A Day in the Life of an Austin Artist
Austin, Texas is rightfully named the “Live Music Capital of the World,” which inherently, makes it a competitive landscape for emerging artists. Hip-Hop Recording Artist, D.R.O.I.D., came to Austin from Houston, Texas in 2010 following the release of his first project, “D.R.O.I.D. 1.0,” bringing with him an undying passion for music and live performance. We sat down with D.R.O.I.D. for a candid, firsthand account of his journey as he discusses a day in the life of an Austin Artist.
What was your first release party like?
“I had my first project release party at Light Bar, which was off 4th and Congress, at the time. We had a special guest performance by Kicks & Khords. I remember being slightly nervous at rehearsal the week before and Jake Lloyd telling me that displaying confidence in my music, myself and my performance would manifest on stage and showcase my talents.”
Fast forward 8 years and his relentless efforts in the pursuit of his career are unmatched. After signing a management contract with H2 Entertainment Group(CEO Jami Hightower), a combination of opportunities and talent propelled D.R.O.I.D. to performances on larger stages.
What lessons have you learned from such rapid growth as a hip-hop artist here in Austin?
“I was presented the opportunity to headline Austin Fashion Week and since then have worked with many great influencers and companies here in the Austin Entertainment Community, such as Ross Bennett, King & Rose Optical, Red Ocean Ventures, Black & Silver Enterprises, CoZ Designs and many more. The rapports, friendships, and networks I’ve built from music opportunities are a plus for me. I am truly grateful for getting the opportunity to showcase my music on many diverse platforms for audiences I may have never reached before”.
Define in your own opinion what makes a great artist? What do you do to make sure you’re ahead of the curve?
“I try and stay consistent as possible, whether it may be releasing music, content, shows or just showing up to events here in the city and showing love to fellow artists. I rehearse about four times a week, every week, to stay on top of my game. From the outside looking in everything seems to look like a great time, but what remains to go unseen is the 10,000 hours of hard work that we put in every day to make these moments happen. I got mad love for my team and all their hard work, shoutout to my publicist James Casiano and my Booking Agent Cameron Turney. When I perform everything is live so fumbling lyrics mid-song is not an option. It’s a bit anxious at times, but when you connect with your audience with a flawless performance it’s a beautiful experience.”
What do you think fellow artists can do to push the hip-hop culture forward here in Austin?
“In any type of artistry, there will be competition and egos clashing, it’s just a given… and that’s great because it gives us the drive to continue to create better art, but I think what we all need to understand is that we are all on a leveled playing field. In order to make the hip-hop scene pop off here, we need to be supporting each other whether it may be: events, music, buying merchandise, etc. Don’t be afraid to be the first one to support. The sheep mentality is highly contagious, people will only support you if they see others doing it. We need to break that stigma, in order to flourish.”
What advice would you impart to artists trying to break into the Austin music scene?
“I wish nothing but success to anyone trying to establish a music career in the industry. Most times, it feels like an impossible feat, other times it feels so close it’s surreal. The struggle truly does stand as a testament to your values and how much you really want this type of lifestyle. I’ve lost many people along the way. Paths eventually diverge and you have to be okay with that. You will be tested. You will run across individuals who have your best interest at heart, and others who don’t. Every artist needs to go through this and understand that this part of the process is meant to break the mold of the status quo because what you’re doing goes against the grain of what society wants for you. So surround yourself with people who share the same passion as you and enjoy the ride.”