Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Joseph Shines. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Joseph, thanks for joining us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
When I was just getting started I had recently been robbed someone stole my computer, and my ex had pawned my keyboard. So I didn’t have suitable equipment but I was determined to produce music and my now wife was supporting me she was investing as much as she could in my goals, she went and found me a keyboard from the Goodwill and she encouraged me to purchase a microphone because we would go to the local music store window shopping and dreaming of the day I could purchase some real equipment. But my now wife held me down and supported me through out my dreams which gave me the confidence to go hard which led to other artist coming looking for me to produce music for them but I still was working with inefficient equipment but I wasn’t letting that stop me. I was playing for a church of a high school friend I had, and we had a close friend we shared that used to sing in the choir in school together with. He came to the church to be the audio guy and one day after church we got caught up, and the subject of music came up. He informed me that he was producing music so naturally I told him I was doing the same thing I invited him to my place to hear what I was doing, when he came over he was blown away he couldn’t believe how good I was or what I was using to make what he was hearing, because he has always been the type of person who if he’s doing something he’s getting the right stuff to do it so when he heard what I doing and what I was doing it with he decide to give me his entire studio speakers keyboard everything he was like you’re doing more than I can do and you’re doing it with nothing I want to partner with you he literally just gave me a major upgrade without blinking we were already close but that made him my brother for life I don’t even consider him my friend he is my brother without him we wouldn’t be having this conversation probably or my wife and my cousin! But if I’m being honest I have just been blessed all my life I have a incredible mom that spoke nothing but greatness into my life and God has never let me go through any of the major pit falls out here so I’m just thankful.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m originally from Detroit, Michigan, I’m a self taught musician, engineer, music producer and songwriter. I grew up playing the drums in church and other instruments in school bands and choirs. I am one half of a production duo comprised of myself and my cousin Lemarr “L.Wattz” Watts and my name is Joseph “BlakDaProduca” Shines and we’re 2Aries Productions which is our group name but also our companies name. I started out with a independent record label Blak Glossy Records with my wife Korey Shines, brother Billy R Davis Jr and Lemarr Watts as my partners we started our label because we had artist who wanted me to produce them and record them but wasn’t really able to pay so we would signed them and try putting out music until I realized that a labels a bank and that I would be financially responsible to each artist I signed I quickly realized we would need funding to sustain the label and to be profitable so I went to school for business trying to understand how to write a business plan and possibly find funding until I had a epiphany what if we use the production to get funding and then invest in the artist we believed in most to break the label so I moved to Atlanta, GA to try and connect and sell beats to major and up and coming artist with budgets hoping a record break and we get our big break! I have since had moderate success I’ve achieved a few of my goals like having my records played on the radio, having major labels extend offers to me both as a producer and as a indie label but having that break out record or what many consider success in the music industry has eluded me. I have since focused on creating music on a local level finding artist who are serious about their career and willing to invest In themselves offering my services to fast track them dealing with music producers and studios to create the first projects to delievering a viable product that represents them. My business is to help Independent artist and labels develop their sound and provide quality that competes on every level so that they can have the best opportunities to shine and gain a audiences long the way I help from beginning to the end from idea to release I’m hear to help artist along their way to stardom. Rather its writing, being the musician, recording, vocal producing or even mixing and mastering I assure you that I will help you achieve your goal!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My mission is to provide the people I work with the experience I believe every artist rather big or small should receive so many times I see people only treat major artist with the level of care and respect for their craft because they’re proven but we all have to start from some where so I make it my business to provide the best I can at all times because I believe thoughts become actions so therefore I think I’m great so my actions have to line up no matter who’s in front of me. I have a goal to be a Grammy Award winning music producer and to have multiple platinum and gold plaques to be respected as a professional and be known as great at what I do, so I practice the way I want to play greatness is a mindset it doesn’t matter the talent, where you come from, or any of the other many things people give as excuses it’s about conviction and determination everything else is Icing there plenty of people talented but not doing anything with it but you never see someone determined not going for their goals because they know they have to go after it if they want it they may not have the talent but they have the hustle, grind or whatever you want to call it so that’s what drives me the desire to be great and not to just be talented!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
When I started out Youtube was just getting started so my only way to learn was the library which became my best friend but I wish I had a resource like Youtube when I was starting out it would cut down so many years of trial and error. I think people need to realize what they have at their fingertips at anytime. You have experience, a potential mentor, potential clients and investors all at your fingertips if you want to find out just about anything it’s there for you and not just words on a page but instructional videos so you can see someone doing what ever it is you’re trying to do some of these people with years of experience and you can literally right after you learn the skill showcase it on the same platform to build your core audience which can lead to finding investors. I think it a lot of people who don’t realize the gift we have right in our phones, laptops, and tablets. There is no excuse we need to remember how to dream and imagine let me encourage you to use every resource available to you to reach your dream it’s possible you just have to dream! I appreciate this opportunity and thank you for taking the time to interview me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beatstars.com/blakdaproduca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakdaproduca/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.shines/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-shines-7aa9bb64/
- Twitter: https://x.com/2AriesPro
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blakdaproduca
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/2ariesproductions
Image Credits
Joseph Shines, Ryan Morgan, Calvin Durrand