We recently connected with Sean Rojas and have shared our conversation below.

Sean, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

My first dollar earned was probably the hardest dollar in my life to achieve. I started my career at 18 and didn’t get my first actual payment until I was 23. It took about 5 years for me to receive my first paycheck. It was only for $200 but that fact that my music alone got me money that at the time helped keep the lights on was a feeling nothing could beat. Most people would have given up long before the 5-year mark but I kept telling myself that other people revered as greats had to wait 10-20years before receiving a penny. This is when I truly understood any overnight success was 10 years in the making.

My first check was due to my album Penelop3 which was dedicated to my daughter who wasn’t even born upon the release of said album. Before this album the largest song I had was only 500 plays, but Penelop3 hit 140,000 in the span of 4 months. That check was the hardest I had ever worked on anything in my life but the pay off was better than any corporation check I have ever gotten.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My stage name is Lavish and I am part of a musical group called “The Blvck Trivd”, where my role in the team is vocalist, lyricist, audio engineer, photographer, and videographer. I have spent almost 8 years independently and with my team building up my brand and image as an independent artist trying to establish a reputable name. I was introduced to the life of music and show business by my father who was a self-made DJ/entertainer. I loved the thrill of being on stage and wow-ing crowds. At 18 I dropped out of college to pursue a life of music and showbiz like my father but with hopes of being as big as he always dreamed of. After 8 years of teaching myself audio recording/ engineering, visual editing and how to be a creative professional I can say my music career is finally in motion. I have been able to reach over 65 countries and obtain over 300k streams on my music across all platforms. This has opened doors to opportunities such as ghost writing, paid features and appearances and finally a name that has weight to throw away a bit. None of this would be possible without my friends and mentors Cruzer Urameshi (renowned music producer) and Benny Cosmic (renowned performer/personality). These 2 individuals have helped coach myself in how to be a better artist and personality to the public. Also, Cruzer Urameshi and Benny Cosmic have taught myself (Lavish) where to find self-confidence and lose the doubt.

Apart from being my own artist I also help other individuals trying to start their own careers by offering aid with my business called EBE Studios: EveryBody Eats. I established EBE in 2021 in hopes of creating a collective group of independent artists that support each other’s crafts and visions. For too long there’s been a stigma that there is not enough metaphorical food for everyone at the table of success, thus sparking the idea “everybody eats”. A legacy and vision I hope to build up and leave behind one day when I am no longer kicking. Unlike most people who build up a music career by stepping on others, I set out to build mine on the basis of helping others.

I can honestly say that at 25 that I am happy with the direction my career is headed, though I am not where I want to be in the long run. My goal is to be able to perform for fans and impact people’s lives with my positive messages of living life and being who you are. I hope to be able to independently fund tours and a career that could support my family and the ones I love.

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

I come from a long line of hard workers who seem to always go under appreciated. A family who starts working from the time they’re able to, till their bodies give out on them in old age. My goal is to break that cycle and finally bring greatness to my family name and to give opportunity for others to do the same. I want to eventually start a honest foundation that sets out finds the unlikely talented and to give them the opportunities other are born with. This would open the doors to better education for those skilled in other areas not just in music and arts but also in mechanics or mathematics or science. I want to set in motion a wave of benefit and change that could change the lives of so many families. I want to be the light in the darkness for people.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think the idea “never give up” is a lot harder to execute than most people believe. I know tons of non-creative people whose stress relief or free time isn’t something creative. most of these people don’t understand the struggle of trying to break from the “societal norms’ and chase a dream that is so hard to achieve in general. I would compare it to setting out to be a professional athlete, it demands blood sweat and tears to become successful through a craft independently. It’s a constant struggle of waking up every day and telling yourself it’s all going to be worth it when in the back of your mind you’re doubting the potential of success. Chasing success from a creative route isn’t like a degree and get a job it’s a mixture of hard work and plain luck. Something not everyone gets a chance at yet seems 100% the gamble and risk to me and many others. The risk of potentially being successful to a degree most will never even come close to in a thousand lifetimes.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishlyposted/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LavishlyPosted
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGw9nLNazf1h0M3-1vzcUFQ
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/25pQY0ymgOixgsHVuITlup

Image Credits
Featured with the hat and braids is Lavish. With Flowing hair and guitar is Benny Cosmic. Photos taken by Lavish and LoLo