We recently connected with Sincere and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sincere thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I actually got my start writing music reviews on Myspace and going out and taking photos. I have always loved photography and had a lot of free time, so it was a natural thing for me to do. I was returning photos back so fast and doing reviews others weren’t. I started building a network locally and nationally organically.

As time went on I started building an even bigger network, started working for promoters which connected me to more and more different people in the music scene from artists to producers to DJs and more. I realized a lot of those in the area I was in didn’t really have the outlets they needed to move forward with their careers. I knew I had to travel in order to get better information and to build a better network than what I was seeing in Cleveland. I am originally from New York City.

I started going to conferences in Chicago, New York, Florida, Atlanta and met people who did other things in the music industry on much higher levels than I had been around in Ohio.

I had all of these amazing relationships building and as I met more and more people and learned their jobs, I realized I loved dealing with the Public Relations side of the business. I am not big on being in the public eye, never have been but those doing public relations were able to connect artists, producers, DJs, and more in the industry to media outlets, red carpets, events, assist with roll outs and so much more. It was like a light bulb went off and I started using my network to bring light to clients. I also found a passion in the unknowns getting the credit for their work, especially music producer. I also really enjoyed helping people get the proper information to help their careers. There is SO MUCH bad information out there, it can be hard for people to navigate through it. So after several years and getting the proper information and building my resume up, I started to sit on national panels and share the information I had learned with others and share my work. Being able to guide others on all different levels of their career has been such a great experience, it’s one of my favorite parts of what I do.

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?

I have been in the music industry for almost 2 decades now, and I have done many things that I have loved, but my primary job is dealing with public relations, campaign development and consulting. I offer clients a way to connect with the world in all different ways. From press releases to bios to media training to assisting in the marketing and branding of their work. I work with artists, producers, DJs, CEO’,  and more. Being able to connect a client with the proper outlet is always something I have enjoyed and seeing a project from start to finish is such a great accomplishment.

An example of my work that is out of the box from what people see publicly: I have worked with a music producer for several years now who has produced for an amazing list of major recording artists over his 25 years. A couple years ago, he produced a record that was a big national hit. There were times during that record being worked, that he was not credited properly at times by some select outlets, I was able to connect with those outlets and get the corrections made. That song ran for a long time so that work was daily and was an amazing run. But I had to consistently make sure he was credited properly over the full duration of that record. It is something I have seen many many times in the music industry, and why it happens I honestly have so many different reasons for it, but human error is just the biggest common denominator for the errors, it was something I was use to and was able to make sure was corrected as soon as I would see it happen. Proper credits are extremely important in all aspects.

Research is another part of my work that I really love. Being able to filter through all of the bad info to get to what I need isn’t always easy, but between my research skills, knowledge and network, I am able to get the proper information for whatever I am working on in a pretty good amount of time.

The consulting side of my job is something I also really enjoy. I have been able to share proper information with so many, and just to be a grain of sand on their journey has been so amazing and fulfilling.

Other things I have done that I love are, Transportation Supervisor for EST Fest, a Recording Studio General Manager (5 years), Executive Assistant and Booking Agent/Talent Buyer for a former owner of the largest nightclub in Cleveland, OH, (5 years), Executive Producer for dozens of events/concerts for independent promoters and myself throughout the years, and my writing. I love to write, and I have been able to be published several times over my career and still continue to contribute to different outlets.

But again, my biggest accomplishment to date is the building of an incredible network. Without that I would not be able to do anything I do to the level I do it at. To be able to connect people is also something I feel is a great asset. I love connecting good people with good people.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Well, my reputation has been something that I have always prided myself on. I am fiercely loyal, sometimes blindly,  it’s who I am. I also have the same work ethic at 45 that I had at 25 but have moved with the times, learning, exploring and educating myself especially on the ever changing climate of music and technology.

Money doesn’t move me. Yes it is a necessity, but I don’t let money make my decisions especially when it comes to working with someone. I have to be a fan of a potential client’s music and them as a person because we have to deal with each other on an almost daily basis at times and if we don’t like each other the work is harder than it needs to be. I have always been selective and exclusive with my clientele, still am.

I also assist others which is a huge part of my reputation that I hold in the highest regard. If I can’t do that job for someone I know the best person who can and am always happy to refer them to someone who is more skilled in an area they are looking for than myself.

People who meet me or know me, know exactly who I am. I put my cards on the table and my expectations and capabilities are clear from the start. I get the job done in the most professional way possible and am devoted to my work and clientele. All of that has made me who I am today.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a time in my life that I was kind of lost and stuck. I wasn’t able to travel like I use to, which is how I normally got new clients and in a way I was really looking to plant some roots for a while. I had taken a break for 3 years from the music industry and I had only been back for a couple years when I got the opportunity to work at a recording studio. I had been in studios my entire career and never thought that was something I would ever get into working at. The studio I was offered a job at really needed to be re-branded, better admin and organization over all. I was able to reach out to people I knew at studios and able to create a set of guidelines for the studio to follow, implemented a lot of business needed changes, curate events at the location and even hire engineers that I knew were of the quality that was needed to be a successful studio. The studio itself was amazing, and had already started to build a name for itself in the city, but the business behind it was not together. and the location was not being utilized to its fullest potential. I also was able to use my relationships and network nationally to bring in business when they were in the area. I learned A LOT! I made the time to learn equipment lists, names of programs, and a whole different side to the industry that I knew nothing about before this job. I still was working here and there for clients on the PR side and consulting, but adding in this job gave me a little breather and a new look into the a different side of the music industry which I really enjoyed! I am really grateful for the opportunity and the knowledge I gained has helped me immensely. It wasn’t my dream job, but it was something I needed to do and was a great lesson in my journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sosincerepr/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sosincere/

Image Credits
w/Ezri at EST Fest: Photo by GaryKDean Group Shot at Top Golf: By Michael P Brown (LT to RT: Dwayne/DJ Ball/Matt Dennis/Maine/Pooh/Myself/Swick/Natasha/Patrick/JLeshelle/NardoRay) W/ Scoochie Smith after a game photo by: Atmost Visuals W/ KurtCurt in studio (Selfie) W/Elora Mason at Staples Center Grammy’s 2019 (selfie) w/Jarvis Landry at Jarvis’s Birthday Dinner presented by Floh Vodka Photo by: The Bnjmns W/ Incognito at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Photo by: Chris Goody W/David “Mookie” Mariotti at 27 Club/Spin Magazine Event: Photo by: Chris Goody