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

Maison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

For me, this is a complex question. On one hand, I love being an artist. I thrive and feel alive when I’m creating or working on a project. It gives me a reason for being. I know that’s what I was put here to do.

When you ask the question, am I happier as an artist, the answer is yes but no. Being an artist brings you no stability and a lot of unanswered questions. I often think about an interview Andre 3000 did a while back where he was talking about the struggles being an artist. He said he’d give away all every bit of his talent, just to feel normal. Just to fit in. I relate to that so much.

Being an artist requires a level of sensitivity, vulnerability, introspection, and in-depth observation of the world that can honestly drive you insane. I had all of that way before I considered myself an artist. I can’t even tell you how hard that made life. But being an artist gave me purpose. It gave me an opportunity to use those things to my advantage. My whole world opened up once I started creating. And for that alone, I’m forever grateful to art.

But I’d be lying if I told you I never thought about the regular life. The 9-5 and party on weekends type of life. I wonder if there is actual happiness in being “normal.”

I actually did work a 9-5 for the better part of 2022. Although I did have enough creative ventures on the side that I was able to only work part-time, I still got a taste of the normal life. Looking back, I actually liked it. I had a good job, made a decent wage, and worked with some very cool people. I could see myself getting comfortable in that lifestyle (in another life).

I have to emphasize the “looking back” part. Because at times, I’d struggle just to make it through a shift. Not because it was a hard job. But because I knew this wasn’t what I was meant to do with my life. And that was the most defeating feeling ever.

With the benefit of hindsight, I have a healthy respect of the 9-5 lifestyle. However, I realized what made me feel a sense of comfort in a situation I knew I wasn’t meant to be in. 9-5’s pacify you with enough money to pay your bills, stability, and predictability. They pay you just enough to give up on your dreams.
Your dreams are worth much more than money

So a couple months ago, I quit. And focused on being an artist full-time.
While I love it, there is no glory in being a starving artist. Deep inside we all want to be recognized for our work. At the stage I’m at, it’s definitely a struggle.

But that’s all apart of it. I know this is where I’m supposed to be. Quitting can’t be an option because life is hard no matter how you slice it. If you have to pick your struggle, you may as well struggle with what you love to do.

I know I’ll look back and appreciate this time in my life. While it is cliche, there is beauty in the struggle.

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 background and context?

My name is Maison Kwame. I am filmmaker, director, editor, music video director, writer, photographer, sports videographer, and I dabble with a little bit of all aspects of creating. I find it easier to just call myself an artist. I can’t say I’ll ever only want to do one central thing.

I didn’t consider myself an artist until I started college. Before then, I kind of just wondered through life. When it was time to decide on my post high school plans, I had a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. So I made it simple. What do I enjoy the most in life? Movies and music. I was never the most musically inclined, so I decided to pursue a film career. And from the moment I picked up a camera and got to work in an editing program, I knew this was what I wanted to do.

If you look at my work, a majority of it is music videos and sports videography. I love creating them because to me, that’s my way of merging the two things I love the most: movies and music. I believe with the right audio and the right visuals, I can create a unique energy that has FEELING to it. I want you to FEEL something when you watch my work. I want you to feel something you’ve never felt before. But if you feel anything, then I’ve done my job.

While I love music videos and sports videography, I believe my talents show their true colors when it comes to films. My two films, “Do You Love Me?” and “We The Future (A Baton Rouge Rap Documentary).” It’s something about telling a story from my heart that makes filmmaking so amazing for me. What I’m most proud of about these projects has nothing to do with accolades or reviews. I just loved correctly expressing what was in my heart and head. That feeling is priceless. I felt so alive working on those projects.
If I could work on nothing but passion projects my whole life, I’d be in heaven.

What I feel makes me stand out, is my taste. I don’t have a secret method. I don’t do anything different than the average artist. All I do is pursue the ideas that I find cool. That’s literally it. I’ve always had different interests than most people around me. These interests have opened new pathways in my mind to create art that only I can create.

The main things I’d want my supporters, clients, and fellow artist to know about my work is that I won’t short change the process. I prefer to take the most difficult path if that path will lead us to success. I want to work with you all. And if you trust my vision with a project of yours, I’ll bend over backwards to make sure it comes out right.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

There definitely is. The mission of my creative journey is to heal. Bob Marley’s life showed me just how impactful art and artists are to the world. He showed me just how impactful a creator can be. He impacted nations with his music. He impacted governments… with music. That’s a wild concept but that goes to show you, any art form can change the whole world.

One song, movie, or video can forever change how someone looks at their life. If you can get people to think and feel. You’ve already won as an artist.

So my mission is to use my art, to leave a lasting impact on this world. To get people to view their world through new eyes. To leave the world a better place than I found it.
All through art.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think society could put more focus and money behind more diverse art forms. I think about rougher neighborhoods who’ve had local artist come add life to the neighborhood via murals. Simple acts like that go a long way into people valuing the spaces they are in much more.

Fellow artist can also help cultivate a thriving creative ecosystem by holding space/events for creatives to do nothing other than meet other creatives. We all need each other. Society honestly isn’t going to hand us anything. If we have our own society that including of everyone, there’s no way we can lose.

One last thing, I think we need more writers, publications, and entities that want to shed a light on artist. They are truly invaluable to an artist’s success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maisonkwamefilms.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/_markaveli
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/_markaveliii
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/thelilkilla1