Welcome to NS Radio Episode 006, where we feature artists curating a playlist of songs that have inspired them and their music. In this episode, we have the pleasure of introducing the talented rising artist, Dmndstr., who hails from Nashville, Tennessee. Dmndstr's unique sound and style have made waves in the music industry, and in this episode, he shares some insights on his journey as an artist, his creative process, and the challenges he has faced throughout his career.
Dmndstr's journey as an artist began in elementary school, where he sang in his church choir and dreamed of becoming a successful DJ. His passion for music led him to start writing seriously in middle school, replicating songs from artists such as Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. Dmndstr's parents' love for Gospel, Jazz, Neo-Soul, Reggaeton, RnB, and Bollywood music, as well as his brother's influence towards electronic music, further expanded his musical influences. He ventured out and tried to blend musical styles he was familiar with, which led him to find sounds he could call his own and still influences his production today.
When it comes to his creative process, Dmndstr's approach to producing a beat or creating a song can fluctuate a great deal. Although he tends to start with his drums to get an idea of the groove, he believes that either one is a right answer. He creates whenever inspiration hits and has the ability to make music with his phone and laptop, which allows him to create anytime he wants. One of the biggest challenges Dmndstr has faced throughout his career has been balancing being his own person while understanding that the industry is people-based. He overcame these challenges with a lot of therapy and learned how to show up for people while also knowing when to show up for himself.
Dmndstr has worked with many artists and producers in the Nashville area, and collaborating with them has influenced him to step outside his comfort zone while still being able to trust his own tastes. He also learned to trust that initial idea he hears in his head and either gets help to expand on it or trusts when it's time to move on. Dmndstr's musical influences include artists he grew up listening to, such as Smino, and people from certain collectives/labels such as Monte Booker, J.Robb, and the whole Soulection wave.
In the next five years, Dmndstr sees himself pushing 30, having dropped a couple of his own albums, putting a few plays in motion for the long run, and establishing himself even more. He aims to make music that is meaningful and true to his artistic vision while still being accessible to his audience. Overall, Dmndstr's unique sound and style, combined with his experiences and influences, have made him a rising artist to watch out for in the music industry. We are excited to see what the future holds for this talented artist, and we look forward to hearing more from him in the years to come.
Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and how you got to where you are today? What inspired you to pursue music as a career, and how did you develop your unique sound and style over time?
My journey as an artist started when I was in elementary school. I was always interested in music: had sang in my church’s choir as a kid, was determined to be a successful DJ, and I felt like I could be the best rapper in the world. I started seriously writing in middle school. Some of my first songs were me replicating Drake and Nicki Minaj songs as I would listen to them frequently. Lil Wayne was my favorite rapper growing up, but seeing Drake blend rapping and singing and it pushing his rise to stardom made me look at his style of songwriting more. My parents listened to a lot of Gospel, Jazz, Neo-Soul, Reggaeton, RnB, and Bollywood music when I was growing up.
My brother turned me towards electronic music around 2009 with DeadMau5, and I started to venture out towards more instrumental music/beats from then. I really thank my brother for his influence on me musically, as he was the catalyst to me finding SoundCloud which led me to finding labels like Soulection. Once 2014 came around, I started really pushing my parents to support my passion and they ended up gifting me a Maschine that I started off with. I would watch YouTube videos and make beats over Oovoo with my best friend after school, and we would just make beats for days on end. As I started getting better, I had wanted to find ways to improve. With this drive, I started going to the downtown Nashville Public Library which housed StudioNPL. They had studios for teens to come in, produce, record, and learn how to manage a studio space. While I was there, I was fortunate enough to run into some amazing mentors that worked with SouthernWord, a non-profit organization based in Tennessee that teaches literacy with writing, poetry, and would host workshops.
StudioNPL and SouthernWord shaped me into the artist I am today. Shoutout S-Wrap, Rashad Tha Poet, The BlackSon, and so many others who were helping me from day one. So many of the characteristics that I value about myself were developed from the work I done as a mentee underneath them, and as a mentor that worked alongside them either with the workshops or running the studios for other teens. Having all these experiences, influences and skills since a kid allowed me to venture out and not be afraid to do a lot of things. Just trying to make stuff I liked, or trying to blend musical styles I was familiar with would lead me to finding sounds I could call mine, and that still influence my production to this day.
When it comes to the creative process, how do you approach producing a beat or creating a song? Do you have any specific techniques or rituals that help you get into the right mindset for creating music?
My approach to producing a beat or creating a song can fluctuate a great deal. There’s the usual drums vs. melodies debate that producers have, which is basically which one you should start with first, and I do tend to start with my drums now to get an idea of the groove. Either or for starting off is a right answer though. I don’t think I have any rituals that get me in that mindset, I tend to create whenever I feel. Having the ability to make music with my phone and my laptop allows me to create whenever inspiration hits, while also being so easy for me to just create anytime in general. Having no rush or expected outcome to creating a beat or song is definitely a cheat-code, and pairing that with the tools I’m privileged to have keep me creative. Pro-tip for creative blocks: do whatever has helped you before when you needed to work through a block. Whether it be taking hiatuses to come back with a better sense of direction, or working through your blocks, anything that helps you should be what you look towards. Being honest about when you should create and when you should rest is my number one thing.
As an artist, what are some of the biggest challenges you've faced throughout your career, and how have you been able to overcome them? Have there been any particular moments or experiences that have helped shape your perspective on the industry and the creative process?
Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced throughout my career has been balancing being my own person while understanding this industry is people-based. Like many other creatives, I tend to get wrapped up in other people and other perceptions. While it’s definitely a blast to have a lot of friends who happen to also do music, I’ve learnt the hard way two important lessons: first, before you go to make a lot of friends in this industry, truly make sure you align with what they got going on and that you can give yourself 100% to their lives as you would want them to give to your own life; and second, not everybody deserves you as a friend.
You really have to be able to show up for people for more than just what you do with/for them, but you also have to be able to know when to show up for yourself, and I struggled with that a lot. I overcame these challenges with a LOT of therapy. LMFAAAAOOO no but honestly, that kind of stuff will change your whole perspective of the industry and what you’re doing; it made me not want to create and be around people anymore, but that’s not what this industry is based on. You HAVE to be social in the music industry, or you will suffer in silence. Without getting into too much detail, bouncing back from experiences like that made me take that time to myself, which in turn made me focus on making myself better in all areas of my life. I feel like my approach to this question is a bit deeper than intended, but hopefully somebody can take something from this!
Having worked with a number of artists out of Nashville, can you talk about your experience collaborating with other musicians and producers in the area? How has working with other artists influenced your own music, and what have you learned from those experiences?
Nashville has some of the most talented people, and I’ve been blessed to work with as many artists and producers as I have over the course of my career. Collaborating with artists I work super closely with, and even just some one off sessions I’ve had, influences me to step outside my comfort zone while still being able to trust my own tastes. That’s the biggest part of making music: being true to yourself while working with others. I’ve also learned over the course of time to trust that initial idea you hear in your head and then either get help to expand on it, or trust when it’s time to move on. These are two valuable lessons I’ve learned. Also wanted to give love to my homies Dimestate Don, Yours Truly Jai, MaloneThaRealest, Ryanne, WowJus7in, ChuckTheSpittah, and so many others who have been pivotal in my artistry. Thank you!
What are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they impacted your sound and style as an artist? Are there any particular artists or genres that have inspired you throughout your career?
Other than my friends, definitely artists I’ve grown up listening to and people from certain collectives/labels. Heavy influences production wise are Monte Booker, J.Robb, the whole Soulection wave honestly. Artistry wise, Smino has been the biggest influence on me ever since high school so definitely have to shout him out.
Can you walk us through the process of creating one of your hit songs, such as "Dontakemeserious" or "Allduetogod"? How did these songs come to be, and what was your creative process like when working on them?
So funny enough, I made the beats for both those songs for other artists and had been sitting on them. My creative process is generally going off of melodies or concepts in my head. With DTMS, I wanted to make an ignorant ass song. I think I had started taking myself too seriously and missed making shit to listen to for myself. With ADTG, it was way more concept based of me wanting to make something to keep my head up to.
Staying motivated and inspired can be a challenge for any artist. How do you keep yourself motivated to keep creating new music, and where do you draw inspiration from when you're feeling stuck or uninspired?
Motivation and inspiration are both things you can either wait for or take initiative on, but it’s all on whether or not you’re in the right space to take those approaches. Some days I need to just relax and listen to other people’s music, older stuff I’ve made, or nothing at all. Other days, I just try to write what I’m feeling or take the time I’m not thinking about music to get back to my creative roots in other things I’m passionate about. I think in any situation though, allow yourself to feel that stagnancy and let it drive you to make new things and choices.
The music industry is constantly evolving, with new trends and technologies shaping the way artists create and share their work. What is your opinion on the current state of the music industry, and where do you see it heading in the future?
Other than the constant AI fears, I’m totally in love with where music is at. I’m not the happiest with how people are treating each other, or the way people are struggling to make a living with what they love, but the access we all have to create and explore our own musicality is something I’ve wanted forever. Some people say it’s overly saturated, which I can agree on slightly. However, the alternative of the past where only CERTAIN people could get the resources needed to create, is far worse in my opinion than everybody getting a shot. Music should not be about gatekeeping, and I only see it becoming easier for creatives.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or collaborations that you have in the works? What are you most excited about when it comes to your future work as an artist?
I got a lot of stuff planned with Dimestate Don and ChuckTheSpittah that I’m excited for. Definitely have some ideas for music videos for my own released work, and other music I’m working on dropping, but right now my focus is definitely my production work. I think I’m most excited to keep taking the leaps for myself when I’m not working on other music, but I’m just ready for more of the music to drop!
Over time, how has your approach to music production and songwriting evolved? What have you learned about yourself as an artist, and how have those lessons impacted your music?
The evolution in my production and songwriting has been in the framing of making things easier for others to work with. Whether that be taking cues from Earl Sweatshirt (had to work in how much he inspired me) with simplifying how many words I need to get my message across, or making my beats simpler for artists to build on. I learned how much I want to make it easier to communicate who I am with my music, but also make it easier for others to communicate themselves with my music as well.
For up-and-coming artists who are just starting out in the industry, what advice would you give them? What are some of the most important lessons you've learned throughout your career that you think would be valuable for others to know?
Learn everything you can, but practice everything that is meaningful to you. If it don’t apply, let it fly. You do not need to be a damn mogul to be successful. You do not need all the equipment to make amazing music. You do not need every placement to be a great producer. The moment you feel like you have to do something a specific way, or you put limits on yourself disguised as “the right/only way” to your achievements, you are just making it harder for yourself.
Social media and online platforms have played a significant role in shaping the music industry in recent years. Can you discuss the role that these platforms have played in your career as an artist, and how you use them to connect with your audience and promote your work?
Social media has been the way I have connected with everybody I’ve worked with this last half decade. I don’t do a lot of self-promotion in the form of content and ads, but having my own story posts or ways to share with people things/other artists that are inspiring me at that moment has made it easier to connect with the people who enjoy what I do. It’s the easiest way to share your interests and have others find things about you and your art to connect to.
Balancing artistic vision with commercial success can be a challenge for many artists. How do you approach that balance, and what do you think is the key to creating work that is both true to your artistic vision and commercially successful?
I don’t think I approach that balance. With so much music coming out now, you don’t really need to be so commercially conveyed. If anything, people see through that shit so fast. You also don’t want to scare away listeners with stuff from the deepest depths of your mind, so you still have to be intentional with what you’re trying to make, but if the intentions is solely to get a bag off music, don’t make music. I’m just kidding, do whatever you like. But seriously, making music just to make money is such a waste unless you’re making enough to support yourself already. You’re either gonna copy and paste yourself and get burnt out, or you on a crazy mixtape run like back in the days. I would rather make music over my lifetime that I truly want to make, and majority of those songs won’t be made with money in mind. The key is just making what you truly like and want to, and don’t overthink that shit. Shouts to Kenny!
What do you hope listeners take away from your music? What message or feeling do you want to convey to your audience through your work?
I’m not gonna be pretentious and say all my songs have deep meaning to them, but I would want the listener to take away that my music is my music. Not every song will resonate right now because that’s not really my focus in my songwriting, but you might hear a beat you like, or hear a funny line I said, and just go “Man this dmndstr. dude is their own person.” I want people to listen to the song for what it is, and if they choose to add their own experience of life to their listening experience, that’s just a plus! I’ve made some songs that deal with my own life, but I also just like to make rhymes sometimes (see?).
Looking ahead to the next five years, where do you see yourself and your music career? What are your goals and aspirations for the future, and how do you hope to continue growing and evolving as an artist?
In the next half of a decade, I’ll be pushing 30, and have hopefully dropped a couple albums of my own, put a few plays in motion for the long run, and have established myself even more. All I’m holding myself to specifically is the albums. At least some mixtapes or something! But honestly, I truly just love to make music and work with people. If it’s not my own music, producing for other people is what I do. If not producing for other people, I just started getting into working festivals and have been stage hands at concerts for awhile now. If not live music, I’ll find work doing something with the music skills I’ll have developed over those 5 years. My goal isn’t really one thing I’m trying to accomplish, but I guess just getting to live a lifestyle I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.