry that makes some artists push forward? What do you think makes some artists quit?

The biggest con of the music industry is realizing it’s all a numbers game. But a pro is that it does connect you with people you probably wouldn’t have been able to contact. If an artist knows this is their destiny, nothing will make them quit. I think they only quit once they buy into the numbers game and lose themselves in building their image.

10.) What trends do you see staying or going?

The biggest trend I see right now is people getting into different genres and actually trying to get experimental. I think the trend of keeping the same sound your entire musical career is slowly dying off.

11.) With so many people online who are expressing their opinions on any and everything under the sun, how do you know when to take something as constructive criticism or when to see it as trolling?

I’ll say the purest and most authentic constructive criticism comes from people who have never heard your music and have no prior knowledge of you. Most of the time it’s people who have been following you for a while and watching all of your moves, that try trolling you.

12.) If you were to advise an up and coming musician on how to get more fans, what advice would you give them?

Take every opportunity possible to show your face. People like an artist from what they hear. But they fall in love with an artist when they can see them and feel the energy translating through their visuals.

13.) There are multiple ways of attaining fans and building up your fan base, so what are some ways you acquire fans?

Word-of-mouth has never gone out of fashion and almost 99% of the time when you tell someone you put out something artistically, it spikes their curiosity. The other big thing is trying to sprinkle something in your art that everyone can appreciate. That means you trying something new, having different subject matters, or even collaborating with different and fellow creative minds.

14.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

I see myself owning a huge fashion brand, writing, directing and acting in visual forms of entertainment. Hopefully I find my twin flame so I can stop feeling like a hypocrite writing all of these love songs while I’m single. In all honesty though, I want make myself and the people who truly matter to me proud.