We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Safir Robinson and Michael Reaves a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Safir and Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

[Safir] This is a good question, I wish I could remember the other names we came up with. It was definitely something that was thought out for a little bit. Like a double entendre really, we were searching for that new fire music and maybe in the future we’ll be producing some…

[Mike] It was something that was really thought of for some time thinking that we needed something that was either complex and sophisticated but it really came down to the basis in which we created the brand anyway…finding new fire music and helping bring that to the forefront.

Safir and Michael, 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?

[Safir] Well I’m the Sensei, better known as Saf. I’m an audio engineer, I mix, master and record other artists and creatives. I love engineering, just the process from start to finish, then creating a product that sounds amazing! As an engineer for NFM, I help any artist looking for a cleaner sound, or maybe even a different sound that pops for them. I love helping other creatives bring their ideas to life. The services New Fire Music provides are tailor made for up and coming artists. That’s what I think I’m most proud of with NFM. One of the baselines since inception has been helping our friends and other artists find a platform and serve as a “one stop shop” for your career if you will. Instead of going to this place for cover art, and that place for promo, and etc. NFM I think really covers those bases and I’m proud of that.

[Mike] As a group we are truly about uplifting the day to day creative. It’s a huge pleasure to be able to really help and cultivate someone’s dreams and passions. There’s a beautiful thing about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Knowing that the things that you help plant into someone will go a lot further than you thought you could reach is surreal.

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NEW FIRE MUSIC is a community of artists, journalists, audio engineers, graphic designers, videographers, and other service providers that support rising talent in emerging Hip-Hop and R&B. If you’re a new artist or creator looking for support, we have blog packages, interview placements, advertising campaigns, audio mixing/mastering, and graphic design services to help you get to the next level.

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

[Mike] Easily I can say the process, even though the end result is amazing for sure. There’s so much of a gratifying meaning to being able to go through the motions of brainstorming, going to that mental space where you need to create at your highest level is beyond words at times. As a graphic/fashion designer myself you get to take so much information and details as ingredients, cook in the kitchen and whip up something special each and every time.

[Safir] I agree with Mike. I definitely think it’s the process, just the many different emotions you go through during the process. At times you might question your own sanity, but that brings out the perseverance to get the project done to your image and likeness.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

[Safir] A lesson I have learned in my field is that sometimes, make that a lot of times, less is more. Being an engineer, I may feel the need to add more to a record than what’s needed. And after ruining a few songs, in my opinion, by doing too much, I’m glad I learned that early.

[Mike] That more is always desirable, it’s a simple lesson but it’s something that holds a lot of weight with me because in life you often feel like you may not be doing “enough”. You try to do anything just to fill the void of what you’re telling yourself isn’t much so breaking out of that thinking did wonders. I approached everything with a new found level of intention and purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://newfiremusic.net/
• Instagram: newfiremusicnet
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newfiremusicnet/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe93846VmdzVmXBIYtJfc1g