We were lucky to catch up with KwaShonne recently and have shared our conversation below.

KwaShonne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The Most meaningful project I’ve worked on has to be hands down my latest album (Instructions For The Lover). Leading up to releasing IFL, Only two projects have come prior. “Welcome to the Show” in 2018 and “New Old School” in 2021. During the creation of both of those projects, I was still finding my sound, and growing into my artistry. With IFL being my third project I know It had to be something special. When I was only two songs into making the album, My first cousin, my brother in music, the Goku to my Vegeta, El.Tee, passed away. I intentionally was hiding the two songs I had already made from him, I wanted to surprise him with the full album. Without his teachings I wouldn’t be the artist I am today I wanted to show him how far I came by surprising him with something that he wasn’t expecting. Knowing that he would never be able to hear this project a fire was lit in me to make sure that IFL was unforgettable.

Since “Welcome to the Show”, I always knew that I wanted to do an album based around therapy. Mental health is huge in my world, especially since I’m an artist and I express a lot of my emotions and feelings through my music. In my community therapy was not a very popular concept, most issues get swept under the rug without talking about them. The idea of therapy is slowly becoming more popular in the community as time goes on, which is why I wanted to help push the acceptance of therapy in the best way I know how. Music is my therapy and I’m aware that many other people don’t have a creative way to express how they feel. That’s why I needed to make “Instructions For The Lover” so that others can know that they are not alone and that they too can overcome and hopefully look into some mental assistance.

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 feel it was destined for me to go into the music industry. Music has been the only thing that has always made sense to me. When I moved to Atlanta for college everything fell into place for me. My uncle Dj Grip Grain took me under his wing and not only taught me what I needed to become a well-rounded artist but showed me how to run sessions and record myself. All his lessons with the tutelage of his son El.Tee, gave me all the tools I needed to go out and make a name for myself. Fast forward to today, I own my own label KwaShonne Sound, and I am the CCO of SMG.

SMG is an Atlanta-based music agency that provides a wider range of services for independent artists and creatives to have their brand, style of music, and creative aspirations properly positioned for the marketplace. We provide the platform and resources needed to position artists and creatives in the marketplace. The music industry represents a status quo that is in need of disruption. We help empower independent artists and creatives to do it. We break our services into 3 spheres: Music, Marketing, And Management. Under the music sphere, we offer Music Production / Mixing / Mastering / Songwriting. Under the marketing sphere, we offer Branding / Design / Social Media / Photography / Videography. Under the management sphere, we offer Artist Development.

I’m proud of my music career in its entirety. When I started this journey my view was small, I had dreams of being a megastar, but Now my view is much bigger. Helping heal supports through my music and other artists through my knowledge is a dream come true.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is watching others enjoy the artwork I created. It’s not just about the views or the streams. It’s the comments that tell me they can relate to the content, and that my music helped them in some way.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My ultimate mission is to help those who have a passion for music like I do find their lane in the industry. Whether that’s being an artist, engineer, producer, manager, etc. That and also seeing that I am healing others through my art is what is driving my creative journey.     

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smg.ventures/services/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwashonne/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKwaShonne
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KwaShonne
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3NUBFk1gbGEfdxbEr_DiGw

Image Credits
-TCamProduction -FramedByWasi -KwaShonne Sound Ltd.Co.