We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Regi Drake a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Regi, 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’m very happy doing what I love. The idea that I can support myself through music is a very rewarding feeling. That being said, I have thought about how life would be if I’d have a 9 to 5. It can be a comforting thought to know you’ll have a consistent income, guaranteed holidays, and a routine that you can count on 9 times out of 10. I’ve heard so many of my peers say that having a paycheck that you can always see coming sounds blissful, and I won’t lie, it surely does. Thing is, I think this is part of being an artists- not having that cushion and always striving to make a way for yourself. As artists, we sign this unspoken agreement to bear our souls to the world almost 24/7, to accept the fact that we may not make a recognizable dent in history, and that we will work tirelessly to have our ideas seen and heard. However, the real reward is the ability to commune with another soul through our medium with hopes that it betters their experience. This, to me, is more valuable than any sort of monetary principle. The grass always looks green on the other side, but at least we have grass on the side we’re on.
TLDR: Yes, always. A steady income is always great, but it might not fulfill me as much as music does.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well first, HEY Y’ALL! I’m Regi, and I’m an international touring musician (primarily a guitarist). I’m from St. Louis, Missouri, and I grew up in a musically inclined family. My main job is to amplify (literally) live shows for mainstream acts around the world. I do that best with my guitar, my voice, and my stage presence.
I started out as a singer, following my father’s footsteps until I received my first guitar at age 7. I wanted to be good with it so badly, but my patience at that age was as strong in those days, so I left it to collect dust for another 4 years. I picked it back up when I was a little older and haven’t put it down since.
I studied Contemporary Urban Popular music at Columbia College Chicago, which gave me the skills and connections to take my playing into the world. Shortly after, I was playing on stages across the globe with acts such as Alice Merton, Bastille, Young the Giant, Vance Joy etc. in festival line-ups like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, etc, and on tv with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel and more.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
When the pandemic happened, my main outlet of performing live was paused until further notice. Before I knew it, all the confirmed shows I had for the year vanished in what seemed like a split second. This was soul crushing because I didn’t know what the end date would be for me to get back on stage with my peers. Not to mention, the sudden loss of potential income kept me up at night. I was living in Seattle at the time and mandates were very strict to help combat the pandemic, so staying inside was the best call to do so. Most venues were closed, and it seemed as if everyone was getting their interactions through their screens.
However, despite times being dark and with no end date announced, I knew there would be a date where we find a solution. I took the time in the pandemic to pause and prepare. By pause I mean to take stock on where I was at that point in time in my life (how I was doing mentally, where I wanted to take my musicianship, how I was going to survive, etc) and prepare by practicing new techniques, writing music remotely with my industry friends, and cultivating the relationships I had with my loved ones so I’d never miss a beat seeing them in person. I tried to never let COVID stifle my creativity, so I unleashed the gauntlet of my creativity whenever possible when I was inside.
When 2022 hit and mandates slowly lifted, I felt more ready to give my all on each stage I stepped on. I don’t think I could have done it if I missed the silver lining of COVID: Pause and Prepare.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
It’s definitely the ability to commune with any audience member, despite where they come from. It is said that music is a universal language spoken and understood by all, and I hold that saying to my heart always. I’m blessed to be able to travel the world with my guitar and commune with someone who speaks an entirely different language. When I’m able to have that heightened conversation with an audience member, it reminds me of the power of music. I’m not only entertaining them for a set, but hopefully instilling the feelings of that performance for years to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: @regidrakemusic
- Other: Jammcard: Regi Drake
Image Credits
Emilia Spitale Lih San Sarah Köster