We recently connected with Rich Furniss and have shared our conversation below.

Rich, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Rather than one meaningful project, I feel strongly my life has been a series of transformative ‘projects’, starting with my growth and metamorphosis as a DJ/producer, pivoting to creating and leading my own business, to my most meaningful project yet; shaping the next generation of DJs and musicians at the Sound Collective.

DJ: The ‘project’ of becoming the DJ and producer I am today is ongoing and ever-evolving. Like most kids growing up, I tried to find my place in the world and understand who I was. I found my solitude in music, oftentimes creating mix tapes for friends to express my feelings and share those feelings with the world around me. When I first started college I majored in film studies, This newfound confidence and creative outlet propelled me into producing music and DJ’ing country-wide. This was and continues to be my most meaningful and core project in that it has given me a sense of confidence and security in my self-expression.

MoTV: After many years of college, touring, and learning to express myself, I wanted to develop a way to help others around me to be seen, create content, and express and promote themselves. I realized my next project was to take the tools of my dual major and the skills I honed from life experiences to give artists an outlet to record and showcase themselves and their identities. MoTV was a video production studio based in NYC that I started in 2016. It showcased musical artists and culture, and building this studio allowed me to hone in on what I might say is my strongest skill, the ability to manage a group or collective of artists. To help them manage their projects, dreams, and ideas and share them with a larger audience. It helped me understand how to run a creative business, market, and tell a story.

Sound Collective: Unfortunately and like almost everyone else in this world, when COVID19 struck, I could no longer sustain MoTV and found myself for the first time in a long time, project-less. After several months of searching for a new job, I was hired by a lifelong friend to work as an assistant editor on video courses for a music school in NYC; Sound Collective. Not only was I passionate about the content being created, but I could also feel myself growing personally, artistically, and creatively. My passion for this project was evident and within only a few months I was promoted first to manage the entire media team then eventually becoming president of Sound Collective where I find myself today. This project is a culmination of the skills I have learned thus far. It allows me to build a community, share my knowledge, and help the next generation of artists and musicians find their confidence. I can now help them create their own identity, help shape their own stories, and provide a platform for them to influence others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I first got into music like many other people did. I was a fan of music and loved to search for the perfect song for the moment. I was lucky enough to have a mom who believed in me and helped me along my journey. She helped me book some of my first DJ gigs and would drive me to gigs before I had a license. When I made my move to Chicago for school she would even come with me as I went to clubs around the city to try and get booked. I think what separated me from other DJs was my passion and reliability.

Because of this, I was quickly able to play clubs all over Chicago and even got the opportunity to be part of some small tours. When I moved to New York after college, this only intensified. I would go all over NYC to meet new people and play clubs across the city. At the beginning of my NYC journey, I would often be out till 4 am just to turn around and go to work at 6 am the next morning. This determination paid off and led to me being on multiple US tours.

You would think being on the road 4-6 months out of the year would have been the craziest time in my life, but I really think starting my studio MoTV was. This was a way for me to bring my passion for music and video together into one place by giving artists a platform to express and promote themselves. During this time, I was partnered with Superchief Gallery, which was a wild and crazy place. Every day was a new adventure and a new lesson learned. I joke that this was like my master’s in business and my master’s in chaos.

When the pandemic hit, everything quickly changed. I took the time to perfect my sound and really find the sound I wanted to be known for. In the past, my moniker was MopTop and I decided to change it to Rich Furniss. I made a new song idea every single day. I took this time to grow and learn.

The project I am most proud of is what came next. I was tapped to assist with editing for the SoundCollective, a music school in NYC. My passion and reliability quickly aided me in rising in the company to School President. I saw the raw potential of the business. It allowed me to build a place I wished I had had my whole life. We have built a community that supports each other, shares our knowledge and skills and opens opportunities for one another.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The biggest mission or goal in my journey has been building a strong community around me. As a creative, it can be very isolating. I think it is important to have the right people around you, people who can lift you up and have the ability to lift other people up around you. It has taken me a long time to find that community. I feel very lucky that over the years I have been able to build my own community and give back to it. This is why my position at the Sound Collective is so important. It allows me to give others an equipped creative space to build their own communities

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is being able to share my art with the world. Not only the art, but also sharing my methods and helping to teach other people on how to create their own art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soundcollective.com/ | https://richfurniss.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soundcollectivenyc/ | https://www.instagram.com/richfurniss
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoundCollective
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6hEshD9iO0iolNdqjuQcyG?si=p8keWMJsQnGsApSrzKSugw