We were lucky to catch up with Saylor Surkamp recently and have shared our conversation below.

Saylor , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My mother always tells me a story, that when taking me out of my car seat I looked up with her and said – “I was born to dance, and I was born to sing, and thats what I was born to do.” I’m pretty lucky, in that I was born into the industry. My father came from a long line of painters, and was the lead singer of a Prog Rock band from the 60’s & 70’s called Pavlov’s Dog. My mother is a fine artist with a business background, sings backup and plays some rhythm guitar. My parents have supported me in any crazy creative endeavor that I have wanted to delve into, and encouraged me to take risks to put myself out there. I learned from an early age how to take center stage and work a crowd because they would throw me up there and let me sing my heart out. I would take naps in front of stacks of amplifiers, and help wrap cables at the end of the night. My Dad has always said to me “he’d rather starve in the avant-garde”, and I am doing my best to live it right now, as I am throwing myself into making music & art my full time job. I’m trying to follow in their footsteps, though its impossible to compete.

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

Performing is what makes me wake up in the morning. I love putting on a show and making the most out of every opportunity I get on stage. If I am given the chance to get up there, I am going to do what I do best. I try to dance as much as the people on the floor. I’d been writing songs since I could talk, and I hit the ground running when it came to DJing and producing my own music. I didn’t have any equipment to practice on, so I basically taught myself how to spin out loud, and in public. From day one I was embraced and encouraged by incredible artists in STL and Chicago. I’ve gotten to learn from so many DJs that are masters behind the decks. I have learned from some of the greatest. My aim is to keep real, authentic House Music here in St.Louis. I want to make sure that the kind of community that the genre makes possible, is here for all to experience to make them love it as much as I do. This year I started my own creative business, called SAYLORWORLD, LLC. Yes, just like Wayne’s World – only it’s me. I am taking painting commissions and performing to make ends meet. This is the life I’ve always wanted to live, and I am really doing it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing to me – is having the freedom to try anything, to make everything and to share it with everyone. There is this feeling of boundlessness. It can be completely overwhelming, but the act of creating and performing gives me adrenaline unlike anything else I do in life.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I would say that Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategy game is life altering, eye opening, and mind bending. It loosens you up to just be creative without overthinking and still can challenge you to overthink. It’s really Dada. Its a game that will help you make art when you are stuck. Its something that has kept me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.saylor.site
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/saylor_stl & www.instagram.com/saylor.media
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/saylorsongs
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/user/SaylorSurkamp
• Other: SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/saylorsurkamp