We recently connected with Marsalis Davis and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Marsalis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
One risk I took was in summer of 2021 where I spent my last dollars to go on tour. This was insane for me especially in the time of quarantine with Covid-19. Thinking to myself, this was the wildest risk I’ve ever taken. Honestly, this was all off of impulse, but however I was ready for the consequences hahaha. I went on a one week south state to state tour with many various artists from my tri-state. We traveled in compact vehicles, so we had to squeeze in tight for each ride in the middle of summer! Where it’s scorching! On tour I met so many amazing creatives and like minded talents throughout the week. I’ve made new friendships to this day actually. The time I spent in Atlanta was life changing. Hitting the many stages provided for me to perform on, I was able to grasp the attention of a major distribution/record label, Authentic Empire. After my performance in front of major heavy hitters such as, Quality Control Music, AE Music Group, and YSL, I can tell I definitely made my mark. I was invited to visit legendary studios and even be part of a movie production mixer/network. Each day was an interview with well-known radio stations and podcasts. All in all, the outcome turned out to be more than what I was expecting. Though being on tour is non-stop movement, the outcomes are worth it in the end. It was to a point where I didn’t want go back home because each day something new was being presented to me. Although, I know I needed to raise money for the next tour in the future. So, yes take that risk! Trust your gut and see what the world has to offer!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My music journey started back when I was a freshman going to sophomore year of high school. That’s where I met my best friend Kevin in math tutoring. We never went to math tutoring for help at all, but mostly to look at the girls who did. In the back of the class, Kevin and I would be freestyling and make up all kinds of rhymes. That’s when Kevin had told me he actually had a recording set up at his house. From there on that’s where it started. Through the years of my adolescence, I never thought about taking music seriously until it was when I started going through a depression. Me and my mother didn’t get along so well growing up. It got to the point where I wouldn’t even speak to her. Feeling ashamed to talk to anyone about my emotions towards anything, I started taking my craft and morphing it into a passion. Songwriting started to become a major part of my life for me at this point. Knowing it was my only outlet to release and feel free, I began to become more engulfed.
Turning my only way to release my emotions into a now passion, of course I didn’t receive the same love back. When I became serious with releasing music, my family didn’t really agree with me. There was just negativity behind every complaint. “What if you don’t make it”, “How are you going to live”, “This isn’t even a real job”. It was infuriating. They didn’t even give me a chance except my grandmother. She was there for me from the beginning. She’s the one who bought me my first microphone and laptop to record on. If it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at now.
In high school, I was made fun of for the music I was putting out. I wasn’t the coolest you know, but I didn’t let that stop me at all. I was teaching myself how to record and mix my sounds everyday. Releasing a new song everyday, this is the one thing I finally saw I could have a passion for. Through the years, it became a bit tedious because I started to learn the business side of the music industry. That alone would have a certain artist just want to quit music entirely but I couldn’t do that at all. Surrounding myself with like-minded creatives gave me the power and strength to exceed my limits, pushing through that next threshold.
What sets me aside from others when it comes to the being a creative in general, is that I have my hands dipped in every avenue. I provide my own audio engineering, I design my own graphics for upcoming releases, I script out my own videos and short films, I scout the marketing I need and I perform and write my own art. I’m literally a walking production company in one person.
I’m most proud of being able to share my story and influence the new generation of creatives. I was told not too long ago that I was the reason someone started to create music of their own. I want to be exposed to more listeners, viewers, those who feel like they are scared to take a risk. I want to be the beacon for them. Let me be the blue print for those to follow to success.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn is to never expect your friends and family to support you. As a creative I had to stop myself from holding on to their validity of the art I create. Their opinions matter none especially if they don’t like it. Most of the time you have to realize others do not have the same vision as you do. The term “total freedom” is a fantasy to others who have no passion or motivation for creating. Also, everyone cannot taste your success. Through the years progressing as a music artist, more people have no become what I call “band-wagoners”. Meaning now they believe or see where they can benefit from my opportunities through my success.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
What non-creatives struggle to understand about creatives is that everything we do to release, draw out, record, put together whether its a new record, setting up a listening party for your new album, hosting an art exhibit, etc is that everything comes out of our own pocket. Nothing just happens over night. Most of the time, us creatives have to out source due to lack of knowledge in a specific area for our business. Starting off, it’s usually a one-man band situation. Non-creatives should stop telling creatives what they should do when instead ask “how can they help?”. When you have a passion for something, the limits are none. You will become indulged and go to the highest lengths to see your creation come to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marsalisdavis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyitsmartty/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeyItsMartty/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsalisdavis
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeyItsMartty
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarsalisDavisMusic
- Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/marsalis-davis/1149418719 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/41R5FGNHKwzJxHu3DAmYGX TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marsalisdavis?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/8093100
Image Credits
Paterno Cappelli Jonathan Villaran