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

Alright, Da’Shawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I was 13 years old when I was sitting in class. As my classmates and I were indecently being chaotic, our substitute teacher Mr. Pendleton abruptly turned and asked us “What do you all want to be when you grow up”? Before that day I was never certain on what it is I wanted to be. It was always professions like Doctor, Lawyer, Firefighter, even a professional WNBA Player (I was top tier at my school) that would cross my mind. But this particular day when Mr. Pendleton asked us that question, I didn’t take it lightly. I will never forget sitting there and a voice instantly popped up in my head and said “Say Music Producer”. I raised my hand unconfidently and said those two words out loud for the first time. The thought of being a music producer had never crossed my mind before. Heck, I barely knew what a music producer was; only that they made the background music you heard on the radio that the artist sang or rapped over like Jazze Pha or Timbaland (that was my definition at the time). That voice in my head was none other than Gods. That was the day I knew my true calling and purpose on this earth, He blessed me with discovering my gift at a young age, to keep me on track with staying focused on a path that I quickly fell in love with and became passionate about.

Da’Shawn, 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?

My name is Da’Shawn Covington, the name of my business is Brown’Sugar Productions, and I am a Music Producer and Entrepreneur on my journey to inspiring the world through my music. I was born and raised in NE, Washington D.C- Brookland area. Growing up as an only-child, I was fond to independence which guided me into always finding new adventures to chase and explore on my own. I grew up surrounded by music as my grandad was a DJ in the city, my grandmother’s sung in the choir at church, and my dad was a local rapper. He would always take me to the studio with him when I was 3. Loving sports so much, I never imagined that music would one day be my gift to the world.

​Brown’Sugar Productions is a music production company that works to empower, encourage, and inspire all beings through music encouraging all to be “Bold In Your Brown Skin”. It is an entity that primarily emboldens all women in entrepreneurship through music, fashion, community & health and fitness. We encourage Women of all colors to be bold and strive in male dominated working industries. Brown’Sugar creates music for the soul. I as the producers job is to give the listeners an experience of emotion they’ll never want to forget. A deep connection through music that can inspire from the oldest to the youngest of age.

I created “Brown’Sugar Productions” the brand in 2013. The name came from my late Great-Aunt Gladys. She gave me that name when I was a baby. My grandma Gwen bought my first keyboard when I was 6. I started teaching myself how to play the piano and making beats at the age of 13. My dad then bought my first equipment, a Maschine beat pad and a Korg M3 keyboard. Still till this day, I have over 400 beats stored on that keyboard.

I furthered my education in music by attending the great HBCU Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. I received my bachelors degree in 2018 in Music, with a concentration in Music Business and Technology. When I came home from college I dropped my first beat tape ever Trapped In The Dayz, Vol. 1.

Looking back on when I started, I am just most proud of how far I’ve come. I dropped my first album this year (2023), Trapped In The Dayz Vol. 2, featuring a collection of the hottest artists in the DMV – Area. I’ve headlined on a huge music platform in DC named “Fresh Produce” in representation of Women In Music for Women’s Month. I’ve had the chance to work with Trina a rap star from Miami Florida. I’ve created commercial music and songs for platforms such as Viacom, BET, VH1, Paramount Films etc. Ive also been featured on the DMV’s top producers list and as the only female producer.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Thus far I’ve noticed that non-creatives get confused when I tell them that I have projects and an album out. The thought of them hearing me say that makes them instantly think that I’m an artist (songwriter, rapper, or singer). I have to always explain to them that I’m the producer and reference creatives like DJ Khaled. There’s always a sense of clarity when I mention his name and explain my position. I don’t mind because although DJ Khaled did pave the way for creatives like me, its still rare to see a female pushing this narrative especially in my area.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Knowing that not everyone that does what I do, looks like me and I know that I have a nitch in the position that I play. Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys are some of my biggest female influences in my field and I want to continue to let people know where my inspiration comes from. I want continue to push the wave and be the voice of the “Women in Music”. I want to inspire all and make a huge positive impact on the industry. Holding on to that will forever keep me driven.

Contact Info:

• Website: brownsugarprod.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/brownsugarprod_
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@brownsugarproductions9107

Image Credits
Bunmi Abari