We recently connected with Demetrius Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Demetrius, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I appreciate this question because it’s one that we (humans) typically ask in hindsight since it’s “always” 20/20. That said, if I could go back in time my first thought is that I would’ve accepted being a creative sooner and honed my talents when I was younger.

Music has always been apart of my life. Growing up my dad led praise and worship at church and my mom directed the choir at the church I came up in; she sang as well as my two sisters. I can remember doing vocal exercises as a family when my folks were still together. My dad would hold a string in front of our faces and instruct us to inhale and release the air slowly until the string stopped moving. With all these factors in play, one would think that it was a no-brainer that I’d be in the music field. That wasn’t the case at all. In fact, I spent most of my young life chasing athletic dreams and running away from music (no pun intended).

By the time I accepted “the call” into music I had started a career in education and was in my mid-twenties. I was married with three children, two car notes, a mortgage, and a partridge in a pear tree. Having these very adult responsibilities made the notion of being a struggle artist a distance thought—I really had to be strategic with every move to ensure my family didn’t suffer in my quest to be a creative. That being said, I can imagine if I’d started sooner I probably would’ve taken more risks—maybe putting me further ahead of “the game” so to speak.

However, I do think about if I would’ve started sooner I might not have lasted as long as I have. Early on I believe the passion would’ve been there for me (maybe even more so than what it is today) but the consistency and intentionality would not have been. The experiences that I had gained up until my mid-twenties really help guide how I’ve been able to sustain my vision.

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

My journey started out with a song I wrote, which at the time I thought was corny. One song turned into an album (Demetrius Johnson, Endless Praise Live) and an album triggered an unanticipated path to forming a non-profit outreach/ministry called The Soap Box. We provide entertainment through music and storytelling with the purpose of spreading hope. Our aim is to change lives one story at a time.

Our events serve as an outreach for social clubs, church and community groups that enjoy an adult atmosphere found in lounges, bars, etc. and provides live music entertainment free of any vulgarity. We are a Christ-centered organization that defines our entertainment as evangelism reimagined. Stories coupled with music that provides insight and hope we believe is found through Jesus Christ is our mission, and we have fun doing it. At the The Soap Box attendees are entertained with all styles of music from R&B, to rock & roll, gospel, and more. Popular songs are used to help tell inspiring stories, which is what we focus on.

With all that being said, the thing that makes me most proud is the amount of support we’ve had over the last several years. As a mobile organization (having to move from venue to venue every now a then) supporters have continued to encourage us to keep providing our events, even if they have to be solely online. My wife and I have poured so much time and resources into this, so being told that what we are doing is impactful has been the biggest motivator for us.

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

The thing that drives my creativity is being able to communicate to people that there is hope. I believe wholeheartedly that sharing stories about our life experiences is what connects us. I also lean on my faith is Jesus, which gives me the strength to fight when life has dealt a blow that seems insurmountable. When you take those two things and add it to the tune of music (another universal tool that unites us) you start to see change in people’s lives. We can all use a little hope at times, so I choose to use my creative mind to spread it.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

There’s one resource that I wish I had known about earlier, which is going to sound crazy, and it’s people. As a creative we tend to do things ourselves mostly out of convenience or financial limitations, which isn’t a bad thing. However, as we continue to stretch or grow in our respective art it becomes a less sustainable model. That is why it’s important to build a team around yourself to take up some of the slack. It’s the one thing I wish I had done sooner.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthesoapbox/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesoapboxevent
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/thesoapboxevent