We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alvin Phillips. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alvin below.

Alvin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I learned how to bartend from my mother, learned the skill as a way to earn money through college. I learned quickly that waiters and servers will always be employed so I learned as much as I could in the field and moved my way up a couple times. From waiter to barback then to bartender. Transitioning up to bar manager then beverage supervisor.

I learned the ins and outs of the nightlife scene and developed very critical people skills. The ability to read peoples intention and the ability to control a crowd which is much harder when people are inebriated.

This helped as I was developing as an artist because I was able to focus on my individuality by being around so many different kinds of people.

High level bartending got me some gigs in high level fashion and high end dining. From there I was able to open up not only my oral palate but my visual and mental as well.

Caviar and croquettes, roasted duck, squid and so many other things I never imagined cooking or eating.
Here birth the persona known as Van Gogh.

Knowing what I know now I could have sped up becoming myself by being more open to unknown and unusual things. Experience is the best teacher.

The most essential skill is probably my greatest setback. I overanylze everything. I learn a lot from doing this but I also second guess myself alot.

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

Music has been in my life for as far as I could remember. Singing Jackson 5 songs and listening to motown was just part of the normal routine.

As I jumped into my own musical palette I learned it was more involved than just rhyming and rhythm. Music gives off a certain frequency whether happy or sad, high or low energy. It can even be motivational or inspirational.

The Food and Beverage industry is similar to the music industry because of the complexity and competition.

Alot of fish the sea, gotta be a great white or learn to stand out amongst the schools.
The music must speak for itself so I let it do the talking.

Ghostwriting has become more popular since shifting into the 2000s. So I can always provide someone the service of putting together words. But being an artist is more than rhyming and rhythm as I said before.

Finding rhythm pockets to flow in or the right sequence before the drop reminds me of making the perfect cocktail.

And no every cocktail is not equal. There is definitely a science behind the pairings and combinations. Similar to every Pharell beat isn’t the same.

Pharrell is one of the biggest cultural influences in music and fashion. All around style icon i would think the Visionary brand and motto is an extention of what he began with Star Trek. No One every really dies.

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

The most rewarding part about being an artist or creative is finding those people that share that same love and desire that you feel about your craft. And then being able to share your craft with them and they are able to enjoy it in the way you envisioned it to be enjoyed.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Something I had to learn and reevaluate is that art doesn’t always translate to money. Sometimes people don’t value your art the way you do. In this moment you have to realize your worth and what you are willing to sacrifice and stand for.

Contact Info:

• Website: Check out AtotheVee on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/Q9sj9
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/atothevee?igshid=NmQ2ZmYxZjA=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atothevee?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Atothevee?t=RPEfHkOTVA3hU1D2cthXEg&s=09
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/KrQODX0T_4o
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/68Ig5fpp48ggxLd2aWTZVt?si=I6GjVQHtTeSmqaU-ck3cwA&utm_source=copy-link

Image Credits
Dejaray Phillips Willo