We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sprinter Harris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sprinter below.

Sprinter, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Of course I do. Being the type of creative that I am has made it hard for me to be accepted by everyone as a real artist. When you have developed a name for yourself in another industry then decide to pursue another passion of yours you are easily discredited for your work. All my life, from my childhood days I had wanted to pursue the art of music but my mother saw my athletic capabilities and forced me to focus on those as that was her passion. It ultimately worked out and I am proud of the decisions that she had made for me at a young age but it made me forget or for a better use of terms tuck away a side of myself that was special to me and truly something I knew that I held the capabilities to be just as great at.

Not many people believe that artist can be world class athletes or that world class athletes can be artist. This is something that I struggle to understand as this is not my situation, but I try to continuously remind myself that people will project their personal limitations onto others in order to make themselves feel more secure. I would be lying if I told you that it’s not a frustrating battle but more importantly it is one I’m up to fight for.

If we really take a look at the correlation between the two (sports & music) they are a perfect match. You cannot attend any sporting event without hearing music, athletes love music and use it as a source of motivation, so to think that their would not be a few amongst the millions of athletes that could do both is what I would call being obnoxiously small minded.

My talents are not my faults, they are my gifts to share and my skills whether it be music or Track are a reflection of my dedication and hard work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Well, first things first is that I’m an artist. I’ve learned the art of sport, mine being specifically Track and have been able to reach point where I can say I mastered certain concepts of sprinting that allowed to obtain the title of being an Olympian, through hard work, dedication, losses and lessons but I am also a musician, to be specific, a recording artist.

I had always done sports since the age of 5 and started out with soccer but was later scouted to Track & Field and started that passion at the age of 11 years old. As far as to how I got into music, that ties perfectly into the story of my Track & Field career. After years of poor performance and injuries I walked away from the sport at the age of 25 and within months I met a producer/ engineer who took me under his wings and really spent time educating me on the process of song writing, vocal training, ear tuning, and pretty much the entire production concept for a recording artist.

I had been in a dark place from before walking away from track which continued even after I walked away from the sport but music was something that gave me life. It gave me a feeling that was needed to keep here on this earth. A feeling that was deeper than just victory but something that was spiritual. It allowed me to find the hiding versions of myself that I disconnected with or never had true connections with as I was operating from a egotistical place to conquer all that I desired within sport. I had never been taught balance and I’m not sure if being a balanced version of myself up until then would have been conducive to me achieve all that I was able within the sport at that time. I’m a firm believer in timing.

I think what I am most proud of thus far as an athletic creative is whom music has allowed me to become. I think everything I represent is an unidealistic version of an athlete because we are forced to wear capes while remaining blue collared but I think I showcase that a cape can still be there despite the blue collar. My art allows me to humanize myself, express myself, tell my stories, reveal my struggles and open the door for those who are similar to me. The lack of a conceptual role model is what I’m most proud of. I have zero interest in playing a role, I only aspire to be my truest version of myself.

I was that stubborn kid who didn’t believe that not having his father around did not affect him, but my music, especially for what I have to come has allowed me to see that wasn’t my situation. I lacked communication skills, I lacked understanding of self, I resorted to violence, and I idolized street activity. But also being of Caribbean decent added its own complications as we are not taught how to express ourselves either.

So like I said earlier, music humanized me. It made me realize that I’m human and despite convincing myself that I don’t feel much, it really just revealed to myself that I’ve just mastered the art of suppression. And suppressed emotions come out eventually and often times in ways that are less effective or even harmful to yourself and others.

We all need outlets, and when Track wasn’t going well I lost my outlet, and when I stopped running I had absolutely no outlet. But even when track was my outlet it wasn’t a spiritual outlet, everything was superficial. I needed something healthy.

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

For myself, I can say its greatest reward has been the ability it gave myself to learn and love myself, love myself as is, for who I was, and for who is to come.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think my goals within music will always change as my exposure increases but I know the one thing that will never change it being able to authentically speak and allowing my authenticity to pay for my lifestyle.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: sprinterharris
• Twitter: sprinterharris
• Youtube: sprinterharris

Image Credits
for the one with me holding the mic and in the green paisley jacket – Essence Ransome