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

Malik, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I believe trial and error is the best way to learn anything. I go into every new experience with the expectation that I’m there to learn. Writing, recording, and producing music is a forever process that has no end until you make one. In studying the greats and working with peers in my circle, I’ve had the opportunity to observe their approaches and pull from their experiences. Asking questions is key, and it’s something I’ve found myself doing more and more as I’m getting older.

I think being much more curious at the beginning of my musical journey could have changed the seat that I’m sitting in today. The fear of making mistakes, learning too slowly, or failing at my goals were all mental blockers that held me back from exploring that curious voice in my head. I would also say involving my community earlier on would have been a huge benefit to expanding the reach of my music.

Patience is a huge skill that any creative or business owner needs. Having a goal is important, but laying out achievable and realistic steps is key to accomplishing anything you desire. Adaptability is another skill I think can take someone a long way. There are many moments in music where things may not go as planned but it’s important to react to a situation with the intention of finding a solution and moving forward.

The biggest obstacle to learning more has always been me. Whether it’s anxiety or fear, I often freeze or procrastinate to avoid being hurt or disappointed by an outcome. Most obstacles that are outwardly can be circumvented if your own mindset is open to what comes your way.

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?

Growing up in a Caribbean household, I was exposed to reggae, soca, calypso, and hard work. I saw the effect music can have on people that looked like me, and I also witnessed the pride and integrity my parents had working hard to provide for a family. I knew I wanted to create art that everyone could resonate with, but I knew this could only be accomplished by applying the same integrity my parents had to the craft. I began to study all of my idols; Kendrick Lamar, Nas, J. Cole, Stromae, and Bob Marley just to name a few.

I decided to own the name “beyondsonny” as my middle name is Sonny with the beyond serving as a reminder that everything I do should be more than just my name and myself.

I began recording in High School and continued through college. After graduating from university, I music much more seriously and released a couple of mixtapes which eventually lead me to release an EP titled “Solstice” in 2021. My goal for that project was to explore much of the music I’m a fan of while establishing a sound of my own. Completing this project was one of my proudest moments because it exposed me to so many different creatives, opened doors for me I never thought could open, and gave me the confidence to continue practicing my craft.

Everything I do comes from the heart, I understand it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to create any form of art, and I don’t plan on wasting that opportunity.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I worked with a friend and collaborator, Stalin Llivichuzhca, on a series called Versus where I freestyled over 23 beats and posted them on my social media every week. It began to receive traction in South Africa, London, and parts of the US. From there I remained consistent and released a music video every month with another filmmaker, Daniel Luis Ennab until I released my EP. After releasing my EP I continued to create content for social media and eventually released a documentary capturing the process for the past couple of months.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is community. Having the power to bring people together for a common cause, whether it’s a concert, screening, or listening party is an amazing way to see the effect music can have on people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beyondsonny.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/beyondsonny
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondsonny/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/beyondsonny
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCywO-ZXlHdYSSPUDT2FCVvQ
• Other: https://solo.to/beyondsonny

Image Credits
Pia Fergus Tahir Mckenzie Sage Loui Alexsa Tolentino