We recently connected with The Walking Flame and have shared our conversation below.

The, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had started sooner?

I wish I would have started my career sooner! I started rapping music back in high school and even in college. I remember I was on a YouTube video back in college and it was a video of me rapping during a party, But I played college basketball, so I never took it serious.

But back then we had college talent shows, and performances, I could have been on stage in front of my classmates at that time; and I didn’t.

So now being older I kind of have to work to get into larger audiences a little more; but it’s part of the process. Always meeting new fans, interacting with new artists, venues, and getting onto that stage.

But that’s probably the biggest reason I wish I started earlier; I think I would have grown a fan base much faster.

The, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

What’s going on everybody; it’s The Walking Flame ! I am a professional music recording artist living near Annapolis, MD.

I am entering my 5th year as a music recording artist; and currently, working on a major project titled “Nobody Knows”.

My music specializes in the combination of rap, rnb, and hip hop. More specifically, I would classify my genre as “melodic rap”.

I began my music journey in Pittsburgh, PA; after I first visited the well-known ID Labs; and worked with prodbykali.

When I first got started, I had no idea what I was doing; and I always had loved rap music growing up; but never knew about the science of it.

I would just tell Kali, turn on a beat, and just try to be the next “Eminem” — why not right?

But I soon realized, my rap and hip hop music lacked substance. It wasn’t story-telling, it wasn’t about my journey, it was just about me rapping lines, Hard, aggressive, witty, punchlines — that were catchy; but were not really songs.

I knew in order to really become an artist, I had to learn the fundamentals. So I dove right in, I studied new artists, new trends, new cadences, I wanted to find where my story, journey, and artistic delivery could be applied into my own unique style,

So I started experimenting with new styles, trying to find my own “wave”. And then, I went on a major social media blog called saycheesetv; and I got reached out too by individuals who wanted to help.

Changed my life; I began hanging around major artists of who I won’t name; we started having conversations about how music works, the history of music, how to be successful in music, and how to make music relatable to an audience.

And it worked.

The best advice I was ever given: JUST BE YOU!

Nowadays, it seems like everybody wants to be “the next” or copy off their favorite artist and never really accept who they are themselves, it’s a copy cat world now more than ever.

So for me, I focus on just being me; good and the bad. I tell my story, my journey, my life, my passion through music. And I wake up everyday motivated and continue to embrace that.

Moreover, as an older artist, now approaching 33, I am trying to show artists my age, and even the younger fan base that it’s cool to chase your dreams, and take risks. Be comfortable with your age, your talents, and just go for it.

My proudest moment occurs everytime I put a new song out to the public, I’m just an artist; I hear a beat, buy the beat, take the vocals, mix and master my own music (sometimes) and then put it out to the world.

It’s fun, I’m ready to do it right after this interview !

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

My most rewarding aspect of being an artist is hearing people tell me their reactions to the lyrics. Like “that song I can feel” — those lyrics “are real” — “keep being you” … things like that.

Because I know that my music has touched that fan.

Also, it’s rewarding when people tell me that my music relates to them; or inspires them; because ultimately, that’s my whole purpose behind music is to motivate others..

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I could tell a bunch of stories. I suffer with Pure-O OCD; so most of the time I am trying to concentrate or writing music it is hard. I get stuck in my own head, and cannot escape.

There’s days when I’m off work and I have all the free time in the world to do music, or workout, or do whatever; but sometimes during those days I won’t be able to get out of my own head; and fail to do any of those things.

It’s very frustrating; and when I feel like I need to not go to the studio, or not shoot a music video, is when I have the most energy and enthusiasm to do it.

So it’s just like a constant battle of trying to find that balance of when to invest in music, timing, and when I’ll be in the right state of mind.

But I keep going; because everyday I don’t chase my dream; is another day I’ve let past by, and I’m only getting older; the time is now!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewalkingflame/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thewalkingflame?si=TAtgAOQ_SstofWq4
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-walking-flame/1607625216 https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fEG28uvnb6sMM1CcFb4UD

Image Credits
Not Applicable