Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Burton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Michael , thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I have been a full-time self-employed musician since 2017. The journey has been quite interesting to say the least. Making music since the year 2000 at the age of 15, I was under the impression the only way to be a successful artist is to be signed by a music label. Finding the platform called Fiverr was pivotal. I didn’t realize people would pay you for custom art. Once I found people would pay me to write them an original song for their album, their youtube intro, podcast, ghostwrite songs for their artist, I was in business. I found success from a path I didn’t know existed before. I had to learn finance, business, marketing, networking, and so much more. I was able to pay for my entire wedding out the country from rapping. That still blows my mind. I’ve paid all my bills from rapping. I’ve pay my insurance, mortgage, vacations from rapping. None of the time spent writing in my notepad was in vain and I’m extremely grateful that something worked. I’m still on a mission and still learning so the journey continues!

Michael , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Absolutely! My name is Michael Burton aka Keybeaux. I am a songwriter, rapper and producer. I’ve been a self employed full time musician for over 7 years. I have had songs in video games, Netflix shows, commercials, ghostwritten songs for popular artist worldwide. What I discovered in my journey as a songwriter is to keep your ears and eyes open to new art! Music is constantly changing by the month, so I don’t have the luxury of staying fixated on one era, or one style. If I am working with people worldwide I must get familiar with cultures, styles, rhythms and it’s only made me a better communicator. People decide to work with me because I put my full self in the music I make for them. It’s the only way to do it! Give it your all. I love so deeply what i do and grateful to work with everyone!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes! “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell. It woke me up to how powerful our subconscious mind is. What we what, listen to, the thoughts we tell ourselves, can play out in our choices and how we see the world. And these reactions to the world happen within milliseconds. I believe it reinforced that my image and presentation is more powerful than I realized.

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

Taking an idea that seems crazy and making it come to life. Whether it starts with a sound in my head, or an idea for a video. It’s incredible to make people have a reaction to something that was just sitting in the back of your head not long before

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @keybeaux
• Facebook: @keybeaux
• Linkedin: @keybeaux
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@keybeaux