We were lucky to catch up with Maurus Alexander-DeJournett recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maurus, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The concept for my company began before I knew it had begun, and to some, maybe from an unlikely source; Tupac Shakur. I’ve listened to 2pac, as an artist & person, since a youth. Recall at one of his performances he spoke that he’d do more shows the more the community comes together on the issues of crime. There was another event to where Tupac & DeathRow Records participated in the Brotherhood Crusade Rally to campaign against Proposition 209 in California, on August 15, 1996. At that event he spoke to the audience that each time his album went platinum the community would receive a check; he was murdered the next month, and that structure of using music sales to support the community never was revisited by an artist. The idea of using the sales from music/product to support a social issue was implanted in me since then.

Early in life, I’ve always had a obsession with music; to whereas in 8th grade I shadowed a music executive for Shadow Day & wrote down that my goal was to earn Grammys as well as have a record label. I developed my writing throughout high school, and in college. My professor, Dr. Dennis Kimbro, became another inspiration for my business today. His class, along with his book “The Wealth Choice” ignited the spark within me to have the courage to pursue the business of music & the arts. With a spark for business, I operated a recording studio, a moving/transportation company, and have brokered deals to distribute multiple brands in the Southern United States of America.

The element that glued everything together was learning about Muhammad Yunus & his work with the Grameen Bank. Yunus formally introduced me to the concept of a social business. The idea was similar to the structure of business Tupac was alluding to in the 90’s. With those three primary influences & the foundation of the mind my father and mother gave me, I created the social business Central Eastern.

Central Eastern is a worthwhile endeavor because the mission is to improve the literacy rate within under-served communities through services, music & art. The approach is to create products, content, art, music, etc., to where a percentage of all revenue is dedicated towards the goal of improving literacy; with the idea to improve literacy through multiple programs, events, and ventures.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was first introduced to the music business while attending college at Clark Atlanta University. I had begun to write music for myself & started going to the studios around the city. The primary studio where I recorded was head engineered by Adrian Dickey (now; the head of Goldie Sounds in Tallahassee) called Create Studios. Create Studios had the recording studio, the engineer, songwriters, duplication, and consulting services. Within a couple years Create Studios closed & I, myself with partners, established my own studio called POET Studios; which offered similar services. We operated POET Studios until the partners relocated.

Once I relocated to Hollywood, FL (Broward County) the studio I worked within was Trifekta Studios, which offered all services I’ve seen studios have plus more; with mastering, DJing, etc. In each place I learned a higher level of professionalism and efficiency within the music business; and throughout the time learned about the business of publishing, masters, copyrights, & royalties. Taking the initiative of learning the business behind the music, I turned it into a business/service.

As an songwriter, I offer songwriting services and have written lyrics for multiple artists. As an artist, I’ve created multiple musical projects available for purchase. As a graphic designer, I create logos for other businesses. And as an advisor, I advise/assist artists with song registration, publishing, and royalty collection. Being an advisor my goal is for artists to have full ownership of their art, know their rights, and have an understanding of the business of the music altogether.

I’m most proud of the artists who I’ve assisted, who have full complete projects we created together, that they’re proud of. The project is my main focus; I’ll pull all my resources possible to create the best project an artist can create. I’ll going to push the creativity to a higher level.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media has become a plus and minus at the same time. I’ve been noticed for my social media presence because of the range of topics my post cover. I first created a Facebook profile in 2006, when it was an infant platform, and was only for college students with a college email. My way of using the new platform was to create a group where the topics would range from all topics. Having a background in Philosophy, individuals having a variety of perspectives hasn’t ever been an issue for me, so my post are accepting of most all people. And expressing my true thoughts towards the issues of the world gained the most attention. Being myself. My advice would be to truly be yourself and don’t post anything you wouldn’t mind being the headline to newspaper. Post respectful to others, and be yourself, fully uncut.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been word of mouth. Doing great business with a client is the best way the grow your clientele. People talk. There are a million people anyone can go to for a service, it’s the experience of the service people appreciate. Give people a great & professional experience with you and your clientele will naturally expand.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @maurusyaw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maurusyaw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderdejournett/
• Twitter: @maurusyaw
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maurusyaw.