We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dantoni Mortimore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dantoni, thanks for joining us 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 began learning how to create music in ensembles and group settings, writing for and working alongside musicians and composers from the age of 11. Playing in wind symphonies, marching bands, and even steel orchestras. I learned most about my craft most when I began presently and intentionally executing a project and ideas that were meaningful to me.
I have always been a hands on learner; especially when it came to instruments and sounds. One skill I am grateful for is my musicality, I love to spend time with the music and sounds and instruments to feel the difference each nuance contributes to every record.
I think a few changed habits like practicing and rehearsing more could have helped me reach where I am earlier and even surpassed where I am now. However, acknowledging that just enables me to continue the pursuit that growth and utilize the power of the now.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is The Chmst and i am a multi-instrumentalist, producer, artist. I produce a wide variety of music for artists. However, Hip-Hop Jazz is the primary sound for my own music! I started writing songs and playing instruments when I was 11, and went on to begin producing music at the age of 15. I also run Chmstry. Chmstry is a brand that supports and empowers musicians to create, collaborate, and perform. I do so by coordinating songwriting camps, hosting live band showcases, and workshopping with individual artists to holistically improve their artistry. Every show I select seven performers to deliver a 15 minute set with our house band for the night. The four piece band and the seven artists rehearse and perform the showcase. After the showcase is done all participants are added to our alumni group. This group of Chmstry alumni are able to come to Chmstry writing camps and are potentially presented with further performance and showcase opportunities.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The main goal/Mission that is currently driving me is coordinating the first Chmstry festival. This is a goal that forced me to network and expand my own execution as an artist. Having this goal gave me the chance to think about what a sufficient artist and an ideal festival experience could be, and how I could go about become both those things for myself as an artist and a curator. exploring different avenues of my expression with the goal of establish my brand and capacity. It has been an intuitive and vulnerable journey that pushed me into different networks, opportunities, information, and possibilities.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a musician is writing, a song, and watching it come to life during performance. The process and vulnerability of creating a song from scratch is a space that I really enjoy. All of the songs I make are written by me in isolation. Nothing is better then seeing something you created come to life in such an electrifying way. The same goes for people I meet and the collaborators that I end up working with. It feels good to meet new people and have things eventually turn into a fulfilling, collaborative endeavours.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechmst?igsh=MTk4Z2VyM2QyN2twaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/thechmst/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thechmst1
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@chmstryxthechmst?si=wRhpIwKWdmdEIdam
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/iQe1MDwZGGABNgoE9
Image Credits
Photo 1 Instagram @cultured_1n
Photo 2: Murphy jr AKA Instagram
@ delphyphotoz