We recently connected with Janiro Hawkins Ii and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Janiro, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

If memory serves me correctly, it was doing street promotions for a Lord Finesse show in Atlanta, GA for Groove Essentials (waddup Wayne). It wasn’t serious money but for me at the time, it was something that really motivated me, especially considering that I had not too long moved to the city from Nashville, TN. Those days of doing street promotions, helped shape me in to the individual I am today.

Janiro, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As an individual, I have always had a very generous heart and desire to help others WIN. I believe in this industry, that is very important for me as my wins are seeing others be successful. Now that we got that out the way, I am a man of many hats and various talents but my love and passion for music is evident in all. As Co-Founder of the Southern Entertainment Awards, my job is to help continue to provide a platform for growth, development and acknowledgement through peer and consumer support. To know that we have been curating this event for over two decades in itself is an accomplishment but to see how many we have impacted is a very humbling experience.

My love for film, music and classic soundtracks drove me to Music Supervision as this creates another lane for me to help artists get their music placed in to film/tv. I am most proud of the consistency and longevity in the work that I’ve done. I believe when it is all said and done, that is exactly what will be remembered of me.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In this economy and with so many advancements in technology one of the BEST things everyone can do to support artists, creatives and the overall ecosystem is to contribute. If they have music, listen (every play matters), if they have an event or new project out, a quick share, like & purchase goes a long way. Get tickets to their shows and events without seeking a discount… support because you TRULY SUPPORT! It is a lot of creatives out here pouring their everything in to their craft and all they need to keep going is YOU!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As a dj one of the most rewarding aspects is seeing people leave their cares and worries at the door when they enter the environment that I am trying to create. Its beautiful to see people exude a form of release when I’m djing, that release and escape is one of the most beautiful things to see as a creative. Its also a joy when I can introduce new music in my sets that really sparks intrigue and guests come up to ask what is the current song playing or what was the last song I just played. That really warms my heart…for me, djing is a therapeutic release for me just as much as it is for those who enjoy the music that I am playing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://southernentawards.com & https://riodejaniro.com
• Instagram: @sea_awards & @rio_de_janiro
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/SouthernEntAwards