We recently connected with Mo Shakray and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

Given I didn’t have as much financial responsibility as I do now, if I were starting over( like in my early 20s), I would definitely push myself to take advantage of that freedom to release music and do more shows. I would have used that time to build my fan base and just get comfortable on stage as a performer. Even still, I feel like everything happens when it’s meant to, so I try not to get too hung up about it

Mo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always had a love for music. I grew up hearing different types of music , but my main influences would be R&B, Reggae, Dancehall, and Soca. My music has a fun, confident, Caribbean feel with some R&B vibes mixed in.

I started teaching myself to match pitch by ear around 5, and as I got older I joined choir and got some vocal training.

I also started paying more attention to lyrics as well. Around 12, I started writing my own songs, and in high school I recorded a couple of them.

The second song I recorded, I went to a home studio in San Diego and was amazed by how the engineer transformed my raw vocals and the beat steams into the song it eventually became. That was my first experience of having one of my creations become real.

I picked his brain a bit and he told me he went college and got his degree to become an engineer and I was sold.
Coming from a Caribbean family, education is always first priority, and college is not a question of if; it’s a question of where and what major. I eventually got my bachelors in Audio Production following high school and have since been recording, mixing, and mastering for myself and others

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the notion that the client is “good for it” when it comes to payment. Early on as a freelancing an engineer, wanting to gain clients, I would be hesitant to ask for payment or feel like I have to over explain my prices in fear I wouldn’t get booked. Once I let that go, I was able to enjoy my job more because now I’m getting what I feel I deserve for the work I do and the quality I produce.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth. Either someone that knows me makes the connection or they’ll reach out on their own based on a recommendation.

Contact Info:

• Website: MoShakray.com
• Instagram: @MoShakray
• Twitter: @OkinawasVeryOwn