SONDRIA: When it comes to a medium or form of entertainment—be it music, film, or whatever—most people don’t experience it until it becomes a finished product. Thus, you get a lot of people getting into the music game that are interested in the glory but not the grind. The reason I wanted to speak to you in particular is that you seem to have as much respect for the journey as you do for the consequences of that journey. I think this is a very important quality, especially for the independent artist who may never receive the praise they’re due. And that’s regardless of the level of talent. What can you tell me about importance of diligence for the independent artist?
CURTISSKING: In my opinion diligence is an independent artist’s bread and butter. An independent artist’s success is determined solely by his/her persistence, dedication, and organization of his/her work. Even more so for us indie artists due to the fact that the majority of us find ourselves wearing numerous hats of creativity aside from our music. We are the individuals that have to wake up to promote, get our voices heard, and express ourselves. Nowadays we are the ones that maintain and edit our personal blogs, music videos, twitter pages, webisodes, etc, and all of those require an extreme level of diligence to complete them effectively.
SONDRIA: Have you always wanted to separate yourself from the mainstream/corporate side of hip hop or was there a time when you wanted to be the next big name in popular music?
CURTISSKING: In the beginning I didn’t specifically have an elaborate plan of separation. My initial goal was to just make songs like Andre 3000 and work hard as 2pac and somehow be so eclectic that labels would take notice and…BOOM…I make it. But of course as time went by and the music that I made became more therapeutic, the desire to make music that the mainstream would accept slowly faded.
SONDRIA: If there was a turning point, what made you change your mind about mainstream.
CURTISSKING: The turning point for me was when I went back to school and got my marketing certificate. Something about the knowledge that I got about consumer behaviors, catering to a specific demographic, guerilla marketing, and the requirements of establishing a legitimate small business led me to an undeniable belief that I could live off of my craft…with or without the help of mainstream exposure.
SONDRIA: What’s the professional difference between an independent and a signed artist?
CURTISSKING: The professional difference between an independent and a signed artist is based upon who that artist has to answer to. A signed artist serves as a smaller entity that usually has to answer to multiple branches of a major label (A&Rs, Label Reps, CEOs). An independent artist usually answers to the sole proprietor or owner of the independent label they create music under.
SONDRIA: Are you a one man show, acting as manager, publisher, PR, assistant, etc.?
CURTISSKING: For the majority of my career I have been a one man show. At one point and time I was emcee, producer, engineer, video director, promoter, PR, manager, etc…and if you don’t have the patience and proper “dilligence” you will run yourself into the ground or suck at all equally. However thank God for the team I have now. Without Noa James, Lesa J, and Jynxx, Mc Prototype, Judah 1 & Adrienne a lot of what I’m doing right now would not have been possible.
SONDRIA: Are there benefits to being an independent artist that you wouldn’t trade to go pop?
CURTISSKING: Honestly I would have to say my accessibility to those that love and dislike my music. As an independent artist I have learned the importance of treating people as human beings and not numbers and I think that its created a unique relationship with me and my supporters. I enjoy hearing directly from a supporter’s mouth what specifically they like about my music. Also I don’t like the term fan, its rather impersonal. Instead I address any and everyone who says something positive about my music with the same respect and thankfulness as I have for my long time supporters. I honestly get a kick out of having the ability to reach out to even negative people who let their insecurities or deepest darkest opinions of me and my music be known. I swear to you I meet some of the most interesting characters on Earth and I wouldn’t trade that for a thing.
SONDRIA: You’ve said: “Everything & Everyone doesn’t deserve the same focus as my music”. Is that a stance that an artist—independent or otherwise—must take to become a master at their craft? Does this necessary alienation every make you resent your music?
CURTISSKING: When I made that statement it was a crazy time period in my life. One thing you’ll learn about me is that I have a nasty habit of putting “Dwan’s” heart on my sleeve. Curtiss King is an extension of who I am and not quite the epitome of everything that represents Dwan. During that time period I found myself constantly defending my music and my communication likes and dislikes with fellow artists, who I felt were testing me. All the while I saw that it wasn’t bringing me any closer to improving my craft or advancing my career. Luckily I took notice and made that declaration. Music is literally my therapy and if alienation is a requirement so that I can continue creating, then so be it. The important individuals in my life will never have to second guess it.
SONDRIA: Finally, is being a successful indie artist your ultimate goal, or are you planning to crossover?
CURTISSKING: Honestly my ultimate goal is to make a more than decent living with my craft with or without crossover success. Others might tell you that I’m destined to have crossover success because there’s literally no genre of popular music I haven’t dabbled in with regards to my production. But all I want is for my investment of time to pay off.
SONDRIA: And what do you hope to achieve as an independent artist before you exit the music business?
CURTISSKING: Before all is said and done and I exit the music business I want to be able to say that I had a significant impact on Hip Hop. I want people to be able to look at my catalogue of music and feel shame for ever trying to put titles or boxes of sub-genres in Hip Hop music. I also want to put my mom in a mansion big as a Costco and pay for my younger sisters’ tuition. I want to leave this business knowing that all the years that I have put in weren’t in vain or a waste of my young adulthood.
Learn more about Curtiss King and Curtiss King Productions by visiting the the sites below.
Love & Water,
Sondria
This is so smart. Not smart like, "Yaye! Intelligent interview!" More like a shift in thinking which is vitally important to me! There is a distinct passion felt from Indie artists and CurtissKing's is discerned right away. It's a wonderful thing to come away from something and causes you to look inward and re-evaluate your own diligence. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great interview! Loved the insight into his views on the music scene and his plans to make waves.
ReplyDeleteShelz: I appreciate that cuzzo; I'm trying to bring out the inspiration I feel from these artists...let it kick EVERYBODY in the ass--me included.
ReplyDeleteBecks: Thanks miss; I'm waiting on your next blog...tick tock...LOL, I should talk, but shit, let's give each other a run for our money!! Love ya.