We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Strat a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Strat, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’ve learned how to do what I do as an artist, with many years of experience and lots of practice. Repetition and evolution are key.
As far as speeding up the learning process, it is really just about being consistent and staying on it, giving as much time to it as you can. Then you will see the results in your improvement as an artist. Of course, talent has to be involved as well, as the first and foremost main factor.
Being a successful songwriter and recording artist, it is essential to have a diverse taste in music, art and culture, which brings you more ideas as you are creating. Also, as the main key…your life experiences and what you go thru as a person helps you to express yourself thru your art. Reading books and having a plethora of words at your disposal helps also, A big vocabulary goes a long way,
The biggest and forever victorious obstacle is time. You just have to balance, manage and make the time to do what you love.
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 company, Stratland Entertainment is the home of diverse art, music and entertainment. It provides something different for the industry that strays from the norm. It is nostalgic, present day and futuristic in its approach. In the Stratland, you are sure to find something that suits you.
I’m Rapid City, SD born and raised, Denver, CO bred and made. Currently I am residing in Sioux Falls, SD.
I got into music at a young age by always being around it, I was raised by a single mom, and she always had music going, mainly R&B and Pop. Although this is a huge part, I also feel that I was born with it already in me. As I got a bit older, nearing adolescence, I began to dive into Hip Hop, listening to it and watching Music Videos after school. I found it as the best thing I ever discovered and was completely mesmerized by the sound, style and culture. Shortly thereafter, I began to toy with freestyling and writing songs. Eventually leading to recording songs. And it’s been on ever since.
I believe that where I’m from, as well as my unique background is what sets me apart from others in the same industry. It is not common in the major industry of Rap and Hip Hop, to have a rising star who comes from these parts.
At this moment, I am most proud of these things… on a personal level, my sobriety of 5 years. On a business level, the growth of the company, with numbers going up on every new release, the constant evolution of the brand and the ever-growing catalogue of music since coming back to the game in 2020.
I want the fans to know that with Stratland, you are always going to get top quality music, entertainment and art. You are always going to feel the passion behind it, and you are always going to get something different than from what is prevalent within the scene.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Knowing that I can make a difference in someone’s day, week, moment and life thru my art. Knowing that I can inspire and entertain others thru my journey and experiences, which take form in my art.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
When I first started releasing music in 2020, I wish I would’ve grasped on to the importance of getting placements on playlists and how vital that is for new fans to discover your music.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stratlandentertainment.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stratlandmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/stratlandmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHH1ro3DefVQHN0t1Tq4SeQ/videos?view=0&sort=p&shelf_id=0
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5qvVkVRpfwY05vmijb1PPr?si=OdV9F1m9SxOVTS2iPyepGw