We were lucky to catch up with Derrick Florence II recently and have shared our conversation below.
Derrick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I honestly didn’t. I was so interested in everything growing up and I focused on a few of my favorite hobbies. Between football, music, and technology, I just pushed myself in all 3 spaces and here I am still doing it all, Once I started performing on bigger stages, getting unbelievable stream numbers, and booking gigs and acting roles, it all started to unfold into where we are now. It’s been a few of the hardest years being independent, but the memories will always be worth it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m one of those kids from the south that they told to work really hard in school, sports, and something extra and decided to focus on nothing but that. As I got older and got more realistic about my chances playing football professionally, I decided to continue using football as a way to stay in college and use the free time to become MoonManFlo. I’ve performed all over the U.S. and no matter how far away from home I go, I always come back to give back to my community in Jacksonville, FL. I’ve coached my high school football team since 2016 and the spirit that those kids have matured me quickly and pushed me to show them that anything can happen if you just keep working and bettering yourself.
I’m always grateful for the journey thus far and I can appreciate the ride of performing in Ohio basements in my early 20’s to venues like Dreamcon at Esports Stadium Arlington, Sakura Matsuri in Downtown Washington D.C., and even right at home at Wine Down Wednesdays in Jacksonville, FL. My music has become more of an art and more of my own through the years and it’s a beautiful thing being able to jump time into so many different versions of myself for fans and new listeners alike.
My logo is a smiley face I drew as part of a comic I used to create. It’s symbolic for the masks we wear in society and the smiles we hide behind experiencing this roller coaster of life.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
While I was on a Spring tour in 2022, I deeply underestimated my budget for travel and accommodation and ended up having to walk 6 miles around Washington D.C. with all of my luggage to get to the venue at The Pocket. While on my walk, I stopped by a park to roller skate and help with a casting call audition for a show that I’m on, “Brothaland?.” It was one of the most exhausting trips of my career and to top it off, my music wouldn’t load so I had to improvise and do a bit of a cappella, stand up comedy, and creating songs with the audience for my opening set. I was at the airport headed to Ohio immediately after.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I think my main goal is staying young. The world can really beat you down with how real it gets and everything that you need to take care of. It’s freeing to have an outlet that makes me feel like I did when I first started before I even planned to take my art anywhere. A big part of staying youthful is being around the youth to learn from them and give back the tools I’ve learned so that they can have the opportunity to pave the way for themselves. We’re nothing without the kids and so I do what I do to let them know it’s real and possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/moonmanflo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fka_moonman/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-florence-ii-012b53176/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoonManFlo
Image Credits
PS3 Media Provisions Media 2x Visions ONLe ViBez