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

TWAIN, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Well, for me, as a lyricist & songwriter, I believe it started way back in elementary school. I fancy myself high level in the Language Arts, and back in school I dominated them. I did not shy away from learning Reading, Spelling, Grammar, Writing, and the like.

So by the time it came time to start writing rhymes, and become a hip-hop emcee I already had the arsenal of a vocabulary and a basic understanding of story and putting words together with purpose. That set off the process of actually becoming great.

I wasn’t a recording artist first, more so just a writer-I had my little raps I’d write & work on in secret plus I would share them on hip-hop message boards at the turn of the millennium. Once I started recording I was chomping at the bit experimenting and learning my flows/cadence, song structure, and arrangement. If I could do it over again though, I would have focused even more on sonics and the relationships with my producers, and my mixing and mastering engineers. They are the secret sauce to any great song.

The most essential skills I had coming in to music were my life story, the lifestyle I led with my friends and my city, and my commitment & dedication. Yes, knowing how to rap and being good at it was cool and all, but these intangibles were and are priceless.

The obstacles that stood in the way of learning more, however, were finding more willing mentors who were on the level, that could teach a hungry kid like me how to truly be a musician and learn the business side of it. I’m appreciative though, because that informs the mentees and young artists I work with now present day-I’m always trying to give them what I never had so they have a larger advantage starting out in music.

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 background and context?

I’m a indie music executive and recording artist celebrating my 20th year in the business.

Besides being an artist & performer, i’ve now moved more behind the scenes as a concert promoter, artist manager, consultant, and a mentor in the true indie music world.

I’m definitely most proud of surviving this long in our discipline, as this industry’s not for everyone. And some of my collaborators and peers didn’t make it this long with me. And I have pride in my body of work, especially the high points. I want people and music lovers to tap into my message of self-discovery and the stories I tell in my art. And let it be part of the soundtrack to their lives. I thank them in advance for doing so.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Having a healthy relationship with stats & numbers.

They matter, and they don’t. Numbers can also lie anyway, despite what we’ve been told. What’s most important is using them to gauge what real world impact you’re having with your work.

And the biggest lesson i’ve learned with statistics is the legendary quote: “Good art is good art. Whether it’s seen by millions or not.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’ll always be the people who walk up to me, or reach out to me, and tell them how much what i’m doing resonates with them. If it’s live performance, or one of my projects, or a song, or a word. Or the people who call out what they see as what I’m trying to do for our larger music culture and creating community, that’s really special to get that recognition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reverbnation.com/twainonline
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twainlo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twainlo
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/twainlo
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdqsYJxejaVbMn4WEx8z19w
• Other: https://linktr.ee/twainlo

Image Credits
Personal photo credit: Xavier A. for ArtLikeUs image.jpg and image-1.jpg credit: Shaina Lacey image-2.jpg: Jake Lundell, courtesy of LundFahl Studios and TWAIN/ILL COUNTY MUSIC GROUP