We recently connected with Cameron Dixon and have shared our conversation below.

Cameron, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I look back on the things that took place in my life so far, I honestly feel that I was blessed to be in the profession I’m in now. Every member of my immediate family is musically inclined, starting with my father. He played saxophone and organ, and was a member of the Marching 100 at Florida A&M University where he met my mother. My mother was a singer, and my brother played drums at a young age and even taught me how to make beats on FL Studio. Growing up in Atlanta during the early 2000’s was amazing, because, it was as vibrant and abundant of a music scene as you could imagine. I got to listen to all kinds of hiphop artists from Outkast, Ludacris, and Lil Jon to T.I., Gucci Mane, and Young Jeezy. Along with that, I found myself paying attention to the music I would hear in TV shows, videogames, and stuff my own parents would listen to. I decided to pick up the saxophone in 6th grade, because the high school band programs in Dekalb county were major programs with great black directors from historically black colleges and universities. My first two years of being in band were forgettable but, when I got a chance to be in the Stephenson High School Marching Band things flourished. We traveled a lot as a band and were given opportunities to perform in a lot of different events, which then led to us seeing the collegiate band programs like The Marching 100. While I was being exposed to that part of the experience, I was also progressing on my instrument alot and got to be in the Wind Ensemble which would go on to perform at different festivals, playing very intricate classical pieces. That was very important towards my development as an individual player and my understanding of how to express myself within in the music. By the time my senior year comes, I had been introduced to jazz music by my then assistant band director, Dr. William P. Oliver. I fell in love with the concept behind this music and the freedom it allowed you when you were given a chance to solo. I was the lead tenor saxophone player on the jazz band that would go on to win an opportunity to play in the Atlanta Jazz Festival. I had a few solos in that performance after graduation and was given a lot of praise by other band directors, in regards to the potential I had. That following summer, I was accepted and awarded a scholarship to be a music student at the same university my parents went to many years ago. That’s when I knew, I wanted to pursue music. Prior to then, I wasn’t confident in what this instrument could do for me. I just knew it to be something that I had fun with. Nowadays, I can’t imagine not making music or being involved in some type of art.

Cameron, 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?

I began working my way into the industry of music after diligently working on my craft as a musician for the first three years of my tenure at FAMU. I had first created a logo for what I thought, at the time, would just be a music page for various social media platforms entitled CJD Music. The J in the title would be in the shape of a saxophone, but still distinguished to where it looks nothing like what anyone else had made up to that point. The first opportunity i was given was by people who worked at Soul Surplus, a company that provides sound packs and melody packs for producers to make beats with. Due to the fact of still being in college, I didn’t have any recording equpiment, but I still managed to record some saxophone for three tracks they wanted to provide in their bundle for producers to buy. And of course I was paid for my services, which then lead to me wanting to record myself using better methods. After college, I even began making beats of my own, due to the extensive knowledge I had about music theory, and being inspired by some of my favorite producers even to this day. Guys like Knxwledge, Flying Lotus, and Monte Booker not only made beats for big name artists but also released instrumentals of their own, to where they had fans in their own right. By the time I had really started to develop as a producer, I had released my own music with my saxophone, and I had discovered a platform entitled Voisey. This platform had immediately connected me with countless amounts of musicians, artists, and producers to where I began to start selling my beats to people. Mahlik Sealey, who is a friend and fraternity brother of mine from college, was a huge help for me in organizing all of these things in order to get this business to run as smoothly as possible, considering I was doing virtually everything by myself up to that point. The services I felt were important for CJD Music to provide were a social media page where the majority, if not all, of my content would be shown. CJD Music also is the main source of contact for any inquiries about business or music, and it is the main platform that is tied to any music that I release personally. The main thing that sets me apart from other producers or musicians, is the music I make. I have learned not to shy away from any style of music, if I have the tools necessary to make it. I started out with Neo Soul, Jazz and Instrumental music, due in part to the fact that I wanted to make that type of music to start off. I felt early on that the mainstream was missing that particular vibe from within all of the music being provided today. As I went on to find more professional recordings and sounds to use, i began branching off into Trap Music, Modern day Hip Hop, Reggae, House, Techno, and more Pop-driven genres to help further expand my audience and clientele. The stage name in which I made and use, for the majority of my work, is Chakrah. This name was also thought of at the same time as the CJD Music page. The image and meaning of the persona of Chakrah represents two things specifically. The level of inner peace I feel when I make or listen to music, and the manifestation of all aspects of my personality working together in perfect harmony. With that being said, my music is always designed with the intent of taking people to a different place. Not only making them create, dance, and sing, but also visualize and imagine where they would be when listening to it. What I am most proud of so far, is having made music with the likes of great artists, including overseas. The first song I ever produced for an artist that saw huge numbers, was Etta Bond’s “On A Beach”, which was a clever depiction of the effects that the global pandemic has had on everyone’s lives. I also managed to make music that would be put into films, most recently an independent film titled “Social Disturbance.” The things I would want people to know the most about myself and the brand of CJD Music are that the music and content that comes from within it will always be a reflection of the person it comes from.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Making something that geniunely feels right and sounds good from beginning to end. There’s no better feeling to me than when I make something that I feel so good about, that I don’t even hesitate on showing it to the people. I just go on to the next step of maybe adding a visual for it, or dropping it so the people can hear it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Honestly, the goal that drives my creative journey is to inspire others to partake in art. I hope to be able to provide insight, and teach those who come after me what it is I have learned from having creating my own music and listening to others. So much of what I’ve been exposed to has come from not being timid about letting people see my work, while also making sure my work was to my liking before the world got to see it. My end goal really is for people to look at me and see that there are infinite possibilities. That is what I see when I look at those who have inspired me, from the jazz musicians I learned so much about, to the famous artists of all genres that I come to love listening to today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://solo.to/cjdmusictm
• Instagram: @chakrah_
• Twitter: @chakrah_
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC2iZJQL623Qx6m8c8Tlh6lg
• Other: Voisey: @chakrah

Image Credits
Xavier Faust, creator of Faust X Design, LLC, created a professional design of my logo to be used for all platforms. Torrey Fields, from Fields Vision Media, provided the initial photography you will see at the top of this presentation. Both of these graphic designers/photographers can be found on instagram.