MAAAANNN this commute is soul crushing, i take the PATH from NJ to NYC back and forth everyday and it's wearing down on me.
, I too sometimes find myself asking why I'm not on Skid Row right now. I moved to LA because in all honesty, I was ready to not be on this Earth anymore. I never knew my father. My stepfather was abusive and my mother had made her choice...a new man over her kids. I was off at college completely miserable because of the state of my life. At that point I knew I had to make a decision. It was either stay here and watch myself slip away for good, or take a risk and try to push the reset button on my life somewhere else. I've always been a musician and music was my passion, so I decided it was either going to be ATL, NYC, or LA. I bought the ticket for LA. It was only $99 at the time. Flight 735 to LA. I was 19. The last thing my mother said to me before I left was, "You're never going to make it, you'll be back." So I had multiple sources of motivation.... In this time, I met a friend who became my production partner. It was like a Timbo/Missy type of deal. Over 3 years, we recorded like 70 songs in his bedroom. He produced them all, and I wrote them all and did all the vocals. His father would walk into the room and ask what we were doing. He was an engineer who used to work for Earth Wind and Fire. He was blown away by the music we were making, so he helped me mix/master my first album. It was called, "Fly...735" and it's available everywhere that you can get music. Pandora, TIDAL, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. . It's my sole purpose in life to help others find the greatness that lies dormant within them, because the world is filled with naysayers who will tell you what you CAN'T do. One day, the whole world is going to know who I am, and inspiring the world to be more is my greatest aspiration in life.
I stayed in a hostel first. They would only allow guests for no more than 2 weeks, so I had to stay outside periodically until they allowed me back. I did this until my money ran out My grandmother was my guardian angel. She believed in me and she approved a loan for me to go to music school in Hollywood for 1 year. After I got out of school, it was rough. If you recall, 2008/09 is when the economy crashed and it was impossible to get a job. I had a 4.2 GPA in high school, I had 4 years of previous job experience, and I still couldn't get a job. I must have applied to at least 60 jobs and heard no from every one of them. I even tried to work at gas stations and they would just tell me "you're over qualified." The poverty was real. Top ramen was my savior. Hamburger Helper...just Helper tho lol. That was a treat. I couldn't go anywhere and do anything like normal people. No car, no money to go do anything. Not many friends. Just 4 walls.
Eventually, I found a Top 40/Classic Rock cover band in town and they auditioned me as the lead male vocalist for the group. We traveled all over LA and here I gained my confidence as a performer. I would go from singing Journey to Michael Jackson to Jay-Z to Bryan Adams, etc. The crowd would go nuts and it really fed my spirit. I knew that this is what I had to do for the rest of my life. I didn't make much money, but just enough to afford $500 a month bedroom rentals from strangers on Craigslist. I lived in random people's homes for years because it's all I could afford. People are crazy, let me just say that
I've never wanted a record deal. I had a meeting with an A&R from Atlantic Records back in 09. He came to the studio to listen to my music and he told me straight to my face, "You are an incredible vocalist, and an even better songwriter. But you don't have the look and you are never going to sell any records." From that point on, I knew that the music industry was superficial and they didn't care anything about art. So from that point on, I've been on a personal crusade versus the industry. Versus my mother. Versus my stepfather. Versus my high school math teacher who told me I would never make American Idol or anything like it. Versus anyone who ever put me down and told me I was never going to be anything. It fueled my fire. Since I knew I didn't have the machine behind me, and that no one was going to care about my work without it...I just decided to work on my catalog and myself as a man instead. I didn't want them to be right. I would sit there in Hollywood and see all the homeless people each day and wonder to myself, "Damn, how many of them were ME...20 years ago?" I just wasn't willing to go out like that. I knew I was destined for much more.
So I fought. I lost 100lbs. I got my body right. I got my mind right. I had to learn to release all the hurt I had from my childhood and truly re-create myself...not whoever I was told I was going to be by other damaged individuals. I eventually found a job as a clerk at a lawfirm and then I moved on to work at a cruise line company...which financially helped me to get on my feet.
I recorded 1 album and 1 EP. I shot music videos. I had albums printed and I passed out my CD throughout the city for years. I've spent so much money on my art over the years, and never made a dime from it. Sacrifices.
Fastforward to now...10 years later. I just turned 29 in June. I quit my job on my birthday because I recently received the opportunity of a lifetime. I wrote several songs that were picked up on the soundtrack on an upcoming major film (2018 release). The film will be an international release. A lot of huge names on the soundtrack and I'm going to meet them all. I'm heading out to Atlanta to work on the soundtrack in a couple months. In addition to that...one of the songs selected is a "David Vines" solo record...which means I'll be making my international debut on the soundtrack of the film. And I still own my masters. And I still have no record deal...so I own myself. I'm going to use this exposure to launch my own imprint and once I have a name, I'll negotiate distribution with majors...because that's the only capacity I'm willing to work with them. They will NEVER own my name. I won't allow it.
It's so much more to this story man, but I tried to at least give you a snippet. This was long winded enough. One day, maybe it'll be a movie
Bottomline...logistics are important when you are considering a big move or when you are taking a huge risk in life. However...don't be bound by them. Persistence, patience, and a strong will...that's what will get you to the promised land.
I'm not quite there yet, but soon I will be. Anything is possible. Always remember that. Peace and love
Visited Berlin during my Eurotrip this summer. It was my understanding that their service workers are salaried. Not sure if it translates to an actual living wage but I know its a lot different than what we do in the US.
. I've made posts since I've become a legitimate artist too, but you know how it goes. No machine, no gimmicks, no budget. Nobody really cares until it's popular to care lol. It's all love though. All in due time...
. I'll def post on NT when it's time for me to release my new stuff...dmvisrnb great story man. Wow!
I'm currently listening to your joint on Spotify. Good look in all your future endevours and make sure to shoutout us out when you hit the airwaves lol
I stayed in a hostel first. They would only allow guests for no more than 2 weeks, so I had to stay outside periodically until they allowed me back. I did this until my money ran out My grandmother was my guardian angel. She believed in me and she approved a loan for me to go to music school in Hollywood for 1 year. After I got out of school, it was rough. If you recall, 2008/09 is when the economy crashed and it was impossible to get a job. I had a 4.2 GPA in high school, I had 4 years of previous job experience, and I still couldn't get a job. I must have applied to at least 60 jobs and heard no from every one of them. I even tried to work at gas stations and they would just tell me "you're over qualified." The poverty was real. Top ramen was my savior. Hamburger Helper...just Helper tho lol. That was a treat. I couldn't go anywhere and do anything like normal people. No car, no money to go do anything. Not many friends. Just 4 walls.
Eventually, I found a Top 40/Classic Rock cover band in town and they auditioned me as the lead male vocalist for the group. We traveled all over LA and here I gained my confidence as a performer. I would go from singing Journey to Michael Jackson to Jay-Z to Bryan Adams, etc. The crowd would go nuts and it really fed my spirit. I knew that this is what I had to do for the rest of my life. I didn't make much money, but just enough to afford $500 a month bedroom rentals from strangers on Craigslist. I lived in random people's homes for years because it's all I could afford. People are crazy, let me just say that
I've never wanted a record deal. I had a meeting with an A&R from Atlantic Records back in 09. He came to the studio to listen to my music and he told me straight to my face, "You are an incredible vocalist, and an even better songwriter. But you don't have the look and you are never going to sell any records." From that point on, I knew that the music industry was superficial and they didn't care anything about art. So from that point on, I've been on a personal crusade versus the industry. Versus my mother. Versus my stepfather. Versus my high school math teacher who told me I would never make American Idol or anything like it. Versus anyone who ever put me down and told me I was never going to be anything. It fueled my fire. Since I knew I didn't have the machine behind me, and that no one was going to care about my work without it...I just decided to work on my catalog and myself as a man instead. I didn't want them to be right. I would sit there in Hollywood and see all the homeless people each day and wonder to myself, "Damn, how many of them were ME...20 years ago?" I just wasn't willing to go out like that. I knew I was destined for much more.
So I fought. I lost 100lbs. I got my body right. I got my mind right. I had to learn to release all the hurt I had from my childhood and truly re-create myself...not whoever I was told I was going to be by other damaged individuals. I eventually found a job as a clerk at a lawfirm and then I moved on to work at a cruise line company...which financially helped me to get on my feet.
I recorded 1 album and 1 EP. I shot music videos. I had albums printed and I passed out my CD throughout the city for years. I've spent so much money on my art over the years, and never made a dime from it. Sacrifices.
Fastforward to now...10 years later. I just turned 29 in June. I quit my job on my birthday because I recently received the opportunity of a lifetime. I wrote several songs that were picked up on the soundtrack on an upcoming major film (2018 release). The film will be an international release. A lot of huge names on the soundtrack and I'm going to meet them all. I'm heading out to Atlanta to work on the soundtrack in a couple months. In addition to that...one of the songs selected is a "David Vines" solo record...which means I'll be making my international debut on the soundtrack of the film. And I still own my masters. And I still have no record deal...so I own myself. I'm going to use this exposure to launch my own imprint and once I have a name, I'll negotiate distribution with majors...because that's the only capacity I'm willing to work with them. They will NEVER own my name. I won't allow it.
It's so much more to this story man, but I tried to at least give you a snippet. This was long winded enough. One day, maybe it'll be a movie
Bottomline...logistics are important when you are considering a big move or when you are taking a huge risk in life. However...don't be bound by them. Persistence, patience, and a strong will...that's what will get you to the promised land.
I'm not quite there yet, but soon I will be. Anything is possible. Always remember that. Peace and love
dmvisrnb
