We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felix Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Felix thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Even having the IDEA of “entrepreneur” is a big risk when coming from a lower class family. So the entire journey is a risk, because most people learn their way of life from their parents or relatives. With me being adopted, I have FOUR PARENTS (who are all alive) but still have to take the risk of going completely against the grain of everything I was taught/programmed to think or believe. “Always have a plan b”, you should do barber school”, “get a trade”, “it shouldn’t matter what the boss is telling you to do if they are the ones paying you”, etc. were things I’ve been told since I had the dream of becoming an NBA player.. which AUTOMATICALLY sets an ounce of doubt in your mind that your goal is a little far fetched. So “take the risk” wasn’t really our family’s thing, we were the ones who rather work for someone who took the risk of their own dreams because it was always easier. Always a guarantee that you’ll “get a paycheck next week” or “have employee insurance”, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll “fulfill your dream” so a lot of people don’t even think it’s a good idea to try

Felix, 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?

From HOMELESS to HOUSEHOLD NAME.
My name is Felix “FeeNom” Davis, born in Detroit, MI. Oct. 14, 1995. I found out earlier than a lot of people my age that there’s way more to life than what we’re accustomed to. Within finding my love for basketball, I ran into a few teammates who actually came from families with some structure, so I always felt “uneasy” about my situation and family circumstances. By 7th or 8th grade I was understanding the difference between me and the other players, as far as, how serious their parents took their children’s activities inside and outside of school. I yearned for it, and requested my grandparents let me leave home to live with my friend/teammate’s family. Mainly because they offered, after riding past me so many times while walking to and from school or basketball practice/games.
It started off with the parents offering rides from practice and games, because they took a liking to how I showed a “big brother”/leader kind of love and guidance to their own children in school or in the gym. I never minded helping someone, EVEN IF SOMETIMES IT MAY HURT ME. After dropping me off at home so many times and seeing that I was often not able to get into the house because my family may be out, that sometimes I would have to sleep in the van in front of our home.
I told them what I was feeling and thinking, which led them to talk to my family and ask if it was okay for them to take me in.
From there, I graduated as an honor roll student athlete, and a better father for my son (which I had conceived right before high school), even though I was to young to be the best father I could be.
We established together that upon me going to college I would be free to become “my own man”, which came with A LOT of trials and tribulations. Especially since it was my first year EVER, not being able to play organized league basketball, I needed to find something else.
Then came my love for music, seeing that I have always been an entertainer, and liked to perform in front of crowds and work on a “craft”. I have always been musically inclined without an ounce of practice or studying; unlike basketball, which I ate, slept, and breathed the game.
In connecting the two, I knew that my mission and goal has still always been the same, which was “THERE’S ALWAYS A ‘NEXT LEVEL’”. There is ALWAYS room for growth, I always knew relationships were more than money even though I ran into some bad relationships, I’ll never stop spreading love and positivity, and I’ll NEVER stop trying my hardest to be the best version of myself. That’s just who I am.
Within my journey of music, I also found (just like in the rest of life situations) the level I was at, was not where I wanted to be. So it took a lot of studying, a lot of good and VERY bad songs. It took a lot of trying to find someone who has surpassed my level to try and learn from. In the midst of it I found a few great friends who, even if they weren’t musicians and couldn’t teach me “musical skills”. I learned to become a better human, a better ADULT a better learner, a better father, and son of God.

There’s one thing that stood out as an adult, that I “learned” as a teen and never understood until I became a better version of myself. My adopted father always told me “never be afraid to tell your story, your story will take you places and change other people’s lives”. At first, my response was always “I’m not about to be out here telling no sob stories to people to get them to “feel for me”, but i was in a ‘victim’ mentality because of everything I have been through prior, so if it came down to me “telling my story” it would be coming from an emotional place. Now that I’m able to tell my story with CONFIDENCE and from a triumphant stand point it resonates so much deeper. And as I learned to apply that into my music I’ve opened so many people’s eyes to “there’s always a tomorrow” there’s always better days that awaits, you just have to get to them. Another thing he told me, which again, I didn’t understand until now, is “your gift will make room for you, if you let it.” I believe my gift isn’t basketball or music. My gift is being an ENTERTAINER, a competitor, and a natural born leader. I’ve always been a captain of everytime I’ve played for in sports. In music I’ve always been ‘one of the best’ out of all the people I know, and I’ve ALWAYS taught someone everything I can within either industry. Even if someone asked me something I didn’t know the answer to, I would go out of my way to find the answer with them.
My mother was a musician as well, so music is ONE OF my gifts for sure. My athletic ability is ONE OF my gifts as well because before I ever got any real coaching or technique, I was still considered a good player and leader on each team (in multiple sports by the way). But spreading love and positivity, and the desire of ‘growth’ has been in me since birth, even through all the pain, homeless times, hardships, etc.
Within my musical gift ‘making room for me’, and my competitive spirit, every artist that we know has a “movement”, or brand behind them. I always only had skills.
Now since I’ve spent the last 6-7 years trying to become the best ARTIST I can be, I’ve learned how to use “my story” in my songs and content. The next thing I learned was how to put a movement/brand behind myself I didn’t wanna just make a brand, I NEEDED it to be genuine and relative to who I am. I am strong, I am powerful, I am a positive person, I can see the beauty in ANYTHING, even the most ugly situations. I LOVE spreading love, it doesn’t cost a thing to make someone feel better, or to even compliment someone. I have great aura. Which led me to, almost effortlessly, create a brand, named “A.U.R.A. Approved”. Which came along after releasing my hit single “Aura” The acronym for A.U.R.A. Is “Authentic. Unique. Radical. Aesthetic. My brand is dedicated to empowering us to really work on becoming us best self, and to celebrate what makes us unique in this world full of people. My first action towards the A.U.R.A. brand was starting a clothing line, which has been making even more room for me, because it still ties into my gift and my story.
Learning that no one will help you until you SHOW that you want to help your self, I’ve spent way more than the standard “10,000” that it takes to become a pro. But the moment I stopped trying to only show perfection and really give insight on things that I could, it’s been working in my favorite because I’ve gained more supporters than “fans” now. People go out of their way to help the movement now. They even pay money. I have attended, and was actually a part of a fashion show within my first month of creating the movement. NOT ONLY was I able to be a “designer” in the fashion show for the first time ever, I was also able to PERFORM MY SONG, “Aura” while models were walking the runway wearing MY “A.U.R.A. BRAND” and it warmed my heart. That also opened another door for me in the acting realm, as one of the main characters in a tubi series, called Findlay, which we are in the midst of rehearsing for now.
So me just being a man of good energy has led me to wear many hats in entertainment.
Musically, since I’ve done all of my studying and failing alone, I also became so good at recording my own music, I service other artists now, in multiple ways. I’ve been a recording engineer for at least 5 years now. I’ve made “FeeNom Davis” a household name now. I’ve performed on several stages, in front of crowds big and small (In Michigan and other states). Whether they were paid gigs or free, I was just gaining more exposure to the movement. Now people are willing to pay me (however much I ask for) to perform or show up to their event, or even to make music with them.
I also get paid now to help develop artists to become better. Not saying I’m the best, but I’m one of the ONLY people I know who would teach you everything they know without the fear of you ‘passing my level’. Detroit is a “dog eat dog” type of city so no one trusts anyone, and everyone trusts me because I never gave anyone a reason not to. My name is really good and getting more notoriety by the day.

I made the clothing line to spread the movement, and although I don’t mind giving out a lot of my merch for free, people still see how genuine and generous I am, and INSIST on paying full price. People show up to my events wearing “A.U.R.A.” Some people call me JUST to sing my song “aura” and hang up, so the movement is definitely gaining traction since it was created (which was only about two months ago).

One way that I have solved certain problems for clients and potential clients is, some brands only have one design, I made it a thing to have multiple so that the merch and material can be UNIQUE, and AUTHENIC to the consumer, I like for you to choose which design and color you want. It makes them want to visit again and try it another way just because they can. Another problem I solved was the accessibility. I now have a website, where you can purchase your order by delivery, pickup, shipping, etc. I started with ONLY making sells with word of mouth and posting on social media, which of course is not a bad way, but there are people who don’t live anywhere near me so they couldn’t just buy a shirt or hoodie, and I lost out on a few sales in the beginning because of it.

I’m most proud of NOT GIVING UP. everything worthwhile is HARD, love, life, growth, etc. I’m most proud of the impact my story has made on the people around me and people on the outside. I see more and more people everyday, actually telling me I’ve inspired them to want to be better in whatever it is that they do. It’s a beautiful feeling.

One thing I want my followers, fans, and supporters to know is “anything you attach your name to, you should ALWAYS strive to for excellence in it. Whether it’s a test in school, a song you record, a brand you create, WHATEVER IT IS, you should want to be the best version of yourself, and never settle for “good” WE WERE BORN TO BE GREAT!”

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

My mission is to create a community where “unique and different” is not looked down upon, everything is a perspective and you only have one perspective until you are able to be enlightened by someone or something. My mission is TOGETHERNESS, and growth. My mission is to spread good energy, positivity, love and support. MY MISSION is to spread AURA!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience with authenticity, I never changed who I am. I never faked to become someone else to fit in, if I’m there and I stand out, I will stand out. If I’m not invited somewhere because I don’t “fit in” then that’s not the place for me. Sometimes we’re too afraid of what people may think of us, to where we may overthink and never take action, or may think less of ourselves. For so long I never posted music or gave any insight to what I was going through because of what someone else may say. The pivotal moment for me with social media is that i just decided to “do it scared”. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Just be true to you, and have a real reason why you’re doing what you do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://auraapproved.square.site.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feenomdavis?igsh=MXMwZnprejE1NzVveA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KpHTfS22z/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Twitter: https://x.com/FeeNomDavis?mx=2
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@feenomdavis?si=6Nm2WGu57UTwzsnY
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@feenomdavis?_t=ZT-8ttgKsXizLq&_r=1

Image Credits

Matthew Mason
Amanda Parker
Felix Davis