We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deuvon “SSV” Desir. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deuvon “SSV” below.
Deuvon “SSV”, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My mission is to see everybody eat. I understand realistically I can’t help everyone but while I got breath in my body ima do my best to make a change. Since 2018 I co-founded my business GOOD EATZ ENTERTAINMENT with my brother while in my junior year of high school to help independent artists & creatives have a platform where they can express themselves and their art freely. From apparel, graphics, to music production & more. Coming up in Maryland, well from the DMV area in general there weren’t really many studio locations or music opportunities to be apart of, so we decided to build our own. That same year I started to learn the importance of copyrights and protecting your work so after I created our business logo for a school project using photoshop, I decided to trademark our brand’s image. (EGE) Everybody Gotta Eat has always been our Motto but ever since that November of 2018 we’ve been continuously finding new ways to build upon the foundation we’ve set. As well as, develop new ways to expand our brand and reach. I figured, if there’s all this money and opportunity out here, I can take mine a step further and learn how to provide for more families and communities than just myself or my own.. “Everybody Gotta Eat”.
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?
For those who don’t know me yet my name is Deuvon Hughes Desir, but I go by many names like Von, SSV, Side$how & SiMPLY Von. I’m an up-and-coming Audio Engineer, Producer, Songwriter, & Artist originally from the DMV area. I first gained interest in Percussion which lead me to play the drums and join the church choir around the age of 10. In 2018, I released my debut singles Supply & Demand and Smoke Fire under the duo name Hue$ Idea. The following year, I dropped my solo track Loyalists and launched my clothing line GOOD EATZ APPAREL. In 2020, I graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS) in Arizona and received my certificate in Audio Engineering. Once I graduated, I relocated to Atlanta, GA, and currently am an Audio Engineer at Tree Sound Studios, Sony Music Publishing, & Deafstar Studios. Since moving to Atlanta, I’ve engineered for BRS Kash, EARTHGANG, Lil Tecca, Polo G, and more. I’ve also had the privilege of being the Assisting Audio Engineer for CeeLo Green, Internet Money, Lil Baby, Summer Walker, Young Thug, and more. If you’re in the Atlanta area and need an engineer, some beats, or want to collaborate feel free to DM and follow me on ig @_simply.von
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Like most independents starting out, I use to work the 9-5 lifestyle. In my freshman year of high school I began writing and working on my own music, but even at that age I knew I was gonna need some money to fund my vision. I began working my first job at Cracker Barrel when I was only 15 and Co-invested into a in-home studio setup with my brother. We started recording sessions in our garage with a Scarlett mic and interface all off of Logic but knew this was just the beginning. By the time I turned 17, I got a second job at AMC while in my junior year of high school to help us pay for studio time and get more gear. By 2019, I was getting ready to graduate and we already had enough expenses as is with our business GOOD EATZ ENTERTAINMENT, so we decided to find ways to cut cost. Once I graduated high school I left the DMV for Arizona to learn how to Engineer to help sonically get our records better rather than continuously paying for beats and mixes, but it wasn’t until technical school where I realized the potential of what I could do with the new found abilities I gained while at CRAS (The Conservatory Of Recording Arts & Science). Once I graduated from CRAS, I began my internship here in Atlanta in 2020. I then began recording platinum selling artist in studios around the city and eventually got my first credit in Nov, 2021 on Summer Walker’s Still Over it album. That same year, I started learning how to make my own beats and got my first placement Aug, 2022 on Megan Thee Stallion’s Traumazine album. Ever since I’ve been making a living building a name for myself in the industry, engineering and producing for artist as well as my team and myself, working to add more credits and placements to my belt all while building a catalog that my family will eventually get to eat off of.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Consistency is key. Always being available, as well as getting comfortable with sometimes being uncomfortable. I always played basketball growing up so I’m a firm believer of being the first in the gym and the last one out, so I apply the same rules to the studio. This has benefitted me in building real connections, learning valuable skills, and information from spending more time in the rooms with different artists, their teams, and the equipment. I remember when I first started getting calls to assist and engineer during my internship, I didn’t know if I was ready but finally being in the rooms pushed me to be consistent in becoming a better and faster tracking engineer, which allowed me to grow to where I am today. Other than the pressure of recording certain sessions with bigger artists and labels there were other obstacles I had to overcome like finances, and hours adjusting to the new life of going in for sessions at 3 or 4 in the morning or pulling up for a 12 hour shift for a week straight sometimes was difficult at first, but this kept me in the rooms, helped build my reputation, and get my name around. Now it’s my mission to attach a face to my name for those who haven’t personally met me yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goodeatzthefamily.com/pages/simply-von-ssv
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_simply.von/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deuvon.desir/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_simply_von
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodeatzent
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/simply-von https://www.youtube.com/@simplyvonge