Today we’d like to introduce you to E’darius Dewayne
Hi E’darius, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got into music completely by accident when I was in the 6th grade. I used to draw really well and signed up for art class at Snowden middle school, but the class was full so they put me in band. I had absolutely no experience, but I fell in love with music after a few weeks of playing trombone. By the time I graduated high school I was playing four different instruments, three of which were self-taught, then I joined the music industry program at University of Memphis. It was there I started producing, audio engineering, and rapping. There was a group project where we had to form a band, then create and market a song. I was volunteered to rap by a group mate and later that push is what made me realize I could be a lyricist. A couple semesters after that, I started taking classes in audio engineering and shortly after, I was selected to compete in the Audio Engineering Society conference in New York in 2018. This was a huge motivator for me to take music seriously and hone my craft. The amount of knowledge I’ve gained from the start of my journey as a musician, to being an independent artist is invaluable to my art and life in general. Everything from the meticulousness of breath control and proper rehearsal technique, practicing with a metronome, to fine tuning frequencies and making sure the mix sounds good in headphones and PA’s all comes into play with the way I carry myself today. Now I carry two EP’s, a few singles, and I’m currently working on my first full-length LP.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride. Balancing life, a full time job, freelance audio engineering, and being an artist is probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. I’ve dealt with lots of burnout, self-doubt, and struggles with consistency and discipline along the way. And of course there’s the fact of being vulnerable on the internet and sharing my life through the music. It’s tough putting yourself out there for others to hear but it’s rewarding seeing the art touch people and how much I’ve grown over the years.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I rap, audio engineer, and produce. I also have three instrumental LP’s under the name Bass_Ventura on all streaming platforms as well. My instrumental projects range from house, dance, techno, afro beat, and lo-fi but I’m more known for my rap music. I’ve been able to craft a sound that’s completely my own and I pride myself on being a storyteller. I’m most known for my relatability and underlying positive messages in the music. I create with the intention of connecting people by being honest about my journey through life, in hopes of inspiring like-minds to do the same. I feel like most rappers rely on trauma and fitting certain stereotypes to appeal to the either the masses or major label execs. While I definitely reflect reality and existentialism too, I don’t want my listeners to feel like they’re a target or a victim in my music. I try to balance the bad with the good, show up as my authentic self and put my all into what I do.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve been blessed with some extremely supportive friends both in and outside of the art scene in Memphis. My great friend, singer/guitarist Celest (@dontfretcelest) helped me get booked for my first few shows. Jordan Occasionally (@jordanoccasionally) and Noah Ploderer (@napbeets) were the first artists to let me engineer an album and a handful of singles for them and I grew a lot through our work together. Rappers Esmod (@sapphire.derma) and Dre the Sensei (@drethesensei) have also been in my corner for years. My go-to audio engineer Shera Dukes (@whatupshera) has been supporting and inspiring me to aim higher as an artist for years. Videographer Liz Butler (@thelizbot) has always supported me in the media world, as well as photographer Semir Ahmed (@awolcreate). And of course there’s my family too! Most people don’t get support from the people closest to them but I’m grateful to say that my family’s always been solid and there’s a host of chosen family and friends pushing me to be great too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/edariusdewayne
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edariusc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz5KEfC6xnw2mvlHbSYjcjg
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/edarius-dewayne
