We recently connected with Naomi Richmond and have shared our conversation below.
Naomi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I think every artist or creative-minded person has had the thought of: “What if I just stopped right now and took the easier route?” or “Maybe I should’ve just gone to college, got my degree and found a full-time job.” And while there’s nothing wrong with that, I think our society sometimes teaches creatives that having a fulfilling career doing what we love is out of our reach. I definitely have had thoughts like that, the most recent time being a few months ago. I was going through a time where I was struggling financially, paid work was sparse, and I remember thinking: “Maybe I should just get another day job and I won’t be so stressed about money.” And like I said before, there’s nothing wrong with that, but in that moment I know that I was just being hard on myself. Honestly what gets me through moments like that is my family, and my boyfriend encouraging me. I also have to remind myself that all good things come in time; there’s no such thing as an “overnight success.” Success, especially in the entertainment industry, takes time and experience to build the career that you want. I always tell myself that it’s a journey, not a race.
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
My name is Naomi Richmond, I go by the artist name “Naomi.” and I am a musician, model, content creator and actress based in Atlanta, GA. Music has always been an enormous part of my life, so I moved to Atlanta in 2017 to pursue a degree in music at Atlanta Institute of Music. Once I graduated, I started my career as an independent artist, releasing original music and playing shows locally. My music is an extension of me, and I want my listeners to feel liberated when they listen to it. I make Electronic Pop music and I am influenced by artists like Charli XCX and Troye Sivan. My brand is all about self-love, self-expression, creativity and extravagance. I have such a love for fashion, so it’s very important for the visuals to match the vibe of the music. What sets me apart from other artists is my personal style, combined with my unique sound.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
In my opinion, I think the Western music industry needs more artist development programs at major labels. There definitely are artist programs that exist, but there are also so many scams for young artists in the industry, and it makes it very difficult for new artists to find their footing. I think if major labels had legit artist development and training, young artists could get a much clearer understanding of their path and build a long lasting career for themselves.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
A book that my boyfriend gave to me “It’s All In Your Head” by Russ is one of my favorite books I’ve read. It’s a short book, very straight to the point, and it gives a real, honest outlook on building a career in the music industry. It talks a lot about obstacles and mental blocks that artists endure in the beginning stages of their career. What I love about the book, is that it normalizes these struggles, and provides some great advice on how to overcome those thoughts. I think it’s a great book and it has definitely helped me get through some difficult times mentally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://naomi.wtf
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.wav/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1vZ_fT-czX7WA7Nylb0rg
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naomi.wav?lang=en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7L0IVITZSfp31WB9K8jzax?si=vF4srmzFTF2PBnmZTnR3fw
Image Credits
Zae’s Visuals (@zaesvisuals)