We were lucky to catch up with SVNDAY DRVR recently and have shared our conversation below.

SVNDAY, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Music has always been a part of my world in one way or another. I learned to play the piano when I was younger, taking lessons for about 6 years, and writing one song on sheet paper. I was in my high school’s varsity choir for two years and part of a 6 man acapella group where we did our own arrangements. Senior year, almost everyday after school I would go home and write hip-hop lyrics; a few of my buddies produced beats and we had fun messing around with that but I never took it very seriously at the time. I put out two songs under the alias Kid Atlas.

In college, I was introduced to EDM music and DJing and found a new passion in that. A few years later I started DJing a couple of the clubs; this was the first time I was ever paid for something like that. I played my first ticketed event in October of 2021, opening for Al Ross in Tucson at a venue called The Rock and began playing shows with Relentless Beats shortly after that. (I got to open up for Al again recently at the same venue and got to share more of my story, from my first show with them to now, which was really cool and wholesome) I also began to learn how to produce EDM around that time; I knew that if I wanted to take my project further I needed to produce original music. In total I have been DJing for 6+ years and playing shows and producing for over 2 years now.

When I started playing club sets was when I really decided to take those first steps to pursuing a career in music, but I would have continued to pursue music personally regardless of if I was paid. Music, for me, provides a kind of therapy and creative outlet that helps me keep my head right. Being able to have the opportunity to share that which is so special and personal to me with others is such an awesome experience.

SVNDAY, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into the EDM scene as a promoter and club DJ, before I started playing ticketed events. This provided me the opportunity to meet the people behind the scenes and build personal relationships with them; the promoters, talent buyers, other artists and everyone that makes these shows possible. Showing up to events with genuine and real intentions of enjoying the music and making friends is the only way I really know to get a start. There is a great and welcoming EDM community in Tucson around the University of Arizona that I think is a really unique thing and becoming a part of that opened the door of possibilities for me. Since moving back to Phoenix, where I am from, I have been able to maintain these connections and foster new ones within the related community here.

As far as products and services, my goal is to share music that I love with others and create a safe space for free expression. Every event I play, I take ample time to prepare for; thinking about the kind of vibe I want to bring to the show and curate a unique set for the occasion. I have never played the same set twice and I aim to evolve my sound with every set. Recently, I designed and personally screen printed a batch of T-Shirts so now I do have a physical product available. Another goal of mine is to start designing and making seasonal merch drops of a few items.

I am very proud of the brand and community I am building as SVNDAY DRVR and one of my favorite parts about the whole thing is getting to interact with fans and attendants of the shows. I think this is a huge part of growing a loyal following as a DJ because it allows people who normally would just see you on stage to connect with you personally. Every so often I will be recognized by people when I’m not expecting it, which is still so crazy to me, and it feels so good to know that people appreciate my work and love for what I do.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being on stage and sharing a moment in time with a crowd that is dancing, engaged and having fun is such an amazing experience. I get to do what I love in front of an audience and share the music that is so important to me personally. Music is one of the only things that brings people together from all walks of life in a vulnerable and expressive setting and being a pert of that is a special feeling that I can’t even really put into words.

The shows are a relatively small piece of the pie in terms of time but are the most rewarding for me, along with sharing original music and it being well received.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS!! I find that a lot of artists, especially those just starting out, pour tons of their own money and time into their passion and sometimes it costs more than what we make back. Showing up to events and showing interest in what their doing, buying that t-shirt or painting, saving and sharing music and content goes a really long way. I think I speak for most creatives when I say that we do what we do because it feeds our soul and any money made in the process is a sweet little bonus.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/awimmer
• Email: svndaydrvr.team@gmail.com
• Instagram: @SVNDAY_DRVR
• Twitter: @SVNDAY_DRVR
• Other: EPK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EOOxp_sZBT-jf1BeD5l-DMRrucuvB7Lr/view?usp=sharing
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/svnday_drvr
• Email: svndaydrvr.team@gmail.com

Image Credits
Sam Butler Alex Wilkins