KID ASTRONAUT Artist on a Mission! When did you first get into music? I started making music at a very early age, inspired by the greats like Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and others - I took my influences and started making my own way in the music world and industry. I released my first record at the age of 7 years old and been going ever since. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? At the moment my biggest inspiration is my kids. I just want them to believe they can do anything and everything they set their minds to. I think also I’m inspired to keep going by my internal calling. Just wanting to follow my passions and see where it takes me. How has your music evolved since you first began performing? Damn...that’s a great question. Music, like learning through life is a never-ending process. I constantly feel like I’m starting over. I guess the biggest thing that’s evolved is the risks I’ve taken. I was in a band called Air Dubai before my solo project Kid Astronaut and in that band, I had a lot of help. Kinda crutches on my creativity to be honest cause there were a lot of hands to do things. Since then, with starting my solo project, I still have help from my manager who’s amazing - but a lot of the drive and vision has to come from me first. I really like that. I’ve started producing, playing more instruments, just really trying and forcing myself to grow as an artist and individual.
I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? My favorite shows were Vans Warped Tour and opening for Lupe Fiasco as a member of Air Dubai. Vans Warped Tour because I was into punk music and that genre but had never gone to a show. I loved how raw and “leave it all on the stage” some of the bands I watched were. I definitely began to add that into my performance style as Kid Astronaut. Also the Lupe Fiasco show cause to this day he’s one of my favorite artists. Being able to open the stage for him and his band was an amazing opportunity. If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why? Revenge. Have to get back at my haters!!! Nah just kidding, it’s definitely love. I love what I do and I love that I have the opportunity to do it. I don’t take the gift for granted and I try to push myself as much as possible to not get stuck in a habit or rut with it. Just endless creativity. It’s nice. What has been your biggest challenge as a singer-songwriter/musician? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how? I think the biggest challenge is just that phrase. Sometimes I don’t wanna do vocal stuff that I CAN do on a song because it’s just natural for me, I try
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